"SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 27

"SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.)

INVBRCARGILL, May 29.

Slince the 19th, a storm has' raged fiercely in Southland Avifch heavy rain showers* carried inland by a fierce S.W. wind, which has mads conditions most unpleasant. Farmers are of opinion, some dictance inland at anyrate, that even after this lengthy rainfall, the ground is not as thoroughly saturated as is needed for this stage of their ploughing Operations. The snowfall of last- week, too, was welcomed by some farmers who airo firmly of the opinion that for some classes of Southland soil a fall of snow is a valuable aid to proper preparation of a seed bed. An important land - sale was last week put through by Messrs R. B. Caws and Co., when -Mr J. Milue's well-known property "Rakahenka" was disposed of to Colonel Jas. Hargest, of "Mandeville. Colonel Hardest is a trentleman well-known to Southland and Otn.cro soldiers, and hjs new venture, which will bring him nearer to Invcroargill, is hailed with delight by his many friends, who look to a keen interest being tak»n bv tlr's pent'iemnn in the public and social life of our town.

General Sir Wm. Birdwood, whoev; name is a word amongst the Anzac troops, is to visit Inveroargill on June 8. whence, it is understood, he will go to the Lakes District, The local U.S.A. at its last meeting decided to invito General Birdwood to be present at a smoke concert to be held bv the Diggers. The move will be popular --■ > '" T ><psfc the soldier fraternity, who have a --'•-''-••md 'tpsrect for the recognised leadership- and splendid! qualities of ■ the "* c "ul of Anz'-ic," nncl the smoke concert will certainly be thronged bv soldiers. More than ordinary interest is being displayed in the Land 80-rd election, which takes place in Inveccargill on June 18. Mr Kinar. Mr Gardner, and Mr Hocna.n, all t»' the, Western District, aro making great efforts to place before the Crown tenants v-i,.~-> respective merits: vhiln JVIr J. gest, the nominee of the R.S.A.. is having hi? claims advanced bv that. bodv.

Tho people in Southland have latelv been alarmed by the appearance in our midst of a mild form of smallpox, It is mow some time since the first case was reported, and despite the strictest isolation and medical pi'eoaution. a steadv increase in the number of cases has been observed, until at present some 16 cases are in Quarantine, at Kew Hospital. Dr M'Caw. the official vaccinator, has had a busy time lately. »,n<3 many people are wisely availing themselves of the ormortunitv placed before peonle gratuitously bv the department of beinsr made immune bv vaccination from tho attack of this virulent disease. Influenza, too, has by no means departed from our midst, and many people are down with this persistent malady. The schools, which provide a good "barometer," have largely decreased attendances, with resultant interrupted work. The determination of

th© Education Board to forego the usual week's term holiday is rather a pity under 'the circumstances, for teachers ana pupils undoubtedly are at present in no state to resist the influenza perm. An enterprising- band of Invercargill business men has' floated a company to promote the fishrng industry of Stewart Island, by establishing in that area a fish-freezing plant. For some, considerable time the necessity of establishing some such plant hna been urged, without avail, on the Government,, ..^ Mr A. Glass and Mr L. S. Graham have gpne north as the H.S.A. delegates to the Dominion Conferenoe. The most important remits from the Southland branch deal with) existing under the D.S.S. Act, the pensions' sfcheme, and' the alleged neglect of consideration of returned soldiers' claims in the appointment of public oflioials. Tho cold, wintry weather, the prevalence of influenza, and the determination of the Education Board not to grant the usual weekly term holidays, havo all combined to lower the present school attendances in Southland. Many of the country schools have been closed on account of the small attendances, while most of the town schools are struggling on with as many as 240 children absent. The unwelcome riresenco of smallpox in our midst and the timidity of mothers no doubt are responsible for the continued absence of many mipils.

The Otago University Council recently authorised the establishment in Invercargill I of two new Workers' Educational Associai tion Classes—Modern history and economic ! history. Four W.E.A. classes are now | carried on in Invorcargill, but so far publio ] interest is not as enthusiastic as it certainly | should be in support of this worthy system of advanced education. A considerable sum ! has been donated, too, by" the University I Council for procuring suitable text-books ! to form th> nucleus of a. reference library for W.E.A. students. To any. general student who has been used to the great advantages and scope of the fine Reference Library in Duncdin, the scanty and ,unrepresentat;ve editions in the Invercargill Public Librr.ry come as a shock. Our govcr.r'ng authorities would do well to look carefully io this department of their -Dublio library, such as it is. The ' Invercargill public are shortly to have the opportunity of hearing Dr Jack, Professor of i/hysics at Otago University, deliver a popular lesture in Invercargill on a branch of his own subject of which he is so popular and gifted an exponent. As this is but the first of a series of such, lectures which will be given if sufficient public interest be displayed, the Invercargill people should keep,the date free and attend in large numbers. Many local people will readily recall the fine lectures delivered under similar conditions but a few years ago bv Dr Marshall, and later by the . late Dr Bedford. Last year,, indeed, Dr Benham, Professor of Biology from Otago, delighted a * large- audience, who would; welcome a return visit from this celebrated lecturer. Dr Jack's advent is awaited with i interest by a large number of students and readers. '•»' A well-attended social gathering was held in the Federal Tea Rooms on Thursday, 27th inst... by St. Paul's Men's League, to welcome Rev. H. Gilbert to this important Presbyterian league. Mr Oruickshank. S.M., the president, was in the chair, and during the evening many important and loyal toasts were honoured. At the meeting of the Southland Eduoa-' tion Board on Friday, 28th inst., eulogistio references were made in respect to the fine performance of St. George School, Invercargill, in winning outright tho Lennie Cup. This fine cup was donated some years ago by Messrs J. Lennie and Sons, for the best kept school ground and gardens; and despite the determined competition from country schools, the St. George scholars have managed to retain the. cup long enough to secure it permanently. The following appointments, etc., were confirmed at Friday's meeting of Southland Education Board: —Gibbston, temporary sole teacher, Ethel Dewe; Greenvale, temporary sole teacher, Laura Duff; Waikana, temporary sole teacher, Euphemia Welsh; Invercargill South, 13th assistant., Lily Smith; Mataura Island, temporary assistant, Margaret Clark; Oreti Plains, temporary assistant, Catherine "Curtin; Pahia, temporary assistant, Edna Bone. The following resignations were accepted:—Bluff, head teacher, Hugh M'Chesney; Dipton, head teacher, Albert Lea; Myross Bush, head teacher, John A. Cushen; Waikawa Valley, sole teacher, John E. Fraser; Te Tua, sole teacher, David M'Lauchlin; Caroline, temporary sole teacher, Mary Porteous; Invercargill South, assistant, Mabel Hewton; Mossburn, assistant, Jessie Webb; Otatara Bush, assistant, Ella Pay; Menziea Ferry, head teacher, Mary A. E. Campbell; Waimumu. temporary assistant, Margaret Sutherland. Some hockey enthusiasts in Invercargill are making _an effort to rouse ! sufficient enthusiasm in the game to have men's hockey revived. A representative game is even suggested for June 3, when a local team will try conclusions with a South Otago combination. Before the war this important pastime "held an important place in our local sporting world, when Southland, in representative contests, was always a team to be reckoned with.