IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22487, 23 January 1935, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Power Board Anniversary. Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the first meeting of the Southland Electric Power Board. * Increased Power Output In lais report to the Southland Electric Power Board yesterday the chief engineer (Mr L. B. Hutton) pointed out that the output at the Monowai power station for the month of December was 2,185,590 units, representing a very substantial increase on the output for the corresponding month in 1933 ‘. Back to Wednesday.

At a special meeting of the Mataura Borough Council held last evening, it was decided to revert to Wednesday half-holiday. For the past twelve months the half-holiday has been observed on Saturday. The voting was as follows: —Wednesday: Councillors, W Piercy A. J. Cruickshanks, John G.‘ Sutherland. D. A. Coster, W. P. Thorn; Saturday: Councillors James Ingram, John McErlane, George McCaw. » » * A Suggestion.

A visitor to the city suggested to a Times reporter yesterday that trolley buses would be an acquisition to Invercargill. “These buses are a great success in Christchurch, .he stated, “and for comfort and mobility they are far superior to the tram car. The fact that they do not require rails makes an extension of the service a simple matter, while there is none of the expense attendant to keeping the tracks in order.” * ♦ *

Large Numbers Travelling. Last evening’s express, which did not arrive in Invercargill till after ten o’clock, left Christchurch 30 minutes behind schedule and was further delayed en route by heavy passenger traffic. Many of the travellers go over to Stewart Island for the Sanders Cup contest, while a large number join the Maheno which sails from Bluff for Melbourne, via Milford Sound, this afternoon. In consequence of the large influx of tourists hotel accommodation in the city was fully taxed last night.

Gallipoli Veterans.

Recently, two veterans of the Great .War met for the first time since they had occupied beds in the same hospital. One had lost an arm on Gallipoli, while the other had suffered almost as grievously in the struggle for existence that followed the war, which did not make recognition of each other an easy matter. Nevertheless, out of this meeting there sprang a desire that there should be a reunion of all returned men who took part in the Gallipoli campaign. A meeting towards this end is to be held on February 16.

Donation Appreciated. “I have been instructed by my committee to express their deep appreciation and thanks for the generous donation of the City Council towards tiie Southland Provincial Exhibit at the New Zealand National Flower Show. My committee trusts that the exhibit to be staged, demonstrating the horticultural potentialities of the district, will be highly creditable to the city and province,” was a letter received from the secretary of the Southland Organizing Committee, New Zealand National Flower Show', by the Invercargill City Council last night. • * * » Picnics and Sports. Late last night the squally weather appeared likely to clear up—a ‘ consummation devoutly to be wished, for the trades picnics will be held to-day. The locations for the different picnics are many and varied. The grocers will journey to Orepuki, Messrs Herbert Haynes and Co. will travel on to Tuatapere, the staff of Messrs H. and J. Smith will make Wakapatu their rendezvous, Messrs Thomson and Beattie’s staff have decided upon the Rocks, while the staff of Messrs McGruer and Taylor will spend the day at the Rocks. A professional sports meeting is also being staged at Browns —and, provided the weather keeps fine, should attract its fair share of holidaymakers.

“No Recommendation.” At the December meeting of the Invercargill City Council a suggestion was made that the Trading Committee should consider the matter of running trams in connection with church services on Sunday mornings. In his report to the committee on this subject the City Electrical Engineer remarks: “A service on Sunday mornings would onlv be of use to a very small number of people who wished to attend a distant church, and such a service could only be run at a heavy loss. The present afternoon and evening service pays very little more than running expenses, and I cannot recommend the council to extend the service.” The Trading Committee reported to the council at its meeting last night that it had no recommendation to make in the matter.

General Congratulations. “I think, as a Council, we should extend congratulations to the Reserves Department upon the wonderful show made during the visit of the Duke of Gloucester,” remarked Councillor C. B. Tapley at the meeting of the Invercargill City Council last night. Mr B. P. Mansfield and his assistants must have put in a great amount of time and thought to make up the fine displays and the flower beds in front of Queen s Park would have been a credit to any city.” Councillor H. Ritchie said he thought the thanks of the Mayor (Mr John Miller), as expressed to his officers through the Press, filled the bill. “I would like, however, to congratulate his Worship for the way he handled the visit with such dignity and credit,” Mr Ritchie added. “He made a striking figure in his mayoral robes of office and I heard many citizens passing very favourable comments. Councillor T. O’Byrne: While I agree entirely with Councillor Ritchie, we should not overlook “the man behind the guns,” our Town Clerk. He carried out the arrangements with great efficiency. Life-saving Reel Sought. A grant from the Invercargill City Council towards the purchase of a P manent life-saving reel for the Oreti Beach was sought by the Oreti Surf Life Saving Club last night ‘My committee has long felt the necessity of placing a reel permanently on the beach in case of emergency when the club is not in attendance,’’ stated the communication from the secretary of the club. “Unfortunately we feel that the expense of approximately £25 which this undertaking would incur is impossible in our present financial position without considerable aid from other quarters. To this end I have been asked to approach your council with regard to a grant for this cause. We wish you to understand that this reel will be entirely a public safeguard and will be always at the disposal of the public. Should you see fit to help us in this undertaking my committee will attend to the purchase of the reel, and also to the erection of a suitable housing for protection from the weather. Hoping that your council will favour us with their co-opera-tion.” On the motion of Councillors H.

Ritchie, the request was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.

» * # * When the Duke was Embarrassed. Mr T. Pettit, world-famous Australian bushcraft exponent, in an interview with a Times reporter yesterday, revealed an interesting sidelight of the Duke of Gloucester’s tour of Australia. “It happened at a bushcraft carnival in South Australia,” said Mr Pettit. “The final of the tree-felling competition was between W. Johnson (world champion) and Marshall Winkle (ex-world'cham-pion) and this clash between two such high-class performers was reserved for the special benefit of his Royal Highness. After a thrilling contest in which Johnson won —after giving away 65 seconds in handicap, he was presented to the Duke. It appeared as though the Duke was flabbergasted after such an exciting exhibition—and only those who have seen such contests can realize how exciting they can be—as, for. a moment or two, he could find nothing to say to the bushman. Johnson, however, who has the reputation of being ‘one of nature’s gentlemen,’ put the Royal visitor at his ease by saying cheerily: ‘Well, I suppose all this is new to you?’ The ice was thus broken, and the Duke immediately began to chat with the backwoodsman with all his well-known charm of manner.”

Paper Not Read. Considering that it was wrong and improper and without precedent in the history of local bodies in New Zealand, Mr W. McChesney, a member, protested against the reading by Mr A. A. Mac Gibbon of a paper at the monthly meeting of the Southland Power Board yesterday. It appears that Mr Mac Gibbon, who represents the Eastern district on the board, had prepared, in view of the 15th anniversary of the first board meeting, celebrated yesterday, a paper giving a retrospective review of the board’s existence, milestones and suggestions for the future welfare of the board, but members were hesitant about it being read or given publicity to before it was circularized among members. Mr McChesney commented that it was dangerous and wrong to have the paper read, but Mr E. K. Sim queried where was the danger if it were heard in committee. After a short discussion Mr Mac Gibbon agreed to withdraw the paper on account of the objections by members, but assured them he had merely prepared it in view of the board’s anniversary, and was there to help the board, not to create trouble. The meeting adjourned without the paper being read.