In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23681, 2 December 1938, Page 8

In Town And Out

Sealing of Bluff Road The application of the first coat of tar to the five-mile stretch of road from Bluff to Greenhills has now been completed and a smooth, dust-free surface is available to motorists. When the surface has been fully bituminized the first stage in providing a sealed surface from Invercargill to the port wi'l have been completed. More Warm Weather

Yesterday was again very warm in Invercargill with a shade temperature exceeding 70 degrees and high humidity. The evening was also very warm and sultry. The weather has been hot in Gore also during the last few days and the shade temperature was 75 degrees yesterday. Invercargill Aerodrome

Delay in connecting Invercargill with the main trunk air mail route was mentioned by the chairman (Mr G. M. Broughton) at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland Progress League. It was important, he said, that Invercargill should be connected with the air mail service as soon as possible. Mr A. W. Hamilton remarked that a start had not yet been made with the buildings. It was decided to write. to the Invercargill City Council inquiring what the present position of the work on the aerodrome was, and what was still to be done to put the aerodrome in a proper condition for the establishment of the air service. Inward Overseas Mails

No fewer than three Empire and Australian mails will arrive in Invercargill during Christmas week, and English papers and American mails will be arriving on December 26. Australian and Empire mails will arrive frqm the Maunganui on December 18, the Awatea on December 21 and the Wanganella on December 22. Visit To Lake Te Anau

A party of 20 members of the Invercargill Rotary Club is to go to Lake Te Anau tomorrow to spend a “get together” week-end. The party will include the president, Mr W. H. • Boyes, and the vice-president, Mr J. D. Campbell. I Post Office Business Throughout the year postal business has been growing and it is expected that the Post Offices of the Dominion will this Christmas have increased figures for all departments. An estimate of the number of letters likely to be posted in time to be delivered in England before Christmas places the figure at not less than 900,000. A big increase in the volume of telephone 'and telegraph traffic is also expected. Crooners and “Croonettes”

A quip made by.' Dr James Lyon, examiner for the Trinity College of Music, London, in an interview in Christchurch has had reverberations in other parts of the world. Dr Lyon passed the remark that “the crooner was the lowest form of life” and he is now receiving cuttings from newspapers abroad carrying cartoons based on the statement. On his arrival in Invercargill yesterday Dr Lyon said the latest development in the type of music he had derided was that they had “croonettes” which were apparently the female of the species.

Assistance Given By Press The manner in which the New Zealand newspapers co-operate with the Post Office in keeping the public advised about changes in postal routine and other matters of interest about the business of the Post Office was commended yesterday by the Chief Postmaster at Invercargill (Mr H. Miller). The publicity given to interesting features of the work of the Post Office was, he said, of great assistance to the public, as well as making easier the task of postal officials. This opinion had been confirmed, he added, by a visitor from Canada who had told him that he had to come to New Zealand to discover that a change in mails service had been made some time before in Canada. Neither the Press of Canada nor the Press of the United States of America gave publicity to the work of the Post Office, and the visitor had stated that he was very impressed by the manner in which the public of the Dominion was assisted by both the Press and the Post Office.

Minister’s Attitude Appreciated Appreciation of the comments of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) on Stewart Island was expressed by Mr A. S. Russell at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland Progress League. “I think a letter should be written to Mr Parry expressing the league’s gratification at his attitude on conserving the natural beauties of Stewart Island,” he said, “and his intention to eradicate deer and rats—especially the rats. He is the first Minister who has taken any notice of the rats.” It was decided to thank Mr Parry for his interest in the island. ■

Air Force Courts-Martial Powers to convene general courtsmartial should such an occasion arise, are conferred by the Governor-General on the Chief of the Air Staff in a notice appearing in last night’s Gazette. Authority is also granted the Chief of the Air Staff to depute officers of the Air Force not below the rank of squadron leader also to convene such courts-martial.—Press Association.

Gaming Charge Four men accused of gaming offences were fined amounts totalling £55 in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt yesterday.—Press Association.

Addresses On Afforestation At last night’s meeting of the executive of the Southland Progress League it was decided to invite Messrs N. J. Dolamore (Conservator of State Forests) and B. P. Mansfield (superintendent of the City Reserves Department) to address the February meeting of the executive on the subject of afforestation for farmers.