SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From. Odr Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, September 22.

The Waihopai River at Avenal has been the scene of many deaths by drowning, and the list was added to by the drowning of tw r o little boys about six years old on Monday last. Two boys, Leslie Guthrie and Duncan Bell, were playing in a small boat, when Bell fell into the river. The only witness to the accident was a little girl, who ran off to raise the alarm, and it is not known how the second boy got into the water, though it is assumed that he fell overboard in trying to assist his companion. By the time help arrived both boys had disappeared, and the police began dragging the river with a view to recovering the bodies. One body was recovered on Monday afternoon and the other towards evening. An inquest was held, and a verdict returned of accidental death.

Dr Snow, of InvercaPgill, who has been on a health trip to Australia and the South Sea Islands, returned on Monday, greatly improved in health. The recently-discovered coalfield at Gulches Head, Preservation, is now being fairly well prospected, and the latest report from the field is very satisfactoiy to shareholders, a considerable seam having bscn proved by the putting in of three drives. The coal is a bituminous coal of fair quality, and is so near to deep water that it can be put into ship-holds very economically. If the necessary labour and shipping can be got at this time of shortage, the field can be made a payable one. The Southland quota of the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements left for the north by Monday's express. Before entraining the men were drawn up outside the railway station, where they were addressed by the Mayor, Mr John Stead, who, while regretting that the war still continued to be a drain on the manhood of the country, was satisfied ,that the sacrifices they were undertaking were justified by the great cause for which they were going to fight. It was the duty of the country to see that they would be properly treated and provided for on their return, and they could depend upon it that that duty would be discharged. As to the result of the conflict there could be no two opinions; and, while he hoped that the war would be over before they reached the field of battle, he was satisfied that, if called upon to fight, they would give a good account of themselves.

The Southland Branch of the Second Division League is being well supported by local bodies throughout this district in its endeavours to obtain better treatment for soldiers and their dependents, and most of these bodies in both town and country have passed resolutions in support of the objects of the league,. The visit of Mr L. Birks, the Government electrical expert, to Southland, secured by the Southland League, opened with an inspection of the Gore district on Thursday, and a lecture in the Town Hall the same evening. Mr Birks came on to Invercargill on Friday, and met a good gathering of business men at lunch in the Federal Tea Rooms. -In the evening he lectured in the Victoria Hall to a very large audience, whose attention he held for an hour and a-half. The lecture was for the most part a description of the Lake Coleridge schema and plant, and a detailed statement of the great amount of power generated, and the uses to which it was put and the cost. The saving of a hydro-electric installation as compared with one in which the power is generated by the consumption of coal was shown to bo enormous. That the scheme would be a financial success the lecturer was quite satisfied; also that it would supply cheaper light and power than any other source, and open up great industrial possibilities, and he saw no reason why a service should not be laid on to every house throughout the land, and the whole railway service maintained, extended, and increased at a greatly-reduced cost. Mr A. W. Rodgers (president of the Southland League), in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Birks for his lecture, said the league intended to get for Southland an electrical service similar to that now enjoyed by Canterbury. There would probably be difficulty in getting tha Government in such

times na these to give the ncces3ai-y financial aid; but when the benefits of such a supply were thoroughly understood, he had no doubt thai, the money would be forthcoming. Mr W. I>. Hunt, who recently removed to Dunedin so as to more efficiently discharge Ins duties na Otago District Commissioner on the Efficiency Board, has now resigned, and it is understood that he will shortly lake ii)) his residence in Invercargiil again. At a meeting of creditors in the estate of P. W. Botting, farmer, Edendale, held on Thursday, a statement was submitted showing the assets to be .£2lO 103 and the liabilU ties £674 ss. The largest creditors are. the AationaJ Mortgage and Agency Company and Messrs Henderson and Co. Debtor stated that he was £2OO to the .good when lie started farming, but. had been unfortunate all through, 'uaving lost consistently, and haying also been unfortunate in a breakdown in health early this year. The fund for procuring winter comforts for mine-sweopers in the North Sea is being fairly well supported in Southland, and already over .£IOO has been subscribed and forwarded. In addition to money, donations of suitable garments have also been made. Mr J. J. Schultz still leads in the Southland egg-laying competition, his total being 567 eggs. Mr John Stevens conies fourth with 563.

Whitebait are now very plentiful In the Southland rivers, and trout are following them up. The prospects for the trout-fishing season are good; but some of the smaller streams would be the better of a flood to freshen them up. The Southland Technical College Board has taken a least* of the two-storied dwelling in Elles read, known as Belleknowes, built many years ago by Mr J. D. M'Gruer, and more recently owned by Mrs Brodie, tind intends to use it as a. schoolboys' hostel in connection with the Technical College. The house, which is capable of accommodating about 25 boys, will be under the management of Dr and Mrs Hansen. In the course of his lecture at Victor!* Hall on Friday evening Mr I». Birks spoko of electricity as the " poor man's light," and said of the Lake Coleridge supply that 1400 of the Canterbury consumers pay less than -Is per month and 1700 less than os per month. The power was being increasingly used to save labour in the home, and its general use in country districts would be an important factor in making country life mere attractive. and keeping people on the land.