IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22486, 23 November 1934, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Enthusiastic Athletes. Although the opening meeting of the amateur athletic season last evening created little interest among the Invercargill public, the occasion was evidently thought of some moment elsewhere. Several country competitors and spectators were present, one party coming the distance of 50 miles from Mokoreta to take part in the sports. ♦ ♦ » ♦

Steeton’s New Zealand Cup. At present attracting attention in the window of J. H. Boyd and Sons’ shop in Dee street is the handsome gold cup won for Mr J. B. Macgregor, of Invercargill, by the thoroughbred racing mare Steeton. This is the first New Zealand galloping cup handicap trophy ever to come to Invercargill, although the trophy for the New Zealand Trotting Cup has come south before. It will be on view during the next few days.

♦ ♦ » ♦ Health Camp Site Approved.

Dr T. MacKibbin, health officer for Otago and Southland, visited Invercargill yesterday and inspected the children’s health camp now in the course of erection at Omaui. He stated that it was situated in’ a very good locality and the plants and the arrangements were most satisfactory. The water supply he considered both adequate and good, but to make doubly sure he intended making careful tests.

Butter and Eggs. As from yesterday the price of eggs was reduced one penny a dozen in Invercargill, the current market prices now being lid wholesale and 1/1 retail. At Winton this week as low as lOd a dozen was accepted by sellers, while one local merchant also bought at that price. This price was not general, however. Eggs are plentiful in Southland at the present time. Separator butter is now selling at 6d a lb wholesale and 8d retail.

Road Champion Cycles Home. Taking advantage of the fine weather conditions on Wednesday morning, H.G. Watson, New Zealand champion road cyclist, decided to “push” his way back to his home in Christchurch on the machine with which he secured second fastest time in the recent Centenary Thousand at Melbourne. He left Invercargill at 6.30 a.m. and reached Dunedin at 1.35 p.m., after having stopped at Gore for a cup of morning tea and at Clinton for lunch. In view of the time occupied in stops, approximately one hour, Watson’s time of 7 hours 5 minutes was very good. Fastest time in the Invercargill-Dunedin amateur road race was 6 hours 43 minutes. Watson intended spending a day or two in Dunedin before tackling the run to Christchurch.

Trade Prospects Bright. The manager of a large department store in Invercargill waxed enthusiastic over trade conditions when approached by a Times reporter yesterday. “Last week was the best week in our store for a year, excluding show and Christmas weeks,” he said. “I was amazed when I saw the figures for the week. I feel sure that the Christmas trade will be much better this year than last.” Another department store manager, this time of a drapery organization, sounded an optimistic note, saying that although there was no boom he thought that Christmas trade would be verygood. The same opinion seems to be held by the majority of other shopkeepers in the city, who state that their returns are showing an improvement at present. Most of them are looking forward to a decided trade fillip when the Royal Show eventuates.

Technical College Evening School. In his monthly report presented last night to a meeting of the board, the principal of the Southland Tecnhical College, Mr C. A. Stewart, stated that in recent months he had made progress reports on evening school numbers to show that while numbers in some courses had continued to be _ disappointing they had made definite advance in total numbers and compared well with other districts. By some distortion of statements, possibly by misreading of a newspaper heading, an impression had apparently been created in some quarters that the evening school would not reopen next year. Such a suggestion should be so absurd as to require no refutation. On the other hand he was now able to report a total enrolment for the session of 318 free and 172 paying students. This was the best total for many years and augured well for the future.