SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 29

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Feoh Oub Own Cobkespondent.)

INVERCARGILL, March 20.

The greatest diversiou we have had for a long time from war news and patriotic business is the universal scare that is being felt here.J us * llow over c possibilities of that terrible and loathsome disease, bubonic plaguo, spreading to these shores; and it ie fortunate for New Zealand that it is so. Last night nearly the whole of the medical men of Invercargill joined with a committee of the borough council to discuss remedies ior the extermination of rats and other vermin, and to adopt other means for the purification and cleansing of the town and suburbs. The chief outcome of these, deliberations is that on the 27th inst. (Tuesday) the corporation employees will thoroughly poison the banks and bridges about Puni Creek, the rubbish heaps, and the giain stores) and the public are requested to take similar action on private premises. The best method of poisoning was considered to be a bait laid in all likely places of flour mixed with one-tenth part sugar. If the bait is readily taken for, say, two days and nights, then add one-sixth part plaster of Paris, leaving clear water handy for the rats to drink. It is said this will kill the rats in about an houi after they have taken it. The council have also decided to supply the public with sixpenny packets of chloride of lime, to be made use of as a powder to disinfect their yards, fowlhoixses, dog kennels, outhouses, etc., and ir liquid form for washhouses, sinks, cesspits, drains, etc. The doctors further strongly recommend that the council should employ three extra men to inspect every house in the borough, to see that refuse, rubbish, and other waste matter is removed. The ixvadical men say this is the most important, of preventives, and should be acted upon promptly. The following precautions, submitted by the inspector, were approved — viz., as few cats and dogs or other domestic animals as possible should be kept, and those which are permitted to remain should be kept thoroughly clean. All sickly domestic animals should be at once destroyed. Great care should be taken that all dogs are dipped in an insect-destroj r ing preparation at short intervals of time. Poultry in particular are often a fruitful medium of communicating dieease, therefore all unhealthy-looking poultry should be destroyed at once. Poultry-houses should be lime-washed every month, cleaned out once a week at least, and all manure, etc., removed. If ash is placed under the roosts the house may be kept perfectly clean. I was speaking to a gentleman from SouthAustralia this morning, who * expressed the opinion that if the plague reached New Zealand our oats would at once be tabooed from entering Australian ports, for it is recognised that- rats are the first to take the plague, and .any kind olf feedstufes that they can touch forms a most dangerous source of contagion Our present quarantine arrangements are no doubt a menace to commercial intercourse with New South Wales, but tinder present conditions they are absolutely necessary to x^otect us from the possible introduction of such a deadly and loathsome disease.

Socials and farewells have been much in evidence in these parts of late: There are three sxich functions reported m this morning's paper. Firstly, one to Mr J. W. Kelly, exM.H.R. foi Invercargill, in Ashley's Hall, last night, when various presentations were made to Mr Kelly, one including a purse of sovereigns running into three figures, from the citizens of Invercargill ; a silver tea service from the Star Football Club, and a clock and barometer from the Trades and Labour Union of Invercargill. Mr Kelly is removing to Gore, where he enters into the tailoring business on his own account.

Anothei social and farewell gathering was held at Otautau in honour of Mr and Mrs M'Kinnon, of Rmgway station, who leave by the Talune to-day for the North Island, Mr M'Kinnon having been appointed to the management of a large sheep and cattle station in the Hawke's Bay district belonging to Messrs Roberts and Handyside. The third function of this kind reported this morning was held at Dipton, in honour of Mr A. Miller, late manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company's Dipton estate. Mr Miller, like the others, was the recipient of handsome piesents and a laudatory farewell address. Mr Miller resigns to settle on a farm of his own in the Eastern District.

We had very heavy rain last Friday — sufficient to cause a fresh in some of the creeks and rivers, but the cool breezy weather which followed prevented any harm being done to cut corn. In a very few cases farmers have threshed oats out of stook, and sent to the market. I hear that a small lot of these new oats was sent down to the Yarrowdale, now loading 35,000 sacks oats at Bkifi for Capetown, but were rejected by the shippers. New oats are being offered at Is lOd, but buyers and brokers seem agreed to fix values at about Is 8d for best samples at wayside stations.

Harvest hands are scarce, and farmers arc offering a shiHine, an hour and food for sun able men, but many lads, I am told, are making a better wige than this at rabbiting just now. The Perthshire is due to-moirow at the Bhiff , which is her final port of departure. She takes in here about 10,000 carcases lamb and a few crates of rabbits. This will clean the freezing works out oi lamb, and very little mutton is being pxit through this season yet, or is likely to be put throxigh*. The company have greatly extended their works at Mataura since last winter, and are laying themselves out for an enormous rabbit freezing trade this winter. It is hard to find out what quantities are now coming in from trappers, but they are admittedly greater than at this time last year. The cheap railway fares to Dunedin commenced yesterday, and by the time the Invercargill express had got to Gore the carriages were fairly jammed with passengers. Other carriages had to be taken off the Waimea line, and joined to the express, to provide sitting room for all on board the train. The department are likely to have a "busy time of it the next ten days, if the weather keeps as pleasant as it is at present. Whooping cough is prevalent in several centres of this district.

The Railway department advertise cifiewl ere arrangements in connection with -he Duncd-'n races and the departure of the Fourth Contingent. In last week's issue a picture appeared of the first and second prize decorated bicycles with Miss Logan and Miss Driver in front of each respectively. It should have been mentioned that the bicycles were owned and entered by Mrs Cheeseman (first) and Mrs Simeon (second).