IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 22492, 29 January 1935, Page 4

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Sale of Cheese. The Mataura Dairy Factory yesterday completed the sale to Messrs,Weddell and Co., Ltd., of the January output of cheese, approximately 130 tons, at 5Jd per lb. „ Condition Favourable. Yesterday morning a .further slight improvement had taken place in the condition of Miss Shelagh Wilson, who is suffering from a fractured skull sustained as the result of an accident on Friday, and upon inquiry at the Southland Hospital late last evening it was reported that her condition was favourable. , » »

Gore Court Sittings. Commencing with the first 1935 sitting yesterday, the sittings of the Gore Magistrate’s Court commence at 10.30 o’clock on Monday morning, and mining, civil and criminal matters will be proceeded with as far as possible on the first day. A formidable list faced Mr E C. Lewey, S.M., at yesterday’s sitting. but was completed by the middle of the afternoon. « * • • Children’s Health Camp.

Ruddy with the glow of health, the children taking part in the health camp at Omaui are thoroughly enjoying their holiday and are all in the best of spirits. Thanks to the generosity of the public, there are now sufficient provisions at the camp to last until it closes down after the month’s duration. This fact speaks for itself of the number of donations of fruit and vegetables which has been made by benefactors who are anxious that the little ones at the camp should not lack of the good things. The children will return to their homes on Friday Parched Canterbury.

“People in this part of the South Island have no conception of the parched condition of Canterbury,” stated an Invercargill resident who has just returned from a holiday in the north. “Whereas in Southland the paddocks are green, in Canterbury the grass has been burnt brown. Crops are stunted and most of the harvesting has already been done. It has really been a disastrous season for all classes of farmers. Extreme difficulty has been experienced in fattening lambs. The primary producers of Southland can consider themselves very fortunate.” * * * *

Traffic Inspector’s Width. “The traffic inspector was standing on the corner and waved, but the defendant did not know at the time that he was an inspector,” remarked Mr R. B. Bannerman in defending a motorist on a by-law prosecution before Mr E. C Lewey, S.M., at the Gore Police Court yesterday. The Magistrate’s remark: “Did he think it was just a friendly wave?” raised a laugh in the Court. Mr Bannerman’s further comment maintained the merriment. Ido not know whether it was because the street is rather narrow or that the inspector is rather wide, but the defendant went round the wrong side of him.

* * * * Freezing Works Fire. Although very heavy damage was done by the fire which raged in the fellmongery buildings at the Southland Frozen Meat Company’s works on Saturday night, the actual extent of this cannot be accurately computed as yet. The wool dryers are not a total loss, but the damage cannot be assessed until they are dismantled. Neither can the extent of the damage to tne wool and pelts, which were in the course of process, be until the debris is cleared. Killing was continued yesterday through generous assistance from other local sources, and it will be possible to handle the skins until temporary premises have been provided for the wool department.

A Big Lift

Many spectators, in addition to waterside workers, assembled on Bluff wharf yesterday morning to witness the unloading from the motor liner Opawa of a piece of machinery, weighing approximately 40 tons, for the Mataura paper mills. Included in the number were several photographers. Four winches were requisitioned for the big lift and the operation was carried out smoothly and with complete success. Special preparations for the event had been made by the Railway Department and the Bluff Harbour Board, the former providing reinforced bogeys to carry the load, while the board had strengthened the western approach to the wharf to allow of safe transit to the railway yards. The bulky and weighty load was taken later in the day by special train to East Gore, where the Mataura river was to be crossed and the journey to the paper mills completed by road. Although the Opawa is a 10,000-tqn liner, she rolled perceptibly as the big cylinder came over the side. The lift, of course, easily constitutes a record for Bluff and only two of the company’s line are capable of doing the job, the other being the Opawa’s sister ship Ota io.

Surprised at Civic Progress. “There’s no doubt that Invercargill has gone ahead a great deal during the last eight years since I left here to settle in England,” Dr. James Young told a Times reporter yesterday. “On Sunday Mr Tom. Watson drove me around the outskirts of the city and I was really surprised at the progress made,” he added. Dr. Young, who practised his profession in Riverton from 1882 to 1887 and then in Invercargill for 40 years, now lives in Enfielr* a city of some 60,000 people, about half an hour’s run of London. He has visited New Zealand on three or four occasions since he decided to make his home in the Old Country and his present trip is primarily for health reasons as he has not been enjoying the best of health for several months. past. Nevertheless he is enjoying the renewal of old friendships made here. He has benefited considerably by the sea voyage via Panama and intends remaining in New Zealand for another two months before returning Home again by the same route. Always of a very retiring disposition, Dr. Young said he lived a quiet life in Enfield and, in fact, had not visited London for nearly a year. * * * * South Hillcnd School Jubilee Chairman. As has been the case with several other Southland schools of late, the South Hillend School has attained its Golden Jubilee anniversary, the celebrations of which commence to-mor-row (Wednesday), and it is interesting to point out that the selection of the chairman of the Jubilee Committee has been an admirable as well as a unique one. This office is filled by Mr Martin Kean, who resides in that district (writes our Winton correspondent), and it is worthy of mention that Mr Kean, has not only an interesting association with the South Hillend district, but his election to the post of president of the Jubilee Committee was a fitting one. Mr Kean’s parents, Mr and Mrs James Kean, were among the earliest settlers in the district, and to Mrs Kean, who is hale and hearty at the present day, goes the honour of being the first woman to live in the district. When the South Hillend School was erected and opened in November of 1884, Mr James Kean was the first chairman of the school committee. It is fitting, therefore, that MiMartin Kean should have the honour of officiating at the jubilee celebrations, .as not o«ly were bis parents intimately

connected with the erection of the school in the district, but he also has shown a keen interest in the welfare of the school and the success of this week’s function.