SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 34

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fnon Oxra Own Cohbespohbent.)

iNYEKCABGEDIi, August 9.

The past week has been anything but like the firat week in spring, for though the snow has cleared away in most places, frosts of exceptional severity have been experienced. Tho weather looks settled now, and if the dry weather holds up farmers will soon have thencrops in; but if bad weather comes on again I am afraid the harvest next year will be as late as it was this season. I notice the crop referred to some time ago as being still standing in stook on the Washpool block has advanced no further, and I suppose it has been abandoned by the owner. It seems a great pity to see such a fine crop as this one was entirely wasted. Surely it would make ensilage or fatten off store stock.

A gentleman down from the Lakes district states that very severe weather for the lunholclers is being experienced in the high central regions just now. From lft to 18in of snow fell in tho Kingston district on Saturday, July SO, and is still lying solid, even on the flats. While the severe night frosts contimie there is little chance of its melting, the heat of the sun during the short doy making hardly any impression upon it. Ploughing and all farm work is, of course, at a standstill.

The grain traffic last week on the Southland section of tbe railway was 5749 sacks, as against S9O for tho corresponding week of last season. The total for the season so far has now reached 517,997 sacks, being an increase of 13,924 sacks up to the same time last year. On Thursday a largo meeting of the Rev. J. B. Smellie's supporters was held, when he ■was presented with an addre-ss and purse of 70 sovereigns. The address, which was very nicely designed and executed, road cT,s follows: — "To the Rev. J. B. Smellie.— On behalf of and in the name of members and adherents of your congregation we, the undersigned, beg to congratulate you on the success with which you have emerged from the successive toying ordeals to which you have, during the last 12 months, been subjected, both in the civil and ecclesiastical courts at the hands of a small minority lately connected with the church. We assure you that the congregation have admired the fortitude and equanimity which you have displayed all through Ihese troublous times, and are still loyally devoted to you as their minister. In the name of the congregation we beg you to accept the accompanying purse of £70 which they spontaneously offer yon as a tangible token of their esteem and affection, and trust that the recent troubles may, by the providence of God, be over-ruled for the good of the church and your own happiness and comfort. (Signed) : George G. Fyfe, Peter Campbell, Alex. Bcange, John Stinson, Robert Branigaa, Alan Stewart, M. J. Henderson, J. A. Dodd, John Millar, Richard Paull, W. A. Stout, E. Jones, J. Golding, Thomas Morrison, James Walker, David Doull."

The Rev. G. Lindsay, of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Inveroargill, has declined a caJl from the Napier congregation.

The meeting held on Thursday evening, convened by his Worship the Mayor, was largely attended, and all the speakers were in favour of holding an exhibition in Invercargill in 1909. Mr J. T. Martin moved, Mr J. Stead seconded, and it was unanimously carried, " That an exhibition be held about the 4lh of January 1900." The following committee were appointed: — Messrs H. Bastings, W. B. Scaadrei/t, R,. F. Cutbbertson, Joseph Johnston, W. B. Mitchell, John Kingsland, James Maealistor, W. Lewis, E. B. Pilcher, T. Thompson, J. G. Price, P. S. Brodic, D. Sfcrang, Austin, J. Bath, A. Eaeside, 11. Gilinour, Wallace, Jameson, J. Sinclair, J. Stead, It. Allen, N. Johnr-on, E. H. Whitmore, W. Smith, James Manson, J. Walker, A. M'Kellar, James Aitkcn, G oldie, Allan, Levy, Sharp, R Clark, Gladstone, R. W. Hall, Garmso-i, Newman, D. Roche, jun., and J. TL. Hawkins. It was necided that the shares be £5 erch., and in a few minutes over £400 was subsciibcd in the room.

An important change has been decided upon in the constitution of the Wyndham Town 3ioard, the membership having been reduced from seven to five, and the Heiald says that this will be given effect to at the nest biennial election, which takes place shortly. At a meeting of the Winton School Committees Association, held on Thursday, the districts represented were Winton, North Forest Hill, Oreti Plains, Hokonui, Limehills, South Billend, and Riverside. A motion respectfully urging the Education Board to make a minimum quarterly allowance of £2 10s to every school corrmittee, irrespective of attendance, was unanimously approved.

At Friday's meeting of the Education Board several rowdy scenes were enacted. The Waianiwa trouble was again 'before the board, and in the heat of the argument Mr Bain Challenged Mr George's right to sit as a member of the board, as he was in receipt of Government pay. However, the chairman considered Mr George's expltv 'lion satisfactoiy. Applications were made Lj (.he secretary and the two inspectors for au imrcLiie of salaries. Previous to the requests being made Messrs Baldey and Covde had left, and aftsr the remaining members had decided on settling the matter at once, Mr Bain also took his departure. He had urged that as there j was no hurry in connection with it thty pliould j be given time to consider the hl.)'^h I .)'^ laid be- j fore them as to the salaries paid by similar ; bodies throughout, the colo.iy, aivl then ducuss it at the next execute c meeting. They had already taken that course with one or two recjyesta for small amounts ixani pclzools. anci a matter of such impoitance as this required some consideration. The majority thought differently, and after he bad loft went into committee, finally agreeing to raise the salary of each of the applicants by a year. As a set off to that it was decided that the board's offices be now kept open till 3 o'clock, and this no doubt will prove a great boon to teach eis. Tho salaries in question will now be: Mr lEondry (chief inspector), £400; Mr Neil (secretary), £350; and Mr Er?ik (inspector), -C 350. A meeting of the Gore branch of the Southland Educational Institute was held in the Gore school on Saturday last, when there was a fair attendance of members. A paper on the teaching of reading was read by Miss Rogers, piter which several members freely discus. "-cd the subject, and cypres=od their appreciation of Miss Rogers' s work. A vole of thanks vna accojded Miss Rogers for her paper. Several complaints aie made by persons travelling in the south express tbat fchcic papers and other literature arc takfn out of their se"ls while they are wa-lkii'R about the platform. One well-known individual, who may pe-rhaps take this hinb, is pointed to as being rcßulaily on the look-out, for a " free " Daily Times. The sergeant in charge at Goro ousjbt to inquire into this matter, as it is impossible to buy a Dunedin paper on the train after leaving I The news from the Inlet goklfipMs which ' came to hand per s.s. Invorcsirjjill on Sunday must be considered the most &a,tif<fpctory that I lias been received for pome months prM. Shares 1 in the Golden Rite mine have advance! nearly 75 per cent, during ihe b&t day or two, an«l it is supposed that the rcof lias at last been struck. It is likely tbat a company will be floated to dredge tbe mouth of Sepler'n crook j The following mine managers' reports of the [ various claims speak for themselves: — Morning Star. — The niarjacramont report that

they are now confident that tho gold-bearing stona struck in No 1 is a new and distinct shoot, running parallel with the old one. It had been driven on over 40ft, carried good gold, and there was every indication that it would continue. Appearances pointed to the fact that the same shoot was being cut in No la, and the gold got in the winze some time ago was evidently from a continuation of this. Thero were still 64ft of stone in tbe old Bboot in No 1a to take out, and gold waa showing freely right across the face. The cake brought round by tho steamer on Saturday was obtained from above and below No. 1 level, and partly from the new shoot. This ingot, which weighed 3330z 12dwt, brings the total output from the mine up to 10,5250z Bdwt 12gr, valued at £42,752. The amount of stone crushed was 9426 tons, returning a general average of loz 2dwt Bgr,or about £i lls per ton. Mr J.B. Davis, who had been managing tbe mine since August 1895, having resigned, returned by the s.s. Invercargill, the new manager, Mr P. E. Keani, who has had experience in the famous Waihi district, entering on his duties when the steamer left. Before departing from the Inlet Mr Davis, who had made many friends there, was presented by the mine employees with an address, and also a group photograph of several of the miners.

Golden Site.— By the cutter Dcveron news was brought that the manager had put in a crosscut to the west at the top of the uprise, and had skuck quartz. The manager's report received by the s.s. Invercargill confirms this, and further states that tho crosscut west from the top of the uprise haa been extended to 22ft 6in. The footwall of the lode had been uncovered, and quartz was met with, forming in places a network of stringers, and appearing to go down strong under foot. Tbe manager had promised to crush a few tons, bxit as they could see gold so plainly in the stone, he did not think it necessaiy to go to the expense until they could cut it lower down. He estimated there were 3ft of milling material where the lode was exposed. He had started another crosscut about 60ft lower on the uprise, and at 16ft passed through what he felt pretty certain was the hanging wall. Just before the steamer left tbe manager added that the last shift reported that they had not met the footwall, but the black plate had risen to near the roof, and large boulders of quartz had been met with, and they had quartz in the face for some distance. The stone v/as similar to that which was carrying gold at the upper crosscut. Sunrise — The adjourned general meeting, which was to have been held yesterday evening, lapsed for want of a quorum. The chairman of directors (Mr R. Cleave), who bed just returnee] from tho mine, was too unwell to attend. It was agreed tbsit the retiring directors remain in office. A report from the mine manager slated that in the long tunnel the contractor v/as now in 322 ft, while in No. 2 crosscut great difficulty was being experienced iti connection with the water. However, n distance of 14Jft had been driven since last report. In the lode they had struck there was no sign of the footwall yet. There was a great qiiantity of good-looking stone which gave promise of something better, but they would not be able to tell until the water drained off.

Olivia. — In taking the boaiings for the drive a mistake had been made, but this had been rectified, and the drive had now been carried on in the proper direction ; 30ft or 40ft farther they expected to meet the formation which had given good prospects at the outcrop. Jessica. — A heavy ,slip had blocked progress, and a fresh start would have to be made.' This is a most unfortunate occurrence, as over .€3OO had been expended in operations to the stage they had l eached when the damage occurred. , Tarawera —Owing to heavy rains the shaft had beon flooded, and operations had to be suspended pending the arrival of pumping machinery.