In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23715, 13 January 1939, Page 8

In Town And Out

The Homer Tunnel

Although the tunnellers employed by A. J. Downer and Co., contractors for the Homer Tunnel, were kept steadily at work through the holidays, the main body of men employed by the Public Works Department did not resume until Wednesday. The tunnellers maintained an average of more than 40 feet a week during the holidays, which is the best progress that has been made to date. The inflow of water which was experienced a month or two ago continues at the rate of about 10,000 gallons an hour, but it is well under control and is not holding the work up m any way. First Shipment of Lamb

At present loading at Bluff, the Port Auckland will carry away the first of this season’s consignment of lambs. The lambs are in excellent condition and on the smaller number of lambs the meat wagons are holding compared with this time last year the average weight must be considerably higher.

Visit of H.M.S. Leith

A cricket match between the ship’s company of H.M.S. Leith, which will arrive at Bluff on Wednesday, and a team selected by the Southland Cricket Association, will be played on Thursday. In the evening members of the ship’s company will take part in events at the senior championship carnival held by the Southland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. At Bluff the same night there will be a welcome dance to the visiting Sanders Cup crews and delegates, and the ship’s company will be invited to attend. For the officers golf, tennis and fishing have been arranged. Men in uniform will be carried free on trams in Invercargill and will also be admitted free to the picture theatres of Invercargill and Bluff. The imperial escort vessel will be in Bluff for three days and 'will be open to the public each afternoon. Young Bandsmen

In response to an invitation to boys and youths to enrol as members of the Gore Municipal Band, the newlyappointed bandmaster (Mr C. Miller) and other members of the band have received numerous inquiries from young enthusiasts and more than 3G boys attended the first learners’ class. This has shown that if a boys band were to be formed it would provide, an excellent organization from which to recruit the senior band. The chief problem at present, however, is the shortage of instruments. New Aerodrome

The recently completed aerodrome at Whareroa, Tauranga, is to be officially opened tomorrow by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). The Minister will leave Wellington by air this afternoon and will return to Wellington on Sunday. He is to be accompanied by the managing director of Union Airways of New Zealand Limited (Mr N. S. Falla), the manager of Union Airways (Mr F. Maurice Clarke) and the Air Secretary (Mr T. A. Barrow).

King Slaughtering An attempt to end the ring system of slaughtering at the Westfield works, Auckland, which was the subject of a recent dispute, is obviously sought by a new definition of the chain system embodied in claims for a Dominion award lodged by the New Zealand Freezing Works and Related Trades Association .of Workers (says The Press, Christchurch). The dispute will be heard in Conciliation Council on January 31. A clause relating to “chains” reads as follows: “The term chain slaughtering shall mean and include every system whereby the killing and dressing of sheep and lambs is carried out in a series of successive operations executed by a number of slaughtermen, each \of whom is engaged on one of the' operations of the series, whatever may be the form of the system or whatever may be introduced into it.” The claims for the new award provide for a reduction of the weekly hours of work from 44 to 40, and for increases in wages of about 10 per cent.

Good Use For Old Sword A universal beating of swords into plough-shares seems to be as far off now as ever, but one Takapuna resident is showing the world a way in which they can be used for more useful and peaceful pursuits than hamstringing enemies. He was seen on his hands and knees on the lawn mowing awkward buffalo grass—the bane of so many Auckland householders —with the greatest ease. An envious neighbour could not make out what sort of sickle he was using with such powerful effect, and was surprised, on making closer investigation, to find that it was an old cavalry sword.

Pohutu Geyser Active For the first time since February 1936 the famous Pohutu Geyser, which years ago was the outstanding attraction of the Rotorua district, renewed activity early on Tuesday morning, and throughout the day gave several spectacular displays, which thrilled a big number of visitors to the reserve. The first display was given soon after daybreak, being heralded by the usual display of the Prince of Wales Feathers and reaching to a height of more than 100 ft. Almost hourly shots, of slightly lesser height occurred until 9 a.in.. after which the geyser was auiescent until 11 a.m., when more displays were given, the average height of these shots being 60ft.