In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23392, 27 December 1937, Page 8

In Town And Out

Heavy Demand For Taxis When the rain was at its heaviest on Christmas Eve hundreds of persons sought taxi-cabs at the same time. That was at 10 o’clock, shortly after the north express arrived at the Invercargill station. The rush for cars at the station and on the various stands was a desperate one for many holidaymakers, who, struggling with luggage, risked drenchings to secure taxis. Just a few were fortunate. The others had to wait. It was a busy time for the taxi services. Practically all of the rinks had engaged extra cars and drivers, but even the augmented service was inadequate. It is unlikely that another 100 cabs would have coped with the rush at 10 o’clock. Grant For Rifle Association. The Government has decided to make a grant of £350 to the National Rifle Association towards the expenses of sending a team to Australia to compete at a meeting being organized by the New South Wales Association as part of the sesquicentenary- celebrations. This information has been received by Dr. A. F. Ritchie Crawford, president of the National Rifle Association, from the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The team of 12 men is as follows: Captain W. N. Masefield (Blenheim), captain of team, R. H. Nicholl (Petone), H. A. Cromie (Rakaia), F. Bowes (Auckland), J. C. Feast (Greytown), F. J. Jeune (Gisborne), H. V. Croxton (Karori), H. R. Hunt (Wellington), W. H. West (Blenheim). E. M. Wrigley (Masterton), J. E. Farley (Wanganui) and C. J. Nix (Featherston). Introduction of Rabbits After praising the work of the ei.’ly settlers of Southland at the unveiling of the memorial to Captain John Howell at Riverton yesterday, the leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) passed some remarks about acts that were not entirely beneficial. He remarked that the rabbits had first been introduced into New Zealand near Riverton. “I remember that my father paid 10 shillings for the first _ pair of rabbits liberated in his locality,” he said. “He thought they would do well there. And they did,” he added. Christmas Weddings. Christmas week was the choice, of 20 Invercargill brides to be married. This was two more than the number married in Christmas week in 1936. Last year, however, there were 13 marriages on the two days, preceding Christmas Day, compared with six this year. On Monday of last week there were five weddings, on Tuesday five, on Wednesday four, on Thursday four and on Friday four. Centenary Date Stamp A special hand date stamp to commemorate the Centenary of Riverton has been prepared by the Post Office and will be used between December 26 and January 8. The stamp has the words “Riverton N.Z.” in an arc at the top, the date line horizontally across the centre, and “Centenary” in an arc below the date line. Auckland and the Centaurus Passengers who travel by the Imperial Airways flying-boat Centaurus on flights following her arrival at Auckland today will have a constant reminder of the city’s association with the inaugural journey from Southampton Water to the Waitemata. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, has provided a silver plate with suitable inscription, which is to be presented to Captain J. W. Burgess at the civic reception tonight, with the request that it be affixed to some appropriate part of the vessel’s accommodation. The plate has the city’s Coat of Arms beautifully engraved upon it and beneath that the inscription: “City of Auckland—N.Z. Commemorating the inaugural flight by Imperial Airways. England-New Zealand. December 27, 1937.”