SOUTHLAND STEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 34

SOUTHLAND STEWS NOTES.

♦ (Fjrom Oub. Qwn Cosrbspondmt.) INVERCARGILL, April 18.

Winter has indeed set in so far a3 the weather is concerned, for during the past week it has been blowing and raining nearly all the time. The temperature has heen very low, and stock have suffered a good deal, for up to a few days ago we were having almost midsummer weather, thus stock had no time to become gradually accustomed to the' cold weather.

The wet weather, combined with the graincarting, has very considerably cut up the roads leading to all the railway stations and sidings ; yet, despite this, the railway returns for the week ending the 15th inst. show that 37,051 sacks were carried, making a total of 116,707, as against 14,915 sacks carried during the corresponding week last year, and a total of 36,356 sacks carried up to a similar date.

Prices have not been maintained, though the drop is small. Oats are scarcely worth 13d at country- sidings now. There was a very large quantity offering last Saturday, but only one firm was really in a buying mood. The wheat market is also a little easier, 2s 3d terms f.o.b. country sidings being the best offer obtainable at present; but the local millers dt> not seem anxious to buy any but the very primest samples. That the railway management in .Southland is in good hands no one is likely to deny ; but any person who would be rash enough to say that it was perfect could scarcely be called truthful. A few weeks ago a man travelling on the Western district line had to commit a breach of the by-laws owing to there being no conveniences in the carriages, and on being punished for the offence he felt the shame of going to gaol" so much that he committed suicide. I don't mean to accuse the railway authorities of taking this man's life — far from it — but other people travelling on that and other lines in Southland are put to great discomfort arising from the same cause. Until lately^ complaints were continually being made about the bad light in the ( carriages ; but this has been remedied on all 'the lines now, and one can read with comfort. Now that the grain season has started, trains arrive at their destinations any time between the schedule time of arriving and an hour afterwnrds. Of course this is only to be expected at this time of the year; but still one wonders when he sees a big tender engine drawing a light train and a small one drawing 40 of 50 trucks and a couple of carriages why the department do not change the locomotives. This is not a sight Steen. only occasioiially, but every day, on the Invercargill-Orepuki and 'Nightcaps-Riv'er-ton lines.' The other night I was a pa&senger on these lines, and at Thornbury the train to Orepuki started off with three trucks and three oe four passenger carriages, drawn by a big tender engine, while on the branch line to Nigntcaps a small engine started off with nearly 50 trucks besides the passenger carriages. The trains were a" few minutes late there, and by the time the Nightcaps train arrived at its destination it was 'nearly an hour and a-half behind time. Surely the hauling strength is on the wrong line — at least it seems so to the public, who imagine they could effect some improvement of railway affairs .in Southland.

Mr Gilfedder, M.H.R., has received intimation from the Minister for Railways that the matter of providing additional accommodation at Nightcaps lms been submitted to the Solici-tor-general, who gives it as his opinion that as the railway and land do not belong to the department, it has no power- to lay out money in extensions and improvements thereon, nor has it the power to compel the owners tc provide additional facilities for the increased traffic.

I understand it is the intention of the railway authorities to run a mid-day train from Riverton to Orepuki on Tuesdays and Thurs-' days, as well as on Saturdays, as at present, from the Ist of next month. This is a step in the right direction.

Invercargill for some time could, I should think, claim the worst streets of any municipality in the colony. I do not know that the streets have been much improved lately ; but this unenviable position has been lost — Campbelltown, better known as Bluff, scoring an easy victory. The main^ street i# that borough is. positively dangerous in day time, and at night; when the town is in practically total darkness, it is not saie to venture out, the street being full of holes. The electric light only illuminates the wharf, ajid only one bght is being used at present. Several people have had nasty falls, and the council should attend to the matter at -once.

Comparing the rabbit industry with legitimate farming, the Wyndham Farmer says: — Four rabbits " f.o.b) at TVynclham depot are worth Is cash. Four 'pecks of oats may bring the same money. Con. : What will the .respective values bo a month heucfr?

Mr Deck's house at 'Stewart Island has been bought by the Otago Presbytery to be used as a holiday resort by ministers in need of a change of air.

Mr Woodward, our manager of the* National Bank, is laid up with a complaint of the heart, and is being relieved by Mr Churton, from Outram. Mr Woodward's condition at one time was serious, but he is now progressing favourably towards recovery.

Mr Thomson, manager of the Southland Frozen Meat and Export Company, who has been home on the business of the company, returned by the last Melbourne steamer after an absence of about four months.

Mr M. Gilfedder, M.H.R., walked round from Chfden to Preservation Inlet after the opening of the Waiau bridge, and while at Crornarty he addressed a meeting of his constituents. At the conclusion of hi? address he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, and a vote of confidence in the present Government, was .carried by. acclamation. The Rev. Father O'JDea, who has been assisting .Father O'Ponnell in Gore, for the past two years, is to be moved to Invercargill, and Father M'Grath, from Invercargill, takes his place at Gore. Owing to the high prices Teigning in the tin market, the attention of speculators is being attracted to the almost deserted tinfields at Pegasus. Yesterday Mrs Howell, widow of the late Captain Howell, died 'at her residence, in Riverton, aftei a short illness. Deceased was widely known in the Western district, and was aged 68 years.

On Thursday, at the S.M. Court, the Glendhu Coal Company were plaintiffs in no lewer than nine cases for calls due. The management of this company certainly take a peculiar course to advertise themselves.

At the S.M. Court on Saturday, before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., "the case against James Aitken, licensee of the Empire Hotel, convicted a few days ago of Sunday trading, was reopened and fresh evidence taken. His worship reserved his decision until Thursday. Two unruly girls, who had strayed away from their homes and slept out in some scrub with boys, were last week committed by Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., to the Industrial School. By to-day's express a large number of visi-

tors arrived for the races, and amongst them the police have been advised that there are nearly 20 spielers. " Stylus," in the' Southland News, says that conjecture is rife as to the coming' candidate's for Invercargill. Already two Liberals are promised, and feelers are being put out in various directions to find a true blue Tory. There seem to be none of the latter left." In fact, it appears probable that ere long the last of the Tories will be found a place in the local museum, among the, birds, bats, and reptiles. Possibly, however, the distinction between the political parties 'may be changed to Seddonites and followers of the principles of the late John Ballance. These parties would have the merit of being far v.-ider apart than so-called Liberals and Conservatives. At the local Land Office on Thursday last 52 sections in the Winton township wei*e submitted to auction, and -of that number 32 found purchasers, in some cases at -a fair advance upon the upßet price. The bare cost of maintaining the Old People's Home at Invercargill is 6s 2d per week per inmate, but the gross cost is 8s 6d per week. There" are 47 males and 32 females in the home. The rabbit industry continues to take a large proportion of the la"bour supply in Southland, and in some . districts threshing mills are unable to get sufficient men to work them. It is calculated that 35,000 rabbits are being handled every day in Southland.' One firm alone received 15,00 C in one day recently. The sub-committee appointed to make arrangements for a winter show under the auspices of the Gore A. and P. Association met on Saturday. After some discussion it was decided that, as a building could not be obtained, the sub-committee, recommend that no show be held. The recommendation will come before the chief committee at its ordinary meeting on May 6. A meeting of the Council of the- Southland Acclimatisation Society- was held on Thursday, when the question of having- the Riverton estuary opened for netting was discussed, and the following resolution carried: " That Mr Gilfedder, M-rH.R., be informed that if the petitioners are content that the netting asked for be bounded bjr the Riverton bridge, and not above it, and the Government see fit to open the estuary for net fishing to that limit, this society • will offer no opposition, on condition, that such concession is final, and that such netting docs not include- the taking of trout or salrnon r which, if caught, must be returned alive to the water." The secretary reported that he had prepared a list, including English and French partridges, black game, and grouse to be obtained from London during the year. The annual meeting was fixed for the 4th May. At a meeting of the trustees of the South - Jand Hospital, held last week, the hcxise sur geon, Dr Macleod, recommended the appointment of another assistant nurse owing to the increased area and the more frequent serious operations that had been performed lately at the institution. The secretary was instructed to make inquiries from other hospitals in the colony on the nursing system, and it was decided to meet again this month to consider the advisability of establishing the eight'hours' system. Messrs J. F. Wilson and A. B.'Smith were appointed honorary dental surgeons in the place of Mr Yule, resigned. The payment on the Victoria wing was sanctioned. The Waikawa telephone matter was finally disposed of by the Southland County Council on Friday, when after a lengthy discussion the motion affirming the council's original resolution, which hangs the matter up lor an indefinite period, was passed without dissent. At the same~ineeting the county engineer reported that he estimated the amount required to be placed on the Estimates . for 1899-1900 for roads and bridges to be £9175, made up as follows: — Baird's road, Waikawa, .B200; Bluff road, to include new bridge over Buck Creek, £200; Centre Bush to Otapiri, £350; Dipton to Balfour, £150; Forest Hill, £200; FortroseTokonui Gorge, £200; Gore-Pukerau, £100; Invercargill Hundred, blocks XIV and XV, j£'2OO; do, block IV, £100 ; do, blocks XVII and XX, £200; do, block XXII, £200; Mabel district, £200; Makarewa Bush, £200; Main North road, to complete Gladstone end, £500 i Ma-karewa-Grove Bush, £150; Mataura Island dairy factory to station, £250; Oteramika, £200; Waikawa district main road, £300; Waikawa Valley, £200; Waimatuku Bush, £100; AVendon district roads, £200 ; line of Hundreds, Southland end, £300; Wallacetown-Spar Bush road, £100; Menzies Ferry bridge, £2000; Dipton bridge, £1500; Balfour bridge, over Mataura £150; Oreti Kridge, Wieys Bush road (balance), £250; Waikaia district, blocks IX and X, £100; Wendon and Greenvale blocks, £200; 'Hedgehope bridge, Bushy Park, £75; Mataura to Dunsdale, £300. 1 ' MINING. According to the latest reports received here from Preservation Inlet the work is going forward in a satisfactory manner. Owing to a good supply of water (as reported" in my last week's notes) the Morning Star battery is now being driven by water power, thereby effecting a considerable saving in the expense of crushing the stono. Tho Golden. Site are now working three shifts and are said to.be on good regular stone, so that a respectable-sized cake of gold may be looked forward to arrive by the next steamer. The Sunrise Company are very hopeful of striking the reef in a few days, as when the steamer left there was every indication in the long drive of its being close at hand. This company deserves success for the plucky way in -which they have continued to work through all obstacles. Th» Tarawera are on good stone now, exposed in their low level below the sea, and the reef, or lode, is increasing in width as they go dowir on it. It 'is anticipated they will put more men on shortly so that a quantity of stone can be got to grass sufficient to make a shipment Home, when after smelting and extraction of the various metals the lode contains, its actual commercial value will be ascertained. The Cuttle Cove claim is on very nice stone, showing gold freely, and the result of the crushing of the five tons they have just got out of the mine will be looked forward to with interest.

Tho Alpha Company are reported to have struck a rick leader, and now there is a plentiful supply of water to work the battery let us hope a' good cake of gold will be the result by next steamer's return at the end of the month.

At Orepuki the new manager of the Shale Company (Mr Dunlop) has arrived from Home, and a considerable number of additional hands are to be engaged on the claim, which showa every prospect of success. - ' The Undaunted Sluicing Gold Mining Company has now * been successfully floated, all the shares having been applied for, and operations commence on the claim at once.

Several parties on the West 'Waiau who have been engaged for some time with a loi of preliminary work in fetching up tailraces, etc., are now opening out their ground, .and expect in the near future to have satisfactory wash-ups. It is reported that a rather serious break has occurred in one of the dan's of Dumlns and party's water-race. This is much to be regretted, as they have gone to a great deal of expense and. done a lot of har.l work tc bring in the water, and if all had gone right they might now be washing up from the rich lead known to exist in the claim.

— The skin of an elephant usually takes about five years to tsuu