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Lake County Press, Issue 696, 20 February 1896, Page 7

change for the better in tbs weaker. During the month of January there were only four days on which rain did not fall in more or less quantity. The exceptionally strong •winds, probably caused by the heat wave 'll Australia, has now ceased and warm genial •weather has set in with every appearance ol coElinuarcp. The crops are not so hackwaici as the coldness of the early partof the season ■would lead one to expect. Harvesting has begun in aome places and should be general in a week. Prices for gr tin just now are merely nominal although oats have fallen considerably, owing to the congestion of the outside maiket, and may be quoted at la 41. The Southland Pioneer Settlers’ Association held its second annual outing last week, the rend(zvous being Riverton. This Association was formed last year as the result of a happy thought and the reunion this year taxed the efforts of the Committee for accomodation and refreshment, 276 partaking of the lunch provided. I think the qualification for membership is arrival within the province not later than 1804, The large number of pioneers of both sexes who were in evidence on the occasion, and who, in various corners, conid be seen enjoying a crack and “ fighting o’er again ’ speaks volumes for the grand constitutions with which they were originally endowed, coupled with the bracing and vigorous climate which even the greatest detractor of Southland will admit it posscses. Accounts from Western Australia have been latterly far from satisfactory, especially as this colony has acquired a large interest in its welfare from the number of New Zealanders who have gene over there during the last two years; At this time of the year the climate appears to be positively deadly. News has been received that a young and vigorous Invercatgillite who went over only a few months ago is lying in one of the hospitals ill with typhoid fever, and I learn on good authority that there arc the graves of 400 young New Zealanders at Coolgardie, most of whom have been carried off by that fell epidemic.. The eyes of the whole colony have been turned towards Christchurch during the past week, wheie the Government has received such a facer over the bj e-election, despite the efforts of the Premier, Colonial Treasurer, and the Minister of Lands to impress the. personality of _ the Government upon audiences of the Christchurch electors. The rumored impending resignation of Mr Cadroan, and the more sinister rumors in another direction, may necessitate reconstruction of the whole Cabinet and the result of the Christchurch contest would seem to indicate that the mana of the Government has departed and that a change of administration will probably be the result of the coming general election. In the meantime! bear that a well-known ex-public functionary is making a diligent convas of Invercargill in his own interest, I observe also that one of the papers states that a son of Mr Hart, brewer of Lawrence, intends contesting the Wallace seat, though what connection Mr Hart has with Wallace I cannot imagine. Perhaps the anouncement is not intended seriously. The Intreprcvincial match between Otago and Southland will be played next Wednesday and Thursday, February 19th and 20th. Mr Burnes, the selector of the Southland team, has chosen the following to r present the. province:—Burnes, T. Kingsland, C. Kane, Robertson, Twemlow (1.C.C.), A. Carver, Findlay, MTnerney, Walter Quinn (Star C.C.), Fox (Orepuki), Wilson (Bluff). This is about as good a representative? team as could be chosen. Kane, and Findlay are the only men new to interprovincial cricket. Findlay has improved considerably this season, and has an excellent analysis. Quinn has been scoring consistently against ccod bowling. Kane has a good style of batting, and hits hard. He represents a large seel ion of players, who are just about equal to one another, but being a young player, it would perhaps have been preferable if a player with more experience had been chosen. Of the others. Bnmes, Kingsland, and Robertson are veterans in interprovincial cricket. Fox, when in practice, is the best all round man in Southland, and will keep wickets. Wilson is unpcrturbable, has no nerves, and is patience personified, a strong defensive bat, and good bcwler. M'lnerney, you know sufficiently well. The team is particularly strong in bowling of vaiious sorts. The match will be played on the Invercargill ground, anct it would give me pleasure to be able to chronicle a win for Southland. Mckiuiku.