In the News

Southland Times, Issue 23991, 5 December 1939, Page 8

In the News

Lizard From Lochiel A beautiful marked lizard about eight inches long, with a broad green band down its back and a darker shade on the flanks, was brought into The Southland Times yesterday by a resident of Lochiel, where it had been found. The reptile was shown to the curator of the Southland Museum (Mr J. H. Sorensen) who identified it as belonging to the genus of Lygosoma. “The characters of the genus are entirely osteological,” Mr Sorensen states, “but it is sufficient to say that all the New Zealand skinks, or true lizards, belong to it. Other members of the genus are found in Asia, Africa and North America. The common name is rock lizard and its scientific name is Lygosoma grande. It is usually found among rocks, chiefly in the southern part of the South Island. Adults measured seem to reach a maximum growth of eight to nine inches. They are described as diurnal in habit and move swiftly, so that they are difficult to catch. There are seven species in the genus of Lygosoma and in our other native genera which represent the geckoes we have seven also.”

No Enlistments Yesterday No enlistments were received yesterday at the Invercargill Drill Hall for service in the special military force.

Regimental Flag Presented The presentation of a regimental flag to the Southland Company of the first echelon of the special force was the subject of an interesting ceremony at Burnham camp last week. The flag was made by Miss Cockerell, of Invercargill, and was handed over to the company by Mr L. A. Blackmore, secretary of the Southland Territorial Force Association, Invercargill. The parade was commanded by Captain M. Rice, who received the flag on behalf of the Southland Company. The flag, which will be taken overseas with the company, was the first of any regimental colours to be flown at the field camp at Cave. North Island Stock for Show Large entries of stock from the North Island have been received for the Centennial Royal Show which will be held in Invercargill next week. The special train which will bring the stock south from Lyttelton will leave Christchurch at 11.20 a.m. on Saturday and will arrive in Invercargill at 7.25 a.m. on Sunday. It is expected that the train will be a heavy one. ‘ 1 New Bronze Coins The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) announced yesterday that supplies of the new series of New Zealand bronze coins would be issued by the Reserve Bank within the next few days. It had previously been intended by the Government that the new design would be issued for-the first time on the occasion of the centennial celebrations, but the increasing shortage of Imperial bronze coins has made it necessary to issue the new coins at an earlier date so that the public might not be inconvenienced.—Press Association. Accommodation for Visitors The appeal by the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association for offers of accommodation for visitors to the Centennial Royal Show in Invercargill next week has met with a fair response. Many offers have been received but some will have to be declined as the homes are too far from the centre of the town. Accommodation within reasonable distance of the show grounds is required. It is not expected that there will be any difficulty in meeting the demand for accommodation, however. Cause of Train Disaster An old earthquake fault in the embankment was the cause of the recent train disaster on the ChristchurchGreymouth line according to the district engineer of the Railway Department, Mr P. H. Morey, who has returned to Christchurch after inspecting the site of the crash. The heavy rain on the preceding day and night no doubt accelerated the slipping of the ground, said Mr Morey, who said the crash had not resulted from any breakdown in the automatic signalling apparatus. Discussing the plans made by the department to recover the wrecked engine, Mr Morey said that two 40-ton cranes would be taken to the site and it was hoped to have the engine back on the line in a few days.

New Type of Bath “An important development during the past year has been the demonstration of the practicability of a new type of swimming pool particularly adapted to teaching needs in the schools,” states the annual report of the New Zealand Swimming Association. “This pool, which can be installed for a fraction of the cost of an ordinary pool, has proved under severe test to be more suitable than the more costly type of bath for school purposes.” These pools, known as the “Cornwall Park” type, consist of concrete slabs fitted together above ground. All the excavation required is four or five inches for concrete foundations. The bath at Cornwall Park school, Auckland, was built at a cost of £36, and about £7O is the cost of a 25-yard bath. Full approval of this type of bath has been expressed by the Education Department.

City’s Milk Consumption The daily consumption of milk in Auckland is now approaching 20,000 gallons, and in the five years the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council has been operating the annual increase has been an average of about 250,000 gallons. The 1939 figure is 1,403,711 gallons in excess of that for the council’s first year, 1934. The increase has not been wholly due to the free issue of milk to schools or to the greater popularity of milk bars, because in 1935-36 the increase was 500,000 gallons.

Delay Causes Extra Expense “After all, this is only what is being experienced by hundreds of private firms,” stated the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr W. B. Darlow), at a meeting of the board, when the superintendent (Mr D. Holderness) referred to the extra expense that would be involved through delay in the granting of an import licence for mooring chain. Mr Holderness said that the result of the delay was that the board was able to secure little more than half its requirements, for which it must now pay 10 per cent, more than it would have been called upon to do had the matter been dealt with promptly. It was considered likely that the board would be compelled to pay still higher prices for the rest of its requirements.