In the News

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 4

In the News

Oyster Industry For the past six weeks the weather has been ideal for oystering, and dredging is in full swing. The oysters are plentiful and in excellent condition. Sterling Record Sterling balances held by the Reserve Bank were £66,555,640 at the end of July, an increase of £765,246 on the previous week’s record total. Another feature of the Reserve Bank’s return is the decline in marketing advances, which are down over £5,000,000 on the corresponding total a year ago. Whitestone River The Whitestone river, a fishing stream, has been included in the Southland acclimatization district. Advice to this effect has been received by the Southland Acclimatization Society. The boundary between the Southland and Southern Lakes Acclimatization districts will traverse the peak of Snowden and then follow the watershed between the Upukerora and Waiau rivers on the west and the Whitestone river on the east, then to Paddock Hill. Sailor’s Novel Ruse A sailor who strapped a bottle of beer to his leg underneath his trousers before going into a city dance hall and was later discovered by a constable drinking the beer in the hall, came before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., at Auckland. He was charged with unlawfully having liquor in his possession in the vicinity of a dance hall. The Magistrate, in imposing a fine of £2, remarked that apparently “bell-bottom” trousers were made for that purpose. Fish and Game Literature A suggestion by the Rev. C. J. Tocker that the Southland Acclimatization Society consider the establishment of a library of fish and game literature was adopted by the society at its meeting last night. Mr Tocker, who is a member of the council of the society, considered they should have their own library of published matter of interest to fish and game sportsmen. He offered to act as librarian and communicate with publishers overseas. ’The matter was referred to the Angling and Research Council for consideration and report.

Steamer Express The Rangatira, which is at present on the dock undergoing overhaul, will resume her running to Lyttelton from Wellington from next Monday, and the service will be back to normal next week. Arriving from Lyttelton on Sunday, the Wahine will remain in Wellington until Tuesday when she will sail at 7.30 p.m. for Lyttelton. The usual service will then run as follows: Rangatira leaving Wellington for Lyttelton on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the Wahine leaving for Lyttelton on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Only a Rumour! “Is there anything in the rumour that the society’s rangers go around the countryside firing their guns and frightening the ducks into the sanctuaries?” asked Mr W. Excell at the meeting of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night. He added that in the Nightcaps district the duck shooters had convinced themselves that such was the case. The chairman (Mr James Robertson) replied that it was only a rumour. It had been circulated in other years, but he could say that the society’s rangers had at no time been instructed to frighten the birds. Canned Southland Eel The prospect of a shipment of Southland eels being sent to the London market in the near future is not beyond the bounds of possibility. The subject was discussed at the meeting of the Southland Acclimatization Society last night, when consideration was being' given to an extensive campaign for trapping eels in Southland fishing streams. Mr J. N. Armour said he thought there was a Southland canning firm prepared to take the risk of sounding the London market with a shipment of canned eels provided arrangements could be made for the supply of eels. “It might well develop into a good business in time,” he said. The matter will probably be pursued further.

Damage to Sign-Posts Cases of damage to signposts continue to be reported to the Automobile Association (Southland). One of the latest concerns a post at the Wrey’s Bush bridge. Three of the four arms on this post have been broken off in | spite of the fact that the arms were strongly braced on to the post. The remaining arm was left pointing at an acute angle upwards. It is ’just possible that the damage was done by wandering stock, but the member of the association, who reported the case, inspected the ground round the post and could not see any sign of hoof marks. It seems more likely to be a case of that Vandalism which is a continual source of worry and expense to the association. The association’s sign post officer, Mr R. K. Hughes, is at present engaged on the work of renewing sign posts and he has little time to devote to the repair of damaged signs.. Besides, with the present shortage of petrol it is not always possible for him to make a special journey for the purpose of attending to one damaged sign.