SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2771, 24 April 1907, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(From Oue Ovtn Cobhespondent.)

INVERCARGILL, April 20.

There has been a good inquiry for cats from the north during the week, but buyers' and sellers' prices are not in accord, consequently very little business has taken place. A fair amount has come forward from the country, and last week's quotations have been fully maintained, the- price running to 2s ljd for B grade (sacks extra), on trucks at country stations. Some, of the latvL samples ihat have corns forward have been slightly discoloured, but the condition is good. It is expected that prices will harden somewhat during the coming week. Any lines of milling wheat that have come forward have been readily placed at 2s lid to 3s 2d, while for prime fowl wheat 2s lOd has been obtained.

There has been a good inquiry for chaff, and last week's rates have been fully maintained — namely, £3 15s to £3 17s 6d. on trucks at country stations (sacks extra). There is very little doing in ryegrass. but up to 4s has been paid tor farmers' dressed lots on tiucks. There has bsen a fair offering of linseed, and from 5s to 5s 6d (sacks extra) has b.-en paid for it on trucks. There has been a veiy fair offering of timothy, and 4d per lb has been paid for really gocd farmers' dressed lots, on trucks.

The sales advised last week have since eventuated, and a notable one, held by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company (in conjunction with the National Mortgage and Agency Company) was that of Mr Alex. Cochrane, of Locbiel. This was one of the best sales that have ever been held in Southland, all classes of stock selling exceedingly well, sheeD especially The sheep were an extra good lot. as Mr Cochrane has for a large number of years given gTeat attention to this cart of his business. Ewes sold from 21s to 27s 9d, according to age. the latter price being paid for an especially nice line of fouxtooths. Lambs sold at 15» lOd, and a nice line of ewe lambs made 16s. Stud sheep made exceptional prices. Four, six, and eighttooth ewes were said to Mr A. Allison, of Drummond, at £3; two, four, and six-tooth ewes sold at 325 ; and stud" ewe lambs at 38s. The rams were all sold at from 2Sg3 to 4Jgs. Horses sold from £35 to £65, and catt'e from £4 10a to £6 Ms. Several other sales have been, held during the week, and satisfactory prices have ruled at all of them. Although a large number of nortLcm sheep are still being trucked to Southland, they have noi so far had the effect of weakening our market. Gensral appearances go to shew. however, that if the northern sheep continue to come down some classes must recede in value. At the present time there ie very little margin between the prices given for forward' stores and that for freezers. Buyers are still operating in lambs at 15s 6d fo 16s, and in wethers from 21s to 22a. Good young

.yes are still in strong demard and any lines coming forward can be readily placed at 20s to 235.

Cattle show every appearance of a rise in value, although at the Wallacetown sa.le on Tuesday the keenness for beef was not so pronounced as one wculd have anticipated, but Uiis is accounted for by the fact that most of the Itrge butchers have been buying considerable quantities outside of the yards. Prices can be quoted at 24s per 1001b, and those who have anything prime on hand arc no* very kean to =ell at the present time. Good forward cattle are in request at fully up to las* week's quotations An especially nice lino of 60 head of bu'locka was &e!d dun nig the week. Younger cattle, it well bred, are more sought after, values ruling from £2 10s to £4 10s. according to age and condition. There are a large number of buyers about for a'l classes o-f cattle, but owing to the abundance of wireter feed th^ra aie net likely to be many offering till later on m t*i« reason

The fibre market is =ti)f very duil, with no signs of lmprovcmenit, and auy parcels that have been offered to London at the present low rates ba\e not been accepted, and la many casea not even a counter offer received. This is a very bad state of things, and it is hoped that a recovery is not iar distant. It is possible that after the heavy shipments made from Xew Zealand iv March ha\e been disposed of the market may take an upward turn ard prices improve a little towards the spring. Th?re is a good demand ior tow. and seveiral large sized parce's have been "old to, London an i America, lor shipment, to the end of Jure. There is practically no tibre coming forwaid from miller=. and business teams to "be at a standstill in the meantime.

Apr-1 22. The ie-classifica;iou scheme lately adopted by the Southland Hueby Union has beon cancelled so far as it affected the Britannia and Athletic Clubs, which were recently reduced to the Junioi Grade At a speci"l meeting cf the union, held last v.ee't. to hc-ar ard consider protests from these clubs, letters from tne secretaries were read an r l deputations from the clubs received, acd the arguments advanced f"r the reinstatement cf the clubs were so Sitong that the union have announced the se-cindir-g of tneir former decision.

Association football in Southland makes an advance this jear by the establishment of a new club a,. Bluff I understand that a number of players are Home men

The Rev J C Jamieson, the organising secretary of the Presbytenan Young Men's Bible Class Union, has been conducting a series of evangelistic services in First Church during the week. The attendances have been fairly good, the middle of the church being generally well filled, and it is expected that .nuch good will lesult. On Wednesday afternoon Mr Jamieson gave a model Sunday School lesson in First Church, and secured a good attendance of Sunday School teachers and superintendent?. It is intended that the Summer School will be held in Invercargill next Christmas, and preliminary arrangements are being made during Mr J&mieson's visit. It is expected that there will be an attendance of about 800 from all parts of N.Z.

Mr J. P. Faris, for many years station master »t F<r>prinalft has been anuomted to

the new station at Clyde, the terminus of the Otago Central railway.

The Invercargill ic.M.C A. hpve made arrangements for a gymnastic class to be held in the High School gymnasium during the winter months under ths tuition of Mr lan Galloway.

Progiess is bo-ing made with the movement to have a branch bank established m Otautau. Xearly one hundred settlers of the township and district hpve promised their accounts to the bank providing this convenience.

A wire received in Invercargil] on Friday intimates that Mr James Holms, jun., of Waimahaka, had been awarded two gold medals at the Christchurch Exhibition for his patent couplings.

The guard's van of the down train frcm Kingston left the ra>"!s at Winton station on Wednesday morning, and destroyed the points before the engine could be brought to a standstill. The van was got on the rails with \ery litt'e trouble or loss of time.

The Exhibition orchestra gave two concerts heie on Friday and Satuiday evenings. On Friday tha attendance was extremely unsatisfactory, due, no doubt, to insufficient advertising. Before the Friday's concert theorchestra were formally received by tha Mayor (Mr Scanclreti), and welcomed to Invarcargill. Responding to Mi Scandrett's address of welcome, the conductor, Mr Hill, said that the tour was not intended for mor«ymaking. but was arranged through the instrumentality of a Wellington lady, a lover of music, whose object was to enable the people of New Zealand to enjoy high-class music at home.

The event of the past week has undoubtedly been the turning of the first sod of the GcreWaikaka railway. The ceremony was performed by the Actirg-Premier, Hon. HaliJones. Minister of Railways, on Thursday afternoon, when there was a good attendance of representative Southland men and the goneral public. After the ceremony a banquet was held in J. E. Wa+son and Co.'s graia shed at Waikak* siding. The railway will be about 16 miles in length to township, and ia expected to be completed in a little over a year. A good deal of 'plant has already arrived, and work is to be commenced immediately.

Advantage was taken of th ; s opportunity to biing before the Acting-Premier the question of th© Rive-rsdale-Waiksia railway, a deuutat:on consisting of Messrs Colin Roberiso", J. Maher, D. Mathesen, ?.nd "W. Fraser, M.H.R , waiting on the Minister with a view to eee'ng what steps the Government propose to take with regard to this- work. They urged that an endeavour should be made to finish the fiist section to Muddy Creek crossing before rext grain season, but although the Minister promised to take immediate s + eps. he would not undertake that it would b& ready by that time, but hoped that it would be completed at least half w?y.

Mr A. A. Mac Gibbon has been re-elected Mayor of Gore unopposed, Mr B. A. Eken•■teen of North Invercargill, Mr John J. Gait of Mataura; and Mr W. R. PpnkhursL of Riverton. At Winton there is to be a contest between Messxs J. M. Kennedy ped C. D. Mooie; in Inverca^gill, between Messrs W. B. Scandrett and Jcbn Stead; pnd n.t Bluff, betv2«.n Mr Guy A. Whcaller and Mr Joseph Metzger.

The Invercargill VcMlen Mills, which have bean closed for some years. past, have resumed operations, the present prcprie ors being practical men from the Eoslyn Woollen Mils, Dunedin.

A. case of interest to graziers came be 'ore Mr M'Caithy. S.M., last week, when "Wilham Hartley IngHs, dealer, oi Dxmedin, suetl Georga Clark, of Edendale, ior £44. of which £35 was claimed on account of loss of a horse left in Clark's c?re. and which had to bs destroyed in consequence of breaking its leg, and £9 was cleimed as damages. IngTis ttated th?t when leaving the horse with defendant he stipulated thai it should be kept separate from other horses, to which stipulation he said defendant agreed, but the horse was allowed to run in p paddock with others, one of wh'ch, belonging to Clark, kicked Inghs'a horse, ar.d broke its leg. The defence was a. denial of any agreement to kiep the hcrse in a separate paddock, and that the horse was only worth £15 The Magistrate found that there was no special arrangement, and gave judgement for defendant wth costs.

The luvercprgill technical classes are being splendidly attended this winter, f»s the following statement of numbers enrolled so far will show — Freehand and model drawing 21, 1 ght and shade drawing 9, painting (two clashes) -27, chemistry 8, magnetism and electricity 7, plumbing 6, wcod-carving 12, machine con«trxtct'on and drawing 6, building construction 27. photography 4, carpentry and joinery 6, dressmaking 28. millinery 2', cookery 20, English (two classes) 85, arithmetic (two classes) PO, mathematics 14 Standard VI work 6, book-keeping (two c'asses) 54 shorthand 49. typewriting 38, French 9.

Mr D'Arcy Palmer, of Wyndham, who c at for the Students' Grade at the examination he'd by the Association of Auditors and Accountauts in Dunedin last November, has received intimation that he has passed. The results of the Associates' and Fellows' ex imina.iio.ii3 Lave not yet arrived

According to the Western S'ar, a party of miners who a.c at present opening out a cla.m in the vicinity of Oraki have got exceedingly good prospects, and rich returns Aie expected.

The Edenclale Farmers' Saleyards were opened on Monday last, when about 20j<> rheep and 180 head or cattle were submitted to auction.

The canvass for guarantees for the forthcoming brais band contest at Wyndham has already resulted in promises totalling about £2XO.

Ou the night of the 12th inst. Mr Hu,-li ll'Into&h was entertained by the re-idents of Waikawa and neighbouring districts at a public gathering in Cume's &-»Jl, ?nd presented wjth a purse of sovereigns as a token of their goodwill and esteem. For close on fi\e years previous to the New Year "Hughie" was contractor for the mail between Waimahaka and Waikawa, and had driven the coach him.«elf. His unfailing courtesy is proverbial. The mail contract is now in other hands, but he is still able to rvn a coach in the interests of the public, and the piesentation was made to allow that his pffcrt? were appreciated

Biiiff Borough Council at its last meeting decided to have stree! name pates erected.

The trade 18 said to be very flat at Waikawa at the present tims, the only mil going full time being Moffett's. Murdoch's null at Niagara is closed temporarily, as there is likely t« be a change of ownership Curne- and M'lnto«h's closed for reoairs. etc . and the small mill lately iua by Hobson has been let on a royalty basis to a party who have not yet got thoroughly under way. At Mataura some splendid shops are being erected. Messrs Ma-cGibbon fnd Sons have pulled down pa-rt of their store to make room. for a new part, and another building ia being elected for Mr R. D. Yule. Beth of thes« buildings are of brick, and will have plate glass fronts. They are nearing completion, and will add considerably to the appearance of the township. A. brick shop is also being erected for Mr Reid, to be used as p. boot shop

The deer shooting season is in full swing on the Blue Mountains. It is stated that unu an licenses have been issued, and one

can hear shooting going on from the township of Tapanui. Some fine .heads have been secured, but the bulk of them do not come up to th'"s standard. So close to the township is some of the firing that a bullet is reported to have broken a brick out of a chimney in one of the houses situated near the foot of the mountain.

A complimentary banquet was tendered list week by the Pioneer Ledge, 1.0.0. F., to Bro. Crawley, who was recently appointed Grard Master of the order m New Zealand. Congratulatory and appreciative speeches testified to the e=teem in which the guest is held, and the G.H., in replying, quoted a number of inte; eating statistics concerning the w.de world progress of the order, and said he would do his best in the responsible position he had been elected to.