SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 24

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our/Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, February 2. The Southland League deserves the thanks of the the province for its efforts in the direction of securing a good electrical supply, and for its courage in following out a policy of self-help, the league's proposal being that, instead of waiting for the Government to do the work, tho pe'ople of the district should do, so themselves as soon as the money market is favourable. The fourth Government wool valuation for Southland wa's made this week, there being a big accumulation to go through, and the valuers had again 'to complain of the poor classing. The values placed on the various, lots were good, and must be satisfactory "to farmers, ranging, as they do, from 15d for medium wool up to 19d for best halfbrad. The second Southland egg-laying competition is now in its forty-third week, and the order of the leading competitors is as follows:—J. J. Schultz, 1177 i Calder Bros., 1144;' 0. Thomson, 1130; Mrs Anderson, 1109; John Stevens, 1039. Mr W. H. Robertshaw, accountant Bank of Australia, Invercargill, has been appointed to the position of manager at New Plymouth, and left for his new post by Thursday's express. Cross's motor garage in Leet street and six motor cars contained in it were destroyed by fire on Wednesday evening. Both garage and contents were insured, but Mr Cross's loss will be considerable. At a special meeting of the Otautau Town Board oh Friday evening Mr John Fisher (town clerk) reported that while in Wellington ho had interviewed Sir Joseph Ward regarding the lighting of the town by electricity, and had received from Sir Josph an assurance that if official application was made, authority would be issued enabling -the board to borrow a sum of not less than £SOOO for the purpose. The Invercargill schools are being kept closed till the 12th inst. in. the 1 hope pf allaying tho epidemic of diphtheria. It is, however, generally feared that this will not prove sufficient, and it is suggested that Sunday schools and picture shows should also be olosed for a term. A number of bicycles have been stolen : n Inrercargill lately, and the thief or thieves seem to be pretty audacious judging by the experience of one' victim. Having occasion to ride home from his store, a business .man left his bicycle at his own gate while he went into his house. He tras not inside five minutes, but when he came out his bicycle was gone, and he has not seen qr heard of it since. . , The Southland Sawmill Workers' Union have decided to give a block vote to Mr H. J. Farrant when ho opposes the Hon. J. A. Hanan at the next parliamentary election. He will need it to shift Mr Hanan, the Invercargill electors quite understanding the advantage of having a Cabinet Minister as their representative. Some time ago the Invercargill tramway employees applied to the council for an acditionai war bonus for men getting less than £i per Troek. The council made an offer w;iich was dec-lined, and the case went to the Arbitration Court. The award of the court not being satisfactory to the tramway employees, they have . now appealed to the Isorough Council to give the old terms, plus a war bonus of 6d a day. i!i« council however, has decided to notify tb? union tmtt, having refused the council's offer and taken the dispute to the Arbitration Court, tho council cannot see its. way to interfere with the court's decision. Mr M. Hawkins (Deputy Inspector of Prisons) is at present on a visit to Invercargill in connection with departmental matters. Mr W. J. A. M'Gregor, of Mount Linton, has been appointed a member of the Revaluation Committee of 'the Southarid land district. ': Holiday-makers at The Rocks, South Jttiverton, had two little sensations last week-end. Two girls bathing got beyond their depth, und were rescued by men who rushed in with all their clothes on, and on Sunday a motor car went over .the roadside with a small boy in it. Tho car, belonging to Mr Sims, of Maori Hill, Merrivale, Was in a safe place with the brakes on, but the young son of the owner, playing in it, released the brakes, and tho car ran across tho roar! and over tho bank and down on to the rocky beach below, where it smashed against a rock, and threw the bov out on to the beach unhurt. A forest devil was obtained, and a big crowd of holidaymakers soon got the car up on to tfie road, where it was found to have been little damaged. The road along the waterfront is a dangerous one for car traffic, and property-holders are discussing the matter of getting the district formed into a rating district so ns to bo in a position to get improvements made.