SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 35

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Ottb Own Correspondent.)

IN.VERCARGILL, October 1. i The rain expected and mentioned in my notes last week did not come to as much as was anticipated, and thn marvellous and unprecedenledly mild weather continued up till Saturday last, when, with the glass very low and clouds threatening, tho rain began to fall in earnest. The boisterous weather continued all through Sunday, and by the look of the mountains this morning a fair amount of snow must have fallen. The rivers are slightly swollen and somewhat di«uoloured, bub today tho sun is again shining and everything looking woll. The heavy hail which fell yesterday was rough on the young lambs, and coining into town this morning many dead lambs weie to be seen lying about tho paddocks. Some of the farmers who timed their ewes „0 lamb early this season have been singularly fortunate, for tehy are rewarded with very heavy average? and such splendid weather that the mortality has been almost nil. Prices for stock, which have been ruling so high lately, received a che-ck at Wallacelown hst Tuesday. In cattle there was a distinct drop of several shilling? from the last morkel, pen after r>en being ppssed. Butcher o were not buying, and consequently competition was ■v cry fJack. In one case as high as £11 10s was obtained, but this was for an altogether exceptionally heavy bullock. Fat sheep rlso were in poor demand, although the entry was a very small me. Horses were also muoli easier in pneo on Saturday, and though there are still plenty of buyers about for good draught horses, they 'do not seem inclined to go to the high figures realising until lately. The oat market has been quiet during the .past fe7/ days, and to-day Is 5d h_ the best offer going. Some farmers are beginning to lose faith now. and are selling at prices going .rather than wait any longer. The following letter appears in the last issue of the Cape Times to hand by the mail, and shows that Mr I. W. Raymond, of Gore, is advertising the colony's products during his trip round tho world: — "Dear sir, — Whilst Pruning iay Times this morning I came across

a paragraph in the 'News of the Day ' to the aiiect that a 2;lr Ixiymond, of Ncv Zealand, had given you to understand that New Zealand mutton con bo landed here at not more than 2}t\ per lb. Will you 'kindly let me know or assist me in obtaining Mr .Raymond's address, c.j I am prepared to take 50,000 carcases within the next 12 months f j 01a llv Jlaymond at the price stated — viz., 2^d per lb. It id a pity thai Mr Raymond did not think it worth while to call on those financially interested in the busiue^a. Should this catch Mr Raymond's eye I trust ho will accept it as an order, and wire me acceptance immediately. — I am, etc., H. K\iif, Capetown, August 18." For the benefit of readers I may add that this Mr Kamp until lu^t a few months ago had a monopoly of the meat trade in Capetown, and to a very large extent v. as protected by un import duty on meat of 2d alb.. Daring the war thia duty was suspended, and the Dx> Beer's Company (the same company that own the diamond fields in Kimberley, and ot which Hon. C. J. Rhodes is chairman of director-,) erected huge cool storage stores and have opened retail butcher shops m'botJi Capetown find Kimberlay. Mr Kamp i" onp of the millionaires of Capetown, and great interest, v»a.3 taken, in th 9 competition between thc^e two imoicnsely wealthy bodies. The Invercargill Fire Brigade hove decided to send a team to compete at the trials cf ' skill arranged in collection with the Christclmrch Exhibition. The Southland Caledonian Pipe Band have accepted an invitation to be present at tho Canterbury JuLilao festivities ot the end of the year. The Garrison Band will also go north at that time to compete in the contest. The City Baud will be unable to get away, so docs not enter for the contest. Sergeant Fahey wac entertained at a social at Riverton on' Wednesday last, when tho .Mayor (Mr D. Durtridge) presented Jiim with a, set of gold sleeve link?. Fs\hey in his reply to the toast of the eveiiinc; paid high tribute to Sargeon-captain Burns, who was at one time the medico in charge of the 'Wesiern District Botipital. It is rumoured that the Club Hotelin I>oe street ha.s a,°ain changed h-aids. Mr Keith, it is reported, has &:>lcl otit to a son of Mr Bastings, cf the Albion Hotel. The Wyndbam F.u % n.er reports that a maro in the W'jndhaiii Valley district last week gave birth to a foal with only the two hind Igks. There* was no ,-^ign at all of the foL-e legs. The buticr factory at Mhaihau is not to be proceeded with at piosenx as the piomolei is not ; 3 atistied with tho prospects of ihe market. However, it is move than likely tliat 11 cbed^e faccory will be built 111 the district, a> tarnaerfi arj anxious to enter furtlier into the daiiymg industry than the present aTiaiigements ">vill a 1 low them. According co the Winlon Record some very vhid iigUtnmg wps seen in the Centra Bush district Ir.st week, pik! a <-tack of oa.is, the propci ty of Mr \V. Christie, was struck ; but fortunately a reigbbour noticed the occiuenco, and "ths liameo were quickly subdued 'before much damage had been done. The residents of lirovm'd, a cli=tiici near Winton, are very einr.gecl at 1 shocking occurrence -which, hapnened there lately. It appears that d Srfht i,o a vv.hA\, with bare knuckles, for a wager, took (dpcc, and atler the finish a general melee occurred. It is alleged that the affair was talked about several weeks before taking plae^ and that some well-known business men were present. On I'riday LIIO staff of the Bluff Harbour Board met on the tug Awarua, to bid goodbye to Mr Walker, their late engineer. Tho harbourmaster, Captain ll 'Donald, presentsd Mi Walker with a set of gold studs and links, and for his wiie a god Lxocch. Mr E. Johnptone, on behalf oi the engineering department, presented Mr Walker with a walking stick made from timber used in the construction ol the wharf.

The v/onderfui advance made in medical science* and in the skill of surgeons and physicians duri'slg the lallor half of the expiring century is one of the marvels of the age. In almost a relative degree has the skill of nursing progressed, and to efficiently aided medical men in their successful rchieTemeiit 5 !. This thought lias been proved <o demor.btraLion by a vi-it to the St. Clair Nur&ing Home, in Invcrcaigi 1, efficiently managed by three young Nciv Zosland-born ladies of intelligence, education, and charrcler. These ladies, the Mitsos i<ocke, were born at Eiverton, where their father carried on tho bucinesti of a dispensing chemist. Mr P.ocke died very suddenly 20 years ago, later their mother married Mr Henry Lyon, one of the Western District early vunholders. then Mrs I/yon died, and 0 little Inter ?iir lij'on passed away. IVo of the three girls were .sent to lelativet. in England, whevo ih&y received a first-clasis education, became jprobationers, and eventual!} named nurses, passing examinations v.'it'i highesst credit. About a year ago, they returned to Now Zealand and opened tlie St. G air Nursing Home. Their hoiise and cervices are greatly sought alter, and all or many serious operations, especially where ladies are ihe patients, ore performed by medicvl men under their roof with wonderful ELiccr3s, a portion of the ciedit for this result being without doubt due to excellent nursing. A s their work is increasing they hove been for tome time on the outlook for larger and more suitable premises, and have juefc achieved their object by the purchase of thobeatniful grounds and residence of Mr C. H. Boworth, county engineer, in Forth street. By the bye, Mr irloworth is a grandson of Mr Howorth, Dunedin's earliest barrister — blind, and yet perfect master of the laws of. the land. 1 re.member seeing him walking arm in arm to Dunedin's ccrarthouse. and ably conducting his case as if he saw people a,s we.l as they saw him. However, reverting to the purchase by the Mksses I-tocke of Mr O. H. Howorth's property, the young ladies' must be congratulated on obtaining such an ideal site for their home. Convalescents will enioy privacy, a fine aspect, a beautiful garden all within the town boundaiy, to the great convenience of the doctors and the friends of theii country patients. They are largely indebted to Mr Scandrett, the well-known laud agent, for successfully and promptly negotiating the s\le.