The gathering of draughts players for the Town v Country match has now become a prominent feature of show week fixtures in Dunedin, and is eagerly looked forward to by a large number of country visitors. In addition to the interest attaching to the game itself, the function has a distinct social value which is now clearly recognised by the hundreds who annually attend the meetings.
The occasion forms a congenial opportunity not only for the fraternising of residents of town and country, but also of representatives of almost every district in Otago and Southland. New friendships are formed and old ones strengthened; and the assertion is freely made that the big draughts match is one of the most enjoyable events of the week.
This year's match took place in the Early Settlers' Hall on Thursday evening, when a new record for New Zealand was established, 170 players taking part in the match; and, considering population, this has never been equalled anywhere. The task of pairing so many players is no small undertaking, and was not completed until 8.30, Messrs Caldow and Murdoch (Riversdale), the respective Town and Country Captains, being assisted by Messrs Hilliker (organising secretary) and Penny (Gore). Four games were the maximum, and at 10.45 Mr Caldow (chairman) was able to announce a win for the Town, the scores being: Town, 119; Country, 111; and 57 draws.
The chairman congratulated the Country players on their excellent performance, and could only conclude that, had their full team of strong players been present, they would have turned the tables.
• Sir;-I desire to draw attention to the unsatisfactory lighting of some of the streets in the Borough of St. Kilda, and more especially to the lighting, or, rather, want of lighting, of Forbury Crescent. This is a street which should be well lit, because in wet weather it is a quagmire, and has two deep ditches running along its sides, into which unlucky pedestrians have fallen, to the injury alike of their bodies and tempers and of their clothes.
In this locality there is no light between Coughtrey and Surrey streets, and there certainly should be one light placed there to allow of footsteps being picked in clean places-if such exist,-and to permit of the avoidance of those open pitfalls.
If the lights are not strong in the locality certainly the smell arising from these open ditches sometimes is, and if a St. Kilda borough councillor chanced along this way some dark night there would be a vacancy in the council. If he was fortunate enough to survive the water and slush in the ditch it is beyond the bounds of human probability that he would survive the smell also. A few loads of gravel in this locality would be acceptable, and would prevent many a malediction being bestowed on the council. I am, etc.,Not a Mud Lark
• A Milton resident had an experience on Saturday evening which he will not be anxious to repeat (says the Bruce Herald). Whilst travelling by train from Dunedin to Milton he fell off the railway carriage platform somewhere between Henley and Titri. After executing a few undignified gyrations on the side of the railway line, he picked himself up, little the worse for his precipitation in leaving the train whilst in motion, and defiantly shook his fist at the tail-lights of the rapidly-disappearing train. He proceeded homewards by a later train, sad and sorrowful. - ODT, 8.6.1912.
