SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 28

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES

CFbom Ocb Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, July 22. Tlio name of Cuthbertson has been associated with the Southland Agricultural unci Pastoral Association practically as long as it has existed. The late Mr R. F. •Cuthbertson, jjublic accountant, of Invercargill, was secretary of the association for many years, and when he died his son, Dennis Cuthbertson, who had been trained in his father's office, and was thoroughly conversant with the affairs of the A. and P. Association, naturally succeeded to the position of secretary; and a good secretary he has proved. Enthusiastic in his work, and courteous to ali, he lias been a most popular official, and the now greatly increased membership is largely due to his personal efforts. Mr Cuthbertson, who has a brother at the front in the artillery, is married, but has no family. He offered his seyvices to the military authorities some time ago, and wivs accepted. The time has now arrived for him to go into camp and undergo training, and he has accordingly vacated his position as of the association, and his partner, Mr E. C. Leary, has been appointed to carry on the work during his absence. The directors of the association could not allow Mr Cuthbertson to leave them without expressing their appreciation of his services and admiration of the step ho is taking, and accordingly they arranged for a farewell dinner and a presentation. The function was held at the Federal Tea Rooms yesterday, when there was a largo attendance of directors of the association and personal friends of the guest. The presentation took the form of a purse of sovereigns, and the speeches were many and enthusiastic, the speakers being Messrs A. S. Holms (president of the association), W. A. Cox (Farmers' Union), E. 13. Pilcher (Southland League), J. B. Sutton, Jas. Callendar, John Gilkison, and F. A. Price. All the speakers bore testimony to the good work done for the association by Mr Cuthbertson, and wished him good luck arid a speedy return. In responding Mr Cuthbertson said that he had been connected with .the association for over 20 years, and had its interests at heart. He thanked them for their kind words and good wishes, and hoped soon to be back among them again. His mother and his wife approved of his resolution to offer his services, but ho felt that in this, as in many similar cases, the sacrifice of those who remained to keep the homo fires burning was greater than was generally realised. The first batch of objections to the newvaluations of properties in the Southland County were considered by the Assessment Court yesterday, but in most cases the valuations of the department were sustained. Collectors are now going round the town soliciting subscriptions towards the Presbyterian Institute at the Trentham Camp, and are doing well, quite a number of our business men having given sums of up to £2O.

At a meeting of tho Southland Anglers' Club, held on Monday evening last, it was decided to petition the Cabinet to reduce the depiction of our trouting streams by prohibiting netting at their mouths every second year. Unquestionably, tho practice of netting is" making the fishing of the Aparima and the Oreti loss successful than formerly. Mr David Strang, one of the oldest and best known of Invercargill's business men, died at his residence, Esk street, on Monday last, at the ago of 69. Mr Strang, with the help of his sons, had built up one of the biggest coffee, and spice businesses in the Dominion, and his manufactures were well and favourably known not only throughout New Zealand but also in Australia end Fiji.

J. S. M'Phorson, referred to in last week's notes as being charged with appropriating for his own use moneys collected for a client, did not answer to the charge at the Police Court on Wednesday, but sent a note intimating that he intended to commit suicide by drowning, and stating that his clothes would bo found near the estuary. The clothes were found where indicated, but so far his body has not been found, and tho whole matter is generally regarded as a blind to cover his escape from justice. An Invercargill shopkeeper is liable for £SO bail, which he offered to release M'Phorson from custody.

The Islands Exploration Company's brig Rachel Cohen is now at the Invercargill jetty undergoing- repairs. She is not a bigboat, but is the biggest sailer to berth at Invercargill for many a day. Mr W. A. George, of Wellington, who spent six months in Egypt at his own expense in connection with the. Y.M.C.A. work in soldiers' camps, is now on a lecturing tour throughout the Dominion, assisting in an endeavour to raise £50.000 for the work. He lectured at the Grand Picture Palace last evening to a big audience, but the entrance money and collection amounted to only a very moderate sum.. Referring to Mr Hay. of Lawrence, who has been active in Y.M.C.A. work right from the departure of the Fourth Reinforcements, Mr George said that if any man deserved the V.C it was Mr Hay, as he had broken hi* health in his devotion to the work. Mr Andrew Connor has sold his farm at Otautau to Mr Jonathan Rhodes, of Dunedin, who is inaugurating big schemes for the development of the district, and has bought Mr M'Leail's farm at Pine Bush. Mr D. Cuthberteon. who has been secretary of the Morton Mains Dairy Facforv Cotnpany since its formation, was on Tuesday last entertained by the directors' of the company at a farewell lunch at the liederal Tea Rooms and presented with a purse of sovereigns. At last meeting of the Tnvorcavoill PniYinn-li Council a deputation from the Southland League a«ked that a concrete swimming bath should b° made in the estuarv near the foot of Earn street mid the matter was referred to the Harbour Committee to ronort. Tii'n nine" is frequented bv hundreds of of both .sexes on hot summer evoninsrs. but as thore is n deposit of about six inches of filthy mud on the bottom at present the conditions ere not id—! Th" nl■.<■." is called, surclv ironically, Piv."