SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3517, 9 August 1921, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobkespondent.) IN VIIRCARGILL, August 6. . The Springboks arrived in Invercargill on Thursday mgiit by the express, and were welcomed by a. large and enthusiastic crowd. vN lien tiie tram drew in the station was a seething mass of people, everyone being eager to get a glimpse of tiie South. Africans, 'the Hibernian Band, which was in attendance, escorted the team to the Grand Hotel. On Friday morning the visitors , wore given a civic welcome in the -Municipal Theatre, tiie function being well attended. 'llie Mayor (Mr J. I. Liilierap), in a very happy speech, welcomed me Soutli Africans to Invercargill. Mr Bennett, manager of the visiting team, in Ins reply thanked the Mayor and citizens for the very warm welcome accorded them, ilis team, he said, was delighted with the reception given it by the New Zealanders, and the warm and generous treatment given them right through the Dominion would be a peasant surprise to the ueoclo of South Africa. The carnival organised by The Rocks Association for the purpose of raising funds for improvements' at this popular seaside [' ■■■■ was opened by the Mayor, Mr J. F. Luiicrap, in the \ictoria Hall on Thursday evening, when the building was crowded. Tiie Player said that n gave him great p.< asiire to be present, in order to open a carnival which had for its objects tile dev. a patent oi one- of bom.eland's most beautiful resorts. Southland was provided with plenty of holiday resorts, but the majority of them were not within easy acce.of Invercargill. At Riverton, however, -they had one of the most beautiful resorts in the province, and it was easily accessible. if tne pe pie really wanted a beauty spot where they could indulge in bathing and other pleasures, they had only >o continue their journey to 'Hie Rocks, widen had only boon developed in tits last lew years. ibis development had to a very large extent been due to "i he Rocks Association, which deserved great credit for the work it had dene there. It had been suggested that the money raised by the carnival would really go to benefit the present r ..sklents; but that was a very narrow view to take, and it would realty be for the benefit of the people of Invercargill, who could go there for a day or two and return invigorated. lie hoped that a subitum hi sum would be raised, and that the association would be able to carry out its desire to develop and popularise I he Rocks. The Southland Rugby Union expects a record attendance at the Springboks’ match this afternoon, and. in anticipation of this, adequate propa.rations have been made. Yesterday, when it rained steadily all day and a cold southerly blew, the prospects of a fine day for the match looked black, but the unexpected has happened, and to-day is fine and bright. 'lhe ground, however, will be soft and spongy, and this will militate against a good exposition of buck ploy. The Southland team is a strong one, and is trained to the minute, and a hard game .- oitueipaied. Ihe Invercargill musical an:l elocutionary competitions arc being revived this year, and the opening dale is fixed for August 16 in the Municipal Theatre. The entries in all classes are very good, and the society may look for a successful season. The curtailment of the railway service, as announced by the General Manager, cornmen is on August 15. Tire principal a!:,;,tftons in the South IsVod which will effect Southland are: The Christchureh-Inverea-r- ’ gill express will run only thrice weekly instead of daily; Saturday night Iraki. l ! between Woodlands and Invercargill and Invercargill and Waimahaka :w to be caned! -I: tom trains are canee'hd on the Bluff- line; and the Hokomii train wi'l run o:i f air days a week only. i!u add: ion oilier minor alterations will be cf, fed. Ihe second annual i :. tr g of the deloga os of rl l c* Southland racing clubs was held in Invercargill on ilio 3rd Aug r. ihe S ■ >". bland < mbs wore bby rooms nted with th" exception of ihe juice ! •I Ice" ( lull. r I '■ 11 ■■ chairman, Mr W. T. Isazlctt. in his opening address, referred to ihe Racing Com mi l don’s report, and stated that lie thought the clubs which by the 1 omnussio.n’x rc'-ommeaid'rien were left uninterrupted would no doubt do what they could ,o a-sist the club's that had their s■ : 1 ha for permits suspoiuh'd. Me o nsidsred that for the last 15 years at least racing and ihe ■•omlucting nr sane- had iDiced immensely, and enlarged mm the all-im; ortani matter of !-: tapir g the management of racing tin to a high ergiidard, and to appoint only men vifh level heads, keenness, and integrity to fill the positions required. The social world had considerably brightened in Tu vereargili lately. leg month, aftiT an al a. gee <,f a theatre of any sort for many months, we had a pantomime and the Allan Wilkie Shake- I ;.earean Gemnany. On Wednesday next Messrs J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) onei: a throe-night season of Gilbert and Sill 1 ivan operas, and "The Gondoliers.” "The "Mikado,” and '‘The Pirates of Penzance” will be staged. Tiie Invercargill Orchestral Society gave its second concert of the current season on Wednesday last, and ihe audience filled the Grand Theatre. The concert was a complete success, and the vocalists. Miss O. Latham (Gore, soprano) and "Mr C. Richards (baritone), were well received.