The whole section of railway line from Houipapa to Tahakopa - 18 miles - was yesterday formally handed over by the Public Works Department to the Railway Department, and declared open for traffic by the Minister of Public Works.
The local people were fully alive to the significance of the event, and with the assistance of a large and representative gathering from Dunedin, they took care to mark the occasion with fitting ceremony.
The special train engaged by the Catlins-Tahakopa Railway League left Dunedin at 5 minutes past 8, and reached its destination at Tahakopa about a quarter to 1.
The train consisted of the Ministerial carriage, two other special reserved carriages, and five carriages for the public, which were rapidly filled up at Balclutha and the stations beyond.
The bush country on the branch line, lighted up by wandering gleams of sunshine, was greatly admired by the passengers, and brilliant patches of mistletoe and rata added much to the beauty of the effect.
The platforms of all the stations beyond Owaka were crowded with settlers, and at Tahakopa a gathering of some 300 or 400 people awaited the arrival of the train.
In all some 70 guests of the league were taken from Dunedin, and about 30 more joined the party at Balclutha.
Among the distinguished visitors were the Hons. W. Fraser (Minister of Public Works) and James Allen (Minister of Finance and Defence) and the Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.
Mr George Aitcheson, the Holstein breeder at Kaitangata, has recently received from the Holstein Friesian Association of New Zealand two gold medals won by two of his cows in connection with semi-official tests conducted under the supervision of the Agricultural Department (writes our correspondent).
Mr Aitcheson's Gladys II, which wins the medal in the junior three-year-old division, was the first Holstein to receive a certificate of merit from the department, and has held pride of place against all comers since the inauguration of the butter-fat test system.
Her record for 304 days was 15,788lb of milk and 614lb of butter-fat.
The vexed question of sun-bathing on the sands of Caroline Bay, Timaru, has not been settled by the erection of the small yard placed at the disposal of persons who enjoy the sun's rays equally with the pleasure of dipping in the Pacific.
Bathers complain that the fenced-in space provided by the Borough Council for sun-bathing is too small for the large number who desire ''browning'', and they state that there is no reason why sun-bathing should not be indulged in on the open beach.
On Sunday morning about 30 male bathers combined to test their rights in sun-bathing on the open beach and partook of the much-discussed pleasure on a stretch of sand to the north of the ropes.
The caretaker reminded the bathers of existing regulations, but without avail, and the sun-bathers spread themselves to the health-giving rays to their hearts' content, afterwards having their dip.
Names were taken with a view to court proceedings, the bathers, it is said, having a legal opinion that the by-law is faulty.
A good many on-lookers expressed the opinion that they could see no reason why sun-bathing should not be allowed on the open beach if conducted as it was on Sunday, boys and men being by themselves. - ODT, 5.2.1915.
