SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2327, 6 October 1898, Page 34

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) Invercargili,, October 4. True to its reputation, Southland is experiencing its usual weather in October. Since last Thursday, when rain followed a heavy wind, most boisterous weather has prevailed^ and in consequence our rivers are in flood. On Saturday night the rivers were very high, and a good few losses of stock are reported. In many places where low-lying land had been been sown with grain the flood water will have drowned most of it. The very rough weather must have seriously interfered with the attendance at the annual horse parade on Saturday, an extended account of which -will be found below. At the usual committee meeting of the Gore A. and P. Association, held on Saturday, it was decided, on the motion of Mr W. Key, to take no action in selecting a, Clydesdale stallion for the farmers of the Gore district. While entering Bluff Harbour on Friday morning, the s.s. Tarawera touched something which knocked a piece off one of her propeller blades. A diver made an examination of the steamer's bottom on her arrival at the wharf; but no further damage could be discovered. It is satisfactory to note that the Forest Hill railway is to be constructed to M'Donald's corner, and it is to be finished about next February. This will be good news for the farmers and others in the back district. Following were the registrations in the Invercargill district during the month of September: — Births: Town 20, country 12; total 32. Deaths: Town 20, country 5; total 25. Marriage certificates issued, 10 Messrs J. Aitken and A. M'Kellar have been re-elected as secretary and treasurer respectively of the Southland Caledonian Society. Mr John M'&regor will act as superintendent of sports. Preparations are being made to entertain the Hon. J. G. Ward at a banquet at Winton immediately on his return from his parliamentary duties. Mrs Barron, Mr Ward's mother, contimies to improve in health, and it is to be hoped she will soon be about again. A dairy factory has been established at the Heathfield Improved Farm Settlement, and it has been decided to open the building in a ceremonial manner. Mr R. M'Nab, M.H.R., to whom the settlers are indebted for its establishment, will be present, and the Hon. John M'Kenzie, Minister for Lands, and Messrs J. W. Thomson and T. Pftrata, M.H.R.'s, have also promised to attend. The opening is likely to be fixed for the end of this month oi the beginning of November. I notice that Mr Frank H. Tucker, who has been winding up his late father's affairs, is going tc start business on account of Mrs Tucker in the same place and on the same lines as the late Mr Tucker. Old friends of the family will wish the revived business eveiy success. Messrs D. T. M'Hillop and Thomson had a narrow escape from a serious accident on Wednesday morning at the I'orest Hill siding. Thomson, who was driving, was not looking out for the train, it being past its due time, and was just about to drive across the line when a warning whistle apprised him of danger. The horse at tho same moment reared up, and was knocked down by the engine. It was fortunately thrown off the line, and the occupants of the van were also thrown clear of the locomotive, lne shafts of the van were broken, while the horso received several cuts.' But for tho vigilance of the engine driver the results might have been very serious. The Supreme Court finished its criminal "sittings on Tuesday evening, when Gorton, charged with making an alleged false declaration was acquitted, and W. J. Rae was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment on each of two charges of horse stealing. Civil sittings weie commenced with the claim for damages by John and Mary Neylon against Dommlck Kaveney, in which case the plaintiffs wclc awarded £175 damages — £100 to Mrs Neylon an'l £75 to her husband. In summing up, the judge commented on the disgraceful scenes witnessed in and general behaviour of many of the residents of the Wrey's Bush township. The case ol J. J. Meikle v. S. Levy, claiming '£1000 for alleged wrongful imprisonment, was adjourned till the next sittings of the Supreme Court to allow argument on certain law points raised by the defence. The auestion of costs

w.vs also leserved. The case in which George Harvey appealed against an order of Magistrate Keddeil for tho payment of 7s a week towards the maintenance of tho illegitimate child of Caroline Church, his Honour said that the appeal must be allowed, on the ground that the particular evidence required by the Statute had not been adduced in corro'ooration of respondent's story. lie would say nothing about the merits of the case, but it was only fair to Kenneth Baird, who was absent, to say that he did not hold he, was the father. The costs against respondent were £10 10s, with court costs to bo fixed by the registrar. The action for J-550 damages claimed by R. L. Begg from William Gardiner, both of Mataura., caused by defendant's alleged negligence in riding a horse over plaintiff when the latter was cycling is now being heard. In Chambers on Saturday Mr Justice Pennefather granted probate in the estate of Robert Stewart (Orepuki) to Harry Walter Stewart (Mataura). An application by Mr J. L. M'G. Watson, that remuneration, be : ppid to Joseph Townshend and William Middleton Pryde, executors of the will of the late Henry Perkins, out of the assets of the estate for their trouble in administering it, was referred to the registrar. Bandsmen will be glad to learn at last who is to be adjudicator at the contest on the 26th inst. Although the ballot took place on Sex>ternber 1, for some unaccountable reason the return has only just come to hand, and shows Mr P. Mohr, late of Invercargill, and now bandmaster of the Tirnaru Garrison, to be the chosen gentleman. The following six gentlemen stood for the position — Messrs Mohr, Siddall, Stratton, King, Briggs, amd Coombs." In their choice I think the bands have been wise, and it is to be hoped that the decisions will be graciously accepted. Mr Mohr is undoubtedly well-qualified for the position. Suitable train arrangements have been made in connection with the contest, and a large attendance is expected at Riverton. Owing to the disbandment of the Navals at the Bluff the Bluff band have lost their ' uniforms ; but I understand they will have their new uniforms in time for the contest. , A meeting was held at Riversdale on Saturday evening to decide what was to be done with the properly of the lately-disbanded Riversdale rifles. There was a good attendance, Captain Donald presiding, and after much discussion ife was decided that five members be appointed trustees. The following gentlemen were elected — Captain Donald, Lieutenants Kelly, and Gee, Colour-sergeant Currie, and Private J. Stevenson. The funds in hand, which amount to about £50, are also to be handed to the trustees, to be used in repairing the hall, painting, etc. The Southland Mounted Rifles have again h^d the Queen's Park and stabling placed at their disposal for their annual camp, to be held from November 10 to 16 inclusive. SOUTHLAND HIGHLAND SOCIETY. The second annual gathering of this society took place in Guthrie's Buildings on Friday night, the event taking the form of a concert and ball was a great success. Delegates were present from Dunedin, and were escorted from their hotel to the hall by the full strength of the Pipe Band. The whole proceedings were tinged wth such a deep hue of Scottish nationality that had the floral decorations been composed of heather and thistle and putting the stone and tossing the caber introduced there would have been little to choose between Invercargill and Stirling. One incident slightly marred the proceedings. Mr K. Cameron, the popular secretary, after working energetically for days beforehand, was seized with sudden illness and had to leave shartly after the proceedings opened. Mr M'Kellar, the chief, in full warpaint, presided, and read apologies from the Waitaki society, Mr' G. Ritchie (Otago society), and Father O'Neill (Milton). After a very able address by the chairman, he called upon the Caledonian Pipe Band to open the concert with a selection. Two Gaelic songs were sung by the society's bard, Mr John M'Neil, and addresses in the same language were delivered in a most impressive style by Messrs Dugald M'Lachlan (Dunedin), and Allan Carmichael. What they were about the uninitiated did not know, but those who did evidently appreciated them, for the speakers were loudly applauded. The president of the Caledonian Society (Mr J. A. Mitchell) and the president of the Burns Club (Mr R. Gilmour) also delivered short addresses. An original poem on the occasion of the society's second annual gathering was recited by Mr A. Kinross, and the sword dance was cleverly executed by Master Murdoch Macdonald (Bluff), while the Highland fling by Master Herbert Geddes, and a reel by Messrs G. Anderson, W. Jenkins, G. Louden, and H. Geddes were danced with vigour to the strains of the pipes. Songs were sung by Mrs Blue, and Misses M'Chesney, Cameron (Mataura), and Thomson, Messrs W. D. Smith, John Black, and Jas. Macgregor. An orchestral selection, " Scotia," by the Black Family, was rendered in their usual tasteful stylo, as was also the violin solo " Annie Laurie," by Miss Nellie Black. The ball was very largely attended, about 100 couples being present. The Black Family orchestra supplied excellent music, and was relieved at times by the pipers of the society The grand march was headed by tho pipe band, and formed a very pretty scene. The various hues of the tartans, blended with the evening costumes, made a most imposing spectacle. HORSE PARADE. The annual horse jjarade under the auspices of the Southland A. and P. Association was held in the Queen's Park on Saturday. The weather -was threatening, and the ground sloppy, which had no doubt a good deal to do with the poor attendance, only about 200 being present. The entries, though more in number than last year, compare badly with those of previous seasons, as the following table will show : —

The management of the parade was in the hands of Messrs J. A. Mitchell, Geo. Froggatt, and A. Dunlop, while the energetic secretary, Mr R. F. Cuthbertson, kept a supervising eya over everything, which is a guarantee that the arrangements were good. Of draughts, Mi J. B. Stitton's bay horse Prince Rupert, by Cavalier — Daisy, and Mr James Blakie's Shepherd Lad, by Herd Laddie — Maggie M'Corrnack, of the young division, were the pick, and Mr Cupple's old favourite Ciaigievar, by Old Times — Maggie, among the aged sires, still held his own. The light division amply showed how sadly Southland is in need of a really good thoroughbred. The hackneys were a good medium lot — the imported Saturn perhaps being the best. Following was the order of parade: — Draughts. Lochnagar: sire, Maori King; dam, Blossom. Owaci, Ja.mes Florence. Craigievar : Old Tinies — Maggie. Owner, R. Cupple&, jun. Rory O'Mora: Duke of Salisbury — Darling. Owner, John Grant. Better Times: Lord Salisbury — Nettie. Owner, James M'Crostie. Shepherd Lad: Herd Laddie — Maggie M'Corrmck. Owner, James Blakie. Young Herd Laddie: Herd Laddie — Lady Salisbury. Owner, James Blakie. G lencairn : Glenlyon— Princess. Owner, George Young

Yor.ng Lochinvar: Craigievar — Rosie. ' Owner, Andrew Stevenson. Dictator: Extinguisher — Nellie. Ownei, Robert Logan. Duke of York: King O' the Clans— Bell. owii6r, Andrew Crystal. Clan Macarthur: Macartlmr — Lady Eell. Owner, Andrew Crystal. M-Nab: Lord Lyon — Maggie il'Cormick. Owners, Swale and Leith. The Admiral : Hero — Maud. Owner, William Hamilton. General Shaf ter : King o' the- Clans — Kate. Owner, P. Ryan. Prince Rupert: Cavalier — Daisy. Owner, T. B. Sutton. Dan O' Conn ell: Extinguisher — Blo3sorn. Owner, John Walsh. Lord Glasgow: Lord Salisbury — Kate. Owner, Charles Cooper. Thoroughbred, Carriage, and Trotters. Palliser : Nordenfeldt — Radiance. Owner, William Humo. Lexington: Berlin — Fanny Allen. Owner, Robert Logan. Elector: Berlin — Mono. Owner, A. W. Pettigrew Saturn: The Gentleman — Flower. Owner, William Mackintosh. Remembrance : Fusilier — Jealousy. Owner, John Tennant. Silverniark : Apremont — Rupee. Owner, Thomas Hannah.

.893 1894 .895 L 896 L 897 Draughi 12 22 15 13 12 its. Light 15 20 16 16 9 t. Tota; 27 42 31 29 21