SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 27

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Ouh Own Correspondent.)

INVEBCABGILL, December 15. The Southland A. and P. Association had hard luck in the matter of weather on People's Day this year. Tuesday night was extremely boisterous, and so was tho early part of Wednesday morning, and this, no doubt, had the effect of keeping at home hundreds of country people who would have liked to attend. Any persons watching the incoming trains could not fail to be struck with tho thinness of the crowds coming off the railwav platform compared with those of former years, and would be apt to conclude that the attendance was going to be extremely meagre. Snch a conclusion, however, would bo leaving the motor cars out of count. They came in hundreds, and the sides of the streets were crowded with unattended cars during the afternoon, in some streets two deep. Notwithstanding the motor additions to the visitors, however, and a good turnout of townspeople, the a/ttendance was small in comparison with last year. The day, which started stormily, improved as time went on, and the afternoon was splendid, enabling those present to enjoy themselves thoroughly. Of the show proper the most interesting feature to townspeople was the jumping contests, which were followed olosely by a big crowd round the ring. The rest tent, established by the W.C.T.TJ. some years ago, was again provided by that body, and although, owing to the reduced attendance, it was not so much used by mothers and children as in former years, it proved a boon to a good many. There were not so many side shows and cheap Jacks as usual; but what they -lacked in numbers they made up for in noise, and the* country people spent their money freely. Sir Joseph Ward was a visitor to the Southland A. and P. Association's Show, and on Friday visited Stewart Island, where he had a hearty welcome.. A request was made for a grant to erect freezing works on the island; but Sir Joseph, while admitting that the islanders had a special claim for consideration, could not promise a loan in wartime.

The Southland beekeepers held a business meeting on Tuesday evening, and had a dinner at the Federal Tea Booms on Wednesday afternoon to welcome Mr Grilling, managing director of the New Zealand Honey-producers' Association. This association, which has been registered with a capital of £3OOO, divided into 1500 shares of £2 each, exists for the purpose of helping beefarmers " in"* such a manner as the company may think fit," and in the meantime is securing them top prices for their honey crop. At the dinner referred to Mr Grilling offered 5Jd per lb, ex store, with further payments to follow, bringing it up to 7d per lb. Given suitable weather from now on the Southland crop this year should be as good as last year's, which was a record. Mr James Allan, formerly of Wyndham, who may be regarded as the pioneer of honey-production on a commercial scale in Southland, and now an orchardist at Tasman (Nelson), has come down to attend to his apiary at Oakleigh, and expects to be in Southland for about three months. Mr Allan informs me that honey-production will not amount to much at Tasman, as there is no white clover there, and the flowermg-rime of the fruit trees is too short to allow bees to gather much nectar.

Another charge against Mr H. A. Macdonald, solicitor, of converting twist funds to his own use was heard at the Magistrate's Court, Invercargill, on Thursday. The amount in question was the sum of £1042, held on account of Mr Samuel Miller, retired farmer, Tokonui, and Macdonald had admitted that he was unable to pay. After hearing evidence the magistrate, Mr CruicVshank, committed accused for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. _At Thursday's meeting of the 'Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the chairman (Mr James Fleming) replied to the remarks recently made by Dr Valintine In-spector-general of Hospitals. Mr Fleming pointed out that the overcrowding of the Invercargill Hospital is due to the epidemic of diphtherii. The doctor's condemnation of the hospital as a "back number" came as a surprise, as he had formerly spoken highly of it, and he had in the meantime asked this and other boards to as far as possible refrain from making extensions during the war. The Inspector-general had been kept informed by his officers of the state of affairs in Invercargill, and if he thought the present building should'be scrapped he*should have given some indication of his views earlier. To tiy to throw the whole of the blame for the present situation on to the board was unfair.

The hospital collection last Saturday totalled £291, a big falling off from that of former years, due, no doubt, partly to the almost continuous calls on the public for patriotic purposes and also partly to bad weather.

Mr L. Birks (Government Electrical Engineer) finished his inspection of Southland's sources of electricil supply by a visit to the Waikaia district, accompanied by representatives of the Southland League and several prominent residents of Gore. The party could not get far enough .up the gorge of the Waikaia River to fully inform themselves of the possibilities there; but enough was seen to enable Mr Birks to conclude that there would be enough power obtainable to justify the erection of an auxiliary plant. The Prisons Board, consisting of the Chief

Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Dr and Messrs Geo. Fen wick, Wm. Reese, Edwin Hall, C. B. Jordan, J. Cook, and P. E. Matthews (secretary) arrived in Invercargil l . by Friday's express on their annual visit to tha local prison. The order of the leading - competitors in the Southland egg-laying competition remains unaltered, except that Mr Schultz has increased his lead, the figures now running: J, J. Schultz, 971; Calder Bros., 953; Mrs Anderson, 939; John Stevens, 920. Two men named Frazer were during the week fined £5 and costs for catching undersized flounders and trout at the mouth of the Waimatulru River. The Otatara ratepayers have at.last the satisfaction -of seeing their long-continued efforts to get a bridge across the Waihopai, meeting with some success. At the last meeting of the .Southland County Council the county solicitor was instructed to take the necessary action in the matter.