IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22200, 18 December 1933, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Fire in Railway Yard. At 11.34 a.m. yesterday the Invercargill Fire Brigade received a call to a straw fire in the railway yard. Its services were not required. « * » » Excursion To Dunedin. Over 200 excursionists journeyed from Invercargill to Dunedin by the Sunday special train yesterday. The weather was fine all along the line and an enjoyable outing resulted. Christmas Cheer Fund. His Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller) acknowledges the following further > donations to the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund: G. J. Reed, £1 1/-; Miss M. S. Fleming, £2; W. A. Ott, £2. * * * * Girl Fractures Ankle. While playing at her home in Yarrow street yesterday afternoon, Mary Hunt, aged 9, slipped on a wet plank and fractured her left ankle. She was moved to the Southland Hospital for treatment. » * * » A Shearing Record’.’ A correspondent writes: Will you allow me space to say that 10,000 sheep were shorn at Redcliff Station for Mr Alan Speight, in 15 days by seven shearers and then they lost two runs. Can any other estate beat this record? Measles in Dimedin. Owing to an epidemic of measles in the Dunedin State Schools affecting about one-third of the children in many schools, the Otago Education Board has advised breaking up to-day instead of Wednesday and holding the ceremonies in the open air.

Opening of Freezing Works. The early opening of the freezing works has not been taken advantage of to the extent anticipated, many farmers having decided not to draft until next month. Killing operations were commenced at the Southland Frozen Meat Company’s Makarewa works on Monday last and some very fine lines have been handled, comparing more than favourably with previous years both from the point of view of quality and of averages. Indications are that increased quantities will be forthcoming this week, the intention being to close down on December 23 and reopen after the New' Year holidays. It has not been found necessary to open the Mataura works and the season will commence there during the first week in January.

Tourist Trade Booming. The volume of tourist trade usually reflects fairly accurately the financial situation. It is reassuring, therefore, to learn from the local manager of the Tourist Office (Mr J. A. Malcolm) that the returns for the first half of the present month are 50 per cent, higher than the corresponding period last year. Queenstown is almost completely booked, while Stewart Island, Riverton Rocks and the Eglinton are proving extremely popular. Heavy forward bookings by travellers, excursionists and holiday-makers are reported by the Invercargill branch of the Railways Department. All outgoing trains for the coming week, and particularly those on December 21 to 23, are heavily booked, and generally the returns so far compare very favourably with those of last year. There is every indication that the holiday season is going to be a record one for recent years on the railways. Praise for the Show.

As instancing the appreciation of many visitors to this year’s Southland Summer Show, the following letter, received by the president of the A. and P. Association (Mr William R. Ronald) from a patron who has been closely connected with all of the principal North Island shows, is a glowing example: “Please allow me to drop you a line to express my congratulations on the wonderful show run by your association. lam sure you must feel proud to be the head of such a society. This is the first year I have made it my business to thoroughly inspect the show and I cannot refrain from mentioning what a great exhibition of stock there was to be seen, and above all the organization of the fixture. Everything went without a hitch; there was no waste of time anywhere and every official was at his post. I have never witnessed a show of such dimensions run in a more competent and able manner.”

Battalion Band Concert. The Battalion Band’s Sunday evening concert again attracted a good audience to the Regent Theatre last evening. The band was in good form and, assisted by local artists, provided an attractive and entertaining programme. All of the solo item, were encored. Following is the programme: Hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” band; sacred fantasia, “Crown of Honour,” band; harmony and syncopation, “Tell Me To-night,” Ambassadors Orchestra; piccolo solo, “The Wren,” Mr Le Petit; song, “Calling U Me,” Master Stanley O’Connel; selection, “Vienna Girls,” Roland Sextet; cornet solo “Mermaid Song,” Sergt. V. Aldridge; recitation, “ ’ls Pipe,” Mr J. McConnell; violin solo, “Souvenir,” Master Max Roland; song, “The Joy Bird,” Mrs S. Batchelor; ’cello solo, “Moonlight,” Miss Stephanie Roland; march, “The Victors’ Return,” band. The accompanist was Mr R. Henry, while Miss M. Fitzgerald played the accompaniments for Master O’Connel.