IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 25311, 14 June 1935, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY Southland “Talkie.” It is stated that arrangements are advanced for the production of a Southland “talkie,” and that in a few days efforts will be made to hold “auditions” in connection with the assembling of the cast. » » » » Sale of Cheese. The directors of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company report that they have sold 151 tons of cheese, representing stock at Bluff and Mataura, at 5M a lb, Messrs Clement and Co., Ltd., Glasgow, being the purchasers.— Mataura correspondent. <1 # ♦ ♦ The Indians at Gore. The members of the All India hockey team were the centre of interest in Gore during the two days that they remained there. A large crowd assembled to bid them farewell yesterday afternoon and the motor bus left the town to an exchange of cheers. *»• ♦ * Snowbound.

An application for the adjournment of a defended civil case was granted by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when it was explained that the defendant and his counsel, both of Heriot, had been prevented from attending Invercargill owing to snow drifts along the roads. » * » » Accurate Figures.

“My average earnings are four pounds and ninepence three-farthings a week,” stated a judgment debtor when under examination in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Counsel: “Have you any money in the bank?” Debtor: “No, sir. . . . Oh, I beg your pardon. I have one and twopence; it’s been there for. a year.”

King’s Portrait for New Hospital. The new general hospital at Kew will be adorned with a facsimile colour reproduction of the portrait of King George V painted by John A. A. Berrie, R.C.A., for the board at its meeting yesterday decided to expend £5 in the purchase of the portrait, whilch will measure 30 inches by 25 inches. t « » A Meat Diet Many telling points were shot home by the speakers at the debate in connection with the country girls’ Educational Week last evening. Advocating the advantages of town life, one speaker proceeded to condemn the diet of the average farm house. “In town they have a variety of meat,” she declared. “If a sheep is killed on a farm they have mutton for a week and if a bullock is killed there is beef for a month.” After the laughter had died down she exclaimed naively: ‘‘That follows because a bullock is bigger than a sheep.” * * * * Medical Aid. The worries of country people in search of medical aid were pathetically stressed by a speaker in the debate conducted by the country girls engaged in the Educational Week last evening. “You get on horse-back,” she said, “and go for the doctor. He might be out and then you have to call more of them. By the time the doctor has got his implements together and comes the patient might be dead.” The merriment that followed might have been caused by the confusion in the names of the appliances used by doctors and farmers.

Mutton-bird Market Present indications point to there being a shortage of mutton-birds to fill usual requirements this season. The catch, which was not nearly as large as in previous years, is fast diminishing, and according to one local merchant practically all of the available supplies have been taken up. The demand has been very good and jt is probable that the present wholesale values of 7d to 7Jd a bird, uncooked, for kit lots, will show an advance in the near future. Although the catch was a small one the birds were bigger than usual and of extra good quality. Few House Surgeons. That there are few doctors seeking positions as house surgeons and still fewer qualified bacteriologists in the Dominion is evident from the experience of the Southland Hospital Board. To secure applications for the appointment of house surgeon at Gore the board, finding that a salary of £275 did not tempt doctors, re-advertised at £32s—and then received only one application. In connection with the appointment of a bacteriological technician at the Southland Hospital a commencing salary of £3OO did not prove a magnet, so an increase of £5O a year was made; and then only one application (from a woman) was received.

Avalanche' in Eglinton Valley. A rumour which gained currency in the city yesterday credited an avalanche in the Eglinton Valley with playing havoc at the men’s camp early this week. Sixteen men were reported to have been engulfed, but according to an official of the Public Works Department, whose information was sought last evening, nothing more serious than the blowing down of three tents occurred. The avalanche, which was an actuality and is more or less a common occurrence in the mountain regions of Te Anau and Eglinton, slipped down the mountain side in the night and the wind caused by the slide blew three of the tents over. Nobody was injured. *

Pipers Lead Procession. “I accompanied the' Indian team to the Olympic Games in America in 193and I have travelled extensively with them, but I can assure you that I, for myself, will never forget Invercargill for one reason,” said Mrs]?. Gupta (coofficial with Mr B. Doctor, manager, of the visiting All India hockey team), when returning thanks at a civic reception accorded the visitors at the Post Office Rotunda yesterday afternoon. “And this is the reason, he continued. “I have never before been led in a procession headed by musicians (referring to the three pipers who marched ahead of the team from their hotel to the Rotunda). Much laughter from the public greeted this remark. “I shall not tell you how many of the team are married —that would spoil their having a good time while here. (Laughter.) But in our country musicians always lead a bridal party to the ceremony.”* * *

Purging The Roll. A heavy task lies ahead of the registrar of electors at Invercargill in his endeavour to “clean” the roll by correcting names and addresses on ' the Parliamentary lists in view of the approaching general election. Over the past few weeks some 14,000 notices have been sent out from the registrar’s office, and while many immediately supply the information sought, the work is considerably delayed by the non-returning hundreds of notices. Indeed, it is estimated that no fewer than 12 out of every 50 notices sent out fail to elicit a prompt reply. The registrar has then to despatch a registered letter in order to give each “defaulter” an opportunity of having his name retained on the rolls. In addition, there are hundreds of alterations to names changed by marriage, removals by death and transfer to other districts, while many other minor changes have

to all be effected to bring the rolls up-to-date.

Tuberculosis in Southland.

“I regret to have to state that oui waiting list went up considerably during the month,” stated the chairman of the Southland Hospital Board (Mr T. Golden) to the board yesterday when reporting on the admission of Southland patients to Waipiata. “We thought we were getting the list reduced very satisfactorily, but it has now risen to such an extent that it is greater than the lists of all the other boards put together. Fortunately other boards have not required to use their full quota of beds and some of these have been made available to Southland patients. But it has to be remembered that such beds are really allocated for the patients of other boards.” •. * * * • Concerning Eggs. With due regard to the value of publicity hens throughout Southland lay their eggs, usually in proper nests, sometimes under a hedge where, after they have lost the pristine bloom of their infancy, they are gathered by farmers’ wives. Without indulging in any self-advertisement, ducks also contribute to the egg market In the fate of the eggs these domestic birds, no matter how strong their maternal instinct, are not concerned, but Southland housewives are. In the first place housewives know that there is a big difference between the size of a pullet’s egg and the egg of a mature fowl. They • also know that the quality of a duck’s egg is inferior to that laid by a «hen. But in Southland, unlike many other parts of New Zealand, the average retailer neither grades his eggs nor differentiates between the price of ducks’ and hens’ eggs. From time to time it has been urged that a grading system should be introduced and the Poultry Federation has taken steps in this direction. But it is doubtful if there is a retail shop in Southland ' where purchasers receive the benefit of grading. In other words they are liable to pay as much for a dozen pullets’ eggs as for a dozen full-grown hens’ eggs, though the quantity received is in reality appreciably different. Housewives would, according to inquiries made, also welcome a distinct difference in the price of ducks and hens’ .eggs, tmd no + have to buy them as a “mixed grill.” Speakmg to a Times reporter one Invercargill retailer said he agreed that the position should be remedied, but it was not likely to happen until the Government broufht in legislation compelling it, as was the case in Australia.