Anyone for tennis?

Over 100 people attended the official opening of the Corporation Tennis Courts at Opoho on Saturday afternoon. Mr Tannock (president), the Rev Wallace, and Mr Dagger (a vice-president) each addressed the gathering. Mr Tannock gave a short history of the steps which had led to provision of the courts, and prophesied that before long a grass court would be added. The other speakers congratulated the residents ot Opoho upon the hearty and united manner in which they had worked to raise the funds required before the council did its part. It was reported that three trophies had been awarded to the club — one being a rose bowl from the late Mr Job Wain. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Tannock for his help in acquiring the courts. Owing to the bad weather there could not, of course, be much tennis play, but those present took advantage of the commodious pavilion to indulge in dancing. Afternoon tea was supplied and presided over by ladies and members of the club.

‘Keep back’ — ‘Come on’

Dunedin's first effort in modern traffic control was the cause of some merriment and not a little speculation last week. Anzac square was enlivened by ten gaily-painted red-and-white posts resting in old tramcar wheels. Several of them bore the mystic commands at the head of this note. To the uninitiated they were absurd and confusing, and as they were devised to direct traffic they certainly failed in their purpose. Without the aid of a good-natured policeman they would have created much confusion, but as the week wore on the riddle of the posts became less involved. Some thought had presumably been devoted in the task of diverting the traffic round the island, but the motorist met with the command "keep back" when he was merely desired to circle the island in approaching the railway station from the south was simply confused. A finger pointer would have directed him much more accurately, and if painted words were necessary an improvement on "keep back" and "come on" could easily be found. — by ‘Accellerator’

Gift to Somme battlefield poor

The Mayor of Longueval, in acknowledging the New Zealand gift of 1500 francs for the poor of Longueval, declares that "only New Zealand from all the Empire has not forgotten the unfortunate village. New Zealand was the first to deliver us from the yoke, the first to assist in rebuilding, and the first to heal the wounds of the poor abandoned commune. Our gratitude is unbounded; we will never forget the immense sacrifice of our ever-generous benefactors."

North Otago joy at rain

Since the downpour of rain on Monday this district has passed through some days of anxiety, more particularly on Thursday, when a fierce nor-wester howled across the whole countryside, scorching up the pasture and crops, and striking dismay into the hearts of agriculturalists and pastoralists, who have been scanning the heavens for months anxiously awaiting the coming of the long-delayed rain. On Friday morning the climatic conditions completely changed. A heavy misty rain blew up from the northeast, and before noon a heavy drenching rain had set in. There was no wind, and the downpour was an ideal one, coming down steadily and quietly. Rain continued to fall all Saturday, and towards evening the downpour came on very heavy, and drenching showers fell all night. The weather has now cleared, but nearly 48 hours’ rain has saved the district from drought, refreshed the whole countryside, and put new heart into the men on the land who wore despairing of the future, which if rain had not come meant disaster to many small farmers. — ODT, 30.10.1922