TOWN AND COUNTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19841, 16 May 1927, Page 10

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NOTES FROM AFAR Establishing Oyster Beds. The Buller Acclimatisation Society has been in communication with the Chief Inspector of Fisheries in reference to the establishment of oyster beds, and the introduction of quinnat salmon. In regard to the former, the advices received were to the effect that, as the establishment of these beds was expensive nothing could be done. The Marine Department, however, inutends to make an inspection of the Buller River with a view to ascertaining its suitability for quinnat. Railway Work.

Work at the Middleton railway yards is almost completed, the signalling apparatus being now in course of construction (states the Lyttelton Times). The completion of the general work will mean that about 40 or 50 men will be put off as there is nothing more for them to do on the railways. These men were told some time ago to endeavour to get other employment if possible. Extensive alterations to the Christchurch yard may be put in hand shortly and proposals for alterations to the lay-out at Lyttelton have also been approved. .Until authority to spend the money comes to hand however, neither of these works can be started. Harbour

A comprehensive and detailed plan and chart of all lands and waters under the control of the Otago Harbour Board has been carefully preparer;! by the board’s officers, and is being issued for distribution in all parts of the world. For many years only sectional plans were available, and the ne.d for a birds’ eye survey of the whole harbour and its environs from the ocean to the city wharf front, has been great. The new plan is neat and of a handy size. It contains full information for mariners an.d authorities, and the channel from outside the Heads to the city is traced in blue. Copies are being posted to chambers of commerce and port and shipping authorities throughout the world. Timaru Vandals Busy.

Numerous acts of vandalism, which would gain the perpetrators most serious punishment, were discovered a few days ago by the Timaru borough engineer, Air O. Fox, while inspecting the water pace which conveys the town water supply to the reservoirs (says the Herald). In several places rifle bullets had penetrated the flumes, and in a manner which showed that the damage was done as a result of target practice and done deliberately. In another section of the race a big boulder had been rolled down the hillside and. besides causing damage and a blockage, necessi tato.fi some hours of work to remove it. Several of the locks, which are opened when the men are working in the race to divert the water into the gullies had also been removed. The Reverse of Pleasant.

To drive three-quarters of a mile along a railway bridge, and find that an engine was approaching anil have to reverse over the whole distance again wps the unenviable experience of Mr J. L. Passmore whilst motoring from Christchurch recently in company with three other members of the Otago Motor Club. When entering on the Rakaia bridge, Mr Passmore had no means of knowing that a train was coming in the opposite direction, and the first in, di cat on he had of the fact was the headlight of the engine glaring on him, the lights of the town of Rakaia having previously made the engine’s light difficult to distinguish. Mr Passmore mentioned this incident at the Otago Motor Club’s meeting recently, and said that on this bridge, as well as that over the Waitaki, conditions after dark were particularly trying for motorists. Enthusiastic Jazz Devotees.

The peaceful calm of the small town of Gore was broken on a recent Sunday night by a band of young persons of both sexes who stationed themselves under the traffic bridge and sought to frighten the good people who wore passing overhead on their way hqme from church by making a variety of weird jazz noises. The ‘concert’ did not meet with the approval of some, and a constable was summoned, but apparently the young men had a presentiment of what was about to happen, for they decamped, leaving their fair companions to fend for themselves. Casting dignity to the winds the latter rushed in headlong flight towards the river and, in desperation, plunged into the icy water, evidently thinking that the representative of the law would desist from further pursuit. Not so, however, for although he did not follow immediately in their footsteps the constable, on his arrival at the bank, revealed a degree of patience that was proof against the combined entreaties of those in distrss. The inevitable happened. The young woman capitulated, and at last accepted defeat. They were escorted to the police station, but on arrival there they refused to divulge the names of the young men who had been associated with them in their foolish enterprise, and the responsibility of unearthing these “heroes” now rests upon the police themselves.

Opening the Season! There is at least one sportsman in Dunedin who w’ill not forget the opening of the 1927 season (states the Otago Daily Times). He was shooting over an East Taieri swamp last week and had wounded a swan which immediately made for the middle of a lagoon nearby. He was about to give the bird the second barrel when he saw another man approaching, apparently after the same swan, and he accordingly held his fire. The other man, however, was not so accommo'dating, and blazed away, with the result that the first sportsman received several pellets through the shoulder of his coat. Ho called out to the careless one, who, despite the warning, again fired, and this time sportsman number one had his forehead grazed by one shot, and received another in the forefinger of the right hand. Somewhat alarmed, he approached the arrant gunman before he had time to reload, and gave vent to a few pithy remarks on the subject of careless shooting. The other man, who by this time was abnost as alarmed as the man he had unwittingly shot, excused,’ himselT on the plea that he was too excited to notice where he was firing, and his offer to pay doctor’s expenses and to make any amends within his power brought the affair to an amicable settlement.