SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 21

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.)

Invercargill, June 19.

Wehavehad another week withoutrain, but the weather has been excessively cold, with easterly winds. This has dried up the country roads and fields considerably, and farmers are now making good progress with ploughing and other seasonable work.

Mr H. T. Turner, inspector of stock and rabbits, notifies that general poisoning for rabbits will commence in Southland on July 2, and that simultaneous action is particularly requested. This kind of weather is most favourable for this work.

The Invercargill Licensing Committee held their adjourned meeting yesterday, when further special efforts were made for renewals of the Prince of Wales and- Union Hotels, and also fqr some of the others to which renewals had been refused at the first sitting of the committee. After hearing the evidence the committee adjourned for a couple of hours, and on resuming the Chairman said : With respect to declining to hear evidence in the first instance, not thinking it necessary to do so, no doubt a mistake, afterwards rectified, was made, but 1 must personally take the blame upon myself and fully exonerate the committee. lam aware that it is asserted by many that the present licensing acts are practically unworkable. No doubttheir provisions aresomewhat complicated, but this is a natural result arising from the complicated interests at stake, and the varied opinions relating to the serious social problems intimately interwoven with the licensing 'question But they are workable nevertheless However complex the administration of the acts may be there is" one clear general principle running through the Statutes since 18?3 — I have not troubled to look further back— and found (besides in other sections) particularly in section 75 of the act of 1881 — being the same provision as in section 22 of the act of 1873 — which reads,: " The licensing committee shall exercise their discretion in granting or refusing any certificate for any description of license, and shall not be obliged to grant the same merely because the requirements of the law as to accommodation or personal fitness of the applicant are fulfilled, unless in their opinion there is a necessity for the publichouse or other establishment for the sale of intoxicating liquors for which application is made." Discretionary power is also referred to in section 78 with respect to renewals. This discretion is further accentuated by "The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act 1893" in cases where a popular vote has decided that the number of licenses be reduced, and in this licensing district it was so accentuated as to nearly amount to prohibition. Thus, whatever private hardship may ensue, the committee feel it their duty, and within their power, and think it desirable to carry into effect the popular intimation. The committee had ample time before the first licensing meeting to acquaint themselves with the position of the various houses in the several localities, and since thejlast adjournment have made personal inspections. They have listened to the evidence that has been adduced before them relating to the seven houses whose licenses have not as yet been renewed Tho conclusion the committee has now arrived at is, after the I most careful consideration of all the circum- | stances, that it is equitable, with respect to tho whole licensing district, and having regard to the convenience of the public and the particular requirements of the several localities within the district, that all the applications now before them should be refused, and the elected committee have almost unanimously voted accordingly. There are several applications for extensions to 11 o'clock, but nothi ng except 10 o'clock licenses are granted As to lights they must all be put out at 10 o'clock — Mr Rattray said it was likely some of the licensees would take further proceedings in order to get a judicial interpretation"of the act, and as the time in which they could take action was so limited he would ask the committee to empower their chairman to accept service or authorise a solicitor to do so. — The Chairman said the committee would appoint someone to accept service, Hut not then. — Mr Rattray said he did not that they should do it at once, but thought he might suggest it for their consideration before they separated — Mr Wade: And before you separate, gentlemen, I would like to tell you' that it is now war to the knife You have been guilty of wilfully, wantonly, and deliberately inflicting a gross injustice — The Chairman : The committee object to such remarks, Mr Wade —Mr Wade : \ou can object to what you like I say it is war to the knife, and those of you who are in private business will particularly and individually suffer. — The Chairman : ' That will do ; that will do. A voice Jfrom the crowd: Good for you, Wade; good for you. — The committee then retired, jimidst "boohooiug" and other indications of & . satisfaction from some of those who filled tfce body of the court.

The Mataura Licensing Committee sat again to-day, and heard evidence in support of the three licenses held over from last sitting— viz., Richardson's (Gore), Shield's (Menzies Ferry), and Benton's (Fortrose). Richardson was granted a renewal, the other two being reEased,

The reported glut of frozen mutton now on the London market makes both of our freezing companies more indifferent than ever about purchasing fat stock, and our farmers are not selling one half the number of fat sheep this sea.son that they were last year. To give an idea of the relative values between now and then I may mention that Mr D. M'Donald, manager of Kdendale estate, tells me tEat the best offer he could get last week for 2000 freezers was 13s, while he sold a similar line of sheep at this time last year to the first buyer that looked at them at 17s 6d. Mr M'Donald, rather than accept 13s, is shipping them on his own account, and has sent them to the Southland Freezing Company's Mataura works for killing and freazing.

Mr T. R. Tanner, of Riversdale, is having frozen in the same works some fowl*, ducks, and rabbits, for the purpose of sending them to the London market. Both fowls and rabbits have been carefully selected, the former weighing 111b per pair. Some of the poultry have been dressed and some have the feathers left on. The rabbits are frozen in their tkins. They are to be shipped by the Ruahine from the Bluff early next month. fSir Robert Stout delivered lectures at the luff on Thursday night last, and at Invercargill on Friday night, in aid of the funds of the Bluff Sailors' Rest, the subject on both occasions being Samoa. Sir Robert narrated his experiences during a visit to the islands, and described the geographical position and formation of the various island groups in the South Pacific, and the characteristics of the native races, also their various languages and dialects, showing that great similarity existed between the Maori and Sainoan tongues. He described the Samoans as a magnificent race physically^ and kindly and good-natured in their disposition. He gave a minute and graphic descrip.

tion of their religious services and educational institutions. At present Samoa was in a bad way owing to continuous strife for supremacy among the native factions, and also owing to defects in the Berlin Treaty, which enabled natives to sell land to which they had no proper title, to the loss of those to whom it actually belonged. The lecturer spoke in the most praiseworthy terms of the civilising and christianising work of tho London Missionary Society's missionaries among the native races, but clearly pointed out that the evil effects of denominationalism had had a great deal to do with this strife, for King Malietoa, the rebel chief Mataafa, and a young chief (Tamasese), the heads of the contending factions, all belonged to different denominations—viz., Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Wesleyan. The land, he explained, was not suitable for cultivation by Europeans, but the English Government, he thought, by buying out German interests, could establish a firm and beneficial rule, and thus preserve a cleanly, beautiful, happy, kindly, and laughing race. Ho considered New Zealand should be the centre of Pacific life, and if it aimed at a great destiny it must recognise that it had a mission with regard to the islands of the South Seas. There was nothing to prevent the Samoans from becoming an educated and intelligent race, and it only wanted time to make them equal, intellectually and morally, to European people.

The hon. treasurer (Mr Thomas Denniston) of the Bluff Sailors' Rest received last week a cheque for £2 from Lord Glasgow on behalf of this institution. This is the second unsolicited gift of his Excellency, whose mindf ulness of the rest, of which he is Patron, is greatly valued.

The proceeds of Sir Robert Stout's lectures and other contributions received this month will make up to within a few pounds the amount required before starting the building of the Home.

At last week's meeting of the Southland Hospital Trust Dr Galbraith, as honorary secretary for the Southland branch of the New Zealand Medical Association, approved of the plans of the proposed new hospital. The report of the honorary surgeons showed that the month had been exceptionally heavy, the out-door attendance having amounted to 288. The resident surgeon, Dr M'Leod, again complained that the accommodation in the hospital was insufficient, and stated that justice could not possibly be done to patients under existing circumstances. On several occasions, he regretted to say, he had had to refuse sufferers admission.

The Friendly Societies' Annual Demonstration, held last Wednesday, was a great success. After parading tho principal thoroughfares with each of the orders preceded by a vehicle brilliantly illuminated, and bearing devices indicative of the particular organisation it represented, a halt was made in front of- the Theatre Royal, where a most enjoyable concert was held. The evening's festivities concluded with a dance at the Zealandia Hall, in which some 80 couples took part

A special meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board was held on Thursday to confirm the new by-laws framed for providing an additional revenue of £500 per annum, to be spent in providing deeper berthing alongside wharves for the large, ocean-going steamers, which are now making the Bluff a regular port of call. The revenue of the board for last month was £1051, as compared with £834 6s Bel for same month last year. The shipping returns for the month were: — Inwards, 28 vessels of 23,548 ton ; outwards, 3L vessels of 24,684 tons — being an increase of 7213 and 6321 tons respectively as compared with corresponding month last year. On Tuesday last, while Mr John Milne, farmer, Waikaka, was carting from Kelso to his farm, he met with a serious accident, whereby he got his hip bone damaged, his haunch bone broken, and sustained minor injuries.

The committee appointed at the public meeting held in Invercargill on 14th ult. re a reciprocal tariff on live stock with the colony of Victoria, met on Saturday ; Mr H. Carswell in the chair. Petitions bearing the signatures of 1100 farmers and others were laid on the table, and it was resolved that Mr Kelly, M.H.R , be asked to present the petition, and that the other Southland members be asked to support him i& the matter. The petition is as follows : — "To the Hon. John M'K«-nzie, Minister for Agriculture. Sir, — We, the undersigned settlers and others interested in the breeding of live stock, while desirous of having intercolonial freetrade, beg respectfully to draw your attention (in terms of a resolution passed at a public meeting held in Invercargill on May 14) to the expediency of imposing a stock tax on all live stock (particularly horses) imported to New Zealand from the colony of Victoria, equivalent to that imposed by that colony on New Zealand stock landed at her ports During the past 12 months large importations of Victorian horses have been landed in New Zealand, and we submit that it is unfair to breeders as well as to the taxpayers of the colony that Victorian stock should have free entrance to our ports while we have to pay a heavy dutc on our shipments to that colony. We have, therefore, to urge that you will give this matter your earnest and favourable consideration, and impress upon your Government the necessity of placing us on fair trade terms with our neighbours across the sea "

Eleven pounds of milk to the gallon is the quantity the Government dairy expert has decided to be a fair measure as between the farmer and the factory.

The Waimea Plains Review states that in consequence of the great inconvenience to the public, caused by the want of local justices of the peace, steps are being taken to get the Government to create one or two gentlemen resident in the district to fill that office The names of Mr Alexander M'Kay, blacksmith, and Mr James Kelly, farmer, are mentioned as likely to be included in the next batch of magistrates.

The Hon. J. G. Ward, who arrived at the Bluff on Sunday in the Hinemoa from Dunedin, and the Hon. H. Feldwick left for Wellington by to-day's express. Messrs M'Nab and Macintosh went by train yesterday, and Mr Kelly goes from the Bluff by the s s. Wakatipu to-day.

The vagaries of the movements of the Union Company's boats, which formed the subject of a previous note, were strongly exhibited again yesterday. Passengers were notified by advertisement and otherwise to proceed to the Bluff by the 1.45 p.m. train to catch the Wakatipu,; and "accordingly they did Jso, but had to wait in the cold until night for the arrival of the steamer, and had it not been moonlight the probabilities are that she would not have come in until the morning. Intending passengers would in consequence have had to bear the expense of bad and board, which, by the exercise of a little more care and judicious timing, could have been averted. The boards at the office and railway station should be carefully managed, and not left, as is often the case, from onu week to the other unoblitcratecl, for it may often be discerned that the s s. so-and-so will leave on Friday, when as ajmatter of fact she perhaps is at Wellington, having gone the previous week. Surely the ss. Wakatipu has been running sufficiently long to enable the company to estimate with some degree of accuracy her time of arrival, and so avert the

annoyance and needless expense passengers are put to.

The interesting cycling case reported \>y me a short time since was before the Supreme Court yesterday, when Miss Mann, one of the occupants of the buggy, sued the defendants Nesbit, Lithgow, and Wills for damages, on the ground that by reason of their negligence whilst riding bicycles the horse in the buggy shied aud the plaintiff was injured. It will be remembered that in the S.M. Court Blackie sued over the same accident for damages for injuries received by his wife, and relied on the county council by-law, which provided for cyclists alighting one chain from the horso, and that the S.M. held the by-law to be •ultra vires, or beyond the power of the council to make. " In the Supreme Court, however, the plaintiff evidently did not rely on the by-law, for the judge gave no ruling thereon, the action being based simply upon the common law liability of the defendants As Nesbit had passed the buggy, and therefore could not be held answerable for the horse shying, a non-suit was entered for him, and after a day's hearing the jury returned a verdict for the defendants That they have beeu greatly harassed there is no doubt, and general sympathy will bo felt for them, whilst regret is also expressed that the ladies should have been injured iv any way, and it is to bo hoped the litigation will now drop and the council take wisdom tuito themselves and attempt no experimental ideas in the shape of by-laws that other people have to go to the expense of proving to be ultra virus.

The divorce case brought by ex-Constable John Buchanan, formerly of Dunedin, against his wife was called on at this sitting, but owing to the plaintiff not having given security for the payment of his wife's costs as ordered by the judge, the petition was struck out with costs to the wife Intending petitioners should note that whilst they have to pay for the privilege, of charging the wife they also have to find the means for her to defend herself — an apparently bard, but still on reflection a just, proviso.

A very fully attended meeting of the congregation of First Church has beeu held to consider the call to the Rev. John Ferguson from St. Stephen's Church, Sydney. After MiFerguson had made a statement and retired several members of the congregation expressed themselves strongly and with much feeling as to the loss the congregation and the community would suffer should Mr Ferguson be translated to Sydney. A motion was carried conOrming the resolutions adopted at previous meetings of the session and Deacons' Court, and appointing Messrs Thomas Fleming, Thomas Fiudlay, James Anderson, Wi'liam Ridland, and John Wilson commissioners to appear before the presbytery in the interests of the congregation at the meeting with the commissioners already appointed by tb.9 session and tho Deacons' Court

The annual concert inaugurated by the school committee was held at Rimu on Friday evening and was well attended, and a well-selected and diversified programme was got through iv ample time to admit of a most enjoyable ball being continued until daylight.

Mv M'Nab has left us to begin his parliamentary apprenticeship with the good wishes of all that he may develop into a politician who will materially assist in framing the colony's destinies, and if honesty of purpose and education go for anything, more will be heard of him in the political arena. _On Saturday, at Mataura, ho met a deputation of settlers and townsfolk, who brought several requirements under his notice The m°mbor has, prior to going to Wellington, been visiting most parts of his electorate to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the existing state of things, and has gleaned information that will be of value to himself and of course to his constituency.

Invercahgill, June 13. SUPREME COUBT SI tTINGS. The charge of rape preferred against Michael Neylon resulted in his acquittal. A decree nisi was granted in the case of Orton v. Orton, the husband's petition, on the ground of adultery. The parties were married in 1891, quarrelled, and separated soon afterwards. John M'Kechnie, charged with perjury at Gore, was acquitted. June 14. At the Supreme Court to-day Michael Thomas Naylon was charged with a felonious offence on his step-daughter, aged 13. The child, when put in the box, said she did not remember anything. His Honor and counsel tried to get evidence from her unavailingly, and an adjournment was made for an hour. On resuming, tho child was still as obstinate, and, by direction of his Honor, the jury found the accused not guilty. Justico Denniston remarked upon the necessity for relegating witnesses of tender years into the custody of those who were not relations, and who would not ba open to influences that it might not be easy for them to rpsist. A second indictment was adjourned till Monday to enable the Crown prosecutor to communirate with the Attorney-general. Farquhar M'Kenzie, of Cromarty, Preservation lulet, was fined £25 for libelling one Sherlock, a hotflkeeper thero, by writiug a letter — which he got another man to sign — alleging that Sherlock was in illegal posse sion of a watch belonging to the signatory, who denied ttut he had written or instigated the letter which was Beut to the police.

Mr Justice Denniston made a mandamus by consent orderiDg the Invercargill Licensing Committee to hear and determine the application of T. A. Patchett for a license for the Stag's Head Hotel.