SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, July 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2677, 5 July 1905, Page 37

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, July 3.

There is no change to report in the local •at market, prices remaining firm. The large inquiries referred to in previous telegrams did not result in any business coming this way, but as there are practically no oats offering from the country, merchants are holding tight, and are not inclined to reduce their prices. There is still fair business doing with the North Island and with Western Australia at up to Is 9Jd, f.o.b f , for B grade, and on-e halfpenny less for f.a.q. It is that the inquiries referred to wereffrom the Eaat, and 'I cannot ascertain that business has been placed anywhere in New Zealand. Canterbury buyers seem to be holding on to their good eats in. hopes of iigher prices ruling shortly. Very little shipping of. any consequence js being done, as mast of the sales to the North Island are for delivery in late July or August. Deliveries from the country have practically • ceased; "very few having come forward during The past .week." Merchants axe inclined to ,think that the' "bulk of the threshed cats, ©specially those" from the Western district," have already reached the Bluff, and a tally taken a few days ago showed that 15,000 bags of all classes are now in the stores there. A. large number of these are held on account of farmers who are inclined to hold for another couple of months in the hope of a rise in price. They axe not prepared to ssll at present unless Is 6d per bushel, on trucks at country stations, is forthcoming. Eager inquiries are being made as to the chance of a reduction in freight to London, but so far shipping companies will not come under 255. It is hinted that there is likely to be a jeduc- ,. tion within the next month, but so far nothing definite has been guaranteed, and as most of the steamers are getting decent cargoes ■up north, it is hardly likely that a reduction will take place until they, are forced to come to the Bluff for loading. On present values, merchants would not be inclined to take over the storage lines or buy straight out from farmers •t anything over Is od, on trucks at country •tations, for B grade, and one halfpenny less for f.a.q. The chaff market is unchanged, and as the best price obtainable from the Noith Island markets is £3 7s 6d, f.0.b., s.i., merchants cannot afford to give over £'2 2s 6d, on trucks at country stations. At this price farmers are not inclined to sell, and so very little business ib bsing done. There has bean no business doing either in milling wheat or mailing barley, and prices remain the same as quoted last week. There « a strong demand for .chick wheat, but this quality .is very, scarce in Southland, and any odd lines offering during the week readily fetched -as high- as 2s 9d, on trucks, and mera»nts have Wn selling it at 3s Id, f.0.b., s.i. The local market can take all that offers at 3s, ex .store, owing to the scarcity of inferior oats. This yeaMphick wheat has been more sought after thaSrfor some years past. There has been a very keen demand for ryegrass, and very littlo is offering from the country. Any lines of farmers' dressed seed that are available are readily sold at about 3s 9d, on trucks. One or two local merchants have been selling small lines of machinethessed seed (261b to 271b) to Canterbury at 4s to 4a Id, ex store, Invercargill. There is no doubt that the retail price to farmers will be •very high this year, probably 4s to 5s 6d, •ccording to quality and weight. There is a strong demand for potatoes, and Auckland merchants have been inquiring freely. Grood Derwents or white potatoes have been selling as high as £5 10s, on trucks at country stations. The high prices ruling in the Dunedin markets have made growers very firm in their notions of value, and a large number of them are holding for higher prices. The bulk of the potatoes having been pitted, unless prices advance considerably growers will not bother putting them on the markets for tome time to come. All classes of sheep are selling exceedingly ■well, especially fat lambs. There is a very big run on these from the country, and very prime quality have been selling as high as 18s 9d. A farmer in the Western district got this price for 200, on trucks at Centre Bush, but it is understood that these were exceedingly good. The average price seems to run from 18s 3d to 18e 6d. A line of 700 lamb skins from -the country brought as high as 5s sd, irhich'goes some way towards justifying the present high price for lambs. Prime wethers are selling as high as 225. There is a very good demand for these, but fat sheep buyers •re more keen on lambs at present. There has P»en a fair inquiry for hoggets, which have •sen selling at from 14s 6d to 15s 6d. -* ter » is better inquiry for fat cattle, espaJmHt fat bullocks, which now command JSS 1B» t» 49. Forward cattle two still ie demand

at from £5 10s to £6, and at these prices there are a good number of buyers. The Hedgchope correspondent of the Southern Standaid writes that a large seaoi of lime has been found in the Upper Hedgchope district, carrying a large percentage of pure lime. Mr James M'Kay has secured the sole rights, and intends forming a company to work the seam. Mrs Christopher M'Donaid, of Mataura. was thy victim of a painful accident last week, which resulted m the loss of one of her eyes. Stooping down to pick up a pillow on th© floor of her bedroom she struck her eye against the pretending rung of a bro'kenbackcd chair and burst the eye. She was taken to Dunedin, where the eye had to be removed to the Dunedin Hospital. It is proposed to build a public hall in Wyndharo at a coat of £700. A meeting .'js to be held to-night to consider the project. At a special meeting of the Southland Hospital Trust on Thursday, the deputation appointed at last week's public meeting urged the trust to take some steps towards th<s obtaining of facilities in Southland for th-9 treatment of consumption. After the deputation had placed its views beiore the trust it was decided that the trust would go into the matter at the next orddnary nieeimg. A man named George Broomha.ll had hi 3 skull fractured at Orepuki last week. He was hauhng logs at the Southland Company's mill, when a- chain broke and struck him on the back of the head. BroomhaJl died in the Southland Hospital on Saturday morning. A man named Charles Collyer was fined. 40s «t the Magistrate's Court last week for killing a hair seal. A man named Kerr, who bought the skin from Collyer, was fined zOs for having it in his possession. Mt D. Wilson, storekeeper, H-edgehope, has sold out to Mr F. W. Borne, fox some years past jobbing manager in the Evening News office. Mt Wilson intends to devote himself entirely to Ifts timber businessi at Gore. The "Southland branch of the Navy League ii tends holding a demonstration on Trafalgar Day (October 7S Mr Leslie Irwin, of Mataura, has been appointed by the New Zealand! Temperance Alliance to take up oiganising work in the Hawke's Bay district. About & week ago the window of Messrs Thomson and Beattie's shop, at Gore, was found smashed, and a brick, evidently used for the purpose, was found inside. At first it was supposed that this was another case of attempted burglary, but it has now been pretty generally concluded that it was the vcrk of an inebriated individual. At the Bdendale ploughing match on Wednesday, Malcoim Ga-ay was the winner of Class A, E. B. M'Donald of Class B, J. M'Farlane of Class C, and George Smith of Class D. The Rev. George- Howes was inducted into the niinisteriaj charge of the Waikaka Valley Presbyterian Church on Wednesday last. Mt W. R. G&wn, who has been secretary of the Pirate-? Football Club for many years past, was presented with a walkiug stick and umbrella in recognition of the energetic way in which he has discharged 1 his diities. Our winter show, which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next, has attracted far more entries than usual — over 200 in excess of last year's. Although on a very much smaller scale, this show is regarded by some of our enthusiasts as quite equal in many departments to the Duuedin one, and there is a very general regret that 'theie are no facilities for the exhibition of stock. . Tears ago, when Invercargill was pietty low down, the ZeaTiandia Hall, in which the show is held, and the a-djoiniug section, which woxiid nave afforded ample space, could have been had very cheaply. The centre of an enormous agricultural and pastoral country, Invercargi.i is bouTid to grow, and onr A. and P. Society will grow with it, and no doubt the society will be able in a. few years to make arrangements for the showing of stock in v inter. Au the annual meeting of the- Southland Bowling Club on Friday evening. Mr JRobsrt Wesney was elected president and Mr James Leggatt secretary and treasurer. It was decided that the next tournament should bo held at Christmas instead of at Easter, so as to secure more favourable weather conditions than was experienced this year. I understand that the Glasgow Butchery Co. (Messrs W. Willis and Co.) have bought out the Southland Meat Company, and will 1-resently shift their business to the Don stre«+ premiifes. The half-yearly meeting of the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge was held on Tuesday evening last, when besides a large attendrnce of members, the district officers were present. The following brethren w«re elected to fill the chairs for the ensuing term: — J. Canietron G\M., F. Menzies N.G., W. Gawn V.G., — Anderson E.S. Visitors were present from the Eiversdale, Liunsden, Nightcaps, St. George, and Howick (Auckland) lodges. Th 3 P.G.M. presented the lodge with copies of opening and closing odes. After the business was over an enjoyable after meeting was held. The Awarua Rifles' annual social and euchre party takes place in Ashley's Hall on Tuesday, July 25. Ihe annual show of the Poultry, Bird. Pet and Dcg Society was held in the ZeaJandia. Hall on Wednesday luid Thursday last, vhen there were a total of 824 entries, which is eaSiy a record, the previous highest being 610. The quality a.s well as quantity was first class. The exhibits were well arranged, but the hall was none too largt for the purpose, and when the people were present at night. the only way was to go with the crowd. The society had engaged Mr Maude, the wellknowr Victorian expert, a-s judge, and this no doubt accounts in a large measure for the exceptional entries. In his opinion, silver Wyandottes and collieg were the distinct features of the show, and although, in all th* other departments good specimens oi the different breeds were exhibited, and as good aa were likely to be found in any show, still, in these two classes some of the exhibits were of exceptional merit. Mr Hayne's team of collies was commented on, and especially his Zealardia King, which was, in Mr Maude's opinion, the best dog on th& show benches in Australasia. Messrs Double's eilver Wyandotte cockerel, which won the special for best bird of any bleed in the show, was a typical specimen of the bieed. A practical part of the show which appealed to all was the exhibitions of plucking, and cramming by the Dunedin Government grader, and his lesson wll long be lemembered by all who witnessed it. A pp.inful sensation was created on Wednesday night when it became known that a man (D Swan, living in Esk street) ha^ nrardered his wife, and' it seemed to be morekeenly felt when it was known that the scene of the- tragedy was but a stone's throw from the Zealandia Hall, which at the tuna was full of people owing to the poultry show being held theie. At the time the rmuderei was s\ippostd to have done the deed solely with a flat iron, but since then a razor ha'-a be.6n found winch he also used. Eumours were a^o current that he bad tried to do for one of the daughters, but this now appears to b» wrong, as the injuri&s she received were s °. fc , in fryiag to save her mother. The evicfence at the inquest on the decease! woman shows that there had been no qxia.rTol at) th« time, but that Swan, who had been

working in a coal yard till 1 p.m., and then came home for dinner, and sat m tho house all the rest of the day, suddenly seized the flat iron (winch one of the daughters had at the fire heating for the ironing of some ribbons), and felkd the unfortunate wema i without any warning. The tintc must have been about 9.-J5 p.m. The murdered woman does not seem to have led a happy life, as although <he husband was living in the hous<*, he -Ktis only a boarder, she having had to take out prohibition orders, and latterly a separation order, against him, owing to his uncertain temper and conduct. But he pleaded hard to be allowed to com* back, and was allowed to do so en the footing of aboardcr, with Ibis teirible result. The finding of the Coroner's juiy was one of "Wilful murder" against Swan, while they desired to express their appreciation of tho daughter's (Rhoda) coinage in trying to save her mother. The funeral of the victim took place on Saturday, and wr.3 witnessed by a crowd of people whose presence may be taken as an indication of sympathy for the bereaved family in tbeir terrible affliction.

The result of the pennant competition ameng the school football clubs was placed practically beyond doubt on Saturday last, when the Park team defeated the Marist by 33 points to nil. The Park forwards have done the bulk of the work in their matches this season. l v ho most interesting game the series was that between the South and Park the previous week, the latter winning by 6 points to 3. The final match between these two teams will be worth witnessing, as thio Park boys will try to maintain their record as 8-n unbeaten tea-m, while the Soii'tih will make a vigorous endeavour to put up at least one victory against them. The schools hay« been !. particularly fortunate in having the services of Mr M'Grath as referee throughout the season. The capital manner in which this gentleman controls the games is largely responsible for the good spirit in which they are played and the interest t&ken in them by the public. Moreover, it helps the boys in mastering the fin^r points of the play. The local bawling clubs have held their annual meetings. The only question that caused much discussion was that brought before them by the Cricket Association ie hold ing a carnival. The Northern Olub is so heavily in debt that it was expected to fall in leadily with the idea, but the players were averse to it, and promptly vetoed the proposal to go to the public for assistance. This club has evidently had enough of thia oneman selector principle, and the new Match Committee consists of Messrs Hajn, Loudon, and Ayling. Mr James Manson, who has been an energetic secretary for two years, retired from the position, which is now filled by Mr A. "Wesney. j The Southland Club is in a strong financial position, and l next saason ought to prove most l*rosperoua. The mast notable feature of the nusetin? was the rejection of Mr Porter from the Tournament Committee. This gentleman has done a lot of work at tournament times, arc* last year made a capable treasurer, but the meeting decided to give him a rest for a, season. I