(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 31

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Invercargili,. May 5. We have had a fair amount of wet weather during the past week, but iC has not been continuous. During the last 12 hours tome heavy warm •showers of rain have fallen, making the paddocks too wet for cultivation and the roads sloppy for traffic ; but with it all it is keeping mild for this season of the year, and pastures, Ac, so far have not been much affected by frosts. The riae in oats I referred to last week is now thoroughly established, and farmers can thin week easily effect Bales for all they want to part with at Is 6d at country stations. I heard one farmer say on Saturday he had sold at Is 7d that day at wayside station— bagsiu all cases extra. The grain traffic over the Southland branch of railways during the past three weeks has been —

The census roturus just published show the population of Invercargill and the five suburban boroughs to be just five less than 10,000. This is an incre.we since 1891 of 1441. The returns being taken at holiday time will no doubt have told a little against the towns here as woll as in other places. 'A conference of officebearers of the Presbyterian Cburch within the boundaries of the Southland district is being held here to-day. It has brought a large number _of laymen and rninufcors into town. The leading subjects to be di*cus<ed by the conference are ministerial tenure of office, sustentation fund, and lay workers —their pla-eand power in the church. The luvercarg'ill Bur-ns Club formally opened thuir season by a social in the Temperance Hall last evening. Mr Guorge Lurnadon, the president, ' gave an address extolling the wondrous works and talents of the poet in a most pleasing and ! telling manner. The evening was wet, and the | weather generally disagreeable, yet there was a good attendance, and the amount of enthusiasm displaye i' by the old Scots present showed how I dear in their memories is tbeir national poet. Mr M'Nab, M H.R , had a busy time last -week addressing the Mataura electors in different centres every night. He camfe out very strong and decided in favour of the Hon. JohnM'KeDzie's land policy and the Colonial Treasurer's capabilities of dealing with the colony's finances, ■Of the former he is reported to have said :—": — " I | have no hesitation in saying that if the Opposition were in power to-morrow, and if our Constitution enabled us to select Ministers from bath sides of {Be House, the portfolio of Minister for Lands | would be handed to the -gentleman who now holds it, such is thct manner in which his ad mi vist ration is regarded in the House." With reference to -borrowing, he says :— " It is pimply nonsense to talk of not borrowing soon. Putting off the question of borrowing in connection with a general I election is like putting parties into a position I similar to that occupied by two armies, neither of which wants to bring on the battle, though it is plain that the war will continue till the battle is fought. Who will fire the fuat Bhot? The Oppo- ) sition don't want the responsibility of raising: a loan and the Government would like to see the Opposition force their hands. The Government in power after the next general election will have the expenditure of borrowed, money," It is pretty certain that somebody will be nominated to contest the seat with Mv M'Nab, but time is slipping rapidly by without any definite selection being made by the party on the opposite side of politics to him. it is not thought probable that our late member will enter the lists, a-ui Mr I. W. Raymond, whose name has been freely mentioned during the past few weeks, now publicly denies that he contemplates anything of the kind. Messrs Thomas Culling and Thomas M'GiUbon are both named as probable candidates, but it is feared the former, in his present state of health could not possibly stand the fatigue of an election campaign. The B.iuffshire, which is now in port, will take away one of the largest shipments of frozen mutton, lamb, and rabbits that has ever left this port in one bottom. Mr W Cuningham Smith, tbe New Zealand agent for this line of boats, has been in Invercargill during the past few days on business in connection with this steamer.

Our genial townsman, Mr Wo. Todd, is about to leave Invercargill for Coolgardie, after a residence here of over 30 years, during the whole of which time he has been engaged in the auctioneering business, the whole of Mr Todd's family, .except one son, who is there already, accompanying him. He leaves hare on the 16th inst., and is to be given tangible proof of the esteem in which he is hold throughout the district by being made the recipient of a pur3e of sovereigns at the Borough Council Hall on Saturday, 9th inst. The Southern Standard spoke some time ago of a certain sand obtained at Fukerau which had teen found to be useful for mixing with cement. Samples of the sand were submitted to contractors and others at Invercareill, and Messr« Mackenzie and Gilbertson, architects for Mr R. D. Yule's naw brick building at Mataura, recommeadsd ite use. The contractors for the erectidS

of the building mentioned (Messrs 0. Kelly and J. J. Ward) have practically tested the utility of the sand. It is not only useful, but also ornamental, and will probably be u--ed extensivoly for finishiug, as its almost pure whiteness gives to the work a tone which would otherwise be wanting. -^ A Technical Classes Association hMI been formed here, and will be at work at an early date. Application h*» been made by the promoters to the Educntion Board for their co-operation, with a view to obtaining the Government grant of 2a 6d for each pupil. The matter was favourably en'ertained by the board, and referred to the Executive Committee for m "t, Messrs Wright, Ste, henson, and Co., of Dunedin, have thia week opened branches, of thsir business in Invercargill and Gore. Their npp.rutions will be on the same lines as those carried on at Dunedio, comprising auctioneering, stock and station agency, aD i wool and grain .and general proiiuce-broldng. The manager for Invercargill 18 Mr W. D. Hunt, and their traveller air Charles Howella, who acted in_the gauae capacity for the J. G. Ward Association. Their manager at Gore is Mr H. Hay. jun.,^of- Tltapua, Woodlands. A large new ball, the erection of which is just about completed, next to the Borough Council CharubeVK, Kelvin street, for the Young Men's Christian Association, is to be formally opeued on the 19th inst , and on the 22nd the Rev; J . Gibson Smith will deliver a lecture on " Scotland- and the Scotch," the first of eT series in connection with the Y.M.O.A. Mr W. Punton, a well-known and unquestionably capable builder, long resident in this town, proceeded to Chiistchurch by yesterday's express to plan, supervise, and erect by day labour extensive meat freezing, slaughtering, fellmongering, . <fee. works uear ttornby Junction for Messrs Nelson Bros. Mr Panton, on the same system (day labour), erected the various large buildiugs in this town owned by Mr J. G. Ward, including grain and wool stores, offices, &c, also -those extensive and complete freeziag works at Ocean Beacb. Mr R. 0. Lindsay, of Garryowen, Waianiwa, who he* tecently entered upon the rnanufaci ure of condensed milk, bas recently received some very satisfactory testimony regarding the quality of the article he Is producing.' Mr Skey, the Govevumeut analyst, to whom samples were sent, says that the result of his analysis shows its decided superiority to a number of foreign jnilko that were tested at the same time in the Government laboratory. A case or two was sent to a gentleman in Sydney, who writes:—"! think tbe milk is splendid, and am sure it will find a market her|. What you scut seems just aa good as Swiss condensed milk." This is vary encouraging evidence, and justifies the belief that Uv Lindsay's now industry is likely to make rapid headway. At Friday's meeting. of tbe Education Board, Mr M'L»ud gave notice to move — "That the secretary supply a teturu of the unc*rti Seated teachevs in the service of the board, with particulars as to their terms of employment, &c, and that the biMi'd take into consideration the whole questiou of uuccfetifUuted teachers." Mr John M'O/ostie and Mr John M'Kercher have boen re-elected as the Southland members of the Council of New Zealand Sheepbreeders' As»ociation. Th« Industrial Exhibition and Hobby Show at Gore, op«ned the 6Ther day by the Hon. J. G. Ward, and promoted- by the Congregational Ch«rch of that to"wn, has produced a surplus of over .£BO, which Ib to bt given to the establishing of * public gymnasium for tbe town.

.pril 13 to 18 pril 20 to 25 .pril 27 to May f2* sacks. ... 37,9)4 ... 42,538 ... 38,193