SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 48

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, October 25. I The fact that fire has broken out three times in the premises of the Southland Furnituie Company, Ellcs road, within a short period, has led to an inquiry whicA took place before Mr George Cruickshank. S.M., at the Invercargill Courthouse o.t ■ Friday'. The fires broke out on August 1 24, Sep tern Iter £6, and September 30. iiu buildings, belonging to the estate of the late George Froggatt, wore valued at ! £ICOO and insured for £400,' the contents, which were insured for £3OO and belonged to the Southland Furniture Company, consisting of furniture, furniture-making materials, and machinery. On the first, occasion £lO covered the damage, which on the second and third occasions, waJ estimated at £73 and £53. When the third fire occurred the risk was cancelled by the insurance company. One witness, A. Roleson, gave evidence that a member of the Furniture Company had accused him (Robinson) ot causing the fire, and Detect- , tive Cameron said that on the occasio* j of the last fire it was found impossible to got the factory door opened, and it was I found that it had been jambed by fixing a piece of wood in the door-race. The Jilagistrato viewed the premises and afterwards 1 gave a verdict that- there was no evidence i to show how the last fire originated, j Mr James Hain, at present and for many years past head master of the Park School, has been appointed head master of the South School, vice Mr E. Webber, resigned on superannuation. Mr Hain takes up the duties of his new position on Ist February j next. Mr H. Valentine, station master at ' Wyndham for the last four years, has been ' appointed station master at Darfield, Can- . terbhry. j Mr John Pcdlow, who has been head shopman for Mathcson and Co., Doe street, for many years past, and has now been appointed manager of the business of Messrs j Bulleid apd Co., Oarnaru, was, before 4eav--1 ing for his new poet, entertained by Mathcson and Co.’s employees and presented with a handsome suit case with a presentation , inscription on -a silver plate, i The Invercargill Beautifying Society wound up its very successful carnival on Saturday evening last, the net profit being i about £6OO. | Mr B. Fonn, who has just joined Mr Flint in the fruit business, was, before rcI tiring from the employment of Messrs W. 1 Todd and Co., with which firm he has been for 16 years, presented with a 4CO-day clock and a spirit kettle. The presentation t was made by Mr Denton, the firm's accountant. I By the death of Mr Robert M’Konzio, ■ ! who died in the Invercargill Hospital on Sunday last after a very long illness, Southland loses one of her most enthusiastic, rowI ing men. Himself a first-class oarsman, he - devoted himself unsparingly to promoting 1 the interests of his favourite sport. Ho j was one of the originators of the Railway i Rowing Club, and for many years secretary of the Southland Rowing Association. . for which organisation ho did splendid work.

Mr John Fisher, chairman of the Southland Education Board, and Dr Hanson, director of' technical education in Southland, waited on tho Southland A. and P. Association on Friday to solicit a. contribution to the upkeep of tho Technical College and tho association’s assistance in a scheme for the joint control of technical education. Mr R. A. Anderson, in moving that a contribution of £lO should be made, said that, more specific tuition in agriculture should be given, end suggested that the association should prepare three acres in the new park and hand it over to the Technical College. The motion to contribute was seconded by Mr John Gilkison, and carried unanimously. Tho fact that carrying explosives in a railway carriage is a breach of the Railway Department’s regulations is emphasised by the case of James Holms, Waimahaka, who was this week fined £1 and costs for this offence. The offence would probably not have boon found out had not Mr Holms (who was conveying tho packet to oblige* a friend) loft it in the carriage. Till now Waimakaha and Waimatuku Presbyterians have formed one congregation with the church at Waianiwa. For some time past, however, efforts have been under way to raw funds for a separate church at Waimatuku, and these efforts have resulted in tho raising of about £SOO which, with the Synod’s grant, will admit of a brick church, costing £BOO, being opened free of debt. A contract for the building has boon Jet, and the foundation stone of the building was laid by Rev. A. Macdonald, of Otantau, last Wednesday. Mr Mat. Thomas, one of Southland’s railway veterans, who was entertained at a social by members of the department on Saturday evening last, was presented with a gold badge to mark the termination of 20 years’ valuable service as secretary of the Southland Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railtvaymcn. The Prisons’ Board, consisting of hie Honor Sir Robert Stout and Messrs George Fenwick, J. R. Blair, and Dr Hay, visited Invercargill on Tuesday and Wednesdaylast to inspect tine Invercargill Gaol. During their visit they were shown over the reclamation works, which are now making very satisfactory progress. Good progress is now being made with the Wairio-Birchwood railway. Two gangs of men are at work, one completing the formation and the other pushing on tho platelay ing. It is now expected that the line will be ready for traffic before next winter. The decision of Rev. James Cuming, of

Waikiwi, to accept the call sent to him by the Onslow (Wellington) congregation is greatly regretted not only by his own parishioners at Waikiwi and Myross but by members of the Southland Presbytery and Southland Presbyterians generally. Ho has been a most able clerk of Presbytery', and has endeared himself to quite a number of congregations for whom he lias acted as moderator during vacancies. The Caversham Brass Band has now notified the Invercargill Band Contest Committee that it will not be able to take part in the forthcoming contest. On October 3 a dispute arose between Thomas Lynch and Morgan Hayes, jun., on the public road near Riverton, which culminated in Lynch striking Hayes in the chest with a sickle which ho had in his hand at the time, inflicting a dangerous wound. Lynch was charged with the offence at the Police Court on Friday last, and committed for trial at next sitting of the Supreme Court in Invercargill, bail of £3OO being allowed. , A good deal of cottage building is still going on about Invercargill, especially at Gladstone and Georgetown. Waverley, which till now has been neglected, is at last getting a move on, several new houses having gone up lately. The Rev. John Miller, of Dipton, has accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church, St Clair. One of those who supported the call was Mr Thos. Fleming, the well-known miller, who now lives at St. Clair.