SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 15195, 28 May 1913, Page 9

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

[Special to the Star.] . BLUFF, Mav 27. Foreman Bowman, of the Bluff railway staff, has been transferred to Dunedm and leaves for his new sphere on Wednesday. A derelict in the shape of half a ship's boat has been observed in the strait by Captain Johnson, of the s.s. Rita. Two mutton-birding parties returned to the Bluff b y> the s.s. Rita (Captain Ben Johnson) this morning. She brought 43,000 birds from Potama Island (Wixon, Murphy, Buller, and Skerrett parties) and Bpat Harbor Island (Howell and Tilpai parties). Tlie Rita left. Potama at 2- p.m. yesterday and reached the BlufE at 6 a.m. to'-day, despite the heavy fog. Most of the , night in the mist was spent with the i lead going. ! . to hand from the whaling and sheep-farming parties on Campbell Island sbateß that thev are all well The_ Union Steam Ship Company's Kbwhaj, which made a special trip "to the island, took away 119 bales of wool, the result of the season's shearing operations. The clip is a heavier one than theprevious year's, and this in a measure makes up for an only moderately successful -whaling season. Last year only five' right whales were captured, as compared with 12 for the previous season. A new season has now commenced, and better results are hoped for. The Cook party, who have also -a whaling station oil the island, have made a good start, two right ■ whales having already fallen to their i *\i Tlle onve gi an Party i r cre evidently not enamored with their prospects, and took their departure at the latter end of last season. _Official arrangements in connection with H.M.S. New Zealand's visit to the Bluff are. now practically completed, and the official reception bv the Navy League, the Bluff and Invercargill Borough Councils, Bluff Harbor Board, Southland County Council, and various other public bodies will be made about 9 a.m. The Invercargill public men, consisting of the Mayor (Mr D. M'Farlane), the member (Mr J. A. Hanan, M.P.), the president of the Navy League (Mr J. E. Watson), and the chairman of the County Council (Mr J. K. Hamilton), together with the Mayor of Bluff (Mr W. Hinchey), the chairman of. the Bluff Harbor Board (Mr A. F. Hawke), and the members of various bodies, will leave by the s.s. Theresa "Ward for the war vessel about 8.30 a.m. An official reception will take place on board H.M.S. New Zealand, when Captain Halsey and his men will be welcomed to Southland waters. Brief addresses will be given, and a response by Captain Halsey will be followed by ah inspection of the niari-6'-war. At 9.30 tke_ vessel will be thrown open to the public. A great depends upon the.weather whether the; public will he aßle to board the vessel—or even the official party, for that matter. The steamers Hihemoaj Tutariekai, Theresa VVftrd, Loyalty, Despatch, and Rita, add various small craft will ply all dav in., an.-effort H cope with the expected 20,000 visitors. That the vessels canuo\ even if the weather be fine, cope with the numbers is only too apparent, and it is. doubted very much if more thai! 10,000 will get but to H.M.S. New Zealand; and should the weather be at all rough, probably not more than 4,000 or. 6,000 will want to make the trip, in which caSe_ the vessels in question will provide quite sufficient accommodation. One satisfactory feature .is . that none of these vessels will be hindered by an unwillingness to take the channel all day, hot being restricted to.slack water, which on Tuesday will be at midday. Tuesday .will, undoubtedly be a gala day, arid, one. of unprecedented. enthusiasm. ,_. r - - '""■■•£&£■£■*■■'"s? M?-^'