SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(Fkom Otje Own Cobresfootjext.) INVERCARGILL, April 3. During the week only a very small amount of business has been passing in the local oat market, though large quantities of new oats have been offered for sale. Several lines have changed hands at Is sd, on the trucks, for B grade sparrowbills, and as high as Is s£d has been paid for two or three lines of bright Gartons, which would probably go A grade. Farmers are not keen to sell at these prices, and all talk of holding for Is 6d, on the trucks. A large quantity has been going down to Bluff for storage, and, as far as can be judged, these are all in splendid condition, being hard and dry. There should be no trouble about their keeping. The only business that merchants have done is with the North Island markets at Is 9d for B grade, Is B£d for f.a.q., and Is 8d for C grade — all f.0.b., sacks in, less a broker's commission. At these prices Is 5d on the truck is full value, and unless some outside demand sets in it is expected that prices will go back, especially if farmers make up their minds to sell at all freely. The total sales for last week would not exceed 1500 bags. There are still one or two inqiiiries for special business, but merchants are not inclined to take up any quantity under Is lOd for B grade, and a halfpenny less for f.a.q. Nearly all the Southland grain is now in stook, and a few more days of fine weather should see it all safely in. Nearly all the oats that have reached Bltiff stores have been threshed out of stook. There is a great scarcity of cornsacks again this year, and farmers who are threshing immediately are very keen to get their supplies. Merchants are charging Gs 6d per dozen to farmers, plus railage from the Bluff. Already merchants' stocks are very low, and several of the local people are buying supplies from Melbourne, which are costing them close on 6s 3d, c.i.f., Bltiff. A large number of once-used oat bags have been bought, and farmers will have to take these as soon as the new oat sacks are sold out. Merchants are paying 5d to farmers for their returned bags this year. The chaff market is considerably weaker, no doubt on account of the likelihood of the new stuff being shortly on the market. Prime quality last year's caai be quoted £2 12s 6d to £2 17s 6d on the trucks at wayside stations. Several farmers are already offering new chaff for delivery in a fortnight's time, but no business has been done, as merchants are not ke-en to buy till they see how the demand goes. There is a strong inquiry for barley, but so far very little is offering from the Lakes district. One or two very nice lines have been on the market, but holders are indicating from 3s 9d to 4s, and it is not expected that there is any chance of doing business at these figures, though it is fully anticipated that prices will rule considerably higher than last year. Several lines of wheat have been offering during the week, and have changed hands at from 3s 3d to 3s 4d, on trucks, at wayside stations. Not a great deal of the new season's grain has yet been threshed, and farmers are not at all keen to sell, as they reckon that high prices will be ruling within the next few months. A few sales of fowl wheat have been made at from 2s 7d to 2s 9d on the trucks, and some of these lines have gone to the North Island at 3s Id, *f.o.b. (sacks in). Several of the Drummoud farmers hare started threshing their crops of linseed, but so far no sales have been made. Farmers are expecting very high prices, and 7s 6d was asked for one line offered during the v/eek. At tins price merchants arp not disposed to buy, as they value it -at from 6s to 6s Gd. There is no change to repoit in the stock market. Prices for sheep are still high, and not likely to come back, notwithstanding the slump m Canterbury, as our own farmers «ue waiting to stocky up. Dr and Mrs Hendry left last wrek for a 12 months' trip to the Home Country. The Rev. John Ferguson, formerly minister of First Chuich, Invercargill, and now of St. Stephen's, Ss'dney, lectured iv First Church last Monday evening on liib travels in England, Egypt, etc. The rev. gentleman was as racy as ever, and the lecture was much enjoyed. Mr Feguson left for Dunedm by the express on Tuesday. Mr W. R. R. Churton, manager of the National Bank neie for some years past, and formerly manager of the same bank at Outram, died with startling suddenness on Wednesday afternoon last. He was out cycling with a lady friend on the Rakahotika rpad^ and feeling faiul clisniouiUedj

' and fell first on his knees and then on Uis Slice. Death— which resulted from heart failure— must have been almost instantaneous. Mi Churton will be greatly nntsed in muszcal circles, having been an enthusiastic member ot the Musical Uniou and of the orchestia. He had also made hosts of bu=iness friends, by -whom His dcatli is deeply regretted. He was buried at St. John's Cemetery, Waikiwi, on Saturday afternoon, the funeral being a very large one. Says ihe Western Star : " While the Wallace HosiJital Trust were considering their annual requisitions to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board last week a member remarked that he noticed there was nothing down for burials, where\ipon the chairman (Mr Bain) inquired if there had been no deaths, and the secretary replied that the institution always turned out its patients cured. The burial expenses for last year were, nil, and Mr Day added that they had been the same for the last three years." On the 24th inst. Misa Mary M'Kenzie, on the eve of leaving Waimatuku for Christchujch, was presented by the residents of the district with a handsome gold watch and chain, and by the Young Women's Bible Class Union with a dressing-case. . A few day 3 ago the body of Arthur Morrison — one of the victims of the recent boating accident at Ringa Hinga, Stewart Island — was found among some kelp near the scene of the accident. The body of H. Thompson, another victim, was found a few days earlier. Efforts are now being made by the circulation of subscription lists to raise a, little money for Thompson's mother, a widow residing at Stewart Island, who was dependent on him for support. Another hitch has arisen with regard to the Fallen Troopers' Memorial, the successful tenderer having declined to go on with the work, the price submitted having been too low through a mistake in the cost of the ironwork. It is now intended to get an offer from the Home Country for the whole memo- . i rial in stone. I The Rev. S. F. Prior and his family were farewelled at the Leet Street Wesleyan ! Church on Friday evening, when Mr Prior j was presented with a purse of sovereigns, ; and Mrs Prior with a handsome gold brooch. j Mr Prior goes to Bendigo, Victoria, where he takes charge of an important church. The young man Bellarney, who was sentenced to imprisonment at the last sitting of the Supreme Court in Invercargill, has been committed to Seacliff Asylum. — Southland Times. The municipal picnic, postponed from x iio previous week, was held on Wednesday lasb on Mr James Gait's property at Waikiwi. The | weather was splendid, and a most enjoyable day was spent. ; I understand that Mr Gait has sold this Droi perty to Mr W. D. Hunt, of Wright, StephenI son, and Co., and will resume farming in the | Malaura district. The clearing sale at Birehwood on Thursj day was a great success, the whole of the I 27,000 sheep goinjr off quickly at good t>rices. | There was a very large attendance of buyers i all over Southland, as well as from Otago and 5 | Canterbury. Competition was so keen that I the selling was got through in a phenomenally i short time. A good many of the Southland; I buyers went in their own conveyances, but I the nine coaches provided by the vendors were I crowded. The coaches were well horsed, and , the distance was covered without any serious j mishap. The first coa-ch, containing the auctioneers and_ others, had got safely through the Mararoa River and was struggling up the bank when the swingletree broke, and the horses, pulling the reins from the driver's hands, scampered down the river-bed for about a mi!e and a-half before they were stopped. Arrived 1 , at the homestead, it was found that nil preparations had been made for the comfort of the visitors. A large number of blankets had been provided, and the wool shed and a number of tents turned into bedrooms. The catering was done — and well done — by Mr _Eingsland, of Inve-rcargill. Mr T. C. Ellis, who a few weeks ago bought the Venlaw Station, near Wynolham, from the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Company, has resold it to Mr Story, of Otautau. Mr Ellis pioposes to transfer tha stock to Burweod Station, the lease of which he saouxed at the Government sale last week. A statement has been going the rounds that I JEIOOO was recently given •foi» a 300-acre farm. lin "the Waiau district. I find that the real ■ area of the farm was 275 acres, and that J the purchaser got in a, good Top of turnips and 20 tons of oaten sheaves. Mr W. Haigh, the lessee of the railway hook stall during the last three years, has secured a renewal for the next three -years at £85 per annum. A young man named Nugent cliied suddenly last Monday while forking on a stack at Ifr ! Donald Macdonald's estate, at Edendale. j On Wednesday last Mr J. H. Kingsland, of I Tay street, was presented by his employees with a gold albert and sovereign case on the eve of his departure for a trip to America andi the Home Country. Representatives of the Southland flaxmillers i met the committee of the Southland Acclimatij sation Society last Tuesday to consider what j steps should be taken to prevent the pollu- , tion of trout streams by Tefuse from flaxmilU, i and adopted resolutions which should have the ' effect of doing away with the nuisance. I The progress of Invercargill, as indicated bj j the number of biuJ dings going np, is oncouragi ing. Each year shows an increase on its pre- ! decessor. and ihe 12 month." jus+ closed* is about 30 ncr cent, better than four years ago. The trial of James A. Stott and Alfred Hush. Stott vms concluded on Saturday, and Mr ' Ridded, S.M.. a;ave his decision this morning. , James A. Stott was sentenced to a fine of i 10s or 48 houis' hard labour fov stealing vegeI tables belonging to Mrs Fox. Tay street, and | for assault on Constable Holms, who endeaj voirrecs to arrest him. he was fined £1.0 and costs I (£3 7s), or two months' hard labour. His i brother was fined for assaulting Constable i Holms £5 Is. or one month's imprisonment. and for assault on Mr Georete Biggar. who went to Constable Holms's assistance, £3V3 V or two v.e<aks' imprisonment. A social was held in the Bluff Primitive Methodist Church last Wednesday evening; to welcome the Rev. G. Hunt, who has just been transferred from Sydenham. Christchurch. Dr Nisbet. of First Church. Dunedin, ureached at St. Paul* Presbyterian Church, Invercargill. yesterday both mornincr and svenine. and delivered an address on '"Incotnoeteiit Judges" to the members the Young Men** Bible Class Union in their rooms, Esk street, in the afternoon. The trout-fishing match between G. Itichard■?on and J Artken. fished off on the Aparinia. above Otautan. on two days last week, resulted; I in a victory for Richardson by 58 fish to 52.

The Fo^e Casey loft Colac Bay on Fiir'ay with about 50 mntton-birdcrs for ths inlands. Oh ! Thou husiiy. asthmatic old fellow, Whom coughing has bent like a bow; Thou child with the colic, whose bellow | Disturbs the whole neighbourhood so; O! Jad with the appetite hearty. Whom sweetmeats too gicatly allure — ' Now mark what I 5a5". nor depart ye I From Woods' Great Ptpr^EMiNT Qose.