SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 9. ■Southland's portion of the Thirty-ninth Reinforcement© left by tho midday express on Monday, and wa.s tendered a civio farewell at the railway station before entraining for camp. There was a largo gathering of citizens, and the proceedings opened with a patriotio solo from the Rev. Mr Papakura. The Mayor then addressed the men, and at the conclusion wished the Reinforcements God-speed and a safe return, and expressed the hope that peace would be concluded before they reached the. firingline. The Rev. Mr Papakura also spoke a few words, and concluded with another solo. Vigorous cheeis weie given for the men at the front and those just leaving, and after the Regimental Band played the National Anthem the men passed on to tho platform with their relations and friends for a final leave-taking before departure. The Rev. J. S. Young (Waikiwi) has been appointed clerk of the Presbytery of Southland. Mis® Mary Geddes (national secretary for Australasia of the girls' department of the Y.W.C.A.) will be visiting Invercargill next week in connection with her work. A banquet to Miss Geddes is being arranged for by the local girls' department of the association, the date being Thursday, 14th, and a garden party will also be held in Mrs W. Macalister's grounds at A venal. At the monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held this week, the question of better shipping facilities at the Invercargill wharf was brought up by a member, who stated that a private shipping company had bseci formed in Dunedin with the intention of trading small boats to and from Invercargill, and that the absence of a railway eiding on the wharf was considered a serious drawback. After the matter had been discussed it was decided to. ask the corporation to consider a, railway connection with the wharves in order to permit better and quicker handling of goods, and to increr.se shipping business direct with other ports. The Lyceum Picture Theatre in Nith street, which fell into disuse many months ago owing to the erection of a new and better theatre in the centre of the town, has been purchased by Messrs J. M. Brown and Son, merchants, who will turn the building into an up-to-date warehouse and office. The quarterly sitting of the Supreme Court commenced on Monday last "before his Honor Mr Justice Sim. The calendar, however, was not & large one. Herbert Alexander Macdonald, solicitor, charged with failing to account for and the misuse of trust v moneys, was found guilty, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with hard labour, on each count, the terms to be concurrent. Benjamin Sutherland, whose case was thrown out by the grand jury at the lest sittings of the court, was again charged with receiving money and fraudulently omitting to account for same. The jury, however, disagreed, and were discharged, and the accused again brought up for a new trial. The jury this time brought in a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to leniency, as they believed the accused was unaware that he was doing wrong. The prisoner was released by the court on probation for a term of 18 months, conditional upon his good behaviour and a payment of £ls towards the cost of the prosecution. At the bankruptcy sittings of the court the following debtors were" granted orclera oi' discharge:—Harold Catton, David Lament, Da.vid Clark, Victor Pemberton, Robert Leslie Proctor and Frederick J. Officer /jointly), and William Victor Coleman. The application of Charles. John Butler was opposed by several creditors, and was ordered to stand over till next sittings. A large number of students have taken advantage of the Technical College evening classes for the term which has just commenced. The special course for matriculation and public service entrance examination shows an increase in the number enrolled, while a special class of advanced students has been formed for the examination for the bookkeepers' certificate of the New Zealand University. For all other classes the enrolments are satisfactory. A very successfu garden fete, in aid of St. John's Church, -was held in Mr T. 0. Ellis's grounds on Wednesday afternoon. The stalls for the sale of the various goods were organised in the form of an old English market square, and resulted in good business being done. The amusement portion of the fete was well catered for in the shape of various races and competitions, and a treasure hunt, while afternoon tea was daintily served on the grounds. The Regimental Band supplied the necessary music to enliven tho proceedings. From a financial point of view the fete was also a fine success, £BO being the amount realised. Nurse Brown's laige private hospital in street was the scen-3 of a fire early on Friday morning; but. thanks to the promptness of the Fire Brigade, the fire was subdued before any extensive damage had been done. The operating room, in wheih the fire originated," was. burnt out, and some of the rooms damaged by smoke and water; but the greater portion of the hospital is undamaged. Fortunately, there were few patients in the house, and these were removed without any trouble. At the commencement of the year a meeting of representatives of Wyndham and surrounding districts was held at Wyndham, at which a proposal was considered to hold a stock .drive with the object of raising funds for the organisations which patriotio work in assisting and attending to the comforts of the men at the front. At this meeting it was decided to hold such a stock drive," and Mr T. W. Foster, of Oware, was elected chairman, Mr W. J. Currio deputy chairman, and Mr H. Valentine secretary, with a strong executive. The stock drive idea was finally enlarged to include anything saleable and cash contributions, and also a gala of competitions and amusements, which would attract a large attendance on tho appointed date. Thus on Friday, the day fixed, Wyndham was "en fete," and, favoured by fine weather, held an exceptionally successful and entertaining gala. A procession of decorated motor cars and cycles, headed by the Wyndham Brass Band, passed through the streets to tho Recreation Ground, where the business of selling the stock donated and conducting the various competition and «ports events waa at onco proceeded with. The stock sold realised good values," and in the other .departments the people Were giving liberally, so that the financial returns were very large. Altogether it is expected that the gala will realise about £3OOO, probably more, while the expenses are very small —about £6O. As a fitting conclusion to the day's outing the military drama, "In the Trenches/" was staged by tho Invercargill Dramatic Club in the theatre to a crowded house, the takings for this being approximately £7O. It is proposed to devote the funds raised to thb Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army in the proportions of two-thirds and one-third respectively.

The Rev. C. H. Olds, 8.A., of the Don Street Methodist Church, is relinquishing duty in order to take up chaplain duties with the Forces, and will be relieved by the Rev. Mx Slade, M.A. On Friday evening the Rev. Mr Olds was met by his parishioners in the schoolroom and presented with a shaving outfit, wristlet watch, and leather wallet by the several organisations of his church as a tribute to his good qualities and popularity. The competition.for the Southland Bowling Centre's Doubles Championship, which waa concluded on Wednesday evening, resulted in a victory for the Nor then d representatives '-nj.ea and E. Smith), with To Rangi (Brookes and Pryde) as runners-up in the final. Tho final gamo was witnessed by a largo ■ gathering of bowlers, and produced some very interesting and skilful play. Tho following eoldiers returned to Invcrcargill by Friday's express: —Captain D. M. Rao, Lieutenant B. Smart, Sergeant-major Donelly, Sergeant Lay (M.M.), Privates Buchanan. Evans, Flannigan, M'Culloch, Weaver, King, Flaus, Irwin, and Brandford. Captain Rae was first assistant at the South School when he left for the front.