SOUTHLAND SEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 31

SOUTHLAND SEWS NOTES.

(From Our. Own Correspondent.) Invercargiix, June 24. 1 have had an experience the last week of Ohristoburcb.Dunedin, and Invercargill weather, and must Bay the latter hears most favourable comparison with the northern cities, and altogether we are having a splendid season for the agriculturists and pastoralista. The great ocean steamer Moraysbire is at the Bluff loading frozen meat from the Southland Frozen Meat Company's works, wool, preserved rabbits, and general cargo, and she will Bail direct for London about Friday. . The Star of New Zealand Is due here from Wellington at' the end of. the week, and will also sail direct from here for London with frozen' meat from the Ocean Beach works and general cargo. The ex-Treasurer's arrival in Southland took the form of a most enthusiastic reception. Arriving by yesterday's midday express, he broke. • the through journey at Gore, where be remained a few hours, coming ou by the evening train timed to reach Invercargill at 7.30. The night was exceptionally- fine, which had no doubt an influence in bringing out the large crowd by which bis arrival was greeted. The Roman ' Catholic Bishop, the Most Rev. Dr Verdon, was likewise a passenger by the train. The latter immediately on his arrival, headed by the Garrison Band, proceeded in the carriage awaiting him to St. Mary's Church, accompanied by his parishioners. The great bulk of the asstra- ' blage, however, remained bohiud, thereby testifying to tho fact that* Mr Ward was the - chief' object of solicitude. Addresses of sympathy expressive of welcome and continued confidence were presented to him by the Liberals ' of Invercargill and Clifton. The large concourse, now numbering some thousands of pereons, rearranged themselves outside in front of the station, where, amidst most enthusiastic demonstrations, they wore harangued at considerable length by the hon gentlemau. In the course of his remarks he complained bitterly of the manner in which he had been traduced and his commercial and political character assailed by his opponents. He also complained of. un justness on the put of the press and Press Association of the colony. The reception given to him at Dunedin had been most unfairly reported. The names of Messrs Duthie and Stout were mentioned on that occasion, and evoked from the large gathering that met him groans and hisses. With unblushing effrontery that fact was turned to his (Mr Ward's) disadvantage, and a statement made throughout the colony that the hearty reception given to him was mingled vrith groans and hisses. That, he said, would give them an idea of the .unfair treatment accorded him by the press of the colony. I need not go into further details of the address, as its general tenor was somewhat similar to that at the Dunedin reception. A novel entertainment, tonned "The Japanese Village," which has been running in theZealandia Hall .the last fortnight in aid of the funds of St. 'John's Church, closed ou Saturday. The management throughout' has been a great, success, and the result is that a large sum haR been added to the church funds,' though the expenses of the show have beon necessarily great. At the Christchurch Poultry show last week tome of our .poultry breeders were very successful, notably Messrs Double Bros, with their Langshans, Mr P. S. Brodie with Buff Cochins, and Mr J. B'riend with Leghorns. All the exhibits from Inyeicargill secured honors save one. Bishop. .Veraon." the newly-ap ointel Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, visited <>ore l&st week, and Invercargill for the first time last night. -At Gore, he held a four days' mission in the Roman Catholic Church, and Was white there the recipient of- some beautifully-illuminated addresses From the young and old people of his church. The bishop's mission services were well attended. They were given in simple language, with charming grace of manner, and fervent appeals were iiade to v All present to apply themselves with 1 -anewed zeal and diligence to the service of the Eternal Father, and to bring their religion to ■ear upon the practical issues of daily life. April 30. The affaira of the Hon. J. G. Ward and the veather are thechief topics of conversation, everywhere, in Southland just now. In connection vith the latter it h»B been' Justly' pointed t out -.hat the losses to the "poor Southland farmer" jwing to the collapse: of this association are so spread out and for such comparatively small amounts, that the great benefits we are deriving from the marvellous spell of fine weather we are getting at tbis season of the year will more than balance, even in a monetary point of view, the estimated amount farmers in tho J. G. Ward Association in liquidation will be called upon to pay. Mr Turner, our stock inspector, who keeps a weather register for luvercargill, tells me it is ' the longest spell without rain ■we have had for eight years. Notwithstanding this, the gloss has been low for some days past, which indicates the proximity of bad weather, though not 'in this immediate vicinity. A meeting has been called by circular, bearing the signature of Mr J. 0. Ward alone, of shareholders in the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association of New Zealand (Limited) for next Saturday in Hanan's Hall, Dee street, to consider the position of the company. It states that Mr A. Lee Smith will be present, and will explain the position with regard to his offer made on behalf of the association. There is a report about town to-day that Mr Ward is trying to buy on his own account the business of the association. This would probably be with a view of reconstructing it, for there is undoubtedly the luaterial in it for the making of a splendid business, and several of the strong men Jn' the present proprietary have ' expressed a willingness to -contribute capital and custom to continue the business on modified but similar JineV to. those on which it has been conducted in tbe past;^ ' • -d^"- v We -had a, little; diversion yesterday from the „ .prevailing topic*, dealt-wifch above in a case of - sly, grog-selling which., was heard before Mr Poynton, our respected stipendiary magistrate, and I think I am safe in saying- that the general - opinion is the whole business reflects very discreditably upon the publican party, who have been jubilant ov«r the case. The evidence clearly disclosed the following facts : - The wife of a publican at one of the country districts went to a poor old couple (man and wife) who were well known to be living on public and private chanty, and gave them a pound note to send to Mr J. S. Baxter, of prohibition fame, and proprietor of one of our leading grocery businesses, and instructed the husband to order from him abottleof Wolfe's'schnapps, stating thac. it was "wanted medicinally for his wife, who wa3 an invalid, and ah o any- groceries which they were in need of that the balance of the , pound would pay for. They,, did as they, were instructed, and Mr Baxter's shopman, in his employer's absence— not only from tho shop but

from town— received the mouey and order, packed the grocery goods from stock in the shop, then went out and purchased a bottle of Wolfe's schnapps from Mr. D. Roache, another grocer, who has a wholesale license, aud sent the whole away te the directed destination. The old people received the goods and - had the use of them, but the publican's wife who had given them the £1 to send to Baxter asked for and received the invoice, in, which was charged a bottle of Wolfe's 'schnapps si, and a few days later it. was the talk of the country side that a charge was about to be. laid against J. S. Baxter for sly grog selling. The court was crowded during the heiring of the case. Mr W. G. H. Hall appeared for the defendants, Baxter and Hindman, (the shopman). There were three separate cases arising out of the transaction. That against Baxter was dismissed, as it was shown most con- ' clusively that he was ignorant of the whole business; that against Roache, for selling leas than two gallons, was dismissed on the same -groimd.and the charge against the shopman was held over pending the consideration of- some-law points raited byJttr Hall. - , Miss Lizzie , Dumbleton has been appointed ' Manager of the Mataura ' Dairy Factory. There • were 11 applicants for the post, but I am told" 1 the phoice cf the directors was unanimously in favour Of Miss Dumbleton, whose capabilities they had ' had au opportunity of. noticing, as jhe had been 'assisting one of her brothora, who had charge of ♦fca factory a preview aeaion, but wm In dcllo&te

health. MissDumbleton, who with other students is now attending the Government Dairy School at Edendale, has the distinguished honour of being the first woman in this colony appointed to the managership of a co-operative cheese facbory. A petition is in circulation throughout the district in reference to the difference (which the Southland Frozen Meat Company pay, and which is certainly a great drawback to them) between the railway rateß on frozen meat and live sheep between Mataura and the Bluff. Ido not kuow whether it applies to haulage "only ; if not, it must be remembered that live sheep almost entirely load and unload themselves, whereas with dead carouses there is a large amount of labour involved in loading and unloading. The s.s. Morayshiro (Turnbull-Martin liner) sailed from Bluff for London direct on Saturday. Tha cargo ehe took on board here comprised nearly 10,000 carcases mutton and lamb, a large quantity of preserved meat, wool,, tallow, <feo., and 1673 cases frozen rabbits. Each of these cases contain 30 rabbits with skins on. There are now no less than five separate establishments at Mataura packing rabbits in this manner, freezing and shipping to London, and so keen is the demand in that locality for rabbits that they were paying last month gd per p»ir for them, and 6d this month. This demand has provided a lot of work for young ladß as rabbilers, and has put- a lot of small money into circulation, aud made a noticeable difference in the number of business ineu one can see travelling through that part of the country in the ordinary WftV We had Mr and Mrs Cuningham Smith on a visit to Invercargill during the stay of the s.s. Morayshire at the Bluff. They returned to Dunedin by Saturday's express. At the monthly meeting of the Southland High Schools Board, held on Monday night, it was agreed that free scholarships be tenable for two years, and the limit of age 14 years, the term to be increased another year respecting pupils whom the headmaster considers worthy. Mr Fowler, who was present, expressed the opinion that the number of scholarships to be allotted was too great, as several of the free scholars were at the bottom of their classes. He thought only those who showed promise that it would be of use to them should be admitted to free secondary education or else the door should be opened for all. He recommended that all pupils should be required to pass the Sixth Standard in order to qualify for entrance.