SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, September 30.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 52

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, September 30.

During the week the local oat market has been somewhat easier, and very little business has been done. The Sydney market seems io have stopped buying altogether, and since la&t report Western Australia has also eased considerab'.y. Auckland buyers are still taking oats at 2s, f.0.b., s.i. (less a brokerage), but they are only operating at this price in very small quantities. There are practically none offering from the country, though spring threshing is now well under way. Farmers are anxious to get them off the ground, but are storing in preference to selling even at the advanced prices that have been ruling during tha last fortnight. Growers seem to have the idea that prices will go higher, but this is doubtful, especially if the African market does not come for any laa-ge supplies. The best price ruling to farmers is Is 7Jd, on trucks, at wayside stations, for B grand and one halfpenny less for f.a.q. It is understood that the 15s freight will be available during the month of October, but unless London values improve it is not likeily that many will be shipped there. From latest reports it would appear that 2s, f.0.b., could not be brought out on the London market at the present time. There has been no shipping of any consequence during the week, and outside what has been sold to go to Auckland the bulk of the forward sales have been delivered. The present unsold stocks at the Bluff would not exceed 100,000 bags all told. Three-parts of these are B grade or better, as merchants have practically cleared out all the lower grades. None of the local merchants are holding any large qtiantity, so it is difficttlt to get any considerable order under firm offer for any length of time. Merchants are holding firm for 2s, f.0.b., s.i., for B grade.

The chaff market is very firm, and prices rule from £2 15s to £2 17s 6d, on trucks, at country stations. The local market is very barely supplied, and there is hardly sufficient offering to fill local requirements. Auckland is also inquiring freely, and sales have been made for October delivery at J63 10s to £3 12s 6d, f.0.b., s.i.

Wheat has improved in value, and prices have advanced fully 2d per bushel. During the past week milling wheat has been sold at 2s 2d to 2s 3d, on trucks, at country sidings, but the lines offering are very small, and very little milling quality is left- to come in in Southland. Fowl wheat is scarce, and the local market is being supplied at 3s (ex store), prices to farmers ruling from 2s Sd to 2s 9d, on trucks, at country stations.

Linseed is still selling freely to the Nor Hi Island at £13, f.0.b., s.i. There can be very little of this left in the Bluff stores, and there is practically none held by farmers. It is expected that the high prices ruling thi3 year will tempt farmers to sow more than, usual for the coming season.

Potatoes remain firm at last week's quotations — namely, £9 — on trucks, at country stations. There are very few left to come iv in Southland, and it is not expected that prices will go any lower till the new crop is on the market. So far none of the 'Fris"O importations have reached this part of the colony.

The directors of the various cheese factoiies met at Wyndhain on Thursday last, but so far as I can learn no sales have been made, the directors' ideas of values being much above those of the buyers. It is undecstood that the Wyndham. Mataxira Island. Seaward Downs, and Tuturau Dairy Factories have placed their outputs under firm offer to a northern buyer for 10 days. Edendale Factory has not yet sold, but it is expected that during this week this and several other factories' outputs will change hands. I understand much higher prices are expected this year than last, the offer above referred to being something over 5d per pound. The stock market remains unchanged, with all classes of sheep in strong demand, especially ewes. Several lines of four and six-tooth ewes have been sold duriug the week at 27s to 27s 6d. Hoggets are selling at from 17s to 18s, and there are several btiyers on the look; cut for suitable lines at these prices.

Cattle are still very dull, and veiy littfe business is being done except in forward conditioned sorts, whicji are selling at from £o to fo 10s.

October 2,

The broken weather of last week culminated on Thursday evening in heavy snow and hail, with bitterly cold wind. A heavy sou-wester, with frequent bursts of cold rain, continued throughout Friday. The rain and snow have put the rivers up, and the prospects for the opening of the trout fishing season are none too good, so far, at anyrate, as the Oreti and the Aparima are concerned, as snow water is coming down both. Trout are reported to be plentiful, and in the Oreti above Winton an unusual number of large fish have been observed, the absence of freshes during the winter having prevented them returning to the sea.

A couple of months ago Drill-instructor Knee, well known throughout Southland, was overtaken by a mental malady, which necessitated his removal to Seaclift". His wife and family being unprovided for, some oi tho Volunteer corps throughout the province set themselves to help, with the result that a moderate sum has been raised, and Mrs Knse will be enabled to make an endeavoiir to support herself and her family by keeping a boarding-house.

At the quarterly meeting of the Loyal St. George Lodge on Tuesday evening Bro. H. S. Hunter, who has recently purchased a farm at Waifiniwa, where he will in future reside, was presented with a framed emblem of the order in recognition of his services as a trustee for many years past. The presentation was made by P.P.G.M. Bro. John Stead.

The Invercargill Banjo Club gave one of its enjoyable concerts at Ashley's Hall last Wednesday evening, when it was assisted by Mrs W. A. Sauuders's recitations, and solos by Miss Wai-iti Fyfe, and Messrs Prentice, Cooksou, and Thompson. During an interval Mr James Hutchins, one of the founders of the club, who, as mentioned last week, is leaving for Christen urch, was presented by the club with a travelling bag.

On Wednesday afternoon Drs Truby King and Hay arrived in Invercargill by the express to inquire into the matter of the sanity of Daniel Swan, who is at present in the Invercargill Gaol under sentence of death for wiTe murder.

Mr W. Bicknell, manager of the Union Bank here, returned from his trip to the Home Country by last week's Melbourne boat.

The trout-poaching cases, heard before Mr M'Carthy, S.M., last week, resulted in the Lees 'orotlwrs being fined £2 each, with costs. The charge against Albert Holmes was dismissed. In the other case, against Larsen and Bask, a point of the defence was that the fish were caught in the sea outside the limit. Mr M'Carthy reserved his decision. The Southland A. and P. Association has under consideration the matter of building an agricultural hall, the Zeala-iadia Hall, in

which the winter shows have hitherto been held, being regarded as unsuitable. At Friday's meeting of the Southland Athletic Association £5 5s was voted to purchase a medal for presentation to the secretary, Mr G. W. Woods, in recognition of his services. On Tuesday three residents of the Bhtff went outside the heads to fish, in a small fishing smack. Once they were fairly in the straits a gale sprang up, making it impossible for them to run for home, and they were ioiced to lun before the wind to try and shelter in the lea of Hog Island. They made the inland all right and landed safely, but their craft was stove in on the rocks.

The oyster season closed l en the 30th September, the close season extending till the Ist February. The season closed has generally been regarded as a good) one for those engaged in it. Fish have also- been plentiful this sea&on, especially blue cod, the number of e&sc'S of these fish in the freezer ait the Bluff at one time running into isomo 7000. Yet with ail this plenty the pmce at -whi'/b these fish, ara retailed makes them rank as a luxuiy, merchants at the Bluff preferring to sell wholesale to Melbourne rather than retail thean locally. The Invesrcargill Borough Council has been approached 1 fox some time now by a firm, ol solicitors, acting on behalf of a local syndicate* with a view to securing concessions to enable it to lay an electric train service in Invercargill and suburbs, and at its last meeting it was intimated that a letter had been written Sir Joseph. Ward, acquainting him of the circumstances, and asking if ho had any further proposal to set before the council, for it "wiill be remembered that Sir Joseph, oxprrseed' himself strongly an. the subject of tram communicatiom here some little time back and submitted a proposal for an inupa'cved service-. "'ie ftose Casey, which went ashore om> the Hiverton baa-, still lies there, only sho has settled, down considerably. No efforts have yet bctem made to refloat her owing to the unr ■suitable weather, but the underwriters have a large centrifugal pump and engine on the scene with which they hope to lower the wabeu* sumcioiilly to enable hear to> be floated into the river, -when it is the intention to bearch her m a suitable position. The Bluff Harbowr Board's dredge Murihiku is working weill up to expectations. As the lesult of 24 days' work she dredged 16,800 tons of mud a'ay, broken rock, and boulders, etc., and deposited this outside the heads, deepening the berth where, she. was working from 16ft to 17ft to from 24Jft to 26ft. Arrangements have been made with the executive of the forthcoming military revel by the* Navy League whereby tiie latter body will have the use of the Zealaridia Hall on October 20, the date of the Trafalgar centenary celebrations. Tfae hall v/ill, cai account of the revel which is being held there from October 11 to 21, be appropriately decorated, the right side of the building representing a large battleship, with places set apart for stalls, etc., while the remaining part of the hall is berng fitted up to represent iforts On that day it is intended to have a military display in Post Office Square, marching from there to. the hall, ■where appropriate, speeches will be delivered. ALglers who were out yesterday report trout very plentiful in the Oreti. Tha river was high and worm was th,& best baib, though good fish weie £>lso taken with the minnow. I taiclerstand that Mr M'N'-a.mara got six ; Wiliett Bros, eight A. Ferguson three, Blacke two (one 4Mb). Two weli-known anglers went wall up the. riveo:, and' for a long day's fishing <?ri .each one small fish. The ten-year-o'd sou of one of them 1 wipfoedi to join the party, but was induced to remain at home and flsih thio creek -on the property with a decrepit rod and tackle. When the pair returned horn© they were overjoyed (?) to find that the youngster had landieidl throe fish which wouM tratweigii their combined baskets three times over. Mr A. A. Paape ha-i evidently acquired something like a colonial reputation as an organiser of carnivals. A monster carnival is now being promoted in Auckland mi aid of a cricket ground, and Mr Paape has been approached with a view to his going to Auckland to carry it through. The work in hand ;,nd in prospect locally will prevent his entertaining the proposal, but Mi Paape has forwarded full information, gathered from experience m. Invercargill, to the Auckland committee.— Somt'hlraid! Times. A sale of work held last week 111 aid! of the recently established North luyercargill Presbyterian Church netted £30. Mr Jas. Baorr, second engineer 01 the tilv.il Harbour Board dredge, was on Saturday presented by the crew with a gold pendant on the eve of bis returning to Scotland. The concert given m the. Zealandia ixall by the Musical Union, under the conductorship of Mr Charles Gray, was, as is usual with any public function of which that gentleman has charge, a decided success. Probably the most interesting items on the programme were the unaccompanied part songs. There was a wonderfully even balance observed in these efforts, and Mr Gray is to be congratulated most heartily on the work he lias accomplished in this one direction in Invercargiil. According to the local papers, tha orchestral music was "beyond all praise." Well, this was the least pleasing of all to me, for too often the instruments were out of time with the conductor's baton: they had literally to be dragged up. It is rare to have to find a fault of this land, and the only conclusion one can oorno to is that the members must havo been lax in attendance at the practices. I. am certain that no blame is attachable to Mr Gray; he is far too painstaking and too keen on having everything as perfect as hard work and close study can make it. It must not be imagined that the defect here mentioned! was characteristic of the orchestral work during the evening; the lapses were only occasional, and it is mainly because the music-loving people of Invercargill have been trained to expect a perfect sympathy between conductor and executants that one is inclined to notice the break when it occurs. Of the singers, most interest ceniied in tha appearance of Mr PorteTiis, as in a foitrright's time he is to leave us. His -sotig v«aa "The riderless steed," a.rn.l it was given with fine power and dramatic effect. I have never heard him to such advantage as on Friday night. The union is indteed sustaining a severe loss in his removal. The concert as a whole was most enjoyable, and one could noi: but regret that the weather was stormy enough to keep a large number at their own firesides. The audience, however, in spite of the blustering gale and driving rain, was large enough to show how highly the work of the Musioal Union is appreciated.

AH t/hose people who love outdoor pursuits are congratulating themselves that the weather seems io be inclined to behave itself and allow them to get into the fresh, air. The cyclists are to have their opening run on> Wednesday next, and on the same day cricketers and bowlers 1 hope to make a start. Cricket has suffered a sad) loss in the removal of Mi C. G. Wilson to Dune Sin. This gentleman has 13ee.11 the life of the game for" the last four or five ye?.rs, and I am much afraid "tbat hig departure will mean a serious falling off in the quality of local cricket.

Bowling promises to go with a vim thiq season. Both greens are in good older, and competition bids fair to be keen — too keen indeed. It behoves the players of the North

* End and Southland Clubs to remember that above all things the livahy between the two clubs must be a healthy rivalry. No paltry jealousies should be allowed to interfere m the game, but every man, while trying to further the interests of his own club in x^ar* ticular, must at the same time act so as to further the interests of bowling generally.