SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 52

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

iFnou Our Own Correspoxde.vt )

IJCTEBC-ARGILL, June 29

There is virtually no change to report in the oat market, the same dulness still existingouing to the lack of demand from ar.x of the Australian, colonies. I do not believe that a. single bag has been sold during the week for ~the other side. Inquiries are still being made irom South Africa, and a small parcel was sold for shipment by the Cooeyanna, just now on the berth at Bluff. The price, I am informed, was much below that of previous sales, and the advices received here point to a still further fall. At piesent the indications are none too good. The very favourable season being ex-perienc-ed in New South Wales and Victoria and the prospect of abundant feed in the former colony nave quite upset the calculations of those who have entered into heavy contracts for maize. In fact, the markets there axe quite disorganised, and importers, rather than face the heavy losses they would make by selling at present values in Australia, are taking the extreme course of re-shipping to South Africa. What effect this will have on i-'ie price of oats in that country it is difficult k> say. Those who use oats may not, of course, take to the change of feed, but it 19 quite certain that the tendency will be to keep values down. Lower prices were ofiered during the week for shipment for three months ahead, but exporters here say they cannot look at the prices wantedj as so far farmers have not shown any inclination to accept anything below Is 6d an trucks. On Saturday there were a good many farmers offering oats, but nothing much changed hands, as shippers have good stocks on hand, and are not inclined to load up until there is some movement in the maiket. There is one fact which may affect the situation, and it is that at present very low fi eights are offering to London. Twenty shillings is "being quoted, and even less rates may yet be accepted. This will certainly have the effect of diverting shipments to the Old Country, and, in fact, some pretty large engagements have already been entered into, principally, I believe, from Canterbury ports. Milling wh-eat is moving up, and although there are very few lots offering the impression seems to be pretty strong that prices will be even higher yet. No doubt the fact that freagkts to London are at present down to 15s per ton for this cereal gives solid grounds for the belief that values will be firm-er Added to this it seems pretty certain that a good portion of Southland's wheat crop will at anyrate not come under the category of milling, and a goo'i msny samples can only be classed as foul wheat, and for this values have fallen con^ic" lably. Where a fortnight ago 3s 6d was offered, to-day buyers won't offer more than 2s lOcl to 2s lid on trucks.

Ryegrass is very firm, and prices arc more likely to be higher than lower Them is very hitle being marketed just now, and an3'thing offering is quickly disposed of. The quantity u\ the hands of merchants here is not great, mid there as Tikely to be a good demand in the spring. T sha.ll be surprised if we don't see prices higher in the spring than now, more especially for shotty seed, which is very Bcaree. The following are the railway gram deliveries for the week ended Fuday evening — Saturday, 6133 sacks; Monday, 4195; Tuesday, 5248; Wednesday," 4339; Thursday, 3324; Friday, 5715. Total oats carried this season up to Friday evening was 325,946 sacks, against 768,464 for the corresponding period of 1902. Messrs W. F. Murray and Co., proprietor of the Underwood Milk Fat-lory. ha\e shifted thur offices to Tnvercaigill.

Lieutenant-colonel Feldwiok, T.D.. has been placed on the retired list, and piomoted to the rank of colonel

The Winton Record reports — Mrs Christina M'Rae, wife of Mr Alc\. M'Rae, drover, of Winton, was found d^ad in bed on Monday morning last. Mr M"Rae wsb. unfortunately, ay. Ny from home at the time. It appears that deceased, who had suffered for a long time from consumption and heart disease. Tetired to rest as usual on Sunday night, telling her two d-auglilei'4, a^ed 13 a'ld 15 respectively, that the would call th»m at 7 o'clock in the morni' sr The girls did not wake until 9 o'clock, a d then, upon going into thpir mother's room, v cro horrified to find h<»r dead. Xeiphhrnirs were called in, and the police at ouce ccmmunirated with, but aa deceased's mod'oal attendant was pr^parpd to give a c<rti r i<<ite as to the cause of death, jt was not eon«ul«red necessary to hold an inquest. Deceased, who wag about 40 years of ace, and had hvpd in the dibfriot a nuiuber of years, i\a» much re=ppcterl.

Mr T. P. Gilfeddor, of the Govrinmrnt Valuation Department, has been piomotr-d lo the head office, Wellington, and leaves here in a -week He joined the service about 12 years ago, and has since been stationed in different parts of the colony -proving himself a roi.ular officer. For some huie oast Mr Gilfeddcr has bten secretary of the Irish Athletic Society, and a-'so took a large share in establishing tlif Athletic Association.

I mentioned in last veek'c -.-<•}?= thai Mr J Fnllarton. of the O'ana Sclioo 1 1 -ul re r»iv»»d an apnointm^nt in t'le Hiali S.-lioo!, Dunedin On Tnesdnv pver.ir>«r Wr Fu!!nrton ■was pntprtained in the Otaroe Ha)! P'd present r-d with a handsome e«'d a'berl and pendant and a purse of sovereign*

A case of pome hcrdpii.n wa- d'^o^d nf ip the Magistrate's Court last week. R H Ciithb?rt=on was cJjarcrpd with a'lowmp Ins ho"* 1o wander. Aceu c ?^ undertook to nrovp that t'rp hciso had been sto'en from h.m «ix mortli? ape but the Bench held thai to Tjrove that he r as the owner of the horsf, and 'that st w?s va rdtnug, with or without hi= krow'- d<re. w.ts su/ficient. The Bench "vmpaiiusfd v ivli th(> defendant tuvde r the si>e<\al circurcioinrcr-s a"d luitiosecl a nomi<iß.l Ttf a'tr of 1= v *' on' ro=t-

Tiu» Maori Cmi-.n' 1 * V~n slii-» a< B'i P •"•■' ing 0i" week. wVien iSc ?\atj.p hcstplrv -tr> b.> used a« s. neeiing house and Kai;»tc" iniu — wai opened. The place lias bocL. nr.mecl Tauro

£i Whonuautu, the title of a great pa wliicn long ego existed at or n-ear tho present port.

Passciigeis by vessels from Tasmania are to be subjected to quarantine regulations to prevent the introduction of smallpox. Passengers direct from Australian ports will have to pass the health officer, and must report themselves to a health officer on the second and fourth dsjs after ai rival. Any neglecting this precaution are liable to summary arr«j<t

The " great diought V begins to-morrow, the licenses io Sell liquor of five hotels in. iivercargill, fonr in Awarua, and all in the Mataura district ceasing. The Southland Club Hotel, Gore, hitherto conducted by Mr Collins, has been leased by Mrs Cady as «, boardinghouse.

Says the Mataura Ensign — " An indication that the times «rt> changed in this district is afforded by the fact that the premises which now serve as a bar m one of the largest hotels m Gore will, after Tuesday next (when prohibition takes effect), be transformed into an office for the occupation of a well-known comjnissioD. firm."

Mr A. G. Ashby, clerk of the court at Riverton, who has been transferred to Kaiapoi, was entertained at & social on Tuesd-ay evening in the Riverton Town Hall and presented with a. massive gold albert atd inscribed pendant. On tht> following evening Mr and Mrs Ashby were farewelled by their friends of the local Methodist Church, and Mrs Ashby presented with a handsome silver tea service and a set of afternoon silver teaspoons.

Messrs Kerr and Co. have started a flax mill at Hamilton Burn, the first ever erected there, and expect the flax in sight to keep them going for about a year. Work is stopped for the present, as {liere is about 9in of snow on the level.

Mr J. Sawers, of Edendale Factory, by taking all the first prizes for cheese at the recent show, becomes entitled to the gold watch presented by the National Mortgage and Agency Compauy and Messrs J v E. Watson and Co., having won it twice.

At a. meeting of the Employers' Association held on Thursday it was decided, to urge on the Government an alteration in the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Act, so that a judgment debtor should bear the onus of proving that he cannot pay instead of requiring the creditor to prove t-hat he can. The meeting «l=o affirmed the desirability of altering the Factories Act so as to make the minimum -wage for boys and girls 5s pei week up to 16, with yearly increases of 3s per week thereafter; that local authorities should be authorised to substrhite any other day for Saturday as the half-holiday, and that inspectors should be empowered to grant permits to Work on the recognised half-holiday when there was another holiday in the week.

Mt A. O. Henderson, wba has been in practice liere as a solicitor for a good m»ny yesus, and was previously clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court, died at his residence, Clyde street, on Saturday morning. Mr Henderson has been ill for a, couple, of months, and for ths last -week or so his condition was regarded as hopeless.

It takes more than a "Southland buster" to damp the aTdour of the harriers. The weather was considered too bad for football, but in spite of it a fair nmster of harriers assembled a-t tho residence of Vice-presideTit_ Mr J. E. Watson, and had an enjoyable outing. There was mud and slush galore, but, aa a harrier remarked, it was "quite a treat to get among the mud after working in a starched shirt all the week." Messrs A. A. Paapo alid A. Lyons laid the trail by way orßowmont and Ettnck sheets towards the jetty, along the Bluff road, branching off in the direction of Strathearn, down Macquarie street, -and home. The distance was about six miles. After free use of hot water, a tempting repast was done full justice to, and Mr Paape expressed the hearty appreciation -the club felt at the hospitality dispensed by Mr and Mrs Watson. In reply, Mr Watson, congratulated the club on possessing members who turned out under such unfavourable conditions, and expressed his and Mrs Watson's pleasure at being able to render wha-t little service they could lo tho club. Hearty ch&ers for the hostess were given on dispersing.

Last Saturday evening a few frier cte assembled at the "batch" for the purpose of making a presentation and bidding gocd-bye to an old and esteemed friend, Mr Ivan Downes, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, who has been transferred to the Dunedin office. Mr W. Johnston, acting as spokesman, said on behalf of those present he was sorry, yet glad, to lose such a genuine friend — sorry that he was leaving, and glad that his departure meant promotion. He was sure that the numerous friends Mr Dowiiee had made in Southland would miss him very much, and none more so than those assembled. Mr P. Dawson referred to the many good qualities of ■fch-eir gnest, and as a mark of their appreciation of his friendship he had much pleasure in presenting Mi Downes with a travelling rug. Mr Downes then very suitably replied. Numerous toasts were proposed and responded to, and several songs were eung. The singing of "Auld lang syne" and "Gad sove the King" bi ought a very pleasant evening to a close. On Saturday afternoon Mr Downes was presented with a case of pipes from the local staff of the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr Downes takes up his new duties m Dunedin on the first of the month.

The Eluff Harbour Board have decided to support the movement initialed by the Auckland Board to secure that cbsirmeu of Harbour Boards should be paid.

A sequel to the criminal prosecution of Michael Bemstone and his wife on a charge of burning down some stacks belonging to James i.rffen takta the form of a claim in the ilagistrate's Court for £ 27 10-=, the value of the stacks, and £25 for general damage 3. All tho allegations in the statement of claim were adrmUoci except the atpnunt of damages. Mr M'Carthy awarded damages £30, with costs £5 10s.

Mr Thomas M'Wilhani. of Winton, died on AVedn»sd«y last a-t the a<?e of 75 Mr M'Wi'h&m ha 3 been storekeepirg in -the di&tnct for nparly 40 yrarF, and has durh £ nil that time been one of the noHiut.tu.vs oi the church and Sunday school, and foremost in every good work.

Tho Arbitration Court h»» been sitting here during the week to consider an application by the Carpenters' Union to have the award of the court operating m Otago imposed here. The contentious of the men were that hou=>e ront and food were dearer here than in Dunedm. and work xunch \esi legular^on account, of iriny weather. Tho employers he-Id that the surae conditions as obtained in Dune.lii! would press tinfairly on them, in tint contr..tt3 were loss remunerative, the work being of a poorer class, whifh could be v itkrt-tken by incompetent b'Pii Pieftrence lo ur.o-iiV" wis held to b» pbturd where so few men were eic^loyed, aii'l ihe e'liu.^e itquiiing vp'"k'y payment of \"a%e« wry iuconveu!«il for rcuntry errplovers whero '.lipre v.^ no bi'ik T""f- <]r>ri-iou of the four advai w« v is '■> iuin I<* U<l to 1s 3d per hour, \.hu.h 'E Id '< -j- tl'd.i in lhined*n.

]juni!« "if c r:>'ii of (i's court a tu-c c. si-iccml ml rf-t i<> tl if-'.mc mill r-\ueis »-^ bio.: Lit L-io.-p it TT 1 ' s v.v-, a eauui for i.2iO iiiidc on Smith B-n a , '1 rciiu'-.? imil ovaeis. b^ ''i° ip'.nti e«- o' P.cV.l A.V..0i:1. wiio was kiilc'J by Ixuig jan'iuod bj- th.-* oei'eudants' inn] ■!' Hay e->t. 11:' null was bfr.ig shifted Ir Mi Spr«tt c fn:ii-i at ll^l.iura I^'and, arrl \\lk:< b:;n^ taken Uj? a ctecjj b.ink frcm the

river deceased ran to put a. chock behind tha wheel, and received injuries from which he died. The defence was that deceased had -voluntarily uttached himself to tie mill. Thl hands made their own terms -with tie farmers, and when working on the mill were in the ■employment of the farmers, and not of tha mill owners. Tho decision in this case is expected .to be -announoed in a few days. A conference of the "Wyndhsan and Mokoreta Railway Committees was held at Wyndham s>n Friday hist. Mr R. JFNab, M.TT.R., was present, said made clear to the meeting his position in the matter of the extensioo «f the Seaward Bush Hallway. He had promised to support the Tofconui route if practicable; but they were practically asking for a coilater route. The petition was and will be presented in the following form: — To Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public "Works.— The petition of the undersigned residents of Mokoreta, Slopedown, and Wyndham districts lxerefcy showeih — 1. That we desire to bring under yoor iwticft the advantage of constructing a railway diverging from the Edendale-G-lenliani -branch, and proceeding via Mokoreta to coaneqji; with the Catlins River railway. 2. That the rout© herein proposed ib aa easy grade, presenting no engineering difficulties, and would be much .shorter than any other Toute so far proposed; that this route would greatly benefit a large portion of Glenham estate, lately acquired by the Government, and would traverse a, closely-sefSed district for tho first 20 miles.

3. That at a distance of 20 Tniles * large and valuable bush, containing some of tie best totara in Southland, would be tapped, and! large deposits of rich ironstone and coal of the best quality are known to exist adjacent to the route.

4 That it would give an outlet for a l*rge agricultural district, which only Teqmies railway communication to enable it to market grain equal in quality to that grown in any part of Southland ; that, iurthermoTe, it would ta-p over 40,000 acres of agrioultnra.l land which, without railway facilities, is suitable ior pastoral purposes only. 5. That along the first 20 miles of th^, suggested route there are in operation at present six flaxmills, with an earning power of £24,000 annually. 6. That a railway would greatly assist in tho further development of tEe flax industry, and likewise aid in the extension of the dairying industry. 7. That your petitioners respectfully ask you to have a survey mad© of the proposed route, together with the cost of construction, for the purpose of comparison. 8. That your petitioners respectfully request that you take the foregoing facts into your favourable consideration, and, v in duty bonnd, your petitioners will ever pray, etc. A deputation from the Sonthlnnd Branch of the Educational Institute waited on Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R,, the other day to seek his assistance in getting the Teachers' Superannuation Bill passed. It was urged that the bill should be made operative at once, and that teachers should be entitled to its benefits- at 60 years of age, or after 35 years of service. It was also contended that some provision should be made for widows and children, and that it w«s unfair to work out the pensions on a lower scale than that obtaining in the railway , scheme. Mr Hanan thought thai tho funds should be allowed to accumulate for ft few years, lest the initial outlay should cripplo them. He thought that bTolcen time should only count if it was unavoidable, and that provision ior widows and children could onTy be iriadt -if there was sufficient margin after making provision for retiring allowances. The death is announced of Rev. D. Gordon, who was minister of St. Paul's Presbyterim Church here lor four years in the eighties. Mr Gordon died at North Brighton, Victoria.