TEMUKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20898, 30 November 1937, Page 3

TEMUKA

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE

FINDING OF BLIND SHRIMPS

Scientific Investigation into the life and habits of the blind variety of subterranean shrimp (Phreatoicus assimllis) has during the last two years been considerably assisted by the discovery of specimens in and around the Temuka district. Acknowledgement of an exceptionally large collection from a well on the property of Mr W. Scully, Tripp’s Settlement, was received yesterday by Mr F. W. Pellett, the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society’s ranger, who has been working in conjunction with Professor G. E. Nicholls, of the Department of Biology in the University of Western Australia. The search for specimens on the part of Mr Pellett started as the result of a visit by Professor Nicholls two years ago. On that occasion blind shrimps raised from the pump in the hatchery grounds at Temuka were given to the visitor, and one further shrimp was secured during his stay in the town. Others were subsequently collected by Mr Pellett and forwarded to the University of Western Australia, but five months ago the largest collection yet secured came from Mr Scully’s property. Writing of the remarkable number of Assimllis (the blind species) contained in Mr Scully’s find, Professor Nicholls states; “I could hardly believe my eyes. I feel sure that never before had so large a collection of that species been seen at one time; but the tube contained also some Amphipods and two or three Cruregens. These latter I had never seen, although Dr. Chilton (a scientist formerly in charge of the Department of Biology at Canterbury College) says they have been taken at Eyreton.” From Professor Nicholl’s letter it becomes apparent that a further valuable contribution to the study of the subterranean shrimp has been made by South Canterbury by the provision of specimens of Cruregens. In regard to Assimilis, the letter received yesterday states that further shrimps forwarded by Mr Pellett had been correctly identified and had proved valuable acquisitions. So far, Professor Nicholls stated, he had not seen a female of that variety and evidently they were very rare as Dr. Chilton saw only one. A HOT DAY GARDENS AFFECTED Eighty-nine degrees in the shade is not a temperature likely to be experienced without leaving some effects on the countryside. When it follows a prolonged period of dry weather the ill effects are likely to be greater. Such was the case on Saturday, when the thermometer reading was the highest experienced for several years. Strawberry gardens, which were just coming fully in profit, suffered extensively, the fruit that had ripened that day being severely burned. The more delicate varieties of flowers were also bleached and withered and even vegetables such as garden turnips, lettuces and radishes suffered a scorching. As might have been expected, the domain baths proved a popular rendezvous for the young people. Four hundred and ninety-seven people went there for a swim last week, the caretaker stated yesterday, and of the total 320 used the baths on Saturday. The figures are a record for one day during the period that there has been a caretaker in charge of the baths. PICNIC WEEK SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTINGS .. PLANNED During this week the annual picnics of the Temuka Sunday Schools and the St. Joseph’s Parochial School are to be held. For the first time since their inception the church picnics will be held on a Saturday, but the St. Joseph’s authorities have adhered to the first Thursday of December and a special train will take the picnickers to Timaru. One of the features of the Sunday School picnics this year will be their nearness to the town. It will therefore be possible for people engaged In business to reach the picnic grounds comparatively soon after the shops close. The furthest out of town will be the Anglican picnic, on Mr G. McCullough's property, on the Kakahu road, and that will be scarcely* more than three miles from Temuka. The Methodist Sunday School will visit Lyon’s Bush, at Epworth, the Presbyterians will again use one of Mr W. J. Lyon's paddocks on the west bank of the Temuka River, near the Manse Bridge, and the Salvation Army will be located at the Bramwell Booth Home grounds, wnile the Temuka Mission are to use the domain. TENNIS HILTON DEFEATS CLANDEBOYE Playing at the Clandeboye courts on Saturday last, in the Temuka Town and Country Tennis Association’s B competition, Hilton defeated

Clandeboye by 13 sets to three. The results were (Hilton names first) Women’s Singles—Miss E. Friend beat Miss N. Brownlee 6-2, Miss B. Meredith beat Miss E. Boocock 6-0, Mrs B. Patrick lost to Mrs G. Symons 5-6, Miss G. Brenton beat Miss W. Livesey 6-4. Men’s Singles—R. Meredith beat M. Boocock 6-3, P. Brenton lost to A. Donehue 5-6, A. Johnson beat G. Symons 6-1, R. Brenton beat P. Hickey 6-2. Women’s Doubles—Misses Friend and Meredith beat Misses Brownlee and Boocock 6-2, Mrs Patrick and Miss Brenton lost to Mrs Symons and Miss Livesey 3-6. Men’s Doubles—P. Brenton and Meredith beat Boocock and Donehue 6-4, Johnson and R. Brenton beat Symons and Hickey 6-0. Mixed Doubles—Miss Friend and Meredith beat Miss Brownlee and Boocock 6-3, Miss Meredith and Brenton beat Miss Boocock and Donehue 6-3, Mrs Patrick and Johnson beat Mrs Symons and Symons 6-0, Miss Brenton and R. Brenton beat Miss Livesey and Hickey 6-4. PERSONAL Mr A. W. McDougall. Dunedin, spent the week-end in Temuka. Mr T. G. Cutler, Davey Street, who has been visiting Waimate, returned home yesterday. SWIMMING HANDICAPS DECLARED The handicapper of the Temuka Swimming Club (Mr S. B. Reid) has declared the following handicaps for the weekly meeting:— Seniors 50 Yards Free Style—First heat; J. Keys (go), F. Smith (2), G. Benbow (5), D. Jackson (5), and H. McMillan (9). Second heat: N. Baxter (go), T. Hansen (3), I. Surridge (5), and A. Solomon (9). Third heat: R. Opie (go), G. Dwan (go), W. Watson (4), J. Boyle (6), W. Shand (9), and R. Lee (9) 100 Yards Breaststroke—N. Baxter (go), F. Smith (go), H. McMillan (2), W. Shand (2), H. Cornwell (5), J. Boyle (10) D. Jackson (10). Intermediate 50 Yards Free Style—R. Keys (go), W. McKenzie (5), G. Leonard (6), R. Jones (8), J. Cornwell (12). Juniors 25 Yards Free Style—First heat: G. McKenzie (go), E. Shepherd (2), J. Searle (2), D. Davis (-2), J. Shepherd (7). Second heat: A. Hayhurst (go), G. Frisby (go), J. Hughes (go), H. Longson (4), S. Martin (4), and N. Findlay (4). Women 25 Yards Free Style—A. Moffat (go), N. de Joux, (go), D. .Denison (4), R. Austin (4), and G. Edgeler (8). Procter’s, the Opticians, Christchurch, will be making their next professional visit to Temuka early in the New Year, when they may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Temuka Hotel. Appointments can now be made by ringing the UF.S. Dispensary, ’phone 240 M