SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(FaoM Otjr Own Corbesfootdent.)

INVERCARGILL, August 26.

During the week there has been a d-ecidedly healthier tone in the local oat market, and a good deal of business has been done, principally ir a and B grades. Sydney has-been inquiring pretty freely, and since last report, cose on 5000 sacks have been sold to go to that ina'rket The prices have ranged : A grade Is lid, and fox B grade Is lOd (net, f.o b.. sacks in). Tine North Island and Western Australia have also been buying in small quantities, and Is lOd for B grade has been freely got. There are numerous inquiries for quantities fox South Africa for shipment m tho Essex, but as yet I have not heard of any large-sized orders being placed. The educed freights to London have been the means of 15,000 sacks being booked to go by the s.s. Aotea and about 1000 to go by the Star of Australia. It is reported that the shipping companies have decided, to j>u<t tlie iip to 20s after theso two boats have left. Tins will probably be the means of stopping furtheashipments to the liondon market, As far as can be gathered, the London market is not toj good aii preseni, and it is doubtful if, on tho 15s freight, more than Is lid 1 for A grade and Is lOd for B grade (f.0.b., sacks 1 in) will be returned. A few lines have been offering from tine country during the week, and prices to the farmers have ranged from Is s|d to Is 6d for E grade- on trucks. Farmers who are holding on storage are not yet inclined to> sell, as they think they can get Is 6d free of all charges. It is estimated that when the Stair of Australia and the Aotea get a^py otocks at the Bluff will stand at about 120,000 sacks, the bulk of which are A andi B grade, anything under B grade being very scarce.

The chaff market shows no change, and £2 10s cm trucks at country stations is what haa bean ruling for fair average quality during ih-i week.

Very little wheat is offering, and milling quality remains firm at 33 Id on trucks at country stations. There is still a -scarcity of fowl feed, and 2s 8d to 2s lOd on tracks 1 is readily obtained for this quality. There is soracKfly sufficient offering to supply the local market.

Them has been a little- more demand for barley, but sales are very slow, and there is not much change. Malting barley can. ba quoted at 3s 3d on trucks at ooxuntry« stations and iced barley at about 2Ss 3d to- 2a"6d. The latter is selling in small lines' to the North Island at 2s 8d to 2s 9d (f.0.b., sacks extra).

Local merchants aie quoting linseed at £12 15s (f.0.b., sacks in), and tho only business chat is doing is in small lots going to the Melbourne market.

There is practically no ryegrass offering from tho country, and it is pretty certain that all available seed is now in merchants' hands Farmers aro booking their requirements at prices ruling from 4s to 5a 6&, according to weight. Merchants a.ro still getting inquiries Ironi the north, but they have- basely -sufficient to do their own requirements, and are noi keen to sell. There lia3 been a decidedly better demand foi' Italian, and several limes have been placed during tho week at from 3s to 3s 6d for dressed seed. Undressed seed, tout fairly clean, has been selling to the North Island at 2s 9d to 3s (f.0.b., sacks extra). Potatoes are still rising, and during the week £10 on trucks at country stations has been pretty freely given by local buyers. Thc-re is a strong demand for Up-to-Diii.ee, and these aro readily placed at £11 (ex store). The general impression is that there are very few potatoes leift tc come in in Southland, and those who are holders aro not likely to sell fo-r some iiiue as they expect io see ■a, still further advance in prices. A line of 25" tons of Derwents sold during tho week at Edendale at £10 15s. It is understood these are to ba sent to a Dunedin buyeff.

There is no change in the local stock market^ and prices • remain tho sr.mo as last -week. Sheep are still commanding high prices, and. there are plenty of buyers for any lines offering. Thirty shillings is jiow vc,"y common for ewes, aoid it is reported that ifts has becai given lot- four-tooths during the week. Hoggets are also in exceedingly strong demand, and prices rule from 17s to 18s. There has been some inquiry for fat sheep, and several linos are reported to have been sold at 23s to 23s 6d on tho farms. There ' axe still buyers about for forwardconditioned cattle at the average price of £6. Other classes of cattle are still slow of sale.

Lieutenant A. H. Ne-wton has resigned from the Wallace Mounted Rifles.

At last meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board a deputation from the Borough Council waited on the board, with a request that the board would give a bite for public baths, and assist with a donation. The matter was referred to the Works Committee for consideration.

Mr I. W Raymond, who twice contested the Mataura seat, has now definitely consented to stand for Invercargill at the forthcoming parliamentary election. _ Mr Raymond was waited on by a deputation of business men last week, who urged him to come out, and assured him that in their opinion he would have a good chance of election. Mr Raymond is m favour of the election of members to the T7]jper House on the- general suffrage basis, colonial superannuation for all employees of public bodies tiiiiversal old-age pensions, option of tenure to State tenants, and better salaries for school teachers.

At last meeting of the Orphans' Club Mr W. J. Ferguson, leader of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church Choir, was presented with Lillicrap M'Naus;hton's special prize for the fitst choir in the recent competitions. The prize consisted of ft silver-mounted ebony baton and some volumes of music.

Tlie timber industry has evidently taken a turn for the better in the Western distiict. A visitor informs tis that all the mills are Yvorking, and new ones are starting On Monday morning there -weie 23 timber-laden trucks m the Orepuki station yard. — Southland Times.

The following are the successful candidates in the Associated Board's Theory Examinations held in June last: — Rudiments: Muriel Bews (Dominican Convent), Bella, G-. Forsvlh (Mr J. J. Ziinniev). Eveline Gray (Mr Chailes Gray), Esther M. Hunter (Mr Chailes Cn-ax), K.itheiine M'Graia fDouuuican Cwi-

veni\ Amy C-. Mills (Dominican Convent)." Harmony . Intermediate — Daphne Bell (Mr W. Ferguson, L.A.8.). Margaret M'Auliffe, charged with sly grogselHng, was last week fined by Mr M'Carthy, S M., £50. The defence sought to establish that the liquor was not sold, but was given to boarders, a statement -which the magistrate was unable to believe.

The football match Canterbury v. Southland was played on Wednesday afternoon last under rather unfavourable conditions. The weather, indeed, was so bad on Tueeday and luipromising on Wednesday morning that ruany doubted if the match would come off, but considering that the ground had been entirely covered with snow on the previous day it waa in wonderfully good condition. The Southland team did not play so well together as on the previous week, and lost by 4 points to nil.

The Southland Rugby Football Union is arranging for a carnival to be held in the Zea-la-ndia Hall at Eastea-.

At a meeting of the Southland Motor Club held last week it was stated that there were now 31 motorists in Southland. Of these about a dozen own two and four-seat cars.

Lieutenant T. B. Salmon has been gazetted lieutenant of the Bluff Guards. Mr Salmond is postmaster at Bluff.

On Wednesday evening Mr and Mrs Scobie, who are leaving Eastern Bush, after a residence there of over 25 years, to live in Invexcargill, were entertained at a farewell social by the residents of the district, and presented with an illuminated address in addition to ahandsoine plaid for Mrs Scobie. Old settlers from all ovei the district were present, and the speeches were -warm eulogiums of the evening's guests.

At the annual meeting and social of the Southland Mounted Bifles on "Wednesday evening Staff-sergeant-major Grant was presented with a silver tea and cofiee service as a. wedding present from th« company

The animal meeting of First Church wag held on Thursday evening. The attendance was smaller than last year, ladies and children preponderating. The church member shio was shown to be slightly better than last year, and all the church organisations are in a healthy state. Tke fund for building a new church now amounts to £3745. Mr R. F. Cuthbertson strongly urged on parents the need of supporting the Sunday school in everyway and on young people the duty of taking tip the work of teaching.

At the annual meeting of the Southland Caledonian Society on Tuesday last Mr James M'C-rregor (Messrs W. B. -Mitchell and Co.) was plected president for the ensuing year and th« following as directors: — Messrs R. Taylor, T. Mathieson, A. M'G-ragor, M. Robertson, C. "Wyeth, G-. Taylor, A. M'Keill, A. A. Paape, A. R. Porter, R. Stephens, and J. M'Crostie.

At the annual meeting of First Church on Thursday evening- it was announced that tha Rev. John Muirhead has resigned the pastorate of the Baptist Church in Esk street and returns to England in a few weeks.

Mr TV. Field, the well-known butcher, of Tay street, who has given tip business to take a situation in Christchurch, was, before his departure for the northern city, presented by the Master Butchers' Association with a marble clock suitably inscribed. Mr Field was also farewelled by the Musical "Union, of which he was one of the oldest members.