SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, May 6. .The Paddy’s Market hoid in the Invercargill Poafc Office square on Saturday last resulted in an addition of about £7OO to the Salvation Army’s war funds. Tho Southland quota of tho Forty-first Reinforcements, 77 strong. loft for tho north by Monday’s express. Before entraining they were addressed by tho Mayor (Mr John Stead), who emphasised tho justice of tho Allies’ cause and referred to the way they were hanging together and the splendid defence they are putting up. Tho great strength of Germany, ho said, could not bo denied, but greater still was tho strength that had so nobly withstood it, and would yet overcome it. Our forces had had great successes in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Africa, and France, and there had been many acts of outstanding heroism, such as that at Zeebrugge recently. True, the Germans were making progress in Northern. France, but it was a progress which might presently prove fatal to them. The final factor in the settlement of the war, lie was satisfied, would be supremacy in tho air, and that was increasingly with the Allies. Ho wished them God-speed and hoped that before they reached their destination is would bo 'found that their services would be required only for a triumphal entry into Berlin. At the annual meeting of the Southland War Funds Association, held on Wednesday evening, it was reported that 83 soldiers’ dependents were receiving assistance, which totalled for tho year £914 14s lOd. while relief to returned soldiers totalled £1132 8s 4d. Tho continuous effort was said to be languishing throughout Southland, and a strenuous effort would require to bo made to reorganise tho whole system. In three years the total raised jn Invercargill under this scheme was £6'i4o. Oropuki raised £478, Mataura £437, Waikiwi £323, and Fortroso £290. the total for the province being £BB7B. Gratification is expressed at the way in which returned soldier's ago resuming their work in civil life, the association being at all times ready to assist them in this direction. Among those who have received calls to the Upper HouAS* is Mr A. F. Hawke, manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, Invercargill. Tho appointment is universally regarded as a well merited acknowledgment of valuable public service, extending over many years on Borough Councils. Charitable * Aid Board, Bluff Harbour Board, and innumerable minor bodies. It may be safely said that Mr Hawke is about the most popular man in Southland. Since its formation in August, 1914, tho (Southland War Funds Association lias collected the large sum of £127,170. of which £54,413 has been expended. Of the remainder, £67,500 has been invested at 4 to 5 per cent.. £20.000 of it being deposited with the Public Trustee atcall, the terms of the rest being one to 20 years. Mr O. Double still leads in the third Southland Egg-laying Competition, his tally being 64 eggs, Mr J, J. Schultz comes next with 62. and Mr James Strang third with 58. Mr Hori Topi, of Bluff, who was a candidate for tho Southland Maori scat, but stood down in favour of tho Government nominee, is mentioned as one of the recent appointees to "tho Legislative Council. At the Invercargill Police Court on Saturday, William Crooks and Frederick Mariya were charged with stealing three heifers last month from Mr John Findlay, of Oteramika. road. Both men pleaded not guilty, and were committed for trial at tho next sittings of the Supremo Court in Invercargill. Mr Frank Calvert, who has been n Sunday school teacher in connection with tho Myross Church for 47 years, .was, on Wednesday evening, at the church’s jubilee celebration presented with a long-service diploma. The Myross Church was formally opened in 1868 as a mission branch of tho First Church. Invercargill, tho first minister being the Rov. A. Be,t,hune. who was followed in 1886 by the Rev. John Ferguson, now of Sydney. It was during Mr Ferguson’s term that tho church was made a separate charge under tho Rev. Isaac Jolly. At the annual meeting of tho Southland War Funds Association. Mr John Gilkison, in discussing the Question of land for returned soldiers, said that after tho war tho burden of taxation would be so groat that production must bo increased to the uttermost, and to this end he favoured co-opera-tive settlements of soldiers. Southland had sent 6000 men to the colours, and when they returned there might bo difficulty in providing work for' thorn all. Tho remedy was to provide every man with a piece of land. It might be argued that a man without farming experience could not succeed, ■ but ho had known men without experience make dairy farming pay, because they wore thrifty and industrious, and ho saw nr> reason why returned soldiers should not succeed, especially if they wore sottied in co-operative communities under competent managers. The heavy rain? of last (Sunday flooded the Waimeamca River, a litlo beyond Orenuki, to such an extent that at the rail wav bridge, just before it enters tho sea. it rose 34ft above its normal level. Back in tho hush it carried away a. great number of sawmill tramway bridges, with the result that milling operations will bo hampered for a month or two till the damage is repaired. At the monthly meeting of the Southland branch of the Education Institute on Friday tho question was raised how to stop the drift of youths from tho country, whore they were needed to maintain the production of foodstuffs to the towns. A short discussion ensued, - and it Is probable that the problem will be more fully dealt with on a future occasion. Mr William Smith, coal mine manager, of Wairio, has invented a. now kind of mine, and it is understood that _ ho concmnlates a trip Home to offer it to the Admiralty.