SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Ouh Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, January 5. - Xiie Nmr Year holidays in Southland were to a great extent spoiled by bad weather, howling gales, rain, and soma hail making very wintry conditions. Visitors to the seasid-3 were pretty well kept indoors, and those who oarnped had a rather miserable time. A great number of peoplo went to Bluff for the annual regatta, but owing to tho storm very few of the events could ba got off. Por the same reason the number of visitors to Stewart Island was much less than in former years., tho passage across the Straits being extremely rough. Thunder and lightning lent variety to .New Year's Day evening, the next morning being marked by a slight shock of earthquake. Notwithstanding adverse conditions, the two race meetings of the -week—Wyndham and Invercargill— attracted big crowds, that on .the Invercargill course on the second day being larger than on the first, the weather having considerably improved. The totalisator investments on the Invercargill races constituted a record, the total for the two daya being £36,101, which is nearly £SOOO more than last year. It is expected that the meeting will yield the Southland Racing Club a profit of about £IOOO. The club, however, had tho misfortune to lose its old outer enclosure- grand stand by fire on Friday morning, the insurance not being nearlyenough to cover the loss. Captain Lovett, who has harbour master at Bluff since 1892, died on Thursday at tho age of 64 years. The Rev. G-. H. Jupp, of Woodlands, has been appointed assistant to the Rev. R. B. Davies, Knox Church, Drrnedin, and takes up the duties of his new post in March. Very little drunkenness was observable in the Invercargill streets on New Year's morning. However, a plate-glass window in 'Messrs W. Lewis and Co.'s shop was found to be smashed, and as a trail of blood led away from the place, it is supposed that the break was accidentally caused by a drunken individual. The window was valued at £3O.

Sir Joseph Ward was present at' the Bluff regatta, but has returned north, as has also the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education, who spent the New Year holidays in Invercargill. There is a very great accumulation ol cheeeo in Bluff stores; but the ' shipping prospects for January are good, and it .is expected that at least one shipment will b« got away before February. - Lieutenant-colonel George Mitchell, of luvercargill, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Captain F. M. Wilkes, also of this town, baa been awaidod the Military Cross.