SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 35

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Ouk Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, Julv 18. eo ™ c u P«st the ex-pupils' of tha jwujdx‘ School have been preparing for a pi csentation and farewell to their old master (Mr W. G. Mehaffy), and the event took place at the A ictoria Hall on Friday evennig. Inc night was not by any means a pleasant one, but the attendance was very large, and the function was a great success, tno various speakers being enthusiastic in tneir appreciation of the ability, amiability, and general self-sacrificing service which has endeared Mr Mehaffy not only to the people Ar Invercargill but of. Southland. Mr Mehaffy has been the ideal teacher, beloved ol his pupils, but he has been much more. Ho has been without exception the brightest of our public speakers and lecturers, a leader in every movement designed for the public good, a temperance worker, an enthusiastic Volunteer, and a pillar of the Presbyterian Church. The social was got up by ex-pupils of the Middle School, and expupils were present in large numbers, also past and present members of the teaching staff, but many who had had no connection with the Middle School were present to do honour to the guest of the evening. The chair was occupied by Mr J. L. M‘G. Watson, and he, Mr W. A. Oth, Mr R, J. Gilmour, Miss Birss (head mistress of the Middle School), and Mr Grout (first assistant) spoke warmly of Mr Mehaffy in his capacity of schoolmaster and public man. Dining the evening presentations wero made. Mr AY. A. Ott, on behalf of the cxpupils, presented an oak chair and a purse of 70 sovereigns, and eulogised Mr Mehaffy as a schoolmaster, a friend, a public-spirited citizen, a platform speaker, and an enthusiast in musical, military, sporting, athletic, and religious affairs. Miss Birss and Mr Grcig spoke of Mr Mohaffv’s consideration for and loyalty to his staff, Mr Greig,addling that he counted it an honour to represent the staff and convey ,to Mr Mehaffy their good wishes for his future happiness.- Mr Mehaffy’s response Vaversed his career from his earliest school days in Scotland, his entry into the teaching profession in Victoria. his arrival- in Southland, and his 35 years’ service in the South and Middle Schools-. He had, had his reward in seeing bis pupils* develop into honourable citizens, playing their parts for the most- successfully, though he had been saddened by such failures as he had seen. He wound up a* most interesting address as follows: T desire to express my exceeding gratitude to you all for'"the generous display you have given of regard, and affection for your old teacher, a display far beyond any merit I am conscious of possessifig. _ , Quite a little township is springing up at the terminus of the AVairio-Birchwood railway. About 60 persons are employed bv the railway company and the two coal pits at present in operation, and houses for their accommodation are being rapidly built. The two pits are at present turning out about 100 tons of coal a day. but they expect to increase the output to 150 tons a day before long, and other pits are about to be- onened. The, terminus has been named Morotown, in honour of Mr James M The formation of branches of the Southland League continues to attract the attention of the numerous districts in the pvo- - incc During the past week branches were e‘tkbiishcd at Waikaia and Quarry Hills. \ t - the latter place the matter was taken np bv the settlors themselves with the result that practically every resident in tne district has become a strong supporter of the league. During the incoming V-ek public meetings are to be held at Mossburn. Drummond, and Riversdale. An active membership campaign is being proceeded with in Invercargill with very satisfactory results. Twenty-four members of the committee are canvassing the business area, and when this is completed it is proposed to form a Laches’ Committee to assist m visiting the residential parts of the town for the purpose of securing further mcmbers. The Gore branch has met with particularly liberal support, and its membership Si alJff 150 At the last meetino- of the Gore branch Mr Eiskmc ±Jou - mar was appointed second delegate to the °°With regard to a paragraph in last week’s notes, I am asked to say that the Wallacotown Soapworks were bought by Mi J. 1 ■ Carswell on behalf of a syndicate, and have leased not to Mr Aspray but to Mrs Aspray. who has commenced the jnanuiacture of soap and soda crystals. At the Souihland ploughing match .held at AVallacetown on- Wednesday, Frank Lindsay won the double-furrow event, class A; Hut the championship gold 'modal wap wpn by John Smith, who came out first m the single-furrow. . . Mr James Hamilton. <Sf Ravers'de, died n t I, ' t; residence yesterday. Mr Hamilton had been in unsatisfactory health for some t: m o. but his death was unexpected. Mr Hamilton whs for many years a member of the Southland County Council, and was universally respected in Invercargill and the AVestern district. . ~ . Mr John Kelly, assistant engineer to tho

Southland County Council, has been appointed engineer of the Awakino County Council. . ’ The final scene in what is known as trio Dluh Hotel case was enacted at the Magistrate's Court on .Friday, when Mr i-ios. Hutchison, S.M., lined Mr Victor Coleman £5 for allowing the bar of the Cl lid Hole* to be used as a place for the consumption of liquor. The Act gives the magistrate the power to inflict a fine of £H), but he treated the case as a tost one. Mr Thomas Mac Gibbon, of Mataura, one of the oldest and most successful business men, has received a call to the Legislative Council. „ . , T ", A St. Andrew’s Scottish Society has been formed in Invercargill, with the motto, “We’ro a’ John Tamson’s bairns. . . r Mr -George MTndoe, eldest son ot Mi JD. MTndoe, the well-known analytical chemist, has been appointed demonstrator ot electrical engineering at Canterbury College, Christchurch. , * , •, Mr A. Hamilton, who has been promoted to the positon of manager of the National Bank at Camara, was entertained by the people of Riverton and the surrounding district on Tuesday evening, and presented with a purse of sovereigns. Mr Hamilton lias been verv popular during his five years residence in Riverton, not only as a bankoi, but he Fas taken his share of public life, of church duties and,sports, and m every sphere his quiet geniality has endeared him to the people. There wore many speeches made during the evening, and all breathed Bjrdial goodwill.