SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 26

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGHX, November 29.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand sat on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in First Church, Invercargill, and got through tho whole of its programme without unduly rushing any of the work. A number ot tho matters brought before the Assembly were of more than usual pubho interest. As these will no doubt be dealt with by your special correspondent, there is no need to go into details here. The criminal calendar of the sittings of the Supreme Court this quarter was very light. A man named Thomas Finnerty was found guilty of attempting breaking and entering, and sentenced to two years' probation. George Scopes, who had pleaded guilty to seven cases of false pretences, one of fraud, and one of forgery, was declared a habitual criminal, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for forgery and two years' imprisonment on the other charges. At the annual meeting of the Southland County Council Mr W. Norman was apnointed chairman for the year just begun. The members of the Presbyterian General Assembly and their hosts had a most enjoyable outing on Saturday aftcinioon last, owing to the kindness of Mr and Mrs Pv. A. Anderson in inviting them to a garden party at Victoria Park. Here, in the middle of virgiji bush, Mr Anderson has a beautiful home, the lawn extending to about five and a-half acres. The weather was magnificent, and all members thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Bountiful refreshments were provided, and interest was lent to the occasion by the attendance of the Southland Pipe Band. The party was conveyed to and from Victoria Park in a large number of motor cars and motor buses, a fact which contributed very largely to the enjoyment of the outing. A movement is on foot to exploit a great area of black granite extending from Bluff to Ocean Beach. A large part of it has been secured bv a syndicate consisting of Southland, Dumcdin, and Ohristcburch gentlemen, and a largo block of the granite, beautifully polished, is now on view in Invercffrgill. It is understood that a quarry will soon be opened, and the stone Dut on the market. " At the end of the thirty-first week of the fourth Southland egg-laying competition the leading tallies were C. Thomson 945, H. 1. Stratton 845. Mrs Gorinski 844. J. E. Anderson 845, and W. K. Hamilton 830. Barring accidents, Mr Thomson should come out an easy winner, but second and third places are still uncertainties. During the meeting of the Presbyterian Assembly an endeavour was made by Rev. D. R. Harries to have tho next annual meeting held at Timaru. It was, however, pointed out that when the union of the churches was consummated it had been decided to hold the Assembly in each ishuid in alternate years, an arrangement which had been departed from in favour of the south. It was decided to hold next meeting at Wellington, but Mr Harries was encouraged to believe that Timaru would be chosen for the 1921 meeting. ... Mr R. A. Rodger, who initiated the Southland "electrical campaign and has had most to do with carrying it to the point wlrero an electrical power board must now b e chosen, has been unanimously put forward by the Southland League as a member of tho Electrical Board. ' , At yesterday's meeting of the Southland Education Board the following appointments were confirmed:—lnvercargill South, fourth assistant. Alexander M'Kenzie; Waimatua, sole teacher. Agnes Morton; Myross Bush, assistant, Edna Chfden, temporary assistant, Irene Nelson. A German cannon, captured by the Second Battalion. Otago Regiment, is now on view in the Port Office square, and is attracting a great deal of attention, especially from the. small boys. Mr Alexander M'Gavock, who was for many years a valued member of the staff of the local Lands Office, and was -transferred to Dunedin about a year ago, has now been appointed chief clerk' and secretary to the Canterbury Land Board. - In the 'Supreme Court Csi Thursday Mr H. A. M'Donald, formerly a solicitor of Invercargill. was granted his discharge from bankruptcy. Mr F. Knight, deputy-registrar of tbe Supreme Court. Invercargill. has been transferred to a similar position in Dunedin, and left for his new post by yesterday's, express. Before leaving Mr Knight was farewelled by the members of the Southland Law Society, and presented with a handsome travelling case as a token of esteem. When Mr Douglas, advocate of State control, was addressing public meetings in Invercargill recently, it was arranged that Mr J. S. Baxtoi-, Southland's foremost noliccnse advocate, should- discuss the liquor question with Mr Douglas before an Invcrcaroill audience prior to the election. The prohibition campaign is now in full swing, and Mr Baxter has notified that he cannot afford the time. a«d indicates that in his opinion the State control party cannot put up any ouso worth answering. One of the matters that took up the time and attention - of the Presbyterian General Assembly last week was the proposal to send Dr Gibb Plome to obtain ministers and home missionaries for vacant charges in the Dominion, and an endeavour was made to find fault with tho action of the committee in eomnletinnr arrangements. It was, however, reoognifod that, though technically premature, the course tnken by the committee was the best possible in the interest of the movement. Th? departure of Plunkct Nurse O Shea for h«r home in Dunedin was marked by a garden partv at the residence of Mr W. Macalister. Avonnl. on Friday. Many of tho*" interested in her work were present to bid this popular niirw* good-bye. During the afternoon Nurse O'Shen was tho recipient of a presentation of 90 sovereigns in a beautiful silver casket, suitably inscribed.