SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 53

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Feom Oub Own Coheespondent.) INVERCARGILL, October 2. The weather has broken somewhat during the past week, and there has been some rain, though not so much as the farmers would like, the land requiring a thorough soaking. The rivers are in good fishing order, and some very satisfactory baskets aro already recorded. Trout arc very plentiful in the lower reaches of the New River, plunging about after the whitebait in a very lively fashion. The western shore of the Aparima River, in front of Waldeck, is exceedingly dangerous for wading op bathing—a fact which is conspicuously notified on a board set up along the water-front. Notwithstanding this, visitors will venture into the water at the spot, and quite a number of deaths by drowning have resulted. Another occurred on Monday afternoon last, the victim being a young man from North Invercargill, named Ellis Jones. Deceased was wading and holding his little child by the hand, ins wife being seated on the bank a little way off. He suddenly found himself in deep water, and thrust the child ashore, but could not get ashore himself, and as there ivas no one present who was able to help him, he soon disappeared, and his body was not recovered till the following morning, when it was found at the Rocks, over a mile distant. _ The special danger of the place where this accident occurred is_ that the bank suddenly becomes almost vertical a fact which can be seen only at low water, and when, as was the case at the time of the accident, a strong tide is running a person who cannot swim or float down to where the drop is loss precipitous, has no chance of getting out. There is now some talk of fencing off the dangerous part of the beach, which does not amount to 100_ yards in extent. The position of a non-swimmer entering the water higher up the river would, however, be even more hopeless. The ceremony of crowning the Southland Queen at Invercargill will extend over the 14th, 15th, and 16th hist. The Gore coronation will take place on the 20th. A good many people seem to bo overlooking the fact that all postal packages, letters, etc., except newspapers, must now bear the id war stamp, and aro causing delay and expense to their correspondents. On the other hand, some are putting 2d on receipts, though this proposed increase has not vet become law. The lambing in Southland this season has been very successful, the increase _ being heavy, and the mortality unusually light. During a hurried visit"of the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, to Invercargill last week, he was waited on by a deputation from the Southland Teachers’ Institute with regard to the proposed reduction of the number of education districts. The institute, they said, approved of the proposed readjustment, and hoped that it would not be shelved in deference to the opposition of small districts, which it was proposed to merge into the larger ones. The Minister assured the deputation that the matter would certainly come before Parliament, and ho was assured of the support of the members of the National Cabinet. A good deal would bo saved by reducing the present 13 districts to seven, and it would facilitate a Dominion scheme for grading teachers. Miss M'Kenzio, who has boon head mistress of the Wniton School for many years, and is now retiring, was entertained by the pupils and their parents on Friday week, when she was presented with a travelling rag, a largo group photo of the jiuphs and staff, and other gifts in token of the affection of the children and the warm esteem of the parents and of the people of the district generally. At Friday's meeting of the Southland Education Board the following appointments were made: —Garston (temporary solo teacher), Jas. Cusack; Fortification (tempo vary sole teacher), Duncan Mackay; Tuturau (temporary sole teacher), Sydney Dalzcll; Hamilton Burn (temporary sole teacher), Annie Lopdsll; Waikiwi (temporary first assistant), Ada Egglcton; West Plains (temporary assistant), May C. Watson; Rimu (temporary assistant), Margaret M‘Leod ;■ Bluff (first assistant), James Lenihan; Brydone (sole teacher), Philip Jones; Invercargill North (fourth assistant), Annie Watson; Makarewa (temporary head teacher), W. H. D. Gazzard; Niagara (sole teacher), Mary Dunlop; Waihopai (fourth assistant!. Olive Sproat; Winter (second assistant), Jean B. Melton; Otautau (pupil teacher), Martha Laidlaw; Ore.ti Plains (temporary head teacher), W. G. Mehaffey; Knapdale (temporary assistant), Mary Peter; Edcndale (pupil teacher), Angus Regan; Gore (fourth assistant), Mary Frew. The Winton Progressive League have received a communication from the Minister of Public Works to the effect that he proposes to visit the district as soon as possible after the rising of the House to look into the matter of their request to go on with the construction of the Winton-Heddon Bush railway. Delay, ho said, was due to the objection of the railway engineer to the route on account of the danger- to the lino that might arise out of the flooding of the Oreti River.

Mr W. D, Cowio, who has been town clerk of Win tor for the past six years, has res’gned the position, having purchased the Wairio Hotel from Mr M'Dougall. Dr Gordon, of Riverton, whose services have been accepted for the front, was entertained by the R iverton people on Fridav evening, and presented with a purse of sovereigns. Dr Trotter presided, and he and Father Murphy and Messrs A. E. Willett. E Petchell, A. C M ils, and others during the course of the evening eulogised the doctor’s good qualities, and heartily approved his action in offering his services, and doing honour not only to himself, but also to the district with which he had been so long and so usefully associated. At Friday’s meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council an application was received from a Dunedin man to conduct a pie and coffee stall in Dee street, and as an inducement he promised that no drunkenness would bo allowed, which seems to indicate that his pics and coffee must bo pretty strong.

Bisr efforts arc being mnelo to Increase ibe membership of the Southland A. and P. Association. Forty new names were added at Wvndham last sale day. Mr D. M'Qneen, who has been eheese-makr-r at the Owaro Dairy Factory ever since it started, has resigned to take charge of the Lochiel Factory, which has a bigger output. At the last meeting of the Ownro Company the directors passed a resolution recording their high appreciation of Mr M'Queen’s services. Mr M'Queen is being

succeeded by Mi’ Wm. Bagrie, on Otago man.