SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 34

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL. June 19. _ A Tory beautiful display of Aurora Australis was observed in Invercargill on Friday evening. A little' after 7 o’clock the southern sky became suffused with a pale green radiance, which quickly extended to the zenith, and was soon marked with vivid streamers like searchlights. Presently the fringe of the display became a brilliant scarlet, and both streamers and fringe disappeared and left the southern sky its pale green colour, the brilliant border changing to a fleecy-like rainbow, _which continued for about an hour. The brilliant part of the display lasted about 20 minutes. Until about a week a.go ;> the winter was remarkably fine, but, beginning with last Sunday, a very cold spell set in, and howling gales, cold showers, hail, and snow have been frequent. The runholders and persons interested in coal leases,- and who have for a long time past been agitating for a railway to Birchwood, aro now taking definite preliminary action towards getting it by petitioning the Governor to form a rating district so that it may bo built under the provisions of the Local Railways Bill. For the past two years work has been going on on a deviation of the railway between Wairio and Nightcaps to secure an easier grade. This work is now approaching completion, the ballasting stage having now been reached, and it is expected the trains will be running over it in about a week. It is understood that three Invercargill doctors have offered their services to the military authorities, and have been accepted. The first of these, Dr Garfield Crawford, expects to leave Invercargill for Tientham in about a fortnight. Owing to a number of regular competitors having gone to the front, the Drummond Ploughing Match Committee has decided not to have the usual function this year. Mr A. E. Hawke, manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, who has been in rather unsatisfactory health for some time past, is at present holidaymaking in Christchurch, and proposes to spend several weeks In the North Island before returning to Invercargill. The scries of entertainments organised by Mr A. S. Wallace and his party have already realised about £I6OO, and it is regarded as probable £2OOO will bo reached. The sav, -millers of Southland _ are endeavouring’ to arrange for the disposal of their timber on something like the same linos as wore pursued by the Flour-millers Association—i.o., the orders will be received at the office of the Sawmillers’ Association in Invercargill and allotted to the various mills in proportion to their outputs. It is hoped in this way to keen the various mills in the district working more steadily than has boon the case during the past year. The work o£ developing the tin lodes and

stream tin at Pegasus in which the late Professor Black took a keen interest for many years past is being steadily pushed on, and it is expected that the tramway will be finished and sluicing begun by February next. The Invercargill Bread Distributing Company was on Friday lined £5 and costs for selling light-weight bread. The explanation given was that, although the proper weight of dough was made to mould a given number of loaves, some loaves turned out overweight, and consequently others were bound to bo underweight. An entertainment provided by the Invercargill raiiwaymen which was given in the Municipal Theatre on Friday evening in aid of the Belgian Fund, was very largely attended, and should net a good sum, as a great many tickets were sold which were not represented in the attendance.