SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 30

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fhom Odr Own Correspondent.) Invercargill, December 8.

There- is a general feeling of relief that the elections of 1896 are over. Many no 'doubt will feel some degree of soreness and disappointment at the results, but everybody cannot win, and even the disappointed ones will, I am sure, eD joy the political rest and quiet which it is reasonable to hope will follow for a season. I need not tnako any comments on the results in this district, as no douht you will have quite enough political matter in connection with your report of the election.

After a spell of very warm, dry weather a little rain fell last night, which has freshened up pastures and the country generally, and laid the dust nicely for our A. and P. ahow, held to-day and tomorrow. After this function is over we shall be very glad to have a little more rain.

We have had a remarkably fine shearing season so far, and a lot of wool is comiug in for the sale to be held on tha 21st inst.

The annual synod of tho Otago Wesleyan Church commences Its sitting here tomoirow, and the lay representatives are to meet and sit with the members on Thursday. The local preibytery met on Tuesday, when the Rev. -W G. Jtt'Laren (Bluff) was appointed moderator for the next six months. It was agreed to send Mr ilacleod to Preservation Inlet as student misnionary for three months ; to appoint Messrs Lindsay (convener), Stobo, ana Smith a committee to endeavour to raise subscriptions in support of the work, and to ask the Church Extension committee to make a grant towards the object Mr Bissett reported that Mr Gardner had- commenced his work as missionary at Oteramika. The ReV. William White was appointed presbytery commissioner to moderate in a call at Dipton on 13th December and to report to a meeting of tbe presbytery on the 22nd inst. The convener of the committee appointed to consider the practicability of a redistribution of the territory between Wright's bush and Waiau having reported that in the present circumstances of the country it bad not been possible to do anything, it was agreed to reappoint the committee with former instructions. The presbytery adjourned till the 22nd.

The following were yesterday elected to the Southland Hospital Trust for tho ensuing term at «i meeting of delegates representing the minor contributing authorities entitled to elect members to that body : — Messrs A. Baiu, W. R. Riddell, J. TE. Watson, Thomas Findlay, and J. Stead.

A deputation consisting of the mayor of Invercargill and a few other influential gentlemen waited on the Hon. J. G. Ward yesterday with the request that the £1000 voted for opening up a track between Lake Manapouri and Dusky Sound should not.be expended until further inquiries are made as to the best route. The deputation also referred to the necessity of having part of the £50,000 voted for scenic and general tourist purposes and a portion of the £200,000 allotted for the development of the mining industry expended ou the south-west coast. Mr Valentine,, who in his election campaign has recently visited Preservation Inlet, spoke very hopefully of the mining- industry in that locality, and said his belief was that we had a regular Coolgardie in these goldfields. 'Mr Ward promised to do his best to get an amount expended in each of tha directions indicated by the deputation, and said he would make it his business at a, convenient opportunity to visit Preservation. The Pollard Opera Company opened a Bix nights season here last night to a crowded house, and the indications are that they will have similar successes here to those experienced in Christchurch and Dunedin during show weeks. Mr Gorman, Makarewa, has presented the Invercargill Athenaeum museum with a peculiar growth, of the tree commonly known as maple, forming a pocket or mat.- Several interesting

articles presented by Mr John Watson, of Riverton, have also been received. These comprise |o»^^^ commemorate the sailing of the Rosolu tion and Adventure on then: voyage of discovery under the direction of the great circumnavigator ?1 ud I !^iifAtv^ wtrf^ Messrs Henderson and Batger, who are well known throughout this district from their lon.* connection with the New Zealand Loan and Me£ cantile Agency Company here, have started business on their own account as wool and grain brokew and Btock, station, and finance agents aud have secured for ofiices»the old Colonial IBank premises at the corner of Dee street and Crescent while for storage purposes they have taken a portion of tbe new wool stores recently erected by the Ward Farmers' Association, running from Liddell street to Clyde Btreet. The new firm have an advertisement in another part of this ißdue. A correspondent from To Anau writes :— " Our first visitors for the Beasou have come and gone They had a good time of it, and went away well pleased. Their good report in other lands should do'us no harm. Last 'week Mr Boss and party arrived to carry out the necessary work along the Te Anam-Milford Sound track. From what I learn the mild winter has done very little damage to the track, which was left in good repair last season. This will allow of.certain necessary improvements to some of the huts being carried out. I hear that a new tworoomed hut will in all probability be erected this season to take the place of the beech huts near Sutherland Falls. It is not before time that this is being done, for the old hu|a have of late years been falling to pieces from decay, and the sooner- they arff replaced the better for all concerned. -"Visitors "Who" saw Te Anau a few years ago, when the 'township had ita old bleak aspect, would be agreeably surprised at the Improvement that has been effected. The planting of trees and" fcardens and the general beautifying of 'the place nave'roade things look more civilised, comfortable, and homely. Mr Garvey, the pioneer Settler al tbe head of the lake, has also been busy working transformation. He has his orchard and vegetable garden both showing well. Mrs Garvey has looked out for a- plentiful supply of English flowers, and doubtkss many a visitor will be well pleased to see how kindly they take to their mountain home in tho bush."