SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(Fnosi Our Own Correspondent.)

INYERCABGILL, January 12. The King having called upon all British subjects -to. observe a special day of prayer on Sunday last, tho first Sunday of the year. In response to tho call large congregations assembled at the Invercn-rgHl churches at both morning and evening services, the services being of a specially inspiring character.

At the Eiverton Police Court on Monday a Chinaman named Ly Sum was charged -with wounding Wm. A. Bromby on the arm with a cleaver at Bound Hill. From the evidence it appeared that the Chinaman had a grievance against Bromby with regard to a, dispute over payment for work done by the Chinaman for Bromby some sis rnonthe ago. The dispute was settled by arbitration; but th» award did not satisfy the Chinaman, who, it was said, threatened to get even. The smouldering wr«.th of the Chinaman was fanned into flame by Bromby chaffing him and putting his coat-tails, and he struck out with the cleaver, which gashed Bromby's am>. The defence was that Bromby knoUied Ly "Sum. about end threw him on the floor. Accused, who is said to be 75 years of age, was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Invercargill. Among the many soldiers who returned to Southland from the war this week was Private Preston, who, before enlisting, was a carrier in Invercargill. On his arrival byTuesday's express he was met at the railway station' by his former associates, who insisted on placing him and his family in a trap covered with roses and offset with small Union Jacks. The turnout was drawn through the streets by tho Invercargill carriers, and created a great deal of sympathetic interest.

The Makarewa School was burned down early on Sunday morning last under circumstances whioh give rise to suspicions of incendiarism. As the building was totally destroyed, temporary accommodation will have to be arranged for till a new school La erected.

The rowing races of the Bluff regatta, which could not be got off on New Year's Day owing to the heavy gales, were rowed on Wednesday afternoon in beautiful weather. The competing boats were from the Awaraa, Riverton, and Invercargill Railway Clubs, the home boats annexing all the first prizes but one, the Youths' Fours, which was won by the Railway crew. The second Southland Egg-laying Competition ie nearin:? its close now, and Sir Shults, instead of being overtaken, is increasing his lead. At the end of the thirty-ninth week the leading figures are: J. P. Shultz 109 S, Calder Bros. 1064, Mrs Anderson 1017, C. Thomson 1041, John Stevens 1019. The second wool valuation for Southland has been completed, the top price for' star lots being halfbred 19|d, crossbred 17jd. In the early part of the season Southland beekeepers were greatly pleased with the opening prospects, and expectsd something like the record honey crop of last year. There has, however, been such broken weather at the most important, part of the summer that it is not unlikely that the season may be a poor one. I understand that in Southland the bees do their best work during only three or four weeks, when the white clover is at its best, and if bad weather spoils this nhort period thi season cannot be very successful. The present price of honey on tha Home market —J>l4o a ton —is so good as to pay apiarists very handsomely, and it is a great pity that tlie Southland beekeepers are not likely to have the bumper crops expected earlier in the season.

Diphtheria is still very prevalent in Southland, and the Invercargill Hospital is so crowded that it is impossible to take in any more patients. Owing to the practical disappearance of the disease in the River ton drstriot, tho Wallace H. and G.A. Board is offering 1 accommodation—probably eight to 12 beds—to the Invercargill Hospitail authorities. Gore people are asking for an infectious diseases nospital, a*M also a maternity hospital; but the Southland H. and C.A. Board do not favour the proposal, as there is very little evidence of epidemic disease in Gore district and St. Helens Maternity Hospital, Inveroargill, is so little used as to suggest that' there is very little need for such an institution even in this much larger centre.

The South land County Council hns approved its engineer's plans and specifications for a bridge across the Waihopai Channel to Otatara. I't has also concluded that the proposed bridge will be an advantage to the inhabitants of the boroughs of Invercargill and South Invercargill, and is calling on liwercargill Borough to contribute hafi the cost and •Soiith Invercargill one-fortieth. Under "The Publio Works Act, 1908," possible contribut>rks are allowed two months in which to lodge objections, and it is expected that the Invercargill Borough will object, as most of the councillors have always strongly protested that the town had done enough in providing the road across the estuary. If a» objection is lodged the Government will, be called upon to appoint a commission to decide the proportion of cost to be borne by each body interested. The Southland H. and C.A." Board is having a motor ambulance built at a cost of i?G0O the horse-drawn conveyance at present in use.