In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 8

In Town And Out

St. George’s Day Today is St. George’s Day, and the banks and a number of other offices will be closed. Hospital Amalgamation Supported The Mossburn branch of the Farmers’ Union carried a resolution at its meeting on Wednesday supporting the decision of the Commissioner (Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M.) in favour of the amalgamation of the Southland and Wallace hospital districts. The branch considers that a referendum should not be taken. Milk For Schools It was stated by the chairman of the City Milk Producers’ Association (Mr A. T. Elliott) at the annual meeting last evening that the association had not been approached on the subject of the supply of milk for schools. “There appears to be some difficulty in obtaining a supply,” he said, “and perhaps the association should be able to be of some assistance.” A Crippled Visitor Among the crowds which visited H.M.A.S. Canberra at Prince’s Wharf at Auckland, a young school boy was singled out for special attention. He was a lad crippled from infantile paralysis. Both his legs were in irons and he had to walk on crutches. As soon as the boy boarded the cruiser an Australian petty officer took charge of him and personally conducted him over the ship. When the last of the’ visitors were leaving the vessel shortly after five o’clock, the petty officer could be seen carying the crippled lad down tne gangway, with another boy carrying his friend’s crutches. Power of Arrest for Inspectors A step forward in his determination to remove from the roads the reckless driver, the speed-hog, the hit-and-run motorist, and the intoxicated driver will be the granting to traffic inspectors of the power of arrest, stated the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) in a talk to traffic inspectors of the Christchurch City Council. Mr Semple said he intended to grant this power to traffic inspectors so that they could deal with those motorists who had so little appreciation of their responsibilities as road users that they would take charge of a motor-car while full of alcohol.

Maori Centenarian The 100th birthday of a Maori woman, Mrs George Hetet, was celebrated at Te Kuiti pa recently. Her family of 10 daughters and one son are still alive, and her living descendants total 483. Among messages received was one from the Minister for Native Affairs (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). Mrs Hetet’s father went to the King Country early in 1836, living first in the Pironga district. There he was married to a chieftainess, a relation of that redoubtable warrior, Rewi Maniapoto. Mrs George Hetet was bom on March 24, 1837, a record of her birth being inscribed in an old family Bible still in the possession of the family. Her husband died eight years ago. She is in possession of all her faculties. Sea Lion 111-treated “Sammy,” Dunedin’s second sea lion, is again in the news. The inspector of the Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mr J. J. Hinchcliff) reported at the society!s monthly meeting that a justified complaint of ill-treatment had been received. On April 2, the day before the Macandrew Bay Gala Day, the sea lion was brought by car from Harrington Point to Macandrew Bay, and placed in an enclosure with the idea of commercializing the animal. A complaint had been made and the animal was released, but the sea lion refused to leave the vicinity, and an Alsatian dog began to annoy it. The man was informed that he was liable to a heavy fine, and had eventually returned “Sammy” to Harrington Point. After discussion, the chairman (Mr Crosby Morris) said that if the sea lion had been returned to Harrington Point no action could be taken.

Illness of the Pope “Although the Holy Father suffered intensely throughout, it was a matter of amazement to all in close touch with him how his Holiness was able to follow international events so closely,” said the Rev. Dr Buxton, of Auckland in speaking of the Pope’s address at the Catholic Press Week in Rome last May. Dr Buxton, who returned from abroad by the Aorangi, was a delegate at the assembly. “His Holiness was obviously inconvenienced, and suffered from lack of breath when he entered the hall in the Vatican to address the assembled delegates,” said Dr Buxton. “It was some time before he could proceed with his address, but nevertheless he spoke in a very strong voice for over half an hour. On that occasion the general appearance of his Holiness gave rise to many fears, and it was thought that it might be his last public appearance.” Dr Buxton said the Pope shortly afterwards went to Castel del Golfo, his summer residence, and it was after his return to the Vatican that his severe illness was announced. Placement Service Picture With the twofold object of bringing home to the .general public still further the work being done by the State placement service, and of extending its sphere of usefulness, a talking picture is at present in course of production at the Government studios at Miramar. When completed, it will be about 3000 feet in length, and will be distributed throughout New Zealand. It will not be a collection of pictures having very little relation, and joined together in slip-shod fashion. Indeed, the aim is to produce something well worth while and to present on the screen graphically the difference between work and no work, and the part played by the placement service and it" officers in finding work for the unemployed, the whole being woven into i story. The film has the approval of the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), who, incidentally, figures in the film. The equipment at the Government studios was added to for the purpose of the picture, which, it is hoped, will be completed very shortly. A Gallic Gesture

Wellington wresting enthusiasts at the Wellington Town Hall one evening recently (says The Dominion), were profoundly shocked to see a burly, battered and bleeding Australian mat man, winner of one of the amateur contests in the intercolonial test match, rush at his defeated, and also bleeding, opponent and imprint an affectionate kiss on his grimy cheek. This breach of mat tradition took place at the close of a particularly hard-fought bout, in which both contestants had suffered split eye-brows and were in consequence blood-stained and weary by the time the gong brought them respite. There was a tense pause while the judges passed in their decisions; then the winner was announced. Swept off his feet, perhaps, by the sweetness of victory, he cantered across the ring and embraced the New Zealander, who was too surprised to put up much resistance. The gesture was greeted by cat-calls from ringside wags. “00, la, la! C’est I’amour!” shouted someone. “Wrestling gets more like boxing every year!” complained another.