SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 52

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(From Oxtr Own Correspondent.)

INVEECARGILL, June 15

The oat market continues eery firm, and though the quality offering from the country is by no means large, it is sufficient to fill the sales that merchants are at present making. During the week prices to farmers have ruled at 2s 6Jd on trucks at country etations for ordinary B grade, but seed lines of any variety have been selling at Id to 2d per buslisl above these prices Merchants' sales kave be«n worked on the basas of 23 lid to 3s (f.o.b . sacks in) for C and B grades respectively. There are a number oi mquinei* for "'forward" delivery, but local holders are not inclined to commit themselves for any large quantity. Stocks at present in the Bluff stores total about 60,000 to 65,000 bags, a. large proportion of which has be«n sold for ' forward delivery during this and next, month. Several large hr.es are held on clients' accounts; but the owners are net inclined to sell at present pnres, as they have the idea that higher figures wi'i yet be reached There can be no doubt that the quantity left to come in from the country in Southland is nc-t large. Chaff is exceeding y firm, and prices have advanced to £4 10s on trucks at country stations for leally prime quality. It is reported that Dunedin buyers have been operating at as high as £5 *t wayside stations for delivery during the month of August Very lrttle wheat is offering, and wha-t is available is practically only fit for fowl feed Prices for this ruu to 3s 6d on trucks at conntry etations, but there io no more offering than is needed for local requirements. Present quotations for potatoes are £2 to £3 on trucks at country stations, and local dealers show no keenness to operate. Growers aTe all " pitting," having the idea that prices will b» better la.ter on. The principal s*le of the past week was at Otautau. wher« the entry -of she«p was by no means large, not exceeding 3300 or 3500. Generally speaking there is no change in prices since last report, though there is a very keen demand for good hoggets, for which present values range from 15s 6d to 16s &d. Good " forward " weth-ers are also in lequest at from 19s to 21s. Ewes in lamb are not so keenly sought after, but last week's values have been maintained.

The fat meat market is as firm as ever, good lambs selling from 17s to 183, and wethers from 21s to 22s 6d. Special lines for butchers have made slightly over these values.

Beef can be quoted at 25s per 1001b, and there is an exceedingly good demand, several large purchases having been made by northern butchers dTiring the week at from JEIO to £11 10s. Good bullocks and young cattle are 111 good request, especially well grown sortF.

The flax market is very dull, there being ni inquiry from London or America. Very little is coming in from millers, who no doubt appreciate the fact that there is no present market for their produce. I do not expect any considerable business to eventuate beforethe end of August or the beginning of September The heavy weather experienced during the past week lias decided the remaining millers, who have not already shut down +0 do so, and the next two months will be observed by all of them as close holidays

There is a little inquiry for tow. but the "06 season seems to have affected this pioducf, to the extent of about 15s a ton.

June 17

Winter made its appearance in Invercargil' on Saturday morning, when there was a considerable fall of snow, which continued for tiio best part of the day, pnd owing to t'lo fact that the roads ha<l been rendered fairly dry by frosts, the snow lay, and the youngsters had an opportunity of indulging in snowballing

On Friday evening the Dot's Southland Littla Folk held their annual social in Ashley's Hall, when there wps a good mueter of members and their friends. As indicating the interest taken by some members in these ai.imal re-unions, it may be mentioned thai one eld writer came from Rae's Junction, another from Lawrence, and quite a number from the Nightcp.ps district.

The event of the past week for Southlanders has undoubtedly been the Inveroargill winter show, for which, unfortunately, the weather wrs extremely disagreeable. Notwithstanding this, the attendance was s record, especially of country people, who earn? into town in greater numbers than on nny previous occasion The show itself was also a record in -the number of exhibits, and in *lie success which attended the management and the comfort of sicbt-^eere. This year Ashley's Hall wps made availfble for "the exhibit of butter, cheese, and nre.«erve9, by connecting it with the Zealand'a Hall through a covered right-of-way This, unfortunately was rather narrow, and as the rule of the road- was not too c'oeely observed by incoming and outgoing visitors the °truggle at times was pomewhat fierce. Probably the feature of the chotv most striking in quality was the roots tubers, and fruits, wh'ch, owing to the exceptionally favourable season, wore better than nny pievioi.uly shown. A feature of gre»t interest io Southlanders wp.s an exhi'' 1 ' of fl.ix by the Agiirultural Department. "~ * extraordinary leng.h and fineness of which was a matter of •general comment The chee-e competition re-•-ultprl in Kdenriale coming ou* on tor- **i'h a toil of 95 pointß which enht'es Mr Satvcrs to mt<un *he sixly guinra competition <v" for "i otb^r year As indicnt»ng Ibo in f-if -i' > r.?p m the at'endanee, it may be mer*iored that the door takings wete £50 mere than last \e;ir

The ; noue^t regarding thp death of A J Kings'and. who riied from the usp of ch'oT f nrir! on Sunday !a?t, did not difcver any di»ea?e of the vital or^ar.s and the d<'r'or q are soirowliat pU7z!ed by the rase The verdict of the liirv was thbi deceased died while under the influenre of chloroform, no b'arue being aitacbable to anyone

A o?'<e of T,i, = ir!erdb'« int«»r<»«t to fjrrrprs rame bffore Mr M'Caitliv. SM, on Fnday ld=t, wfapn Mr T C EMi", of Fv- R.vera E=tate claimed 42 sheep from C. A A M en, "» T.iim°d<>i] or their value. £32 5= Plaintiff beirg ""Misfied th'-t defendant h?d «~iie of bis 'beep wrote him requep'aq? that they =hon'd be returned, but the deferdr.nt deflined ns^erti'-g thut they were hi" own — horicp th'- a^tio'i Evident was s-von I,y a j umber of sheep own<"« and dea'cis, and Mr M'farthy reserve hi° decision

The Southland poultry show, wh eh is to he he'd on Tneidav and "\YeJ-."dav of nest week, premises \o hs n ere"*. surfPM. *b<* e 1 irjpo up to the present beinp nearly half 1- urn li a?ain as tfc"=e of la?t year. The ji ;' 1 'p?l increases are in poultry and Di£?eori3.

M-- Ti>^fi<-<> Ciar>man'= deein«">n with resart} *o Mrs H'Auliffe'e ospop.l h?<; not \et 'p,.dind Invprf?jf»']l -but it is expftrd that ■t '\i'! !>■* f nnuriftl r>i Fr'dav nf-xt

Con'-ia I >]p Cri3"-k--hank, of Buff ka\e« on Tj.'° n i3\ next f*M lins- to winch i^s.'-e he htm j.i-t Ur, a an; oirtpil

M^'.-rc W aiid .7 V.n\ =it«on. who have Fold out their 'Wre at Lotlnol if) Mr R Card tier. were on Tue«dav e'.eniiip ]p.»t er 'p-ta-ned at a farewell social and presented v,ith a travelling bap eiuh

Mr A W. Hall, of Imercarsill, has Wn »-uuciii'.ed by the British Go-.^jcoiieiii to

establish flaxmills on the island of Si. He.ena. and leaves this week to take up his new duties

In connection wi^h the winter show last week Mr Slewart, one of the Government instructors, addressed a meeting of gentlemen interested in flaxmiihng in Ashley's Hall, and gave a gTeat deal of usefnl inform pi 10 a with regard to flax culture, the treatment of the gTeen leaf, manufacture, and preparation for export.

Mr Robert Watson, of Oreti Plain", died very suddenly m his buggy on Wednesday morning when driving into Winton to take tram for Invercargill to sttend the winter show. In inquest ivas held, and a verdict of death from heart disease re;urned.

At last council meetmg; of tho Southland Aeclimitisation Society reference was made to the loss experienced by the society thiough the death of Mr H. Howells. of Waiamwa, who had been a member of the council for over 30 years, and an enthusiastic trout fisheT. The council adjourned without transacting business as a mark of respect for the deceased.

A deputation from the Wednesday HalfHohday Association is now canvassing the town for signatures to p. petition praying Parliament to allow the half-holiday to remain a 9 p.t present. The petition is being largely signed even by those -who prefer the Saturday half-holiday. They recognise that bo long as country shops are open on Saturday afternoon it would be unfair to close the town shops, but would prefer to see the Saturday half-holiday made universal, and would prohably sign a petition for the Saturday Half-Holiday Association «leo. The defect of quality or quantity of gaa supplied to householders in Invercargill recently has been the matter of considerable complaint, and the matter haviner come before tbo CouncJ. the whole question was submitted to the gas engineer, who now proposes a scheme of improvements involving about £9000, which scheme will probably be adopted.

Mr A. Turn bull, of the Lar*d'» Department, before leaving for Dunedin on Wednesday last, was presented "by tho staff of the local office with a trpvellmg rug and umbrella by his brother officer?. The presentation was made by Mr Hay. Commissioner of Lands.

The luvocajgill V M.C A. has now elicited the co-operation of the Invercargill ladies, and the s ( rangers' teas, which are a feature of the Sunday afternoon meetings, have been undertaken by p ladies' auxiliary, of which Mrs G- Lindsay is president and Mrs J. S. Baxter secretary.

The fat sheep guessing competition at the winter show resulted m Mr J. M. Brown, of the National Mortgage Co , guessing the live weight, which was 282J!b. The dead weight (1901b) was giiesped by five persons, who will divide the five prl7.es.

Mr D. S M'Killop, who has been headmaster of the West Plains School for the past four years, was on Fnd?y evening last entertained at a farewell social before leaving for Woodlands, and presented with an illuminated address and a pur=e of sovereigns. At Friday's me-eting of the Invercargill Chamber of Comrreice Mr J. Crosby Smith brought forward a milter of great importance to traders. There was a uroe when plaintiffs were p.llowed to ser I . c their own summonses on debtors, so long as they made the necessary afßd»vit in due course, but nowadays only the bnilrff of the Court or a policeman can deliver a summons, and the cost is m some ca«es veTy much more tl*n "the service could be done for if it were in the hands of plaintiffs -themselves Another ni"tter to ■which Mr Smith drew attention was the unfairness of rpstmg on the plaint. ff the onus of proving tha+ defendant wps in a position to pay, instead of m»king -fhe defendant prove that he was not in a position to do so. These are matters which have troubled business people a good dccl, pnd it is to be hoped that some amendment will be made in the existing law in the direction indicated.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, pud Co sold to Mr W. W. Duke, butcher, of Dunedin. the other day, two mobs of cattle, comprising 285 head. The purchases were made from the well-known breeders Messrs W. R. Baird (Toi Tois Estate) and F. A. Price (Waikiwi). The catlle me aJI beautifully finished, heavy well-bred shorthorn and Hereford cro<»s steers

The annupl report of the Southland district of the X Z. Educational Institute has just been ic«ueci Among other interesting matter it contains a table "bowing a number of m»'e and fem»le certificated and uncertificated teachers, from wh'.ch it appears that the number of unccrtificated female teachers is almost as great as those possessing certificates, and the ictal uncertifica*-ed te»chcr3 of both sexes are a full third of ths whole ruirber of teachers employed by tho Southhind Board of Education.