NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 109, 1 February 1935, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Municipal Rolls The main roll of Wellington Municipal electors, compiled in connection with the local elections to take place in May, closed on January 17. Those electors who wish to exercise their franchise on that occasion should note that the supplementary roll is now being compiled. Vacancies in Ohiro Home. “We have room for 15 or 20 additional inmates, at the Ohiro Home,” said Mr. G. Petlierick, chairman of the relief committee, when speaking at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board. “The average is down, and it would be better for needy, old people to be at the home than knocking about the city from pillar to post.” Discretion the Better Part —” Unusual candour on tlie part of a youthful offender at the Dunedin Police Court caused some amusement. The lad who wits charged with setting off fireworks in a public place, stated that he had just bought the sandcrackers and had thrown only one near a passer-by when he was approached by a constable in plain clothes. “I thought he was a friend of the girl at whose feet I had thrown :the cracker,” added the witness naively, “and I did not wait.” Penguins Increasing.

Visitors to some of the smaller bays on Banks Peninsula during the past few weeks have noticed a large number of penguins and it is believed that these sen birds are increasing in numbers. The penguins mostly nest in cavities in the rocks and in bushes near the shore, but sometimes they are to be found a fairly long distance from the sea. After dusk they leave their nests to go in search of fish and they are wonderfully quick in swimming after their prey. Studying the habits of these quaint birds is an interesting occupation for a person on holiday.

“Bachelor Flats.” The urgent need in Wellington of suitable dwellings for single people was stressed by Mr. N. C. Ilaigh. A.R.1.8.A., in a lecture to the conference of the New Zealand branch of the Royal Sanitary Institute yesterday. ■What were called in some quarters “Bachelor Flats” would, if controlled in a proper manner, undoubtedly supply a very urgent need, he said. The flats could be run for the various classes of the community and for the different sexes, those for young people being run more on the hotel system.

Half-mile Ocean Swim. ■ A half-mile open water race, from Seatoun wharf to Worser Bay, was held under the control of the Worser Bay Swimming and Life-Saving Club. The race was held in a heavy northerly, with a following sea. Splendid handicapping by Mr. W. H. Gerrie resulted in a very close finish, the whole 16 starters finishing within 35 yards of each other. The result was as follows: J. Horrax (70sec.) and C. Jones (39 sec.), dead-heat for first; C. McKnight (150 sec. close up third. Another race recently held by the club resulted as follows: Second distance, Lynam Cup, boys under 14 years, 50 yards: J. Flans (scr.), 1; Di Leary (Ssec.), 2; R. Hill (2see.), 3. An Oasis. “Two shandies, please—we're very dry.” As a shilling rang on the bar counter of a North Canterbury hotel, in a district where the drought is at its worst, that order was given a day or so ago, not by two thirsty men of the earth, but by two young women cyclists who were passing that way on tour. Taken somewhat by surprise and in circumstances not usual for that part of the world, for the girls were clad in red shorts and open-necked khaki shirts, the publican met the situation handsomely. “And your very best health, young ladies,” he beamed as he delivered to his fair customers two cooling tankards with handles at their sides.

Timo on the West Coast. Moana, Ruru and Te Kinga are three small settlements on the West Coast situated along a distance of only a few miles of the main railway line to Christchurch. But when it is midday in Moana (so it is stated locally) it is 12.30 p.m. in Ruru and 1 p.m. in Te Kinga. And all the clocks are right. Daylight saving is responsible for this amusing situation. In the West Coast sawmilling centres daylight is valuable, and years ago, long before Sir Thomas Sidey succeeded with his legislation, these sawmilling settlements had their daylight saving schemes. But the initiative was taken independently and apparently, there has been no- attempt to equalise the amount of time advanced as between the different centres.