SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 12

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

A CURIOUS CHARGE OF FORGING.

A young man named Alexander Copland 'has been committed for trial at Invercargill on a charge of having forged and uttered two I O U's for £62 and £9, purporting to have been signed by his father, now decea«ed. Tho father of the accused died on the 20th March last. At the time of the death accused made no claim, but a short time ago he went to the agent in Invercargill for the Public Trust Office and claimed £62 and £9, which he alleged he had lent to his father, and for which he produced the I O Us. There was reason to believe that accused had lent his father some money, but nothing like what he claimed. Mr Cuthbertson, the agent for the Public Trustee, in his evidence said he noticed that although the date on one of the I O U's was two years before that on the other, both wero written apparently with the same ink, on precisely the same kind of paper, and each had a stamp on it with an advertisement on the back, and the name was written right through each stamp. If the signatures on three documents produced were those of William Copland, those on the I O U's were not. If the accused had got the £71 the estate would have been insolvent. Accused was allowed bail.

Invjehcaegill, January 23, THE WEATHER.

After a long spell of dry and hot weather, warm showers commenced falling last night, and continued on and off for 12 hours, doing much good to the crops and pasture, especially the young turnips, which in all parts are looking remarkably well. The weather is still cloudy, but very warm, and the glass is nigh,

The J. G. Ward Farmers' Association (Limited) , report on the Invercargill stock sale to-day as follows :— ' The entry in all classes was a full one except fat cattle. They, howover, proved sufficient for requirements. Best quality were sold at 20s to 21s per 1001b. We sold 10 pens at prices ranging „ for bullocks from £9 12s 6d (top price) to £7, and £6 5s to £5 for cows and heifers. ' c There was a large entry of store cattle, but, ' contrary to expectations, after a splendid night's ■' rain, the demand was very limited, and a. number were turned out unsold, not reaching reserves. - Dairy cows brought from £4 to £6, and store bullocks (medium size), £5 to £5 10s ; yearlings to ' 655, and other lots as above. Fat Sheep.— Wo sold at 13s to 11s 4d for best - wethers and heavy- woight owes ; and two-tooths > at 10s 3d to 8s 6d. At the latter price we cleared 500 in lots. Extra small hoggets brought 7s 6d. The principal demand at present is for largo. ' framed two and four-tooth wethers to top off. , This class of sheep is rather scarce, and buyers generally do not care to purchase small hoggets * for fattening purposes. •Horse Market.— On Saturday we had a fair entry, but there was not much demand. We have - no alteration in prices to report. We are advißed of shipments of draughts from Melbourne, and .; draughts and hacks from Canterbury, for our -•■> next Saturday's sale.