SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(Fsoic Our Own Cokbespondejtt.) INVERCARGILIj, May 29. During the week very little business has been passing in the local oat market. Merchants have been doing no buying worth mentioning, and what small lines have changed hands have been sold at not over is sd. on trucks at country stations. Farmers are not keen to sell at this price, as they appear to have the idea that the market must advance, and are storing in the hope •*t ?u O Mercha «ts cannot maie any sa£s North Island. Auckland buyers will not give anything over Is 9d, less a, brokerage, for B grade, and at this price merchants cannot make anything on purchases they have made during +lie last few weeks. The ch«an rates of freight to Africa have not yet helped to bring off business for that market, though, merchants have quoted B grade on the basis of Is 9d (f.0.b., sacks in, net). The Banffshire loaded during the week, but only took 4500 sacks. Of these 3500 are for Cardiff South Wales, and the balance was a sample let for South Africa. Those foT Cardiff were prime Cartons from the Gore district. Nothing has yet been done with regard to a i eduction in freights to London, but merchants are expecting to see a drop very shortly. The prices at present ruling would jnst bring out Is 9d (f.0.b.) for B grade, with, perhaps, id more for Gartons. The chaff market is much easier, and a good quantity has been offering during the week. Prices can now be quoted a-t £2 5s to £2 7s 6d on trucks at wayside stations for really prime quality. There has been % fair demand from Auckland and Wellington, but as yet no business has been done. The prices ruling locally are from £2 10s to £2 12s 6d (ex store). There is no change to report in the wheat market, prices remaarung the same as quoted last week. Several, lines have been offering from the country, but very little business has been done, as farmers are not inclined to sell under 3s on the trucks. Fowl wheat ..s selling at from 2s 4d to 2s 6d, and merchants have been making a few small sales to the North Island at 2s 9d to 2s lOd (f.0.b., sacks in).

There are still a few lines of barley being purchased, principally for the North Island requirements at from 3s 2d to 3s 4d on trucks at country stations. Merchants are making sales of malting quality at 3s 9d to 3s lOd (saoks extra).

Practirally no ryegrass has been offering during the week. Any lines that are available can be readily sold as high as 2s 3d on trucks at country stations, provided, of course, that the aeed is not very bad with weeds There is still a strong demaud from the North Island, but, a«s stated in previous reports, merchante have noi more than enough for their own requirements.

The demand for linseed has cased considerably, and merchants cannot sail any better than £12 10s (f.0.b.. sacks in), though as high as ±13 has been got for really prime quality. Merchants are offering farmers 6s on trucks at country sidings.

The potato market has slumped considerably, and the best prices ruling legally are £4 79 Sd to £4 10s on trucks at country stations. Xiocal dealers are seiimg at £5 (.ex store). Tills price is only got for really prime Derwents.

There is no change to report in the stock market. There have been several clearing sales held during the week, with most satisfactory results. The drop in sheep was not very noticeable, as the sorts offering were of good quality, and mostly changed hands to neighbouring farmers. Tliose competent to form an opinion don't expect to -pee prices go any lower, as local farmers are now buying io eat off their surplus feed. There has been a slightly better demand for cattle during the week, as one or two buyers from th« north have been in the district trying to pick up really good-conditioned forward bullocks. Prices for these have been ruling at £5 10s to £6

The proposal to build a railway from Gora to Wai&aka is receiving warm support, here, a considerable number of shares having already been subscribed for. As the outcome of a meeting held in the Y.M.B.C.U. rooms on Tuesday evening, a^Parliamievntary Union has been formed in Invercargill, with Mr E. Allen as Speaker, Mr A. M. Patei-son, Premier, and Mr E- J. Cumming Leader of the Opposition. The Parliamentary Union, is 6ur© to be well supported as the want of a. debating society — other than those attached to the churches — has for a long time past been felt in Invercaxgill. On Monday evening Mr 3 Forbes-Williams was entertained at a farewell conversazione in the Zealandia Hall and presented by the InveTca.rgill Mnisical Union with an address in recognition of her many musical services to the town and district. Mi and Mrs Williams l^ft foT Dunedin by Wednesday's express, Mrs Williams having kindly stayed over a day to sing at a concert at the Bluff on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday application was made in th« Supreme Court in Dunedin to have \h.e place of hearing for ttoe Invercargill outrage cases changed from Inwrcargill to Dunedin on tha plea that it would be impossible to obtain a fair trial in Invercargill, but the application was oprDo3ed by the Crown Proseculor, and, waa refused.

Mr P. It. Porter, of the staff of the Bank of New Zea-land, at Queenstown, has been transferred to Invereargill, and will be succeeded at Quc-enstown by Mr S. A. George, of Bluff. Though the business places in the Crescent ancl the ■wholesale establislnaeTvfcs closed on Wednesday, Empire Day, very little notice of the occasion was t«aken by the community generally, and there was no special function held. Tlie schools had a holiday, and at ore or two the flag was hoisted and suitable addiossea made to the children.

At a meeting held in the 3T.M.C.A. Hall last week a branoh of the Otago Bible Society vtpb termed, with Mr T. M. Macdonald as president, the ministers of the town as vice-presidents, Mr E. J. Cumming- secretary, and Mr C. A. Piper tuea-sureT. The principal event of the football world en Wednesday last waa the defeat of the Stars by the Athletics. This once invincible learn has now all it can do to hold its own against severa.l of the senior teams.

Mr J. C. Thomson, M H.R. for Wallace, haa returned from his trip to Victoria very much, the better for the on ting.

The people of the Drummond-Heddon Bush, district are once more bestiring themselves with regard to railway communication, and intend approaching Mir W. Frasex, M.H.R., for advice as to the possibilities of securing a railway on the same basis as tihe proposed Gore-Waikaka one.

Friends of the Eev. James Aitken, formerly of Wyndliam. ■will be pleased to hear that ha and his family arrived Home in good health, and that Mr Aiiken. is hopeful of so fully re-covermg-as to be able to again take up hia work at Khandallah.

Mr W Domigan, before leaving G-or© for Feilding, -where he has purchased a business, was entertained by the Gore people and presented with a handsome gold sovereign case. A ca.ll horn the Waikaia congregation to the Rev. Gr. Howes came before the Mataura Presiytery at its last meeting, but waa returned fa* more signatures.

Mr J. I». Jopp ha« disposed) of his liv«ryBtable business to Mr Angus M'Donald, of Edendalft. The Wyndhaan H«rald says that in that ■mall township there are 20 widows. Mr J. Paterson, the manager of the New Zealand Agricultural Company's estates, and •Mrs Paterson, axe leaving by the Gothic for a six months' trip to the Home Country. The Rev. Father Hays lectured at Gore on ITriclay evening, had a good house and an attentive hearing. Rugby football ought to be flourishing in Inveroargill jf the theory of "catching 'em young" holds good in this particular form of eport. Ever since the inauguration of the Schools Penant matches by the S.K.F.U., the contests between the school teams have been a, matter of much more than school interest. The varying fortunes ol th« fight are watoheci every Saturday by quite- a decent array of Seniors from the touchlines, and for the army of youngsters a capital afternoon's outing is provided. There ia no questioning the fact that many boys become imbued with a love for the game who would probably not have played lut for the necessity of upholding the credit of their school. This season the Park School team has secured three wins, beating the South "by 6 points to nil, and the Marist by 12 to 8. The latter game was remarkably interesting, for although the Park forwards were heavy enough practically to command the situation, ihe activity and system of the Marists enabled them to place their opponents in serious danger. Twice fast following up gave them a score and with 10 minutes to go they led by S points to 6.- During that 10 minutes, however, the Park got two tries, and the game ended 12 — 8 against the Marists. The match South v. Middle was a go-as-you-please, the Middle "Jailing to put up any kind of opposition^ and the referee cut down the time. Short as the game was, however, the South registered 82 points. I understand that all matters in connection •with the recent bowling tournament are now satisfactorily wound up. There is a very strong feeling among bowlers that the £50 oompstiticn must not be repeated, and I think it may be taken for granted quite safely that the first prize for the rink tourney will not exceed £20 next year, if, indeed, it reaches that amount. There is some talk of making a green in the Eouth end of the town. About 22 years ago Mr Jan>es Brackenridge, then living in Invercar'gili, interested himself in this matter, and was sucoessfui in actually getting a green formed ; but the matter was not properly looked after, extra money required was not forthcoming, and the Thistle Club disbanded without a Bowl l>eing played. It is to be hoped that the new venture will have a better fate. Early on Saturday morning Leannont's be ardmg-house at Gore was destroyed by fire, and an old man — a boarder named James Beck —lost his life, having apparently been overcome by the smoke and flames when endeavouring to escape from his bedroom. I understand that the Invercargill Tramway Co., besides getting more up-to-date tramway plant have also ordered two motor 'busses to eerve> the south and east suburbs of the town. The total takings at the recent Axemen's Carnival amounted to £382, of which entry fees totalled £120, and gate money £227 The largest item of expenditure was prizes, £250. The fixture, as reported last week, resulted in a loss of £45, but there is enough in hand) to cover ihis.