IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21897, 24 December 1932, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY. Cheap Cars. When twelve motor cars and two motor trucks were submitted at auction by William Todd & Co. yesterday, there was a big gathering of prospective buyers. They were, however, working on a strict limit and the cars that changed hands averaged only a modest “fiver.” Christmas Poultry. Close on 1300 head of poultry were disposed of at auction by William Todd & Co. yesterday, the demand being fairly keen and prices on a level with the 1931 Christmas sale. Turkeys brought 12/6 each, ducks from 2/4 to 2/9, table fowls from 1/- to 1/7, and geese, of which there was an oversupply, from 2/6 to 2/9 * * * * Herses in Demand.

Writing to a relative in Invercargill, a resident of Perth (Western Australia) states: “Horses are the only thing there has been money in lately. Everywhere you see them in use instead of tractors. It has made a big difference to the oil companies. N is head typist in an oil company. Last year she had fourteen girls under her, this year five—and not too much work at that.” * * * * Hot Weather Prevails. For a number of days past the title of “Sunny Southland” has been fully justified, and some idea of the almost oppressive heat experienced on recent occasions Can be gauged from the fact that several people have fainted in and about the city. Visitors to Invercargill have been loud in their praises of the weather, a Gisborne resident remarking that it was hotter down here than in her home town. * * » * Washed Up From the Sea. An unusual looking article which he found on a recent evening washed up on the sands at Oreti Beach is at present puzzling a local resident as to its identity. It is a hollow metal cylinder measuring 22 inches in length and painted red, with a tapering top and rounded base in black. The whole article is tightly sealed and on the cone-shaped top is a metal loop. Its worn appearance suggests its having been in the sea for some time. The finder is of the opinion that it is part of some ship’s gear, but just exactly what it is he states he does not know. * * * * Oreti Beach Popular. The succession of long, warm, sunny days at present being enjoyed in Invercargill have resulted in Oreti Beach becoming even more popular than ever, and each evening sees the dust clouds rising as motor vehicles of all descriptions carry their loads of hot and perspiring humanity to the coolness of the water’s edge. At the point where the new road converges on to the beach loose drifting sand has resulted in many a baby car becoming embedded, but, with “push-offs” given willingly by people in the immediate vicinity, the cars in every case have been able to resume their journey without undue delay. * * * * Tar.

The top-dressing, a few days ago, of the footpaths in Gore’s main business area has been the subject of much unfavourable comment not only by the business people, but by other residents in the town. The delightfully fine weather has induced many ladies to don white shoes to match their summer frocks, but after a short time of Christmas shopping they have had reasqn to view with dismay the damage caused to their shoes by the tar. Business people state that a considerable amount of damage is being done to their floor coverings, and they are not backward in expressing the opinion that a more suitable time of the year might have been chosen in which to carry out the work.

♦ * * * To-day’s Air Mail. Considerable interest is being taken in the Postal Department’s air mail service to-day between Palmerston North and Invercargill, and it is expected that a large number of people in the North Island will take advantage of this opportunity of sending letters and packages to friends and relatives in the south. The aeroplane is scheduled to leave Palmerston North at 7.30 a.m., after the arrival of the Limited Express from Auckland and the air mail from Gisborne. Calls on the journey down will be made at Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru and Dunedin, the machine being due at Invercargill at 3.45 this afternoon. A special delivery of the air mail will take place in the city as soon as possible afterwards.

The King’s Broadcast In all lands of the vast British Empire, the King’s voice will be heard on Christmas Day, carried by wireless in the Christmas broadcast arranged by the British Broadcasting Corporation. As the British Empire occupies 13 million square miles of territory, the people of nearly one-quarter of the earth’s land surface will hear the announcer ask the people of the Empire to send greetings and good wishes to each other. While one part of the Empire is enjoying the broadcast in daytime, another section will listen-in at midnight. Questions will be asked and replies given after Big Ben has struck 2 p.m. (Greenwich mean time), on December 25, and the 8.8. C. announcer has made his introductory remarks, which will occupy six minutes. This will be heard in New Zealand about 2 a.m. on Boxing Day. At the conclusion of the King’s address, listeners throughout the Empire will be asked to join in singing the National Anthem.

* * * * A Lighthouse Model. A clever piece of work is on view in the window of the Friendly Societies’ Dispensary in Bluff. It is a model of the original Dog Island Lighthouse, made and turned entirely by hand, and is the work of Mr T. Stalker, of Bann Street, Bluff, who has been working at it during the last six months. The old lighthouse on Dog Island was erected in 1865, and a reconstruction effected in 1918. A photograph of the former is in the window beside the model and the faithfulness of detail in Mr Stalker’s miniature is striking when a comparison is made. Built of mahogany, shell and copper, the model, including the base, stands 29 inches high and at the bottom is four inches in diameter. It is made to scale and is correct in every detail of measurement. Obtaining the photograph, the builder placed it under a powerful magnifying glass and took accurate measurements and later got further particulars regarding the old lighthouse to verify these. Four hundred and thirty pieces of shell are inlaid in the model, no fewer than 188 pieces of mother of pearl being used to form the white band round the middle, while the dome is made up of 66 pieces of pawa shell. The window sills are made of mother of pearl, and the balcony is supported by 12 tiny brackets of the same material. The window panes are of glass. There are ten “big” windows, each measuring one inch, and oneeighth by half an inch, and two smaller ones, one inch by a quarter of an inch. The door is made up of 26 pieces of mother of pearl. A tiny ladder runs from the balcony to the dome. This is made of copper and is a doubly interesting feature because the copper was taken from a bolt which once did duty in a pile on the old Bluff wharf. A further local touch is given by the fact

that the pawa shell used in the steps of the lighthouse were gathered on Dog Island. The mother of pearl came from Rarotonga. All work done in the construction of the model was by hand, even the wood being turned without the aid of a lathe, and the whole represents an amazing amount of patience as well as skill in the delicate work of shaping and assembling the microscopic fragments. An electric cord runs through the model with a globe in the dome, and when the light is on’'the effect is most realistic at night. Naturally, it has excited much interest at the port. -■