SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 28

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fkom Our Own Corrtcsfondknt.) Invi-kcahoili., Sepv«»mber 24. The past \ve> k has been one of gront growth, and pastures looking dead aftei tho severe winter are now quite green, and feed other than turnips will soon hw pl«utiful. Farmers have made great progress with their sowing, but it will need a very mild fcpring to allow tho crop 3to catch up tho time lost by farmers not being able to get on to the ground to work it. At Thornbury on Friday there was a very heavy yurdhig of cattle, and a A'<e Hoe of dairy cows from Sir Hopcr ft's estate averaged over £7 a head. A meeting was held at Mataura the other evening to form a (.'tiludouian society. It was decided to form a society and hold sports this summer. The Mataura Dairy Factory h'ss, started operations n.cain with a good eupply of milk which is gradually increasing. The fishing season opens next Tuesday, and thu elaborate display of fishing tackle in eorae of tiie Inveicargill shops givts one some idt;a of hoyv important a part our district must play in this popular pastime. A large number of lioensas were taken out in town last Saturday by the countiy folk, who report lots of fish in the smaller streams and their waters in good condition Next week will, of course, be too sooa for the Unjer sivemis such as theOreti, Waiau, aud Mataura, which are all more or I<s-i iv flood with the quantity of snow now coming o!T the hills. At last week's nieeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society the secretary btated that oix pheasant* had been obtained from An -kland, and turned out near the head of Pateraon's Inlet, Stewurt Island. At practice on Saturday afternoon Mr W. B. Montgomery, a member of the P.luff Rifle Club, put on the possible for seven shots at 500 yds Mr Montgomery has upon mveral occasions been within one point of the possible, and he wins tho contingent's bronze mcdxl, which it was arranged should be awarded to the member making the possible firot at any ranee. The Invercargill (Jricket Club have secured the services of a piofessional player, Mr ltobertaon, wholaH sea.son took part in Canterbury iuterprovincial and club matches. He i^ regarded as one of the be»t break buwlersin the colony, Ms pe«formances with tlw leather lost S'-ason f.ir the oi them proviuco having been fiist class Ho bionics from either s'de whh equal facility and eff. ct, aud trundles with exceptional speed for that kind of bowling. He will be a valuable acquisition to Southland cricket, in addition to enabling local batsmen to acquire » knowledge of how to deal with break bowling. The ketch Auua, which left the Bluff on Saturday morning for Jtiverton, having on board Anthony Mitchell and his son John, met with heavy weather and adverse winds, and ntU o'clock on Sunday morning went a«hore on the lliverton beach. The ketch has made a bed in the sand, and it will bo a troublismie matter getting her off. She is owned by Mitchell, and is unin.-ured. The s.s. Aorangi leaves Lyttelton on Wednesday for Timaru, and from tliM-t* conies to the Bluff, where she is due on the 30ch Sho sails from the Bluff for London direct aftei loading frozen meat and general cxtgo. It is With extieme lvj/rct that I have here to chioniole the death of Mr n M Kay, of Wyndham, which took place on Sunday evening J)t ceased was the wife of Mr Bnvid M'Kay, who until recently was in business at Wyndham, in partnership with his brother, but ill-health caused him to retire. Deceased was a sister to Mr John Espie, of Mat a\ra; of Mra Kobeit Hope, of Otaraia ; and of Mrs John M'Kay, of Wyndham ; and leaves a family of six, the younge-t of whom is nine years of age. Very great sympathy is felt for the bereaved children and husband. At the last nieeting of the Southland County Council Messrs J. G. Ward and W Hender»on, proprietors of the Invercargill tramcars, applied for a renewal for 28 years- of their right to inn the tramway on .the North road. The question was referred to a committee of the council to report. Mr F. O'Shannessey, who claimed 10 be the discoverer of the Golden Sit* revf at Wilson river, and sold out co advantag-ousty to the present shaieholdei-s, writes from Coolganlie to a friend here stating hp and his party have struck a very rich reef there, which theyh ye s 'Id for £40,000— half cash and the balance in fully paid-up shares. There is not to be a walk-ovvr for the civic chair this year. Councillor Sinclair, who has represented the South Ward for some years, has coiifenied to the request of a mimber of ratepayers, and announces that he will contest the ensuinsi election. __ The Invercargill Garrison Bond having intimated that they intend taking no further legal proceedings, the Contest Committee decided to allot the prizes in accordance with the judge's decision, as follows :— Kaikorai Garrison, ,£IOO ; Dunedin Ordnance and Timaru Garrison (tied), second and third money, or £40 each ; and Invercarcill City Guards, £20. The atreet-lightins contract of the Gore Ekctric Light Syndicate expired on Saturday, and will not be resumed- until March 14, 189 C. If the arc or any other street lamps are requited to be lit before that time the council will be charged so much per hour they are kept going. Mr|C.|W. Rawson, our late S.M., who is now on a visit to Invercargill for the benefit of his health, will on December 1 next become eutitlcd to a pension of £244 0s lid per anDum. I have heard it eaid he will then, if hie health permits, permanently settle iv Invercargill, aud practise his profession as a barrister and solicitor. To meet the convenience of Sir Robert Stout, ■who has been reta'ned with Mr Hanlon, Dunedin, and Mr Hanan, Invercarpill, by the friends of JohuKeowa, lialfour, forthedefenceof theoharge of murder preferred against him, this case was the first defended case called, and is now proceeding, detailed particulars of which I will telegraph this evening The adjourned special meeting of the Inveicargill Boiough Council held on Thursday eveuiug t-o consider the provisions of the Local Government Bill introduced to I'arli'iment by the Premier was attended by the mayor (Mr W. B. sicandrett)and Councillors J W. Mitchell, Goldie, Hanau.Blacke, H Mair, Stead, M'Farlane, and M'Keown. After the councillors had expressed their opinions regarding certain clauses of the bill, it wa Jccidtd on the motion of Cr Blacke, seconded by Or M'Keown, to defer further consideration for .three months, to give ample time for due deliberation, the Government having announced that the measure would not be proceeded with thin s 'Psion. Twelve copies of the bill were ordered to be obtained for the use of councillors. The|Matftura Dairy Factory opened with a supply of about 450ga1. The township presented quite a busy appearance, and I learn there is a great run on the locally-made aerators. A young man named Rismussen, in the employ of Mr Henricksen, at Balfour, met with a painful gun accident last Sunday, by which it is feared he will lose hip right hand. He was drawing the charge from a gun when it exploded, seriously injuring his hand. He was taken to Lumsden, where his injuries were attended to. Mr W. G. Ladbrook, of this district, scored several successes at the ploughing match at Papakaio. near Oainaru, the otheT day. He secured first prize in Glass A ; was first in the champion lot, for which he holds a cup which has to be won twice to become the property of the winner, and also received a, special prize ; he received first prize for the straightest ploughing in the clasß and in the lMd ; and bad the beat finish in Class A and in the field. The plough used by Sir Ladbrook was made lately by the Me srs Gardiner, of Mutauia, arcouli'uß to t)i.> h>trnrtion<; of Mr W G. Ladbrook Mr W G L i'J l'ici ,!r with Uw ••Alii' 1 iil"'icb. wa.-- fourth n f , M't.ii.r., ■ (Mud nt Un-i-di'i* <,•<•.>•,<! ->t (<\>< tio o, anil ~i.'COd'l iv tli<j cL.i'iijn >• h p m\U 'i , l Invercu'ull

Invkrcabcill, Beplember 18. The hearing of the charge against James Bridge, of the Princess Hotel, was finished to-day. The more sorioua charge — Ihifc of allowing the house to be used as a brothel — the stipendiary magistrate (Mr Poynton) held was not proved. Ou the other — of permitting prostitutes to remain longar on the premises than waa necessary for refreshments— a con-

viction was recorded, and a One of £5 and oobls (£6 10s 6d) impo*ed. Counsel for defoari»nfc nsked for time to consider whether ha would appeal, which the court granted, Mr Puynton saying he would bs sorry to enr'orso a man's license without giving him th^t privilege. The couvictiou carries the further penalty that Bridge is not eligible for a lioensa in New Zealuud. The charges oame as a surprise to most people, and it in said that the closing of several hotels last year hns caused loose women to uee Eoma of those remaining more conspicuously. Bridge has been a licensee here for many years, and no charge has previously been brought against him. September 24. The Supreme Oourt criminal sittings were opened this morning before Mr Justice Williams. True bills were found in all caies. Andiew Wood, 18 years, charged with breaking and entering, pleaded guilty and was released on probation for nine; months. John William Innen, accountant, charged wi.h stoaliiiff moDey of the New Zealand Pine Company, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, with lurd labnur. The managing director of the c aiipiuiy, Sir Robert Stout, gave evidence as to the previous good character of tho prisoner, who had admitted taking £-100. David Milne, aged 44 years, pleaded guilty to stealing clothing from a draper's shop and was sentenced to a fortnight's hard labour. Ernest Rhiud, aßod 15 years, pleaded guilty to committing rape on a girl of seven years and was sentenced to thice month*' imprisonment and to receive tlneo whippings of 20 strokes each with a rod. The trUl of Jnhn Kcown, charged with the murder of Hugh Stewart, at Balfour, was then preceded with.