INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10105, 24 March 1909, Page 1

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) | DUXRDIX. March 20. To-day was generally observed as a holiday in celebration of the sixty-first anniversaiy of the settlement of Otago. The weather was delightful. Kaees were held : at Middlemarch and a regatta at Lake Waihola. At the regatta the principal event was the inter-provincial fours between Otago and Southland over a mile and a-half course. The event was Avon by Otago by less than two lengths. IIMARTJ. March. 23. Messrs Craigie and Buxton, M.IVs, and the Hon. Mr Anstey, M.L.G., made a tour of inspection to-day of the country over which it has been proposed to ask for a branch railway to serve the upper part of the Pareora settlement. The country |to the west of ii, and between this and Timaru, and a large arear of first-class farming country was shown them, a great part of which is beyond one day's cartage, which limits the production of grain. The country used to be in large blocks, but is now much subdivided, and subdivision is still going on. Messrs Anstey and Craigie are strong advocates and Mr Buxton was favorably impressed, and promised to assist in urging the construction of the line. It is proposed to make 25 miles in alb and this would be easv level work exccnt- for a bridge over the Pareora. The future extension to Waimate over heavier country will be kept in view. Several settlers met them, and urged the necessity for improving their transit facilities. PALM E RSTOX. March. 23. There was another large attendance at the polo tournament to-day, including Lady Plunket and party. The semi-final for the Saville Cup was played, llangitikei defeating Mangaheia- by 7 to 2, and Hawke's Bay A defeating Parewanui by twelve to five. The final between the Hawke's Bay A, holders of the Cup._ and Bangitikei will not be played till Friday. XEW PLYMOUTH. March 23. The Daily Xews' correspondent telegraphed to-night that it is believed Mr J. I*]. Gulliver, schoolmaster at Tongaporutu, has been drowned. After the closing of the school he went with a little sou to the river, and not returning by seven o'clock, Mrs Gulliver became alarmed, and went to the river, but- saw no sign of her husband. Ho was not a good swimmer, and is supposed to have been wearing artificial Avings. A se-p.rch party is dragging the river, but there is no sign of the body. WAKAPt'AKA. March 23. Mr HaHey Thomas, of the Eastern .(extension Cable Company's staff, who has been transferred to Singapore, left for his new sphere of labors to-night.