In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24862, 30 September 1942, Page 4

In the News

Albatross Takes Off A good take-off was made yesterday by the albatross which made a forced landing on a Charlton farm at the end of last week. The bird was taken to the top of a rise and launched into the wind. When last seen it was heading for the sea. It is thought, from the size of the bird, that it was only a youngster, and this probably accounted for it being blown so far inland . Boys’ Reading Tastes Changes in reading tastes among secondary school boys were briefly referred to by Dr G. H. Uttley at yesterday’s meeting of the Invercargill Rotary Club. Classic authors like Scott and Dickens were formerly very popular with boys, even in the sixth standard, said Dr Uttley, but today their works were hardly touched even in secondary schools. At the same time he thought that the boys’ taste in reading had improved wonderfully. They were more interested in things of the day—in books on political and social problems and in books by outstanding scientific men. The Southland Boys’ High School kept a record of the school library, and the last return he had showed borrowings of something like 60 per cent, nonfiction to 40 per cent, fiction. Classes of boys went regularly to the school library to browse among the books. Chimney Fires Householders whose chimneys catch fire are liable to be prosecuted, and in future action will be taken by the police in cases where it is deemed to be justified. In announcing this yesterday, Police Inspector H. Martin said it was not right that the fire brigade should be called out at all hours of the day and night to suppress chimney fires. Persons who had been living in houses for any length of time should see that their chimneys were cleaned. May be Cut Down The belt of tall pine trees on the eastern side of Kelvin street by Queen’s Park may be removed. According to a report presented by the Reserves Committee to the City Council at its meeting last night, the officer in charge of the city’s reserves, Mr W. Stapleton, has been asked to report on the matter. The committee stated that the timber would be available for box-making for war purposes and the removal of the trees would permit the passage of sunlight to residents in the locality. Shelter already existed in the high macrocarpa hedge. End of “Penny Horribles” Commercial libraries have created a demand among readers for better-class books, and they have practically put an end to the sale of the cheaper types of weekly periodicals, said Mr W. A. Purvis in a talk to members of the Invercargill Rotary Club yesterday. Mr Purvis said it was generally thought that the advent of commercial libraries would have reduced the sale of books, but this was not the case. There was a greater demand for books today than ever before in the Dominion’s history, and the libraries appeared to have created a demand for a better class of reading. Some years ago a tremendous business had been done by newsagents in . cheap weekly periodicals, commonly known as “penny horribles,” sold at about threepence an issue. The commercial libraries lent their books at threepence each, and the “penny horrible” trade was now a thing of the past. The reader’s taste had been improved, and if he came across an exceptional book in a library he often bought it for his own bookshelf or for a present for one of his friends. Offer of Assistance In order to help to overcome the serious shortage of farm labour five men who are accustomed to the care of stock have offered to give up their week-ends to help with lambing and the subsequent marking and tailing of them. The offer was made to the district man-power officer, Mr S. C. Bingham, who immediately communicated with the secretary of the Southland Primary Production Council, Mr A. L. Adamson. The men have offered to pay their wages direct to the patriotic fund and are able to provide their own transport. Some time ago another offer was made by four experienced townsmen to prepare or sow essential crops. In both cases the offer was entirely spontaneous. Tramway Revenue The revenue of the city tramways for August amounted to £2194 compared with £1824 for August 1941, an increase of £370. In August 1940 the revenue was £l9lB. Concession fares accounted for 68.57 per cent of the revenue last month and cash fares for 31.43 per cent. In August 1941 the percentages were 71.50 and 28.50 respectively. The number of passengers carried last month was 272,881, compared with 227,934 in August 1941, an increase of 44,947. For the period April 1 to August 31 revenue was £10,623. Compared with £9138 for the corresponding period last year and £9249 for the corresponding period of 1940. Theft of Petrol The loss of another drum of petrol, containing six gallons, from the shed on Queen’s Park golf links is reported by the Invercargill police. That makes a total of 20 gallons of petrol and 20 gallons of power kerosene stolen from the club’s stores of fuel oil at the weekend. Refuse Collection The failure to collect refuse in the Gladstone and North Invercargill areas recently with the result that the refuse bins were out on the streets over the week-end was explained in a report presented to the City Council at its meeting last night by the assistant city inspector, Mr A. McCallum. This stated that the refuse collector for Gladstone and North Invercargill had ceased work without notice. A lorry was requisitioned and three days’ work completed in two days. There had been some comment about the use of an open lorry, but that was only a temporary arrangement to catch up with the work. Another refuse collector for Gladstone and North Invercargill had now been engaged.