SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 27

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES .

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Lwercakgill, March 15. Messrs A. Macplierson, of Hokonui, and T. Green, of Gore, have been appointed Goverhment district valuers for Southland. General regret is expressed at the consequent resignation of MiGreen as representative of the Hokonui riding in the Southland County Council. For 11 years MiGreen has sat at the council table, being chairman for two years. The Rev. Father O'Ne-il!, who was parish priest at South Dunedin, and recently transferred to Winton, preached two eloquent seimons there last Sunday, and has liiade, a correspondent informs me, a very favourable impression upon the congregation and people of tbe district. The late Mr \V. D. BasstiaD, whose body was brought south from Dunedia for interment, was for many years a resident of Mossburn. He was one of Southland's oldest pastoralists, and was a keen ifportsman. When he was well en to threescore and ten years of ege he was a frequent follower of the Birchwood hounds. Mr D. Collie, formerly of Fairfax (Western distiict), who also died in Dnnedin, was buried at Riverton on Saturday, the funeral being largely attended by the old identities of the district and by numerous friends. School excursions by railway still continue to be with us a popular form of entertainment for both young and old, A large train, full of Orepuki school children and parents and friends, went to the Bluff to-day, but Colac Bay seems to be the favourite resort for such gatherings, and it is computed that over 10,000 persons have picnicked there during the current excursion season. A petition for the assigned estate of Messrs Brewer and Trernbath, the well-known stock auctioneers, to be placed in the Bankruptcy Court was heard before the Kegistrai here yesterdjy, «nd granted. The parties chiefly concerned made Eo objection to the application. Meetings for the election of school committees will be held in Southland on Monday, April £5. Hi 3 Grace Archbishop Redwood, who whs on a visit recently to his nephew, Mr W. F, Wardell, who tesides in Gore, is, the Standard says, a very enthusiastic violinist, and is tbe possessor of a notably fine Stradiva"fius violin, the pedigree of which can be traced back some 200 years from the source whence bis Grace obtained it in Italy. It still retains its beautiful poli»h and superior workmanship, anrt has received the admiration of many of the first artistes of Europs. Nowadays a good " Strad." realises a thousand guineas. Mr J. E. Watson (chairman) at the last meeting of the Southland Hospital Trustees stated that the sum of £2059 4s 5d had been collected for the Victoria Ward of the Invercargill Hospital, and tLat this with the Government subsidy gave them a total sum in hand of £4500. The children of the district contributed £37 19i 4d.