SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 27

SOUTHLAND NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, May 10.

At the mayoral installation "on Wednesday, the Mayor (Mr John Stead), referring to the retiring councillors Messrs Bain, Ott; and Lennie, said that never before in his experience of municipal affairs had the retirement of councillors caused such general expressions of regret. They had each of them special gifts which were more needed at the present stage in the history of the borough than at any previous time. The various public departments were rapidly expanding and skilled councillors were needed. The borough was fortunate in having such capable men as Messrs Rabbidge and Foster as gas and electrical engineers respectively. Cr Carswell in endorsing the Mayor's remarks said that Cr Ott had served the town for 19 years, Cr Bain for 15, and Cr Lennie for 10. The following committees have been appointed by the town council:—Works—Crs J. Stevenson (chairman), W. Baird. J. A. Doig, and E. Sheehan; Trams, Gas, Water, etc.—Cr3 J. F. Lillicrap (chairman), F. W. Preddy, J. Martin, and A. H. Mackrell; Finance—Crs J. T. Carswell (chairman), J. Matheson, S. McDonald, and J. Miller, There is an acute scarcity of houses in Invercargill at present and many tenants are being turned out of the houses they have occupied for years, the places being sold over their heads. Many people arc being forced to buy, and, as vevf little building is being done, the shortage will become more acute as soldiers return from the front. The cost of building in timber is, so far as working men arc concerned, quite prohibitive, £IO2O being asked for a sixroomed up-to-date house. Buildings of cheaper materia! are urgently needed and there is a movement on foot to form a company to build houses in a wholesale way of concrete blocks. Tax payers are notified that income tax returns must be furnished to the Commissioner of Taxes, Wellington by June 2. The soldiers who returned from the war area by Thursday's express got a rousing reception at the Invercargill railway station, where a big crowd and two brass bands assembled to welcome them. As the returning soldiers made their appearance they were repeatedly cheered, the bands in the meantime playing patriotic airs. A special train brought home nearly K)0 men on Friday evening and although the train, due at 10.15 p.m., did not arrive till after 11, they also" had an appropriate welcome from a huge crowd and the Regimental and Hibernian Bandsv The Invercargill Borough Council is still endeavouring to get the Minister for Railways to re-instate the pre-war express service. In the past the stereotyped reply has been that it was impossible to resume the service owing to the shortage of men; but the latest reply is that the Minister has called for a departmental report on the matter, indicating that the matter has been removed from the list of impossibles. At yesterday's meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board, Mr Andrew Bam was elected chairman and Mr Wm. Hinchey, deputy chairman.

At last night's meeting of tho Southland Acclimatisation Society the resignation of Mr W. A. Stout as president was accepted with regret and Mr A. H. Stock was elected president in his stead. The Society invited by the Marine Department to express its 3 opinion regarding the matter of prohibiting worm fishing in all rivers, decided that the prohibition of worm fishing at present is not desirable.

On Wednesday evening the police made a raid on the White Swan boarding house and seized a quantity of liquor, and it is understood that a prosecution w'll follow. The Rev. R. C. Hunter has„resigned from the position of minister of the Presbyterian Church at Queenstown with the intention of returninar to Scotland, and the Rev. E. Ba.n-dy of Nightcaps has received and accepted a call from the Presbyterian congregation at Waitahuna. Dr James Young of Invcrca-rgill left on Monday for a trip to the Home Country, and hie practice is being carried on by Dr Barclay.

An inquest was held this morning regarding the death of Robert Taylor Puiilor*. aged 44, well known in Invercargill. and a verdict was returned to the effcet that tho deceased committed suicide by taking poison while of unsound mind. Dunlop's widow gave evidence that deceased had to be sent to a mental hospital about years ago and had been subject to delusions ever since.

At Friday's meeting of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce attention was to the possibility of a recurrence of the influenza epidemic and of the disease being spread by such huge assemblages of people as would probably take part in the proposed peace celebrations. Aftci? discussion the following resolution was passed:—"That the Minister of Health' be written to informing him that in view of the possible recurrence of the epidemic the Chamber looks with alarm on the proposal to hold peace celebrations until the danryer is passed." Mrs C. Thomson still leads in the laying competition, her tnllv beine" 72 eggs for the three weeks. The next best are: E. C. Mannings. 59; C. Thomson. 58; Enterprise Poultry Farm, 56; J. E. Anderson, 54/ The Invercargill Chamber of Commerce has received an intimation that the s.s. Tarawera will shortly establish a direct carojo service between Sydney, Dunedin. and Bluff. It has been decided to resume the Invercargill Competitions, and a carnival will be held in Aucrust. The Southland Acclimatisation Society is in a very stronar financial position, the assets being £2635 and the liabilities nil. This year the income exceeded the expenditure by £lsl. Poaching, however, is so Prevalent that in future more rangers must be • employed.