SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

INVEECARGILIf, "December 12.

During the week a much better ton© has prevailed in the lacaA' oa-t market, and a- good, deal of business has been done with the North Island and Western Australia. F.a.q. have been selling freely at Is 6Jd, f.0.b., s.i., and B grade Is 7Jd, f.0.b., s.i., and in wme cases for small lots Is 7Jd has beeri paid for the latter quaility. Of course these prices carry the usual brokerage. There has been a good inquiry from .Sydne:." for duns and A grade, but the former are very little grown in Southland, and whait were available were cleared out early in the season. A grade have been sold at Is 3d for siparrowbills, and Is "9id for Gartons, f.0.b., s-.i. Very few oats have been offering from the country during the week, and the prices quoted in my last report remain unchanged. The steamer Whangape comes on the berth at Bi'uff to-day, and loads for Auckland 1 . She is taking in all 13,000 bags from Ihia port. The greater part of them will be f.a.q., and t-he balance B grade. This 1 is the last boat loading for Auckland this- year, and no doubt that had something to do with the large quantity going, and also with the increased business that has been done with the northern market during the week. There was an inquiry in from Melbourne for 5000 bags of B 'jrade. Merchants quoted for this at Is 7Jd with the option of f.a.q. at Id less, but so far no reply, has been received, and it is doubtful if tht business will come off.

There has been a fairly good inquiry for fowl wheat from the North Island, and a few hundred sacks have- been sold a-t 3s to 3s 2d. f.0.b., s.i. There is very little of this quality left in Southland, and what od-d lots do come on the local market are readily used for locall requirements, and 3s 3d is easily obtainable for small lines.

A good deal more chaff has 1 been offering during the week, but prices remain unchanged, though as high as £2 5s on trucks has been paid for really prime quaility. There is not much more offering than is sufficient to cover local requirements, but it is expected that within the Tic-xt month there will Be a big rush to sell by farmers, who will be then m a position to cut >

The stock market remains he same as at last report, and very littile business is passing in either cattle or sheep. Shearing being piretty general, it is not expected that much business will be passed through before the New Year. There is a good inquiry from the north for lambs foi delivery in January or early in February, but farmers are not inclined to sell at the present time.

During the week another cheese factory — namely, the Mataura Island Dairy Factory Co., sold their output, the price obtained being 4*d on the trucks. This practically finishes the Southland factoa-ies who intend selling straight out.

The new organ recently erected in Sit. Paul's Methodist Church, Leet street, by Mr N. T. Pearce was first brought into use .011 Wednesday evening, when an inauguration recital and concert was held. Mr Chas. Giay, the well-known organist of St. John's ; officiated at the organ. j.nd a number of our most gifted musicians contributed vocad solos.

At the annual election of members of the Southland Hospital Trust, Mr 8,. Allen, who was rejected after serving the public in that capacity for some years past, entered a strong protest against the method of election at present obtaining and staged that a number of delegates Jiad deliberately combined to exclude, him from the trust. Be had devoted a great deal of time to the hospital during the past few years, and thought this was not a fitting reward for hia services. At luesday's meeting of the Southland Presbytery, it was arranged tc disjoin St. Andrew's, Appleby, from Knox Church, and make it a separate charge, the committee to be recommended to offer a- salary of not less than £100 per annum, exclusive of manse rent, to Mr tM'Xiean, who will be expected to give the whole of his time to the church work. The Rev. Jas. Barrel was appointed moderator. A motion — " That Knax Church should be asked to make St. Andrew's a grant of £50 from the proceeds of the sale of the site of the old hail," was lost; an amendment by the Eev. G-. Lmd'sas — "That it is not considered within the province of the Presbytery to make any recommendation," being carried. Given good weather, the Southland Metropolitan A. and P. show, to bj held to-morrow and nest day, ia likely to be a greater success than in former years, the entries' being nearly 100 in excess of last year's. There are considerable increases in sheep and produce, a very large increase m horses, but a faildngoff in cattle.

A number of Chinamen were last week charged at Orepuki. with having opium in iheir possession, and small fines were imposed, and their opium, pipes, etc., confiscated.

In last week's notes I mentioned the proposal to build an aroade from Esk street to Tay street. The Inveroargill Cycling Cl'mb have arranged to have ona of the buildings, which, in addition to a small social hall, will have a splendid billiard room to Hold taro tables* c, readme roc-ia. sasi L2.di.53" sqqxo.

Mr Eiddell, S.M., announced at Thursday's sitting of the court that in summonses for debt cases his practice would be to give judgment by default, m tho absence of defendant, when theie was no doubt as to the amount; but when something had been paid on account, plaintiff would be required to prove that (he amount sued for was btili owing.

The Middle School was to have closed on ihe 16th for the summer holidays, but owing to an outbreak of diphtheria, the committee has closed the school till that date, when the children will assemble and receive their prizes and be dismissed for six weeks.

Mr Duncan M'Farlane has sold out of the Masonic Hotel at Orepuki, and in the meantime will agam reside in Invercargill.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Southland Presbytery, the Eev. A. G-ray announced that he accepted the call to Eiverton, and the call from Fortrose to the Eev. W. F. Fmdlay, of Waika.ka, was sustained. The Eev. J. Cumming, minister of Waikiwi, has returned from Ins trip to the Home Country much improved in health.

The first branch bank to be established at Edendale will be opened next week by the Bank of Jfew South Wales.— Southland limes. Ihe Wyndham Jockey Clul 13 said to have cleared over £200 from its summer rneefcm~ held last month.

Miss Mary Eobinson, mistress of the Tuturau School has been appointed fourtll assistant in Gere High School. Says the Western Star:— "During the past few months no less than 10 sawmills have closed down in Southland, owing to the cutting out of their bush. Of these, two were at Forest Hill, one at Lady Barclay, and one at Colac. The remainder were ail in Seaward Bush, which is now almost done. Southland now looks to the Western forests for its timber supp.y. M'Callum and Co. are uutting- rra a large mill at Fairfax, and if th"c Weiterii ranway were pushed on more mills would soon be m operation there. As it is, there is a large output of timber; 120,000 ft were railed from .Orepuki last week, making a total for the month of 350,000 ft." On Tuesday evening last Cons-table Easmussen and the members of his family were entertained by the people of Winton at a social 111 Moore s Hall, and presented with a number of gifts, including a suite of furniture and a tea service. A lai\o;e numbsr of persons were present, and complimentary speecues were made by the Mayor, Mr Moore, the Eev. W. C. Wood, the Eev. J. M. Simpson, and others. At the sittings of the Awarua Licensing Bench and the Winton Magistrate's Court complimentary reference was made to the services rendered by Constable E-asrnussen during his long stay in Winton. The constable and his family left for their new home in Geraldme Canterbury, on Wednesday last. Speaking of the recent Wallace A. and P. show, the Winton Eecord suggests that it should be held alternately at Otautau and Winton, and says that a nxunber of !eacang farmers throughout the district are in favour of the idea.

Either the fish are supposed to be — or the fishers are — very unsophisticated down, by the ferry bridge. An angler fishing with the worm there a few days ago got fast in &oniething which a-t first he thought urust be a. 20-pounder, but which, on being landed, proved to be some other fellow's fishing tackle, and such fishing tackle a.s no self-respecting trout, or even eel, could possibly be deceived by. A horseshoe nail, roughly bent into the shape of a hook, a length of binder twine, and a- sin butt hinge constituted this primitive outfit-.

Mr C. W. Boss, of Gore Post Office, has been promoted to the position of postmaster at St. Bathans.

Mr Eobert Dewar, postmaster at G-ore, has resigned his position for the purpose of accompanying his daughters to the Home Country, where they intend to prosecute their studies.

I have several times mentioned in these notes the case of Denis Hagan. lie has on different occasions been before the court on a charge of vagrancy, and committed to gaol, as the Hospital and Charitable Aid. jjcard declined to admit him to the Home. Hagan was brought up once more a week ago, when Mr Todd, one of the presiding justices, spoke very strongly in condemnation of the action of the board, and hoped that the new board would adopt a different line of action. At the first meeting of the new board, the Chairman (reelected). Mr A. Bain explained that the board had been simply driven to exclude Hagan because of his vife conduct — the loss of his leg being due to drunkenness after it was broken — and his behaviour to doctor and nurses being most offensive and insulting. Members of the bo-aard expressed themselves as pleased to have the real facts put before the public. Later in the meeting, it was decided to give Hagan another chance, 011 his promising to abide by the rules of the institution, and abstain from l'ftuor.

When ihr Southland champion ploughing match wa 5*5 * held at Bra.ucholm this year it will be remembered that over lin of snow was ploughed in. At the time, many people voiced the opinion that the owner of the ground, in allowing the match to be held, was running the risk of spoiling; bis prospects of a. good crop, for farmers generally have a decided aversion to taming down snow, considering that its effects are harmful. Whether this opinion is of any value is (considering' the crop of oats that is 1 growing on the paddec-k in question) open to dispute, for there is not a finer crop of oats to be seen off the train in any part of Southland than the one mentioned, as there is a splendid breard, and the crop is about a. foot high, of strong blade, and the proper colour.

On Tuesday the Wyndham A. and P. Association lield its twenty-sixth annual show. Some few years back it was decided to discontinue ihe show, as it was not receiving the support, it deserved from the surrounding district. Then for a time Wyndha.m had no show; but three years ago- strong efforts were made to revive- it, successfully, and the present show has been the third since its revival, and was quite a success. That tfc new settlers in E.d'endale aro taking an interest in IF is evident from t3ie fact that £1C more was taken at the gati; than previously, and there must have been 1200 people present. Wyndham'a strong features, were tbx roadsters and dairy produce, in which departments the entries were numerous, and the exhibits -woulcJ have done honour to a show with more pretentious than Wyndlham. The entries in draught horses, cattle, and sheep- were not nearly so numerous as might have been expected, but the quality was present if not the quantity.

On Wednesday the Western District held ' its twenty-fourth annual show at Thornbury, with a record number ot entries. The fame of the Western District is well known for its stock-producing, and many visitors were present from outside districts to judge for themselves what the district's resources aro, and those who diid come thus went away j thoroughly satisfied that tlisir time had been profitably spont. In horses, caftle, and sheep t he entries were numerous, and the animals exhibited were far above those at the average country show foi quality, and also for the fact that the different exhibitors had all woiked the breeding up to a high standard. But draught horses were imdemab'y the feature of the show, * «nd the advent of the Invercargill show is being looked foi ward (o, when all the district's representatives will meet in. the show ring to contest tlie supremacy. 'In dairy produce tho district di«l not shew up sc strongly ia tiis t

quantity of exhibits as >night have been e» pec-tod { but the quality vas very good. The Southland Rifle Club held its animal meeting m Thursday night when the officebearers for the ensuing year weio appointed. Mention was made of the fact that Mr A. E,. "YYilliq had won the club's championship , which faa- is further proof, if any vere needed, of what a consistent f-bot he is, for he has won this coveted position on five cthe- occasions, and also won the title of " Champion Shot of Southland for 1904," at last year's meet of the Defence Rifle Association. Members of this club aro very enthusiastic, which augurs well for its- future. i The mo tot ca.r conies in handy sometimes. I On "Wednesday Mr J. Gait, whe was to act as judge at the Thornbury show, missed the train, and sent the secretary of the show a telegram to that effect, stating that he would be out in two hours' time. On his leaving the telegraph cffi.ee Mi E. Murie's motor cai happened to come a>!ong the street, and on Mr Cralt explaining the position, Mr Murie offered to drive him out to Thornbury, which he dad in an hour arid a-qiiarter, and Mr Gait had the- satisfaction of knowing that he arrived be-fore his telegram.

Country residents have for a long time pasi» been in the habit of expecting school teachers who have to come to town every Saturday, to make purchases for them, and bring the articles as passengers' luggage. The Railway Department, becoming aware of th& practice, forbade it, and it has been largely discontinued. A case came foefors Mr Kiddell, S.MJ on Satui^day, which indicates that it has not been quite stamped cut. The publication of the result fhou'd help towards the extinction of this reprehensible practice. Thos. Monteath, school teacher, was chaTged with carrying luggage other than his own goods on the Seawaid .oush. railway, and was oonvicted and discharged, nnly a technical breach of the by-la-w having been disclosed.

For some time past the Winton Borough Council- have delayed paying its quota towards the expanses of the Awarua, Licensing Committee, baiieving that they havt been charged on a wrong basis — so much per day. They have now legal advice that their supposition is correct, that actual travelling expenses and "meals should have been charged, and have therefore informed the County Council tha-t the borough does not see its way to pay the account rendered.

The- past week has not been too favourable for fishing, and the only takes worth mentioning b.Tc Mr J. Friend's 10 from the "Waimatuku, one turning the scales at 9lb ; Mr A. Ferguson's six from the New River, making a basket of 20lb, and Mr Bunjop'r 10, from tha !N'ew River, at Otatara.