SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES'

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES '

(From Ottb Own Correspondent.) [ INVERCARGILL, April 10. ' A large quantity of new oats have been offering during tne week, and prices are, if anything, a little easier. Merchants have found out that there is practically only the Auckland and "Western Australian trade to look to, and these markets are not prepared to pay anything over Is 9d, f.0.b., sacks in. At this price merchants can't afford to pay farmers more than Is sd, on trucks, sacks extra, and unless some outside orders come along it is expected that there will be a further drop in prices as soon as the rush of oats sets in. It is safe to reckon tJiat 8000 to 10,000 sacks changed hands during the week at Is 5d and Is 5Jd, on trucks at wayside stations. There are still several fairly large inquiries about, but Is B£d to Is 9d seems to be the very outside that buyers are irclined to pay. The oats offering are very good in colour, especially those coming from the Eastern District. Any lines of Gartons and Newmarkets that are about should easily pass the A grade set up last year. Two or three lines of millinp- oats — principally Sutherlands and Hamiltons — have changed hands at as high as Is 6d on the trucks, but these were exceptionally good lines. The greater part of the Southland crop is now in stack, and tiious-li '-hat is left in stook is bound to turn out a little darker in colour the rough weather we are having at present will not materially affect it unless hot weather sets in immediately afterwards. The average yields have turned out somewhat better than was expected. Round about iJrummond 65 to 70 bushels an acre is common, and even about Nightcaps, Wairio, and Wrey's .Bush the yields run from 35 to 45 bushV.s. About Gore the crops are very much better, running from 50 to 70 bushels, and at Edendale there are some exceptional crops, one settler having taken 95 bushels off a paddock of 70 acre*!, and another a little over 80 bushels per acre off 100 acres. The chaff market is a little easier, and merchants have dropped their prices to formers, which can now be quoted at £2 12s 6d to £1 15s on the trucks. Several farmers near town are already offering to deliver new chaff into store at Invercargill a,t JB2 15s. This chaff is of exceptionally good quality, and has been cut quite six weeks. A few lines of linseed have been offering during the week, but farmers' expectations are too high to allow of business being done. One or two growers have been asking from 6s 6d to 7s. but merchants are not prepared to pay more than 6s. though th 6 samples offering are exceptionally good. Prices for wheat during the week have beet slightly less than during the preceding week. No doubt this is on account of the easier feeling in the Timaru and Oamaru markets, where merchants were offering 3s 2d to 3s 3d (on the trucks) round about their districts. Local merchants have been paying about 3s Id, on trucks, and though farmers are not keen to sell at these prices about 2000 sacks have changed hands. Very little ryegraps has been offering, and prices remain unchanged. The northern demand seems to have gone clean off, but it is not expected there will be a<ny fall in price, as the bulk of the Southland crop has now been sold. The stock markets remain unchanged. There is quite a railway extension fever on in Invercargill at present. The Southland Railway League has a big job on hand in the work of endeavouring to attract the trade of Central Otago Bluffwards by securing that, when the railway to Roxburgh is opened, it will be bj the extension of the Tapanui line from Edievale onwards. At this time, when it is of the utmost importance that all Southlanders should combine in endeavouring to further this scheme, the Waikaka people are clamouring for a branch railway from Gore, and the Tokonui people are again pushing their claims for an extension from Waimahaka onwards. On Friday a deputation from the Waikaka League waited on tne Southland League to obtain their assistance in securing the construction of the Gore-Waikaka extension. The land in the Waikaka Valley had been taken up on the understanding that a railway would be made many years ago. and they thought it 'would be better to extend from Waikaka to Roxburgh than from Edievale, but would be satisfied if they got the extension from Gore to Waikaka. As both the deputations to Roxburgh will have been heard before this appears in print, I need not enter into the pros and cons of the rival routes. Speaking at a meeting held at Tokonui on Wednesday evening for the purpose of urging the railway extension from . aimahaka, Mi M"Nab, M.H.R.. said that he only knew of one rovtte and that was the one from Waimahaka to Tokonui. That line had been authorised, and no line by the Waimahaka Valley would be authorised if his vote could stop it. He advised that the Premier should b" invited to the district and give an address, and they should then endeavour to se<_ure a piorr.ise to cocstiuct the railway. The death is announced of Mr Alexander M'Hardy. nn old identity, who had long resided at Ts'a Bank, at the age of 76 years. Quite recenfy he sold his farm, and had decided to retire from active pursuits owing to indifferent health. — Southland Times. At Thursdiy's meeting of the Southland Education Board the following anpointments weie confirmed — Leslie Muckay, head tocher, Otakau , James Harvey, heac teacher. Myross Bush ; Henrietta Cormock niistre=!3 Edendale , Margaret Brennan, mistie°s. Rimu , Catherine M'T>eod, second assistant, iiiverton ; Ardrew Bam, fourth asaistaut, , Jnnet land acting mistress foi spven months at Waikiwi , Annie Colycr. he-.ic ti acher Ma'iapouri household school , Germ Fi-iry hcid tc°ch"r. G'enham hcu=eho!c school. M.nme "^airb^iiM h->ac t"achc Vv'i'd Brr-jh , Oswald Webbei, .ictinf head teacher for seven mouths at Seawarc Moss . C, Hnrcue actr sr head teacher til permanent Pi>pou>tn e^it is iruide ft Hedge hope; Je jo ie Nic^'l, a"tms> aa^is'ant teacher Midd'e Scl-oo! Olive turner. t°'rv)c.r.try mia tiess Cl'ftoii . Ahc* L'< yd pupil te-acher Oiautau, Miss A. Hcnde^on and Maste:

Wild pupil teachers at South; that Mra Wick's and Mrs Coe be recommended as sewing mistresses at Lower Shotover and Seaward Moss respectively. Mr M'Glashan, bandmaster of the Invercargill Garrison Band, and holder of many medals for bagpipe music, has resigned in order to take up an engagement with Hyland's Circus. He will be succeeded by Mr W. Siddall (son of the old bandmaster of the Battalion Band), who has recently been coaching the Bluff Brass Band. The Winton Record reports that diphtheria has again broken out at Drumrnond. On Wednesday evening Mr F. W. Boys, Wesleyan minister at Otautau, who has been transferred to Balclutha, was entertained at a farewell social in the Otautau Town Hall, when he was presented with a purse of sovereigns, and Mrs Boys with a silvermounted oak tray. Miss Howe, who is also leaving Otautau, was at the same time presented with a gold chain in recognition of her services as organist for the past four years. Messrs Cros3 and Fortune's Te Tumutu sawmill (beyond Orepuki) has been purchased by Messrs Broad, Small, and Co., of Invercargill. — Southern Cross. On Wednesday last a man named Morrow, belonging to Cardrona, was killed at Orepuki through a fall of earth in a tunnel An inquest was held, and the jury found that he met his death by accident, and that he should have timbered the ground. Mr J. C. Thomson, M.H.R. for Wallace, leaves this afternoon for a tour of Australia. . At the swimming tournament held in the Corporation Baths on Wednesday last the 100 yds Schoolboys' Championship of Southland was ■won by H. Folley, of the South School. Mr H. G-reen, formerly of the Railway Department, Gore, and recently in the traffic office here, has been appointed stationmaster at Nightcaps, and took up his duties last week. Mr Green will be postmaster as well as stationmaster. Mr J. B. Purdue, who has acted as postmaster of Nightcaps for some years past, is, with Mrs Cotterel, his mother-in-law, who has assisted him, to be entertained at a social in recognition of his services. Mr A. Milne, son of Mr James Milne, of Wyndham, has been appointed cheese-maker at the Mataura Dairy Factory. At a meeting held the other evening in the Council Chambers to consider the matter of a reception to the Rev. Father Hays, Mr Edwin Bastings, Club Hotel, took exception to the action of the Mayor in granting the use of the Council Chambers for what he called a partisan meeting. Mr Scandrett said he did not look upon it as. a partisan meeting, but a meeting to receive a man who occupied a distinguished position in the public estimation. A good many Roman Catholics, feeling themselves and their Church slighted by a rather tardy invitation to take part in the reception, have decided to hold aloof. The Rev. A. R. Ross is to be inducted to the pastoral charge of Forest Hill congregation on the 19th inst. The railway goods sheds at Browns, on the Hedgehope line, were destroyed by fire on Monday morning last. A man nsmed Thornton was fined £1 and costs, or 48 hours' imprisonment, at Gore on. Tuesday last for assaulting the stationmaster, Mr Brebner. The man, who was under tho influence of liquor, began smoking on the railway platform, and when remonstrated with by Mr Brebner became very abusive, and committed the assault complained of. Mr J. Gait has resumed farming in the Mataura district on the Mavis Bank Estate, which he recently purchased. Mr Lopdell, who has been missionary at Waikawa for the past two years, has taken up similar work at Colac. At last meeting of the Mataura Presbytery a commission was appointed to meet the Mataura Island and Edendale congregations, and settle the question of the proposed manse. The Marine Department announces that repairs are about to be effected to the light situated near the western extremity of Puysegur Point, at the entrance to Preservation Inlet, south-west extreme of the South Island, and that to enable them to be carried out the flashing light will be discontinued from or about the night of Wednesday, April 26, 1905, but further notice, giving the exact date, will be issued later on. During the discontinuance of the flashing light a fixed white light will be exhibited, visible about 12 miles from a, vessel's deck in clear weather. — Southland Times. At the Invercargill Ram Fair, held at Wallaoetown last Friday, Messrs M'Kerchar Bros, were again to the front as the breeders of the Border Leicesters, obtaining top price for two two-tooth stud rams. Mr Thomas Gerrard, of Winion, secured one at 15 guineas, and Mr Thomas Ayson, of Mataura Island, one at 13 guineas. Opinions were divided as to- which was the better sheep, but all agreed that they were both splendid animals, of the true Border Leicester tyoe. The Rev. Father' Hays. the great temiaerance lecturer, arrives* at the Bluff by the Waikare, and will be accorded a public reception by the Bluff W.C.T.TJ. H« will arrive at Invercargill at 11.15, where he will be welcomed by Mr Geo. Froggatt, ex-mayor (in the absence of Mr Scandrett), Rev, It. Ferguson (persident of the United Reform Council), and other urominent temperance workers. On Tuesday evening a social of temperance workers will be" held in the Y.W.C.A. Hall to mast the distinguished lecturer, and on Wedne°d!iv evening he lectures in the Zealandia 3lall. During his stay in Invercareill Father Hav=s will he the guest of the Rev. R. Ferguson, First Church. Tvpboid fever has broken out at Gore, due, it is said, to bad well water. The National Mortgage Company reports the sale of "Mr Lawrence Forde's farm at Heddon Bush to Mr William Thomson. "Newfield," a+ a very satisfactory mice. The farm consists of 20 acre.s, and Mr Thomson is to be congratulated on securing such a choice place.