IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22207, 27 December 1933, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY

Inquest Opened.

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Mrs Isabella Juke? and her son, Mr Harry Jukes, who were electrocuted on the main Winton Read on Monday evening, was opened before the Coroner (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) yesterday morning. After evidence of identification . had been taken, the inquest was adjourned sine die. » » * • Motor Car Skids. While motoring with his wife and famil.y to the Riverton Regatta yesterday afternoon, Mr Fenwick C. Grenfell, Moulston street, Invercargill, skidded when passing another car at a comer near Wright’s Bush. The vehicle fell over a four-foot bank, but with the exception of the driver, who sustained only slight injuries, the other occupants of the car were unhurt. » * * ♦ Traffic to Riverton.

One thousand seven hundred and fifty people journeyed by the excursion trains to the Riverton regatta yesterday as against 1833, on Boxing Day, 1932, when, however, the date of the Gore races did not coincide with the aquatic fixture, as was the case this year. The races attracted 240 patrons (203 in 1932), while 60 persons attended the Limehills sports by rail, as against 30 last year.

Disappointed Passengers. About a hundred people who travelled to Bluff on Monday with the intention of crossing to Stewart Island on the Tamatea were sadly disappointed to learn on arrival at the port that the vessel was not sailing. Many critical comments were passed on the time and money which they had wasted, while one or two were even more seriously affected _by the disorganization of the service. ♦ ♦ • * Cars Collide.

About 11 o’clock yesterday morning a collision occurred between two touring cars at the Lorneville corner (formerly known as Cooper’s Corner). The lighter vehicle, which was proceeding from Invercargill towards Winton, had its front axle bent and the right-hand rear tyre ripped. Greater damage was done to the heavier car, however, for the right hand front tyre and metal rim were broken cleanly from the spokes, while the right hand rear wheel was broken. The force of .he collision slewed this car, which was proceeding from Gore to Riverton, completely round, so that it faced in the opposite direction. Apart from minor dints and scratches no other damage was done, while none of the occupants of the cars were injured. » » » » Railway Figures.

The official figures showing the railway traffic to and from Invercargill over the week-end are now available. The early express on Saturday morning carried 358 holidaymakers north and the afternoon train a further 208. The traffic from the north was particularly heavy, 600 passengers travelling by the express arriving in Invercargill in the afternoon, 330 bj’’ the 9.5 p.m. train and 259 by the relief express which reached here shortly after 10 p.m. In addition a special mail train from Dunedin to Gore and Queenstown bore 361 people. On Sunday the numbers travelling were much lighter—lBl by the 7 a.m. express to Christchurch and 103 by the 9 p.m. train from Christchurch. On Christmas Day 82 persons departed by the 7 a.m. train for the north and 48 in the afternoon, while the 1.38 express brought down 118 holiday-makers, but the 9.5 p.m. express carried only 45. On the whole the figures Mils year show an increase on those tor 1932.

Fortnight’s Cruise. The launch Pegasus left for Stewart Island on Saturday afternoon with a party which has chartered that boat for a fortnight’s cruise about Port Pegasus and other parts of the island. The party is composed of the following Dunedin residents: Messrs Whitcombe (of Whitcombe and Tombs), S. C. Sutherland (manager of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co’s. Dunedin branch), W. E. C. Reid and D. Middleton. Mr J. W. P. Thomson, owner of the Pegasus, is accompanying the party, the members of which, in addition to cruising about the coast, will also take walking trips to various places of interest inland. Given favourable weather, a splendid holiday should result. The island, with its beautiful inlets, is ideal for a cruise of the kind, while Mr Thomson’s knowledge of the coast will be invaluable in enabling the visitors to gain a comprehensive idea of what Stewart Island can offer pleas-ure-seekers in the way of picturesque scenery. * » * *

The Christmas Dinner.

The view that New Zealanders showed a surprising lack of originality when they adopted the English custom of celebrating Christmas by eating a 'heavy dinner consisting of hot roasts followed by plum pudding was expressed by an English-woman who is on a visit to Christchurch. The way Christmas was celebrated in New Zealand seemed to her like running a car in reverse gear. The climate was entirely against such a custom, she declared, and it would be much more sensible if the people ceased to be imitators and struck out on a new line by replacing the present heavy Christmas dinners by something lighter that was more in keeping with the season. In England the wintry weather at Christmas compelled people to remain by their own firesides, but here in New Zealand the glorious sunshine called folk out of doors. Instead of responding, however, the great majority of them stayed at home and ate more than was good for them, and then spent the rest of the day recovering from the effects.