In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 6

In Town And Out

Pigeons in the City

Whether a city gains any additional status by the presence of pigeons in its streets is doubtful, but Invercargill can now be classed among the towns of New Zealand where these friendly birds wander fearlessly among the wheels of the traffic with utter disregard for pedestrian crossings. Cathedral Square in Christchurch probably possesses the biggest population of civic pigeons in New Zealand, and Dunedin also has a colony which haunts various parts of the city. Invercargill’s pigeons, however, are few in number, but they appea:- to be in a flourishing condition, notwithstanding the apparent bareness of the bitumen roads. Medical Service at Bluff

The absence of the doctor from Bluff on two occasions each month, when he visited Stewart Island on medical duty, was mentioned at a meeting of the Bluff Borough Council. It was stated that in the event of an accident during his absence time would be lost, perhaps with serious results, before a doctor could arrive from Invercargill. It was left with the Mayor (Mr J. H. Doyle) to confer with Dr A. Ross on the subject.

Experiments in Eel Trapping Suggestions for ascertaining the extent of attacks by eels on trout were made by Mr D. Cairns, of the fisheries section of the Marine Department, in a report to the council of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. Mr Cairns suggested methods of trapping eels in controlled streams, coupled with the scale readings of trout, careful notes to be made of the density of the eel population and the effects of this campaign against eels on the numbers of trout. It was a complex programme, Mr Cairns added, but one which was expected to settle once and for all the eel-trout controversy. Mr Cairns will return in February to continue his experiments.

Good Attendances at Meetings Congratulations to members on the good attendances there had been at meetings of the council of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce during the year were offered by the chair-man (Mr J. H. Reed) at a meeting of the council of the chamber yesterday. The meeting was the last for the year and Mr Reed extended season’s greetings and best wishes to members.

Anniversary of Abdication Twelve months ago today King Edward VIII, now the Duke of Windsor, announced his renunciation of the Throne, to which he succeeded on the death of his father, King George V, on January 20, 1936. The Abdication Act, a measure to give effect to the King’s declaration and for purposes connected with it, was passed on December 11, and the following day George VI was proclaimed King. Trials of a Botanist

The arduous perseverance needed by the botanist was mentioned by Professor Arnold Wall when addressing the Auckland Botanical Society. Every summer for many years the professor has visited the Southern Alps to collect specimens and photographs. There was one plant the seed of which he was eager to obtain. Sixteen times in one summer he travelled about 60 miles north of Christchurch and climbed to a height of 6000 ft, but he never found the seed at the right stage for gathering.