SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Oub Ows Correspondent.) LNVERCARGILL, February 23. Southland is at present enjoying magnificent weather, and the harvest is being got in in first-class order, and some of the oat crops are already thrashed from the stook. In some cases it is not being stooked at all, but, given a continuance of tho present sunny weather, the sheaves will be carted straight to tho stack. Tho colour of the oats is unusually bright, and the yield will bo above the average. In many cases tho straw is short, and for this reason chaff will probably continue to be high in price. At Friday's meeting of the Southland Education Board the following appointments were confirmed: —Gore, head teacher, W. G. Blackie; Maitland Village, temporary head teacher, Isabella Biggar; Beaumont, temporary teacher, Margaret M'Killopi Spar Bush, temporary teacher, Clothilde Macdonald; Haldane, temporary teacher, Louisa Outram; Otahu, temporary teacher, Mina Grey; Greenvale, temporary teacher, Cecil Francis; Rees Valley,, temporary teacher, Helen Scott; Clifden, temporary assistant, Edna Bone; Mabel, temgorary assistant, Margaret Hicks; Pine temporary assistant, Olive Brighton; Kapuka, temporary assistant, Gladys Paterson ; Dacre, temporary assistant, Daisy E-lley; Otatara, temporary assistant, Ella Pay; Balfour, temporary second assistant, Mabel Watson; Invercargill Middle, pupil teacher, Wm. B. Brash; Lurnsden, iiead teacher, Robert Wilson; Upper Hedgehope, temporary sole teacher, George Edwards; Gore, eighth assistant, Irene Brown; Quarry Hills and Waikawa Valley, sole teacher, Ella Wills.

The turnip crops all over Southland are for the most part making splendid growth. Here and there a field is to be seen with the turnips completely choketf with yar, but the clean crops are magnificent. The Invercargill prison authorities are pushing on work in various directions, and have enough ahead of them to keep all hands busy for two or three years. The prisonfarm is being rapidly extended, and the wi-wi is being burned off a large part of the reclaimed area. A start has been made on the Defence Department wall, which will enclose several hundreds of acres of shallow ground, and give access to the proposed rifle ranges. Further squads of prisoners are being brought to Invercargill, and beforo long 150 men will be engaged on these various works. Meanwhile the tramway proprietary are laying a temporary line towards tho river, and the County Council is taking tho steps preliminary to starting the bridge. Tho railway authorities intimate that a through express will run between Invercargill and Christchurch from March 27 to April 13. The untimely death of Professor Bedford is greatly deplored in Southland, where hewas well known. At Friday's meeting of the Southland Education Board a motion was passed expressing sympathy with his relatives, and deploring the loss sustained by the community through the premature ending of such a useful life.

The Board of Trade visited Invercargill this week, and on Tuesday and Wednesday inquired into several compjaints with regard to the cost of living, one of them being a charge made by tho South Invercargill Borough' Council against tho Wairio Bailway and Coal Company of exploiting the public by unduly raising the price of coal. This company has been out .of business since June last, and the wholesale price of coal has since risen considerably. The Salvation Army is endeavouring to rais& in Southland '£sooo for its work among our soldiers at the front, and is meeting with such a hearty response that there is every probability of its object being attained.

Tho Rev. W. Scorgie (formerly of Mornington Presbyterian Church. Dunodin), who has occupied tho pulpit of St. Paul's, Invercargill, has been compelled to relinquish the work, owing partly to tho state' of his health._ Mr Scorgie had a serious breakdown in health some years ago, and finds residence in a warmer climate necessary. The Rev. 0. H. Olds, of Don Street Methodist Church, goes into camp next month as a chaplain to tho Expeditionary Forces.

The courageous action of the Southland A. and P. Association in deciding to hold a . winter show, notwithstanding the certainty of loss, is approved of by the Education Board, which yesterday passed a congratulatory resolution . because of tho educational value of the show, and the provision niade by the association for school competitions.

The Rev. A. Bogg, who has been appointed' Minister to Highfield, South Canterbury, was farewelled by his congregation on Friday evening, when he and the members of his familv wore the recipients of farewell presentations. An unusual case came up for consideration before Mr Cruick'shank on Friday, when a boy_ named Duffy was charged with absenting himself from his employment in the Railway Department. Defendant was convicted and ordered to return to his employment or come up for sentence. Nurse Roby. who has been appointed sister at the Hawera Hospital, was farewelled by her associates at the Invercargill Hospital on Monday evening last, when a presentation was made to her in recognition of her services and popularitv. At a meeting held in Wyndham on Thursday evening it was decided to form for the district a branch of the Protestant Political Association.

At Friday's meeting of the Southland Education Board tho auestion of tho revival of district high schools was brought for* ward bv Ml- J. 0. Thomson. M.P., who urged that hicli schools should be opened at Otautau, "Winton. Rivorton. and Liimsden. While, the advantages of such schools was recognised, the shortaaro of teachers could not bn overlooked. The matter was. however, referred to the Executive Committee for report. There is every probability of the Patriotic Gymkana. promoted by the Caledon : an Society, being a huge success. All tho business firms have decided to close all day, and tho Education Board has also authorised the committees to close the various schools. The gymkana will be introduced by a huge nroeossion through the streets, a feature of it being a fac. simile of tho tanks used on the western front, which has been made by the Railway Workshops staff in f.Jieir spare time. The Rev. E. W. Walker, of Bluff, has received a call from the Tv-eston Presbyterian Church. Canterbury.