In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23794, 17 April 1939, Page 8

In Town And Out

Mild Autumn Month The unusual mildness of the April weather in Southland is reflected in the new growth to be seen in almost all vegetation in gardens and reserves in Invercargill. Lawns, public playing areas and bowling greens all have benefited by the warmth of the temperature and an almost total absence of stormy weather. In other years city bowling greens have been closed and surfaces topdressed by this time of the year; this year some of them are still being used for play, their surfaces being in better condition than at any other time during the season. ,

English Visitor’s Comment “We have had a very happy time here and have met with nothing but kindness and courtesy,” said Major B. E. William-Powlett, an English visitor, who has been trout-fishing in the Taupo district for six weeks, in an interview at Auckland. Major WilliamPowlett said the service at New Zealand hotels was good and they had no complaints. Meal times were perhaps not always convenient for fishermen, but that was an inconvenience they felt they had to pui up with. Imports by The Tasman

The Collector of Customs at Inverargill (Mr K. H. Smyth) has received advice that goods exported to New Zealand by the Tasman, which is scheduled to leave Singapore on June 16, will be admitted under the import licences granted for the first period of the year. Goods arriving in this vessel and written off licences granted for the first period must be included by importers in their importations before June 30 when making future applications for licences. • *

Condition of Rolling Stock > Contending that the rolling stock of the Railway Department was not in as efficient a state as it should be, Mr A. E. Bartrum suggested at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) might be asked for an assurance that the rolling stock was kept up to standard. Mr Bartrum said that there had recently been a number of minor railway accidents, but whether this was the result of inefficient equipment or not he did not know. However, it was evident to those who had any close connection with the railways that the rolling stock, including locomotives, was not in a highly efficient state. He understood that economies introduced by the last Government had not been removed. This question and one raised by Mr T. N. Gibbs—the bumps which passengers on the boat-trains to and from Lyttelton experienced during shunting at the port—were referred to the transport committee of the council. Half-Sovereign Tendered

Members of the totalizator staff at Riccarton were surprised one day last week to be offered a shining halfsovereign in payment for a 10/- ticket on a horse. Some who had been officials of the totalizator for years had difficulty in remembering the last occasion on which a gold coin had been handled there. The half-sovereign was handed to one of the women ticketsellers. She took it to the “bank”—the office where all the cash received in bets is handed in, and then passed on to the pay-out clerks as required—asking, “Can I take this for a 10/ticket?” It was accepted. In the “bank” were two bank officials. They inspected the half-sovereign with great interest, and declared that they had not seen one for years.

Prosecution of “Slow” Drivers?

The “slow” motor-vehicle driver is going to be prosecuted in the future. This is the intention of officers of the Transport Department in Christchurch. “One of our greatest problems ’during the Easter holidays,” said an inspector, “was the slow driver.” The trouble arose, he said, on many highways where drivers failed to keep up with the preceding traffic. The traffic inspectors consider that a motorist, who has a clear space in front and holds up other vehicles in his rear, is not driving with due consideration to the users of the road. In built-up areas inspectors consider that motorists should drive up to the limit of the restrictions and at greater speeds where there is no restriction. The fulfilment of this obligation is regarded as essential on any road carrying a stream of traffic. Power to prosecute drivers for the offence complained of is provided in Section 4 of the Motor-Vehicles Amendment Act, 1934.

Calf Competition Although 40 entries were received for the calf competition conducted by the Eastern Southland branch of the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs’ Association, only six entries were forward when the calves were judged by Mr C. Weir at the Gore Public School grounds. James Milne, of McNab, was awarded first prize and the next best calves were those of Alton Dickie and Lindsay Johnston. At the end of the judging Mr Weir gave an instructive talk on the features and special points of calves.

Theatre Holding Its Own

The theatre in Australia seemed to b_ holding its own, said Miss Gladys Moncrieff, the Australian soprano, who i.rrived at Wellington by the Wanganella. Before leaving Sydney she saw the “Waltz Dream” in the Theatre Royal in Sydney. It was a very beautiful show with its Strauss music. Bernice Claire, an American, and Marie Bremner had the principal parts. Jack Arthur was the male lead and Melton Moore the juvenile lead. She thoroughly enjoyed the performance. “But,” she said, “they don’t write music like that now.” . -

Cricket Ball Throwing A cricket ball throw up to world standard and better than the achievements of many of the great cricketers of the past was achieved a few days ago by R. F. Mackie, a pupil of the Wanganui Collegiate School. Mackie bettered the 32-years-old record when he threw the ball 111yds 7in, compared with E. E. H. Gilbertson’s throw of 110yds 6in at the collegiate school in 1907. Gilbertson was assisted by a strong wind. In 1886 W. G. Grace, at the Oval, made three successive throws of 116, 117, and 118yds, and then threw back more than 100yds. D. G. Foster (Warwickshire) has thrown 133yds. The outstanding record is to the credit of R. Percival, on the Durham Sands racecourse in 1884, when he threw 140yds 2ft. Ross McKenzie, when at Toronto in 1872, threw 140yds 9in.