SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 52

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

(Froic Otra Oww Cobbsbpoitdest.) INVE-BCARGSLL, July 27. There is Btill no change to report in the local ow€ market, and no business of any importance has been done during the week. Prices to farmers still remain at from 2s 8d to 2b 9d on trucks at country stations, but 1000 bags have blen purchased by local merchants sine* last report. It is understood that offers have been made- from the North Island for " forwaard" delivery at 8s 2d f.0.T).5.i., less the usual brokerage. Merchants, however, are not inclined to deal except for immediate sales, and for these only in small quantities, as ■their stocks in hand are exceedingly light. Those farmers who have been holding on storage either at, Bluff or on the farm are etiil holding firm in the hope of getting equivalent to 3s on trucks, and, indeed, this pxioe has been paid for prime seed, lines. Orders ■for seed lines are coming in very freely, and prices raoge from 3s fld to 8» 9o" for £re&Bed samples. Up io date coasidentbry more oats h*v« been carried over the Southland milways than was the case up to the same tizc» last year, but it must be borne in mind that the higher prices have tempted farmers to sell earlier this y«ar, and in consequence noariy all the remaining oats are held in filestores at Bluff. Afc ihe beginning of the season farmers -were tempted to sell even more than they would have done had prices been cheap, thinking that probably later in the year they would buy feed and #eed oats for less money,, but as it has turned out the market has continued high practically all the time. Chaff is exceedingly firm at 45 on trucks at country stations for really prime lines, and for " forward" delivery during the next month it has been purchased at as high as £& ss. Fox local requirements the price is about £6 ex store. The potato market is very firm, and anything prime sells freely at fully up to last week's quotations. Prime Up-to-Dates are now quoted at from M 5s to £4 ids on trucks , at country stations, and ordinary table sorts j can be quoted at from £8 15s to £4. ~No sales of -any consequence have been held daring the week, and prices fox all sorts of atock are practically on a par with last week's zates. The sheep market is if anything a little more lively, and wethers have been selling at from 21s to 225, which works out, I understand, at about 4£d per Ib. There is a good demand far all classes of sheep, -especially for ewes. Young ewes are quoted a-t 20e to 235, though specially good sorts have reached as high as 255. "Hoggets can Ye quoted at from 14s to 15s. The price of Beef still rules at about 25s per hundred 'pounds, though it is doubtful if 'this price was averaged at the lust W&llacetown sale, a number of ' butchers reckoning that what was purchased worked cut at about Ms. Eeally prime cattle are exceedingly hard to get at presort, and should any demand set in from the north, there is no doubt that prices must advance. Good forward bullocks can be quoted at £5 10s to M 10s. A large number of clearing sales are being hel-d during the next iortnight, in consequence of numerous Southland farms changing hands. _ _ There has b«en very little inquiry fiu #bie during the last week, and business is somewhat stagnant. Inquiries so far from London are not up to our local prices, and merchants «r« unwilling to sell unless they can see their way out of their holdings without loss. Very little fibre is coming in from the millers, which should make the position somewhat better so f»r as holders of fibre in Now Zealand are concerned, as it appears as if London <buyers would have to come to our limit before business can -ereentnate. Merchant* are unwililing to contract ahead, as there appears to be a general impression that prices will harden dn the spring, and they prefer to take the chance of an improved market later on rather Jjhan commit themselves, at the present rates. Tow is somewhat easier in the London market. 'Inquiries ar«». not so numerous, and prices are back 10s to 16s a ton from late rates. Owing to "the lowness of etooka this is not regarded «b at nil aerious, July 29. Mr George Matheson, who has been part siopriator of the Gore Standard newspaper for the last eleven yeare, has sold out, and Mr Exam Itartht. editor of the paper, is be«omin§ -sine of Hi* owners. Ifr John Fisher, of Otantau, Has leased the Ozepufei Adrofctto ixm Mr W. J- Won, wfco is coing io travel Urn Australian States and fiouth bland of N.Z. on behalf of a publishing According to the Wyndhanr Farmer Mr 2m»m Wctson, <rf Sitiroa, wh» bM hem

ocsociated with Mr James Taylor in Invercargill buying lambs for Messrs Borthwick and Sons during the last three years, has been appointed buyer in Victoria . fo - . the firm. Mr R. Miller, the corporation overseer, who has just resigned the position of superintendent of the Inyercargill Fire Brigade', was, at the Fire Brigade social at Ashley's Hall ou Wednesday evening last, presented with a handsome gold albert and medal by the members of the brigade as a token of esteem. Last week two young men were brought up before Mr M'Carthy. S.M., charged with stealing a keg of beer from the WaiHwi depot. j One of them — John Gourley — was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and the other—' William Wellbrook — was fined £5, and agreed to take out a prohibition order against himself. | The present winter has been an exception- | ally milS one in Southland, and in town the I forwardness . of the gardens may be judged from the fact that crocuses and snowdrops are already .showing. On Wednesday last the Invercargill Association football team journeyed to Nightcaps to try conclusions with the local team, and made a draw of' it, both teams scoring two goals The $lay of the town team must be greatly improved, or that of the Nightcaps boys falling off, as two years ago Nightcaps were practically invincible. At a special meeting of the Southland Education Board h«ld last week Dr Ogston's scheme for the examination of school children was discussed, and it was decided io invite the medical _nen in town to meet the board' in conference, and discuss the question of the medical inspection of school children. The reed of inspection was admitted, but it was ielt that it oemld not be efficiently carried out by the teachers. The question of the travelling expenses of members was discussed at the last meeting of the Education Board, and a general feeling was expressed that town members should receive some remuneration, for loss of time as -well as country members, who receive I<Jb per Jneetjag, in addition to rain and hotel ohaxge*. Ii was decided to inquire as io the piactace pursued by other boards, Mr Mac Gibbon stating that all members of the Otago Board received some remuneration. — Southland' Times. The fionihland Boxing Association held its championship meetine on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, "and attracted very large houses io the Mnnicipal Theatre, the takings totalling JBIIO. The bantam weights was -won by M. Jarrett, the feather weights by J. Muri Soch. the light weights, W. Taylor; middle I weights. J. M'Dermott; welter weights, L Anderson ; and heavy weights, E. Rollins.