SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2451, 6 March 1901, Page 43

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, March 4. Our summer has this year been entirely spoilt by seven weeks' continuous broken weather. The grass seed harvest was in consequence entirely spoilt, and it looks at the time of writing as if the general grain harvest was going to be spoilt too. The crops are not on the average as heavy as they generally are in Southland, and with the present low prices for grain and high prices of labour the grower wants all in his favour in the way of harvest weather.

The oat market is very quiet at present. Old oats Is 4d at country sidings and new oats Is 3d are the ruling prices, 'lhe wheat market is, if anything, easier, but thgre is really nothing doing in it. The sheep market during the past fortnight has been somewhat easier, and a drop of quite 2s a head is to be reported in some lines. Lambs are considerably cheaper than was expected, but good breeding ewes will keep their price. In this morning's local paper I notice no less than 25,410 sheep and 1282 cattle offered for sale during the next few days. The feed has come away well during the past few weeks of wet weather, and is going to waste in all directions. The following were the ruling wholesale market rates for farm produce in Invercargill on Saturday. — Butter, fresh, 7d ; butter, (tactory), bulk lOd, pats lOJd ; eggs^ Is per dozen ; cheese, farm, 3|d ; bacon, farm, 7d, do (rolled), farm, 6d; hams, 8d; potatoes, £4 per ton; fowl wheat, 2s; barley, 2s to 2s 6d; chaff, £2 10s; flour, £6 10s to £7 ss; oatmeal, £9 10s to £10; bran, £3 10s (including bags) ; pollard, £4. The business people of Southland always look to Saturday as their best business day, and a Saturday when the farmers are not in town, makes the week a bad one for them. Last Saturday was a very bad Saturday, there being very few country people in.

lhe weather last month was anything but pleasant, and would give one the idea that it had rained nearly every day in the month. However, Mr Turner's figures for February show that rain only fell on 17 days, and the amount that fell — 2.86 in — was I.olm less than last February. Last year there was rain on only 14 days.

The quarterly meeting of the Invercargill Licensing Bench was held on Saturday. 'Lhe only business transacted was the transfer of the licenses.

The amount taken at the gates at Queen's Park on Friday was £68 12s. showing that 2744 paid for admission, which, with those who had previously bought tickets, and children who were admitted free, must have made the number on the ground over 5000.

Colonel Penton, speaking at the luncheon at Queen's Park on Friday, commended the marked interest our mayor shows in volunteers and military matters generally, and said tkat he wished it was so with some mayors of other municipalities.

Captain Barker, of the newly-formed Bluff Guards, has accepted a challenge from the City Guards for teams from each corps to go through the manual exercises on 13th lust. This is the sort of rivalry that should be encouraged between different corps.

" Denis" in the Southern CiO3s says, in referring to the visit of the Indian troops : • — Wan local wag got a powerful set back. Ses he to a fine-looking Pathan : "Cum-a-rash " an' "Erin-go-bragh, ' "punkah-wallah, ' an' "How's the push?" "Sir," ses the dark-hued wan, wid a glance ay dignified scorn, "if you'll speak English I will answer you l ''

Dr Alexander Hendry, who has for the past two years been practising in Port Chalmers, and formerly at Mataura, has been appointed resident medical superintendent of the Southland Hospital. Dr Hendry is a brother to the chief inspector of the Southland Education Board.

Of the six pastoral runs in various parts of Southland offered for sale at the Land Office here last Wednesday, only two found purchasers. One of these realised £368, or £218 above the upset price; while the other was acquired at the upset — £38 6s 8d annual rent. The Southland Horticultural Society held a very successful exhibition of flowers and fruit in the Zealandia Hall on Wednesday and Thursday. The door takings were well up to previous years, and, despite the unfavourable weather, many of the exhibits were of a high qu&hty.

On Wednesday afternoon a large number of shareholders and others accepted the invitation of the directors of the Southland Frozen Meat Company to lunch in the works and look over the machinery. The luncheon was served m two of the large freezing chambers — the tempeiature had been risen somewhat. Mr M'Quctn, the chairman, occupied the chair, and in the course of nis remarks said he was so gratified with the result of the invitation that he thought it might not be a bad place to have such a gathering every year — a sort of annual picnic that might be accepted as a kind of dividend. He said he did not intend to make a speech, but would call on several present to express their opinions upon what they had seen in the works. He did not fear adverse remarks : there was no room for them — they could not be made. Messrs T. Buxton, I. W. Raymond, Goldie (Mayor of Invercargill), Ballantyne (Mayor of Gore), John Turnbull, and R. M'Nab, M.H.R., made a few remarks, and the company dispersed.

Southland's contribution towards the seventh contingent left Invercargill by Tuesday's express, and were given an enthusiastic send-off by the citizens. The men mustered at the Garrison Hall, and, headed by oi£ Garrison Band, marched through Dee street to the station. As the train moved off the Mayor called for three cheers for the men, and the band placed "Auld lang syne." The men chosen were a finelooking lot of young fellows, who with a little training should make real good soldiers. The following are the names of the men who went :

Aslimore, Joseph, Orepuki, labourer, 22. Corkin, Hugh, Riverton, miner, 27. * Denmston, James, Avenal, farrier, 20. Dunlop, William, Pine Bush, farm hand, 21. Ferguson, David, Harringtons, farmer, 20. Forbes, Alexander, East Invercargill, groom, 22. Forbes, Donald, Orepuki, miner, 20. George, Peter, Invercargill, tailor, 21. Harvey, Henry, Haldane, farm hand, 24. * Jenkins, John, Vi/ inton, farmer, 22. Martin, Arthur Francis, Lumsden, labourer, 23. Mills, John Clarence, Invercargill, drayman, 25 * Munro, Charles T. (sergeant), Wmton, blacksmith, 21. M'Kay, John, Longwood, miner, 21. M'Kelvie, John Thomas, Mataura, butcher, 21. M'Lean, Archibald, Woodlands( bicycle agent, 20. Scott, Alexander, Clifden, farmer, 23. Smith, William S., Orepuki, miner, 24. Templeton, John Herbert, Clifden, farm hand, 23. * Todd, Robert N. (corporal), Invercargill, clerk, 23. * Willett, James, Invercargill, mechanical engineer, 22. * Whyte, Roderick L., Winton, storeman, 20. The star denotes men who have had volunteer training. At the usual monthly meeting of the Southland Education Boord on Friday, it was decided to give the teacher of » cpuntrj school

three months' notice of the termination of his engagement, certain instructions to be given him in regard to the conduct of the school during that period. The annual meetings of householders for election of committees were fixed for April 22. Mr Baldey gave notice to move at next meeting that a new school be erected on the recently-acquired site at the Bluff, tenders to be inviteed for the purchase of the old building site. A resolution was adopted that an aidede school be established in Manapouri district, petitioners to be asked to request the young lady they had mentioned in their letter to make formal application for the position of teacher. The secretary, Mi J. C. Neill, submitted recommendations in regard to the allocation of the vote for the increase of teachers' salaries. The board having previously objected to the directions m which to make additions proposed by the department, the secretary, in his recommendation to the board for the equitable allocation of the £1263, stated that the increase proposed by the Department affected salaries paid by the board amounting to £15,530 out of a total salaries bill of £20,938, over £11,000 remaining untouched. The secretary's proposals provided for the following increases — On salaries over £300, 3 per cent, increase ; £200 to £300, 32; per cent. ; £150 to £200, 4 per cent.; £100 to £150, 4£ per cent.; under £100, 15 per cent., the last applying only to fully certificated teachers and not including pupil teachers. The total amount of salaries over 300 was stated to be £621; that fiom £200 to £300, £2479; £150 to £200, £6109; and £100 to £150, £13,857. This last item, the secretary pointed out, represented one-half the total salary bill for the year. The total salaries paid to teachers receiving under £100 was £1940. The above proposals were adopted, and it was decided to inform the Minister for Education that this was the only way which the board could approve of the distribution. A special meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board was held in Invercargill on Saturday to discuss certain matters relating to wharf extension that were of the utmost importance. The board had waited upon> Messrs Barker and Jones in connection with releasing them from their contract with the board. Messrs Barker and Jones had now replied that they would only cdnsent to this on one condition — viz., that they were allowed to take up the extra widening of the eastern wharf at schedule rates. The question of a new approach was also considered. Mr Dunlop moved that the boaTd proceed with the extension by 12ft of the eastern wharf, and that plans and specifications be prepared and submitted to the next meeting of the Harbour Works Committee. Mr Mitchell seconded. At the request of the chairman the engineer said that they had no material on hand to go on with the new approach, but there was plenty to carry out the widening of the eastern wharf. The motion was carried — Messrs Bain, Carmichael, Gilray, and Watson voting against it. Mr Mitchell moved that the engineer be asked to draw up plans and specifications of the proposed new approach to the wharf and submit them to the next meeting of the Harbour and Works Committee. Mr Pollard seconded the motion. Mr Watson moved as an amendment that the plans produced by the engineer at the request of the committee be approved of, and the necessary steps be taken to obtain the consent of the Railway department and the Marine department, and that in the meantime the engineer prepare specifications and submit them to the Harbour and Works Committee. As there would be delay, the sooner they got the plans away to the authorities the better. * It was a matter of urgency, and he thought there was nothing irregular in the proceeding. Mr Carmichael seconded the amendment, which was carried. Mr Bain moved that Messrs Barker and Jones be handed over the first section of the contract for widening the main wharf immediately, and that the board expects them to complete it within the specified time. It is expected that the port will not be as busy during the next six weeks as it has been of late, and that this will give the board a chance of impioving their wharf accommodation.

On Friday, before Mr S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., Charles Cameron was charged with indecent exposure, the offence having been committed on the 13th inst. on the platform of a railway carriage at Oporo. Mr Matthews, who appeared for the accused, said that the act had not been done wilfully, but was a case of necessity. Sergeant O'Neill stated that the offence was committed while the train was standing at the station, and the man could easily have gone to the convenience provided at the station , moreover, there was a latrine on the train. Detective M'Uveney and the guard gave evidence, the latter stating that there were several ladies in the adjoining carriage, some of whom must have seen the accused. — His Worship said this was one of those cases where to be merciful was to exhibit weakness. The accused would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

The Supreme Court opens on Tuesday next, and the criminal calendar this time is a light one. The following is a full list of the cases set down for hearing- — Criminal charges — William Andrews, alleged theft of a dog (Mr W. *. H. Hall for the accused) ; Charles Arnett, alleged theft, forgery, and attempt to murder by poison (Mr A. C. Hanlon for the accused) ; William R. Brooks and Charles Heatly, breaking and entering a house and stealing therefrom ; John Robert Corkhill, forging and uttering ; Hendry Charles Coyler, alleged rape and carnal knowledge (Mr R. H. Rattray for accused). Divorce — George Ann Gow (Nightcaps) v. Ellen J. Ann Gow (respondent) and George Arnal (co-respondent, Invercargill) ; Mr Macalister for petitioner; undefended. Civil business— Elizabeth Winter v. Nightcaps Coal Company (Limited), claim for £1500, damages for the loss of plaintiff's husband through the alleged negligence of the defendant; before his Honor and a special jury of 12; Mr W. A. Sim (instructed by Messrs Stout and Lillicrap) for the plaintiff, Mr C. S. Longuet for the defendant. benjamin G. Thomson v. Henry Templeton (Fortrose), claim for £550 for alleged slander ; before his Honor and a common jury of 12 ; Mr J. Macahster for plaintiff, and Mr J. L. Watson for the defendant. James Leggatt (Invercargill) and H. A. Mem v. James Giffen (Invercargill), miner, an appeal from a decision of the Warden's Court ; Mr W. Macahster for the appellants, and Mr John Moffett and Mr R. W. Hall for the respondents. Benjamin Turner (Seaward Bush) v. John M'Chesney, an appeal from a decision of the Magistrate's Court; Mr Macalister for the appellant, and Mr W. Y. H. Hall for the respondent.