SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Ourt Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 29.

Returned soldiers are not showing any great eagerness to apply for sections secured for them by the Government, only four applications having been received for sections in the Lament settlement near Woodlands. It is said that in fruit-land districts whore blocks have been acquired to cut up into suitable sections for returned soldiers applications are practically nil.

The weather for the holidays has so far been magnificent, and the various holiday resorts are crowded. The railway traffic lias been far greater than any previous Christmas holidays. The- heaviest bookings were to Riverton on Boxing Day, the occasion having been the annual regatta. This year only three clubs were represented at the regatta—namely, Riverton, Awarua, and Invercargill Railway. Notwithstanding this tbfentries were good, and splendid races resulted. The principal rowing items resulted as follows: —Maiden Fours —Invercargill Railway B (Adamsan and Mumo) 1, Riverton (Ferrier and Keon) 2. Junior Pairs. —Awarua (Tall and Calder) 1, Invercargill Railway (Robertson and Eudd) 2. Maiden Fours—Riverton 1, Railway 2. Senior Fours —Riverton 1, Awarua 2. 'Maiden Double Sculls—Awarua (Tall and Dickson) 1, Railway (Aclamson and Muuro) 2, Junior Fours— Railway 1, Awarua 2. Junior Double Sculls— Awarua 1, Railway 2. Senior Pairs—Awarua 1, Railway 2. Youths' Fours —Riverton 1, Awarua 2.

Mr Wm. Kerse, a well-known stock dealer at Otautau, was drowned in the Aparima Kiver on Wednesday. It appears that Air Korso had been swimming in the river for some time, and then yave his attention to teaching his little son. While so engaged he seemed to have been seized with cramp, as some people close by wore attracted by the boy's cries, who hurried to the spot and found Mr Kersc's body drowned in shallow water, liestorative treatment was tried, but failed to bring him to life. After keeping the lead m the- Southland Egg-laying Competition since the start, Mr J. Stevens has been passed by Mr John Dowdall, who has all along been runner-up.