In the News

Southland Times, Issue 25548, 16 December 1944, Page 4

In the News

Stewart Island Service According to advice received by Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., from the Minister of Marine, Mr O’Brien, the indications are that unless bad weather is experienced the Wairua will be ready to take over the Bluff-Stewart Island service next Saturday. The Wairua, which will have accommodation for 358 passengers, is at present being fitted out for the service. Sneak Thief Active A sneak thief is again at work in the suburbs of Invercargill and several cases have been reported to the police. People are warned to keep valuables in a safe place because articles have been removed from front rooms while the owners have been in other parts of the house. A member of the detective force stated yesterday that anyone found in suspicious circumstances should be detained, even though a plausible tale might be told. New Testaments Presented A total of 364 copies of the New Testament had been presented by the Bible Society of Otago and Southland to pupils leaving the town schools, said the Rev. Hugh Graham at the break-up ceremony of the North School yesterday. Seventeen had been presented at Waikiwi, 53 at North, 53 at Waihopai, 35 at Middle and 206 at the Tweed Street Intermediate School. The society had collected £7OO for the fund to supply copies to soldiers and schools last year and this year £9Ol had been collected. Business of Parliament The House of Representatives sat for more hours this year than it has done since 1936. The session began on February 22 and ended yesterday, with two adjournments intervening, the second of these being comparatively short. The total days occupied were 298, but the House met on only 91 of these in 25 sitting weeks. A total of 546 hours 37 minutes were occupied by the sittings, giving a daily average of six hours one minute. Fifty-three public Bills were introduced, of which 48 were passed. The House divided on 45 occasions on these or other business. There were 127 petitions presented and select committees reported on 158 matters. (P.A.). Dog Trials Popular Visitors to the Winton show appeared to be more interested in the dog trials held throughout the day than, they were in the jumping competitions, stated Mr J. A. Edwards at a meeting of the committee of the Gore A. and P. Association yesterday. Mr Edwards said that the site of the showgrounds gave the patrons an excellent view of the trials, as well as of the competitions. The claps, he said, were mostly for the dogs when they executed some pretty work, but there were very few for the horses. Although he was specially interested in dogs, said Mr Edwards, he would recommend that, if grounds could be made available, dog trials should be conducted all day at the next Gore show. Praise for Press Appreciation of the work of the Press in its reporting of the Gore A. and P. Show was expressed by the president of the association (Mr J. L. Elder) at a meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon. Mr Elder said he was pleased with the filip given to the association’s activities. A balance sheet submitted by the secretary (Mr A. W. Cooper) showed an estimated profit of £63/7/6. The gate takings amounted to £343/7/6 and the entry fees to £lOB/8/2. The estimated profit was an increase of £5 on that of last year. In praising the work of members of the committee, Mr Elder said he had heard commendations from visitors from various districts. After the war, he said, the activities of the association would be extended tremendously. It might happen that the ground space, would be increased and the aim was to increase the present membership from 800 to 1000. “I hope the Press will continue to help us in the future,” he said.