SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 34

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Odr Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 13.

The weather being bad last Saturday, the hospital collection was not taken up in Invercargill, but was postponed till to-day. Since early morning collectors have been at work throughout the town, _and their appeals are meeting with such ready response, notwithstanding the many calls this year, that the total is expected to be up to last year’s. During the week a good deal of country collecting has been done, with the result that £229 has been received.

The Sports Committee of the Southland League is endeavouring to arrange for a week’s sports during Carnival Week, and proposes asking the town .shopkeepers to close their premises on the afternoon of May 19, 20, and 21. The business people are to meet the committee to discuss the matter on Friday next. The annual meeting of the Manchester Union of Oddfellows was held in the Friendly Societies’ Hall on Wednesday afternoon, and was presided over byP.G.M. Bro. J. 0. Clapp, jun. The various lodges were well represented, and most satisfactory reports were submitted, the sick and funeral fund having increased by £IBO6 during the past year, though the membership has grown by only 59. The P.G.M., in his opening address, expressed his sense of the loss suffered during the year by the deaths of P.P.G.M. Bro. Arch. Todd and P.P.G.M. Bro. D. A. Smith, and the laying aside by illness of P.P.G.M. Bro. W. B. Scandrett. Bro. Findlay was re-elected to the position of district treasurer, which he has held for 38 years. The sale of the leases of educational endowments in Southland at the Land Office on Friday attracted a good attendance of bidders, and there was spirited competition. The leases wore disposed of as follow: —Lot 1, Wkikaia and Garvie survey districts, 5830 acres; upset annual rental, £l25 —Purchaser, John Joseph Davidson (Waikaia); £220 per annum. Lot 2, Garvie survey district, 3568 acres; upset annual_ rental, £ls0 —Purchaser, George Denning _ (Waikaia) ; _ £227 per annum. Lot 3, Garvie survey district, 1145 acres; upset annual rental, £l2o— Patrick Maher (Wendonside) ; £2lO per annum. Lot 4, Garvie and Wendonsido survey districts. 1240 acres; upset annual rental, £l2o—Purchaser, El A. Cameron (Wendonside); £175 per annum The following amounts had also to be paid for improvements in accordance with valuation placed on them; —Lot 1, £BS 6s; lot. 2, £135; lot 3. £B4; lot 4, £l6O 9s. Mr H. V. Wells, works manager of the Underwood Milk Factory, who has been connected with the factory for the past 18 years, has resigned his position, having purchased a farm in the Waikato. On Friday afternoon Mr and Mrs Wells were farewelled by the officials and employees of Mnvrav’s (Limited) and the milk suppliers and members of the Wallacotown Presbyterian congregation. Mr William Food, on behalf of the suppliers, ■ expressed their regret at losing Mr Wells, and wished him success in his new undertaking. Mr R, A. Anderson, chairman of directors of Murray’s (Limited), said that it was a painful ordeal to have to say good-bye to Mr Wells, who had gained and retained the esteem

t of all who had come in contact with him, and especially of the directors of the company. The company turned out nine-tenths of all the condensed milk used in Now Zealand, and it was now looking further afield for business. Mr Wells had proved himself to be an absolutely reliable man, and he had no doubt that the qualities which had made him- such a success at Underwood would make him equally successful in is new occupation. The suppliers presented Mr Wells with a purse of sovereigns, the employees with a purse of, sovereigns and a large group photo of the staff, and the Wallacotown Presbyterian congregation a dressing case for Mrs W ells. This presentation was made by Mr John Officer, who spoke highly of Mr W 7 ells’s valuable services during the last 18 years as Sunday school superintendent, as a member of the session, and as a temperance worker. In responding, Mr Wells expressed his apprec Kit ion of the loyal co-operation of the employces, the. consideration of the directois, and to the suppliers for their forbearance. He was sorry to leave them; but he was specially sorry 'to leave the church work in which he had so long been engaged. The Hoivth Island Dairy Association s annual meeting is to be held in Invercargill this winter, during Show Week, and a meeting of representatives of Southland dairy factories was held on Saturday mornini’ - to consider the matter of entertaining the delegates to the annual conference. There was a very general disposition to make a prominent feature of the function a motor tour of Southland to advertise the agricultural and pastoral potentialities of the district. It was decided that such a tour should be promoted by the Southland \ .and P. Association, the Southland League, and the Southland Farmers’ Union, a largo number of motor cars being volunteered for the occasion. The Government in inviting local Patriotic Committees to attend a conference to bo held in Wellington on Friday to consider the matter of the distribution of Relief Funds overlooked Southland, and an invitation was not sent. A telegram was sent to the Prime Minister drawing attention to the omission, and pointing out that the district had contributed £20,000. The Prime Minister expressed regret, and sent a belated invitation. A meeting was held to consider the matter, but it was too late to take any action. Before leaving Aparima last week _Mr and Mrs Tlios. Hardwick wore entertained by the settlors of the district at a farewell social and presented with a tea and coffee service, a silver hot-water jug, and a silver-mounted oak tray, the children at the same time being presented with suitable books. The Hardwick family are about to settle in Invercargill. It is understood 1 that the Rev, W. W. Brown, Presbyterian minister of Mataura, is about to receive a call to St. Paul’s Church, Oarnam, Mr A. S. Wallace, well known in connection with local entertainments, has organised a concert company with the purpose of giving a series of patriotic concerts in the country districts to raise £SOO for the relief funds. The first entertainment netted £35 by voluntary contributions. Mr George Cruickshank, S.M., after an extended holiday in the Home Country, has returned to Now Zealand, and will resume his duty here next month.