SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 38

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Feoai Oup. Own Corkesfondent.) INVERCARGILL, Juno 5.

The council of the Southland League at its meeting last evening adopted thO ( recommendation of its Communications Committee regarding Southland railways. It is recognised that the Government is unable at present to build any new lines, so that any railways recommended by the council will probably bo built under the provisions of the Local Railways Bill. Under these provisions districts wanting railways are formed into rating areas, and boards are sot up empowered to borrow money and guarantee any loss. Such lines would bo built by the " Public Works Department and operated by the Railway Department. Mr W. D. limit, in moving tho adoption of the reoort, urged that tho •Tuatapore-Orawia, the Wairio-Ohai, and Wright’s Bush-Hed-don Bush lines should be proceeded with at once, but suggested that the Wyndham and Mokoreta lino should bo delayed for a few years till more information was available regarding the running of light lines. Mr A. E. Willett, Riverton, thought that the council wore under obligation to consider Messrs More and Sons in making their recommendation to the Government with regard to the Ohai lino. These people had come to the rescue of the coal lessees and put a I railway in, and this line would be rendered practically valueless if the Government authorised tho building of a rival lino. Mr Hunt said it was no business of the council to decide tho route—that was a matter for experts. He thought that if Messrs More and Sons’ line wore suitable, or could bo made suitable, no doubt the Government would use it; but the council must not bo put in the position of favouring that route—it might result in the proposition for a lino to Ohai being turned down. Messrs Ford and Mac Gibbon also urged that Messrs More and Sons should bo considered. Mr Hunt pointed out that it Wairio coal, tho coal carried by Messrs More’s line, would bo prejudiced by the bringing of Ohai coal?’ so would Nightcaps and Kaitangatap but Mr Willett insisted that all three private linos would bo prejudiced by tho putting in of a Government lino to open a private coalfield.

The Invercargill Borough Council and the Oreti Tramway Company have not yet reached a settlement. The Borough Council arranged with the Tramway Company over tom- years ago to have the use of the Tramwav Company's lino to build a wall so as to reclaim a large area of the estuary, and they were to "hand over the wall and the tramway in good order when the work was finished! The corporation, having no furtheruse for the tramway, have offered it back to the company, who decline to take it back, as they say it is not fit for use, and has not boon passed by' the Public Works inspector. If it is fit for use, the company must soon start running their cars; if it is

not, the corporation arc liable for £2O a week rent.

The new jetty is almost finished, and is being joined up with the old one, and the shipping accommodation will be about four times as much as formerly. The berthage has. however, silted up, and is a mud bank at low water. To remedy that a groin is now being thrown out northward from the .astern end of the bridge, and another will later on bo thrown out from the other side so as to divert the scour along the front of the jetty and keep the berthage deep. A large body of prisoners are now working on the western wall, but it , will probably be a year before the work is finished. Meanwhile the residents at Otatara are becoming more and more anxious about the long-expected bridge and road. Both the corporation and the Otatara Land Company disclaim liability for the expenditure, but are, I understand, disposed to join in approaching the Government and asking them to do it, and levy on all concerned. In the meantime every nor’-wester causes the high tide to nibble away a little more of the road.

Mr Joseph Hatch, who has for many years maintained a strenuous fight with 4 the elements in trying to establish, the oil im dustry in the southern isles, has now formed his business into a limited liability company, comprising some of our leadng business men.

Louis Eosbcndor, charged with causing the death of Win. Jackson through negligently driving a motor car, has been sentenced to seven years’ hard labour. Before sentence was pronounced Mr Eustace Russell, counsel for the prisoner, announced that Fosbcnder had arranged to pay Mrs Jackson £IOOO compensation and £75 costs in settlement of her claim of £2OOO.

An old-age pensioner named Malcolm M'Callutn, belonging to South Invercargill, was killed through being run over by the train to Bluff on Thursday evening. A recruiting rally was held in the theatre on Friday evening, when stirring addresses were delivered by Rev. J. W. Shaw and Messrs W. G. Mehaffey and W. A. Saunders, the result being that a number of recruits volunteered. The-meeting was not very well attended, but that was probably because it was not well advertised. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Southland Presbytery the Presbytery approved the idea of systematic collections for the Patriotic Funds, and decided to do what it could to assist.

Mr David Meredith, storekeeper, Orepuki, has filed -his schedule, his free assets being £845. The secured creditors totalled £3137 10s, their security being estimated at £1000; unsecured creditors £5143 8s 7d. The bankrupt’s explanation of his position was that he paid life father’s trustees too much for the business, and Had no capital to work it. Mr F. J. Tipping, of Macdonald and Tipping, lias been admitted a barrister of the Supreme Court