SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 32

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

IFboh Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, June 3. The. Seventeenth Southland Reinforcements left for the- north on Thursday amid the usual farewell of engine whistles. On Wednesday evening they were accorded a hearty "send-off" at the Municipal Theatre, when the speakers were Messrs Maurice Thompson (Messi-s Broad, Small, and Co.), C. S. Longuet, and James Hain (South Schools The theatre was crowded, and the Bpeakcrs were followed with the closest interest. The Eighth Regimental Band took part in the function, and also a number of our leading vocalists and elocutionists. At the annual meeting of the Eighth Regimental Band on Friday evening Corporal Stewart, the secretary of the band, was presented with a gold medal in recognition of his 25 years' service. In making the presentation Major Crowther said he hoped that Corporal Stewart would be spared to give his valuable services to the band for another 25 years, and that at the end of that time ho, the speaker, would have the pleasure of pinning another gold medal or. his breast. Bandsman Stewart's record, however, was beaten by Bandsman- Cox, who has 32 years' service to his credit. This veteran was presented with an easychair by the band, of which ho has so long been a useful member, with the hope that he would long be spared to use it and to take part in the annual reunions of the band. At the send-off to tho Seventeenth Reinforcements on Wednesday evening ono of tho speakers made a suggestion which rather tickled the audience—viz, that in obtaining soldiers tho powers that be should, instead of starting at 20 years of age and working upwards, start at 60 and work back to 45, thus getting rid of tho uninteresting people. The fact, however, is that many men of 45 are far more fit to stand the strain of training and actual warfare than eomo youths of 20 years and under who have been accepted. There is one man of over 70 in Invercargill, a great sport in his day, who till recently, and perhaps even now, could, in a long day's shooting tramp, absolutely walk off their feet any youngmen who had the temerity to match their endurance against his. In the-Southland Egg-laying Competition Mr J. Stevens's pen of White Leghorns still top the list, their score now being 267. Mr DowdalVs pen still hold second place, with a total of 256. At the Dunedin Winter Show Southland cheese factories scored heavily, Island factory taking three first prizes, Mat a lira two, and Tuturau one. Nurse Biakie. who was trained at tho Southland Hospital, and has for tho last 2 J years boon matron of tho Frankton Hospital, has offered her services for the Nursing Corps, and has been accepted. During the past week Nurse Biakie has been in Invercargill bidding farewell to her many friends. The Invercargill Borough Council has given notice of appeal against the decision of Judge Sim, under which tho Oreti Tramway Company was recently awarded over £2600 damages. It ie understood, however, that negotiations for a settlement are stiVproceeding. At Tuesday's meeting of the Inveroarsill Starr Bowkett Society free loans of £SOO were ballotted to clusters 114 and 144. Mr J. 0. Thomson. M.P. for Wallace, has had the great misfortune to lose his only son. who was undergoing training at the military canary, Grey town. Gunner Thomson was employed in the Lands and Survey Department, Invercargill, before enlisting, and was only 22 years of age.