IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22046, 20 June 1933, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Trenching in Central Gardens. The portion of the central gardens known as number two block has been thoroughly trenched, an attention it has not received for some time. Cause of Sunburn.

“The beautiful tan and the skinned noses to be acquired at Oreti Beach are due to a narrow band in the ultraviolet rays and are not due to heat, remarked Mr George Jaquiery in his address on radiation last, evening. * * ■ ♦ * Frosts at Gore.

The sharpest frost experienced in Gore so far this winter occurred yesterday morning when the town and district were blanketed with a white coat of hoar frost. This was the fourth consecutive frost and 14 degrees were registered, there being nine degrees of frost on the three previous mornings. Fog had lain over the town for two days, but cleared away yesterday afternoon, then came down again thicker than ever in the evening.

Giving the Trees Every Chance. If the young macrocarpa trees which have been planted on the eastern side of Kelvin road do not grow it will not be for lack of water. Not only were the holes made for their reception filled with water on several occasions before planting was commenced, but for some days subsequent, to plantmg men have been busy with buckets pouring water into the thirsty soil. The old hedge has been neatly trimmed and presents a much improved appearance. * * * * Tram Fares Down. Fares on the Invercargill City Council tram cars will be redifeed to one penny per section as from to-day and concession tickets will be sold at 12 for one shilling. Owing to the difficulty .of providing the motormen with pennies, concession tickets, in lieu of “coppers will be given by them in change whenever necessary. By purchasing 12 concession tickets, the public would considerably lighten the duties of the motormen. *** X * Inspection of Reserves.

An inspection of the Corporation reserves was made last week by the Reserves Committee and other members of the City Council. Pleasure Bay was first visited. Here it is hoped to check the damage being caused through erosion by the construction of a retaining wall. At Seaward Bush, the councillors inspected the picnic site which has recently been made, the clearing being found to be as picturesque as it is serviceable. Afterother reserves had been visited an inspection was made of the cemetery. Everything was found to be extremely neat. « . ♦ A Dangerous Corner.

The kerbing on the corner of Gore’s main street leading to the traffic bridge, concerning which representations were recently made to the Gore Borough Council by Mr A. E. Smith, of Invercargill, has now been painted white. At last night’s meeting of the council a further letter was received from Mr Smith as follows: “Painting the kerb white is better than nothing, but in my opinion, and in the opinion of several motorists I have spoken to, it needs to have a light over it as well as being painted. This place is most dangerous.” The letter was received. Councillor G. C. Hamilton remarked: “There are a lot of places nearer home he could concentrate upbn.” ♦ * * » Venerable Figures.

Speculation has been rife among citizens who have watched the reconstruction of the Arcade whether the patriarchal gentlemen who adorned the front of the old building would continue to gaze down on the hurly-burly of Esk street. All doubts may be set at rest. These venerable and hirsute faces which did not turn a hair during the fire have undergone a process of clay-packing and for many decades will preside over the destiny of the Arcade, much rejuvenated in appearance. Yesterday the workmen, probably acting for the first time as beauty specialists, were to be seen removing the plaster-packing with stiff brushes, the patriarchs bearing the ordeal without flinching. * * * • Inhuman Cruelty. An epidemic of wholesale poisoning of dogs and cats in South Invercargill recently has left the bereft owners, of poisoned animals with a feeling of indignation at the inhuman cruelty of some misguided person. Animals have been found dying in agony, leaving their owners no option but to destroy them. It has been discovered . that pieces of meat thrown to the animals have contained pieces of glass ground to minute particles, which soon bring on terrible pain to the unfortunate beasts. Valuable dogs and cats have been lost to their owners in this way, including working dogs, which are their owners’ means of livelihood. More than one infuriated animal lover has threatened to take the law into his own hands should he discover the miscreant. * » * * Through a Weighing Machine.

Among the pence received through the weighing machine of Messrs Aitchison’s, Ltd., ironmongers, was found a souvenir medal which appears to have been issued by Mr S. Beaven, an ironmonger and merchant of Invercargill in the year 1863. It is evident that there was no depression in Mr Beaven’s day, for on one side the souvenir bears the coat of arms which may be seen on Australian coins, and the inscription, “Peace and Plenty, 1863,” and on the other side “S. Beaven, Ironmonger and Merchant, Invercargill, New Zealand.” The medal is made of copper and is the exact size and weight of a penny, but if the person who obtained his weight by it really wished the present firm of iromnongers peace and plenty, he might at least have inserted a real penny as well to make up the deficit, for the returns were one penny short, and the managing director, who hails from Scotland, feels the loss very keenly.