IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22474, 9 November 1934, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Tugs in Dock. The tugs Southland and Awarua went into dock at Port Chalmers yesterday for their annual overhaul. * ♦ ♦ ♦ Professionals Excluded. Information received yesterday states that despite representations professional runners and cyclists have been excluded from the sports programme to be held at night during the Royal Show. * » » • Railways Busy. The extra demand at this season of the year* for lime and manures is chiefly responsible for an exceptionally busy period at present being experienced by the railways. Traffic on all lines is very heavy and all the available waggons are in use. * * * • Another Record Claimed. A Dipton subscriber writes: “Please find enclosed a long-stalked narcissi grown by Mrs J. Hall, of Dipton. It measures three feet long, which, I consider, is a record.” The narcissi measured up to specifications and was a healthy plant. * * • • No Arrest in Still Case. It is understood that the police have as yet made no arrest in connection with the ownership of the illicit still seized by the police and Customs officers. The still, which was seized on Monday afternoon in the Awarua district, was reported to be in full working order when discovered, with nearly 200 gallons of wash and a considerable quantity of complete spirit in the plant. * * » • Milk-for-Schools Scheme. A total of £55 in donations to the primary schools’ milk fund during October for a scheme which has been sponsored by the Southland Hospital Board for some time was reported by the secretary (Mr T. Pryde) to the monthly meeting of the board yesterday. The Bluff Harbour Board granted £2O and the Southland County Council £25, while an anonymous donor has given £lO. * ★ ♦ • Epidemic of Influenza. The matron of the Gore Hospital, in her monthly report to the Southland Hospital Board yesterday, indicated that influenza was prevalent in Gore, while it is stated that several cases are also being treated at the Southland Hospital. Inquiries made by a reporter in reliable sources yesterday disclose that at least one death has occurred, a girl succumbing to the worst form of the malady, while several employers of large staffs are having trouble because many are away suffering from influenza. It is also prevalent in the schools. The position is evidently becoming worse, and a member of the Hospital Board told the reporter that it was time the public began to take precautions. “To me the last big epidemic is too saddening a memory,” he added.

* * • • £30,000 Prize Rumour. “No such luck,” was the comment of one of the persons linked up with the winning of £30,000 as the result of drawing a winning horse in the Irish Sweepstake, when approached by a Times reporter yesterday. “The rumour has been growing daily, but beyond some vague announcement alleged _to have been broadcast from a foreign radio station, we know nothing of our reported success,” he added. It appears that two Invercargill residents tried their luck in the latest Irish sweepstake, decided on the Cambridgeshire Stakes about two weeks ago, and last week-end an announcement was supposed to have been broadcast that one of them had “drawn a horse.” Beyond that they have had no advice of any success despite persistent rumour that a first prize of £30,000 had come their way.

Fishing Competitions. Condemnation of some of the competitions conducted by angling clubs was voiced by Mr J. D. Speirs at last evening’s meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society. Mr Speirs said that the clubs urged the society to put more fish in the rivers, but they should ask the clubs to keep more fish, in the rivers. He said that two men had caught 110 fish in two days. Casting competitions, for instance, would do more good. Several members stated that the competitions encouraged pot-hunting, and others expressed the opinion that the competitions should be limited to one day. It was also mentioned that in Wellington competitions had been abolished altogether. Mr J. F. R. Darragh said that people went out every day and caught limit bags; so why say anything about the club competitions? In the last competition the winner had been below his limit. It was finally decided to write to all the clubs suggesting that all competitions should be limited to one day, with a minimum size for the fish of 12 inches.

Curio Bay Road. The following letter has been received by Mr D. McDougall, M.P., from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitchener): “With reference to the representations which you made when handing me a letter you had received from Mr R. Hamilton, of Waikawa, I have to state that the question of metalling the Curio Bay road was considered on the main estimates. It was found impossible to meet in full the many applications for assistance, and so that the more urgent of the County Council’s proposals might not be overlooked, it was asked to illustrate by grade numbers the respective urgency of each item for which it made application. Unfortunately the classification did not include the Curio Bay road as one of the council’s more urgent works, and because of limited funds I was unable to provide a grant for the work this year. It is noted that there is alleged to be a certain amount of friction between ratepayers and the riding member, and my department will do what it can when the matter comes up for consideration next year to ensure that your correspondents are _ not victimized as the result of local differences.”