SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Invercargill, January 6.

Otago Witness, Issue 2289, 13 January 1898, Page 30

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Invercargill, January 6.

The Hon. W. Hall-Joaes, Esini3ter for Public Works, visited the Wjndham and Fortrose district yesterday, and came on to Invercargill, via the Seaward Bush railway, this afternoon. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor of Invercargill, Messrs K<°Uy and Gilfedder, M.H.R 'b, acd other*, mtt him at the Gorge station (the present terminus of the Seaward Bush line), and travelled back into town with the hon. gentleman and party. The Hon. J. G. Ward wrote regretting his inability to make one of the deputation iv consequence of au engagement made some days ago, which involved his leaving for Dunedin by this morning's express. Mr Hall-Jones Bays he hopes to see the Seaward Bush railway open for traffic within six months as far as the Waimahaka road, a point about 23 miles from Invercargill acd about fice mjk-s the other side of the Mataura. Ho proposes that no station buildings be erected there, as he is confident Parliament next session will sanction and vote fundsfor an extension of the line as far as the Fortrose , eide.of the Waimahaka Stream, which will likely be the terminus of this Hoe for some years to come. He and hia private secretary, with Mr Useh»r (district resident engineer) and Mr Giltedder, proceeded to Orepuki by this afterooon's train. From ihere they drive to the mouth of tha Waiau, return to fiiverton and 'O'aufeau, and thence drive through the recently cut-up sxnd closely settled estates of Rayswater atd GUdfield, via Drumniond, to Winton, to inspect the Hokonui railway line, and return to Invercargill on Saturday morning, where the hon. gentleman has arranged to meet eeveral deputations st 10 a.m. Fr-.m here he proceeds to Heriot by the. norih ex-,.i' sthat day, then to Roxburgh, Clyde, and the Otigo Central line of railway. Mr J. W. Wilkin, chief pos* mister here, who went to San Francisco on the last trip of the R M.S. Mariposa, and returned in the same vessel, has re-umed his official duties with health greatly improved as the result of his trip and the previous furl -ugh gi anted him. The Southland Racing Club make a net profit of £325 odd over their Suta.-iier meeting held on the 3rd and 4th ins j . . and the Bluff Regatta Commifctee a loss ot £25. January 10. Viscount Harnpden, Governor ol New South Wales, accompanied by tha Hon. Dorothy Brand, Mi^ IDarley (d*u(zh'ei- of the Chief Justice of isere Boubh W»l«s), and Captain Feitdeu, artived in Invercavgill this afternoon, snd are string at Jch-isouV Club Hofci-1. They arrived at Queenstown from Dunedin ou Monday night last, and puh up at Eichardt's Hct-1. On Wednesday .the whole party climbed to the highest point of Ben Lfni'-nd, ou Thursday visitel Glenorchy at the Head of the Lake, and on Friday and Saturday at tended the Lake County Races at Fra-nkton. They had fine weather duung thtir slay until jesterday, wbea it was show-ry. Wakatipu wps the only lake tbe p^rty visited. To-morrow the G^verlior will take a dnve in the morning into the country to see gomo of our agricultural *ebtlt*miutp, and leave in the afternoon by ' o be T-ilnne f-jr Ilobart" and Mfl^ourn°, he and the litdiet goi.ig on to M--lb('urn«», T\h"io fur a. little while lh«y will be thf rufHts of L'li'd Bc-'.afc'y. Oaptiviu Fl-jUjd will stay a ehorh time in Tasmania Januaiy 12. Tha country generally about Southland is look-

ing nice and green, and the crops are rapidly recovering from the long check they got with a wet and cold spriug. Still we cannot boast about our weather— it is so variable that animal life cannot possibly accommodate itself te the sudden and frequent changes we have experienced of late. There have been some heavy showers this week, which did not last long, bid? poured while abiut it. To-day is fine, but windy and cold. This describes a lot of the weather we had this season. Calm days have been veiy few. The rain has been very good for the young turnip crop, which as regards area is probrsbly the most extensive Southland has yet had. Sd far the growth generally has been satisfactory, with every indie ition of a bountiful crop. The good p>ices woo' brought at last Thursday's sale have helped to put new animAtiou into owners of sheep, aud now that both freezing c >mpanies are advertising that they are ready to receive lamb and mutton and offering every inducement to shippers in liberal advances and pmckases a little more activity is likely to be seen in the sheep market than has been the case for some mouths past. The Crown Lauds department received no tenders for the leasing of the grazing for six months of the gras>s on Otahu, but since the date of tendering elapred there have been tluee or four parties nibbling after it. A!) .ut £200, I understand, for six rninths is what the Land Board want for the grazing of the 3770 acres unsold portion of the estate. Considering no stock has been on. the pl'\f c fciuce wintei this ought not to be an out of-the-v\,iy leut. The Ovean Beach works are offering Si to !). 6d for freezing limba in the paddocks. This is fully Is to Is 6d less than the frecz rig comijaaie= in Cant ei but y are paying this season. The ciop^ of wheat about Bayswater, Gladfield, and Heddon Buoh are looking exceedingly well. Some of the early-sown cues have been cuo in ear the last three weeks, and with warm weather would ripen faisly early for these parts. Viscount Hainpden, Gjvernor of New South Wale*, who amved here yesterday with his party from Lake Wakotipu, and was until lecentlya dire tor of the National Mortgage aud Agency Goiupany, has gone for a drive lDto the country this mofniog with the local manager of the company to have a look at tha ci ops and district about Waianiwa and Wallacetown. The Go\einor has to leave by M-lbourne steamer this afternoon or h« would hUve liked to spsnd more time looking round our agricultural districts. Waiau Pie*ei vation track has been cut as far as Patupo(Bi. Eiver)— that i-, about two thirds of the way to the Inlet. The Wo d-mgeious rivers en route a*e Waiiaurahiri and Waitutu. Both are rapid sti earns varying from 3ft to 4 ft deep. Basket chairs worked on wire ropes aie in course of construction at both crossings, and will be availab'e in a few weeks. Both streams are spoken of as swarming with excellent trout, and for tourists of the angling species the locslity is saii to vfford valuable inducements. Tatupo empties out of Hakapoua, a minor lake pos-essing very superioi features in landscape scenery. A couple of serviceable boats aie available for navigating i he river and lake, the waters of both being exceptionally placid. Native gim» birds are pk-ntiful at ilakapoua, and shell fish abucdant all along the beaches. Price's bo it harbour, at the mouth of the river, is described as a snug landing aad likely in time to become of gieat service to the district. The remainder of the tivirk now in. hand p-xbse; over what is stated to be rough Rraivte-bouliUry country The idea is tbatthethiough<<iulewillbefi&i&hedbyth<; end of the season. Excellent huts have been constructed at convenient poinls. Altogether we have pleasure in congratulating the dep^itmeut ia the successful >'ffort it is lmkirsgto bring us more closely in t'.uch with this important field of gold-mining enteiprfce.

Dis rict mining matters, conaeq,'v-nt on the holidays, have been simply a shut down. The steamer from the Inlet returned on Sunday, brinsins-; up a fresh contingent of holiday makers. The new-comers both by their walk and conversation confirm the opin-'ou alieady expreased that there is a fair amount of ready cash current in the plac>. In the Otago Mining Journal to hand Morning Star shaies are quoted at iis. Th»t i-i a misprint. The local contributor requests me to sUte so, ar;d to add that the ftgursii ought to Ls 17s. That price, however, does not ?tem to be Wrll £fu,staint;<], a.3 they have alivady dropx»ed ls, 16s per fchaie beiug lat-st quotations. The oM idjn'ities of Southland and their privileged offshoots a'e again ia evidence. They held their annual meeting on Saturday afterncou, aud the variou-. spokes -nen were in a. position to congratulate th(*m in view of the attendance. TJie pioneer settler represent? a. generation rapidly declining. With the exception of pe-linps George Lumsden and John Walker Mitchell, I cannot find many on the muster roll who were At al! prominent in the foundation of the settlement. Still the event is noteworthy, and if fairly analysed it is not without significance. The real cl 1 identity of Southland was a plucky fellow. Captious people say he had more luck than perception, and in token thereof point to the fact that under local contiol he succeeded in getting the affairs of the place into inextricable confusion. Still th° circumstances were exceptional, indeed unparalleled. Otago, from which it had just seceded, consequent on the rush to the goldfields, «oi up an extra head of .=team, and unless Southland with its restricted means kept well up in the race she would simply have succumbed without striking a blow. She did strike the Mow, and finding she could not sustain th-i contest-

"D'ed like the sires and endured it no more." There may have been zeal without veiy much discretion, but then, if we look to Pouih'.itd of a later perio 1, we find pldnty of discretion with very little zeal. How otherwise are we to explain the fact that heads of families are at their wits' end to know what to do with their sons, while a region of the provincial di&trict rich in untolJ wealth remains uu-xplore<3, and th-s haivest of the *<»as is washed up on their vuiy .shores. There may be discretion in a «t»te of thiugs like that, but it is a peculiar kind.of discretion, and certainly it lacks zeal.

So for the foiujst season has been slack. Holiday excuisiooists were, however, numerous, but the mo:e extended operator Ins fought shy of thete parts. No d übt the weather ha n had something to do with this, but it, ia well known the weather is not eveiytlrng. I nwke no reflection on the western Likes puiveyois when I say the accommodation is utterly inadequate. To cto tilings "slick" they would h-ive to launch out munificently and &iaad the biunt of a d- bit account for some ypirs to come Only the fewest number .ire in a position to do so, and as ytt the few has not penetrated these western wilds, as far as Manapouri. These facts ag-im piobe th-j question already mooted— uamcly, the obligations devolving on Government ia lefer^uco the^-to. It is a will-known f^ct othtrr slaow cuntiie- hwe solved thp problem. After a restricted fashion New Ztoliud administration has ttken the thing in hand. A cousidei-rtblu amount of Government patronage has fion> time to time been bestowed on Wangauui Rivei , aud we lead with satisfaction its tomi.st traffic is beginning to yield adequate returns Thus encouraged, if; cannot be too much to ask that these lakes now get attention. An entiiely new de-ctiplion of steamboat is required, and the W"ik will either have to bs undertakru by Government or reasonable inducements held out to private enteipihe. The re-"iectiun aud maiutenauce of hotels are liki-wKe questions that will h^ve to lie deilt \vith. Until aoch points are adjusted Manapouri, Te Amu, and their romantic enviioumunti must continue term incognito as regards tourihting routes.

The Ministerial vWib hai not been uuprofiUblo If anything the lion Mr irall-Jones has improved in public esti i.ation. The f'ct tinuob Le 7dii>s.ud tli.it in tliL-s quarter of tho cul'i.iy he was looked on as'cvi.fo. Wo wie taught to rejfinl him as a vcak nian in tho MmiShy-a pomp-ms, hook nnteed little person.!!-!', exceedingly prou.l of himself and the two-storey btuictmo on winch his name is ba'-ed. Getting into eloLei quuteiswo could ftc oni mistake i.t a glance. He does not prac ise rude familiai ities ; Oil the oth ,r h.\n Ihe bctr\ys dark "u^picion and shrinking from lesponsibility. lie met lvs deputation", fi.inldy dif.cu.vjcd thf'ir points faiily and without c mniitMiig himself ra lily, and Lft thedi'putatloiiists to feel thit tho claims put f award would ba judged ou their, merita. Bo far aa personal impressions go, Mr

Hall-Jones has no reason to regret his visit to Irjveicargill.

Mr J. P. Newman, who was manager for Messrs Kaye and Carter, Chris tchurch, for 13 years, has been appointed to manage the Invercaigill branch of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co.'s business in place of Mr W. Hunt, who, I understand, goes to Dunedin to take a piomiaent part in the management of the firm's affairs there. The Rev. W. Whitd (Wallacetown), Dr Mulholland, Msssrs W. B. Scandrett, Thomas Mac Gibbon, and G. R. George are candidates for the three se^ts shortly to become vacant on the Southland Education Board.

Aq Australian paper states that the Rev. A. H. Wallace, of Gore, who is at present conducting special services at the Congregational Chuich, Balwyn, Victoria, is likely to receive a permanent cail to that church.

The Clutha Prohibition League holds its halfyearly convention at Clinton on the 19th inst. Much important business will be considered, aud delegates aie requested to consider what ameudments in the law would facilitate the enforcement of prohibition. The Rev. F. W. Isitt has promised to attend, and Mr T. E Taylor, M H.R., is also exp- fl».il to be present. On the evening previous Mr Tsitt is to address a public meeting at Ci-nt n.

Our Police Court was engaged two or three clays last week hearing a chaige against one W. J. Compton of threatening to shoot his wife on Dec mber 31. Mrs Compton deposed that accused had been drinking heavily, and threatened to ah'ot lier, himself, and their child. A salesman for Thomson and Badger deposed that on Decnnber 31 arcu*ed asked to be thowu some revolvers, saying : " I want to shoot borne man who is prowling around the house." Accused was committed for tml at tho sittings of the Supreme Couri on February 8 for throat ening, was found guilty of assault, and was ordeied to find suiety to keep the peace for 12 months.

The Western Star says r— " Many Maori skeletons have been laid bare by the wind at Sandy Point, West Waiau. One was lecentlv found with a wedge shaped piece of giee stone sticking ptiviight up on the frontal bone of the skull. The limber bel >nging to the Pine Company destroyed by fire list week at CoUe v as insured for X'soi>, and th» p n atfoims and sheds for £150 in the liiip-irial Office.

Messrs Ar- ol t Mac.ionald and Eustace Russell, of Invcicargill, have received information th.it tln-y have passed their final examinations as sol'citors.

A gentleman who returned to i own last night after "pending a week on Manapouri telis me there are quite as many tourists vifcicing thai locality now as there were this time list year. He sayj the way to get Lhe most enjoyment out of the trip and see the must of Manapouri scenery is to put oneself entirely in the hands of Mr JDore, proprietor and skipnei of the lakr steamer. The iat a flower is jnst beginning to come out. It will lie at its best in about three weeks, which shows the bush flowers are as much backward this season as gaiden and other flowers.