SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 34

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

iNVERCARaiLL, November 10.

With the view of solving the question alluded to in last issue, instructions have been received by Captain Neale, of the Hinemoa, now at the Blnffeu route to the islands, to capture six hair seals and try them down, so as to ascertain their value as a commei cial product. After completing the lighthouse service the steamer proceeds direct to the islands, visiting tbe Snares, Aucklands. Campbells, Antipodes, and Bounties in the round trip. The lessee of the Aucklaods has made arrangements to get his flocks shorn duiing the etay made at Fort Ross, which, consequent on the trying down operations, will be rather more lengthened than the stay usually made. It seems a pity these islauds are not put to higher practical uses than they are. Ho far as experience goes, they are good grazing country, aud it is generally anticipated the reports from the Aucklaads and Campbells will confirm that opinion. The wreckage reported to have been- brought ashore tit Puyiegur is not occasioning serious appiehenlions; still, it is.fplt.the Hinei»oa's wreck depot cruise is a timely one, and that it is just possible her visit to tue islands may throw light on the subject."

The granting of the J. G. Ward discharge in bankruptcy has occasioned the usual diverse comments. - There are those who profess to see in it an ill-fated blow at the interests of commetcial morality. The bulb of opinion seems, however, to be that it is a good riddance to what was a most unfortunate affair. The opposition offered to the discharge looked little more than halfhearted. It seemed as if the bank liquidators felt it incumbent to do something, and they did it with as good a grace as possible. Mr Ward's counsel gave the cue to the court's decision at the very outset when he interjected the remark that, under the circumstances, no jury would convict of uot having kept business books. In the interest of the discharge it was s, very happy thought and the opposing counsel wisely refrained from any attempt at combating it. Mr Ward himself was vigorous and self-assertive as ever. He is a man of indomitable pluck, and those that imagined these proceedings would occasion him a damper are grievously mistaken. A good deal of speculation is afloat a? to what new place ia commerce, ks in politics, he is likely to break out in next. Ihere is all manner of idle talk about enormous iums of money' being placed at his disposal for future operation*--, but it is only talk. Popular to admiration as Mr Ward was with the cockatoo .farmers, it has been noted, now that things are fully seen into, that he did not succeed in getting them to bite extravagantly in the matter of the association shares. The Southland settler i-i a very good fellow to deal with, but he is a trifle cautious in money matters, and if you hear it eaid that he is about to plunge into wild monetary speculations you would "do well to take the information with a grain of salt. However, rely on it we may, the Hon. J. G. Ward is not the man to remain in abeyance, and in whatever r6le he next appears there will be dash and brilliancy -about it — he will be the man of mark, but whether or not it be the mark for the prize remains to be eefn.

The grim messenger is working sad havoc amongst the real old identity. If not in twos and threet, they are at all events passing the Valley of Shadows into the diu>t of deatii in rapid succession, Last week no fewer than four returned to mother earth. Poor old Major Aitkeason, at one time well and favourably known in Dunediu, made the last all suddenly, although perhaps not unexpectedly. For some years past he had lived in luvercargill in comparative retirement. He retained his kindly, genial disposition to the last, and no reverse in circumetinces caused him to neglect the true principle* of a gentleman »nd a soldier. A well-conducted militai-y funeral was- ace -rded his remains on Sunday. The weather for the time being was fair, and the solemnities of the occasion were witnessed by a large turn-out of spectators. Lieutenant-colonel Thomson took command of the military operations, funeral music being supplied by the Garrison Band.

Tuesday (the Prince of Wales Birthday) was well observed as a close holiday. The weather was bluff and blustering, but upon the whole, as ■weather now goes, it was fine. For holiday-mak-ing, the Bluff and western districts were the chief centres of attraction. The railway did business largely in excess of the ordinary traffic. Four hundred and forty travelled to the Bluff, 260 to AVinton, 350 to Colac Bay, 77 to Orepuki, and 74 to Riverton.

The funeral of the late Dr Thomas Jeffrey Parker, Professor of Biology at the Otago University, took place at Warrington on Tuesday, a large number of the deceased's friends going out by train from Dunedin to-attend* the funeral. Shortly after the arrival of the train at Warrington a service was held in the church, the Rev. Canon Richards subsequently officiating at the grave, where Miss Parker (aster of Dr Parker) and a number of other ladies were present. At the close of the service at the grave those present sang the hymn " Brief life is here our 'portion." The coffin was covered with a great ' number of wreaths cent as tokens of sympathy by numerous private friends of Dr Parker, and also by the (Hugo Institute and the Otago Cycling Club,