SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 44

SOUTHLA ND NEWS NOTES.

(S"rom Onit Own Cobkksfondext.}

IXVERCARGILL. June 2.

At 17 minutes past 10 o'clock this morning there appeared in tho window of the Southland Times office the brief announcement, " Peace doclared," and this was followed a few minutes later by an " extra " from the Acting-Premier confirming the glid tidings. Immediately bells began to ring, aud bsfore the half-hour streets were thronged with frantically jubilant people, whose cheers mmg.ed with the clanging of the bc-lls, and made a joyously hideous din. Soon the reports of firearms and the strains of martial music were added to the roar, and Invercargill became intoxicated with the exuberance of its joy. In the City of tho South the rotunda is the common meeting place, and thitherwards all footsteps tended, and before the quartci had struck tho square was packed v, ith a dense crowd, who patiently awaited the appearance of the Mayor and tho other public men. At 10.40 the strains of music in the distance heralded the approach, of the Battalion Band and the local volunteers, under Major Hawkins and Ca-ptaui Watson. The speakers were the Mayor, Mr J. A. Eanan, M.H.R., Hon. H. Feldwick, Messrs Stead and Goldio (former mayors), Captain Watson, Mr James Gardiner (Birchwood), Mr J. A. Mitchell (Mayor of East Invercargill), and the Rev. W. G. M'Laren (Bluff). The speakers throughout breathed deep thankfulneas for the successful conclusion of the war, and pride at the pait played in it by New Zealand, and the confident belief that the outcome would prove the greatest of blessings for the Boers themselves. The Rev. Mr M'Laren's allusion to the proved advantage of sobriety in the army and his appeal to the crowd to observe a like sobriety in the rejoicings was well received, though I am afraid it has not been universally acted on. We are now (2.30) resting, but propose to resume our demonstrations at 8 p.m., when tbe band will provide a promenade concert in tho rotunda.

The weather continued very had during last week, but Saturday and yesterday were ali that cou.d bf» desired. Ram. however, fell during tho mght, and to-day the weather is rather raw aj.d cold.

'l'he oat markpt remains pretty much the =Rine as last week II anything, there is a mil' itlj finder ferh'ig, and lines offered on "•'^ttsl&i. laiui4 puEthasejß at 2z licl for Laji,

B grade, at wayside stations (sacks extra). It is difficult to say what tho effect of the declaration of peace will have on the market, but it I is more than likely that values will ease some:- : what till it is ascertained whether the War Office will continue ordering now that hostilities have ceased. » There is still a good inquhy for freezing mutton, and in all probability butchers' sheep will be hard to get in the spring— in fact, there has been a decided rise in fat sheep during tho week. There will probably be a fair demand for turnip wethers at Winton s?le this week, but the weather is v?iy much against store stock at present, and aa many turnips are destroyed as are eaten. There is a fair demand for beef at 25s to 27s2 7 s per 1001b for bullock beef, and 24s to 25s for heifer beef. At Thursday's meeting of the Council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society it was resolved that application be made ifor a grant to the society of an island containing about 90 acres at tho mouth of the Waiau for acclimatibation purposes. Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., opened the political campaign by addressing his constituents at the Theatre Royal. He had a very cordial reception, snd his address, which dealt with borrowing, education, labour legislation, the Factory Act, Workers' Compensation Act, 'Frisco mail service, etc., was closely followed, and at its close the following resolution was enthusiastically carried — " This meeting ex"presses its hearty thanks to Mr Hanan for his able and interesting address, and expresses continued confidence in him as member for Invercargill." Mr Gilfedder is to be banqueted at Otautau on Thursday evening, when the Acting-Premier is expected to bo present. The Rev. G. M. Simpson was inducted into the charge of Winton on Wednesday last. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to present the Rev. Geo. Lindsay with a purse of sovereigns in recognition of his services cs moderator during the vacancy. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mi P. A. Blythe for driving the preacher to Lime Hills during the vacancy. Mr Hanna, jun., takes up his duties as , instructor of physical drill to the Southland | schools to-day. The proposed gymnasium is ■ now a certainty, but it will be some months before it will be erected. Our Coronation celebration preparations are moving. The Battalion Band will give a promenade concert in the theatre on the Wednesday, and it is proposed to add a fancy dress football match to the sports programme for Thursday. Tho conversazione is fo be held in the Zealandia Hall, and there, instead of in the Rotunda, the patriotic speeches are to be delivered. The best part of Dee street and the Square are to bo illuminated with electricity. What shape the religious service will take is not yet decided upon, but on such a day as today an open-air service would be anything but enjoyable. Presentations were made to Miss J. B. Young, of the Winton School, last Tuesday by tho residents of Winton and by the English Church choir on the occasion of her leaving Winton to take up the position of schoolmistress at Cardrona. The Invercargill Dairy Supply Company, having been guaranteed a sufficient number of shares for a. term of three years by 25 settlers of Waiau, Memvale, and Feldwick, have pur- J chased 10 acres of laud adjoining the Merrivale ] settlement from Mi J. C. Ellis, and are about j to erect a cieamery and cottage thereon. i In view of her early rerinquisbment of tho Prince of Wales to take up another business in Dee street, Mrs Miller was presented by her boarders on Friday evening with a handsome gold brooch. At tbe annual social of the St. Paul's Wesleyan choir on Friday evening the choirmaster (Mt Joseph Hensley) was presented with a handsome watch guard and a pair of sleeve links in recognition of his valuable services to me choir during the past four years. During the course of the football match on Wednesday between the Pirates and Star Clubs a young man named Traill, who was playing for the former, received a. nasty fall, and had to be removed from the field to the hospital, where it was found that his collar-bone had sustained a severe fracture. Mr W. Wille, sen., -was thrown out of his buggy on Wednesday evening through his horse running into a heap of rubbish trying to make roorr for a passing dray, and waß badly cut about the head and face. W. J. M'Kenzie, aged 24, died very suddenly at Woodlands on the. 27th ult., the cause of death being heart disease, from, which he had suSered for yenrs. The Siddall benefit, held seme weak? ago, yielded a net profit of Mo 2s lOd. I A member of the Bluff Harbour Board said on Friday in legard to donations to Coronation celebrations: — "If public bodies do not give liberally, it will be the willing horses that will have to put their hands in their pockets. ' At the ordinary meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board on Friday Sir Joseph Ward telegraphed that a statement had been published m Wellington as follows. — " An ocean steamer of 2400 tons making three visits within a month to the principal ports of New Zealand, and remaining four days alongside a. berth each trip, would pay £120 at Wellington, £120 at Auckland, .£l4O at kyttelton, £275 at Port Chalmers, and £280 at the Bluff." He felt sure that this was incorrect so far as the Bluff was concerned, and would like to be given the exact coat under circumstances mentioned. — The Secretary read a icply which he had sent, pointing out that the particulars were correct — that is, if they were possible. It was absurd to imagine that a ship of 2400 tons would have to come tc the Bluff three times in one month foi a cargo. Such a thing had nevei happened, and was practically an impossibility. Ho had also informed Sir Joseph that a committee was to consider the question of making reduction* in j harbour charges. j The Harbour Board and the CampbelHown | Borough Council have jiot yet arrived at an agreement regarding the waterworks. The reservoir was built by the board, and for 18 years maintained by it without profit. Now that it begins to pay the council want to /take it over at its own price without any obligation to guarantee the full watei requirements of the shipping. The boaid is determined not to relinquish its control of this supply, more particularly since the corporation does not guarantee to supply the wants of the shipping under all circumstances, in the event of their acquiring the waterworks. As a matter of fact the board is convinced that the store of water would be inadequate for both towD and shipping in a few years, and the corporation practically admits the truth of this by the reservations made in the clause in the proposal just quoted. The board realises that it would be a sen'ous matter if the shipping could not be adequately supplied, and has decided to use every effort to keep the control in its own hands. The board is quite willing to hsnd the reticulation services over to the corporation on equitable terms, and suggests that tie corporation should construct another reseivoir, take over the reticulation system, and allow the board to control its own shipping requirements. The Harbour Board has set up ?. committee to consider what reductions can be made in ' port charges with a view to attracting more ' shipping. There was a surplus of £10,000 last year, and even if in ordinary years the surplus | does not exceed, say, £7000, there is room for considerable reductions, and there is no doubt that the committee will be able to suggest altsrations which will reEult in bringing about j

Miss Agnes Baird, daughter of the Rev. Jas. Baird, late of Winton, has secured her M.A. degree at Glasgow. University. In physics she took first place, gaining the medal. In the terms' exams she was first in English out of a. class of 60, and also first in materia medics-. Her brother, Mr J. H. Baird, 8.A., in the terms' examinations took the only first class certificate in anatomy, and was first out of 92. Ho also gained a first class certificate in physiology, and top place with 85 per cent, in a class of 105. The rainfall at Gladstone during April was 3.81 in. Rain fell on 21 days, and the maximum! fall for any one day was registered on the 21st, when 0.64 in fell. Stewart Island registered 4.80 mon 21 days.