SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 36

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fhom Ooa Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, November 15. On Thursday week, very early in the morning, the launch Iris, manned by A. Lightfoot (34), W. Bowers (33), D. Conway (22). and D White (21), left Ruapuke Island for Bluff, and since then nothing lias been seen of the launch or any of her crow, though oars belonging to her have been picked up on the coast of the mainland opposite Ruapuke. There aie two theories us to how the disaster occurred — one being that the launch has been sunk by corning into contact with a floating log, and the other that she capsized on a shoal near Ruapuke and sank. A rumour was current at Bluff early in the week that the launch had been found driven ashore on some rock . along the coast towards Waikawa. Tjut this turned out to be incorrect. An expedition from the Bluff will carefully search die coast northwards to-morrow (Hum I ay). It is generally agreed that the launch and crow have been lost, and the occurrence has cast a gloom over the port, of which place all four men wore respected residents.

At a meeting of labour union members hold in the Trades Hall on Friday evening resolutions were passed sympathising with the present strike, for which funds are to be raised, and applauding the utterances of Sir Joseph Ward and the Labour members of Parliament. It was also decided to urge unions at present registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to cancel their registrations. At a meeting of the Band Contest Committee, held on Friday evening, it was resolved to ieduce the prize money for the B Grade Competition from Ist £loo, 2nd £SO. and 3rd £25 to £SO. £25, and £ls— he increased to £7O. £35, and £2O if the profits justify such increase. The two prisoners in the Invercargill Gaol —W. 0. Wheeler and A. E. M‘Queen—who recently made a savage attack on Warder Turner, in an attempt to escape from gaol, were charged with the offence at, Invercargill Police Court on Friday. M'Queen pleaded “Guilty” and Wheeler

“Not Guilty,’’ and both were committed to nex't sittings of the Supreme Court— Wheeler for trial and M’Queen for sentence.

Tho various brandies of (be W.C.T.I*. established in Southland bold a conference in tho Y.M.C A, Rooms on Wednesday, where eight branches were represented by about 100 delegates. Various reports were submitted, and important questions discussed. A lecture on Consumption ” was delivered by Dr Agnes Baird, and. in response to the representations of a deputation from the Bible-inschools League, it. was decided to give tho league every possible help in its endeavour to get tho Bible introduced into the public schools. A resolution was also passed placing on record tlie union’s sense of the loss sustained through the death of tho late president, Mrs Cole.

At the last mooting of the Southland Hospital ami Charitable Aid Board Miss Ewart, who has Iteen matron of the Invercargill Hospital for the past 13 years, was granted six months’ leave to enable her to take a trip to the Homo Connti v. A chopping match between J. Breen and W Jol inston at the Orepuki Recreation Ground last Saturday for £lO resulted in an easy win for Johnston, who cut through his lßin log in Imin 38sec. At the last meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council Mrs Leo Cowie wrote on behalf of the W.O.T.U. asking for the use of the Rotunda for the delivery of temperance lectures. Permission wan granted, provided the Rotunda was not otherwise engaged. After the monthly meeting of the .Southland Presbytery on Tuesday an adjournment was made to the Federal Tea Rooms, where the Rev. James Cuming, the departing Presbytery Clerk, was entertained at a farewell luncheon, and presented with a handsome suit-case, in recognition of his services to the Presbyterian Church in Southland. The presentation was made by the Rev. James Baird. Another meeting of householders was held in the South School on Tuesday evening to protest against the Education Board’s treatment of a protest against the appointment of Mr James Hain to the position of head master of the South School. On the motion of the chairman (Mr M'Culloch), it was decided to take legal advice regarding the matter, and forward a protest to the Minister of Education.

Mr Milne, who was for eight years manager of the Mat-aura Dairy Factory,

and recently accepted an appointment as a Government inspector, was. with Mrs Milne, entertained at a farewell social at Matama. when tiiey wore presented with a silver tea and coffee service by the suppliers, and Mr Milne was presented with a travelling bug by the staff.

Mr E. E. Booth. Orepuki, has sold his business to Mi I.en. Cross, and has bought the business of Messrs M'Gill and Jukes, Edendale.