SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3522, 13 September 1921, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, September 10. Arrangements are well in hand to celebrate worthily jubilee week in Invercargill. For some months a very strong committee of citizens has been at work arranging for a week’s festivities which will provide amusements and entertainments for young and old. A particularly strong- effort has been made to bring together during the week many of those splendid pioneers whose earlier tasks have made the province. It is hoped that a fine response will fee made to the invitation of the committee to those pioneers. r lhe Southland Pipe Band is to lead the old identities parade on Wednesday, out of courtesy to tiie predominant nationality of Southland’s pioneers. On that, evening too, Wednesday, there is to bo held an “old timers’ ” concert, an entertainment that is sure to be well patronised by theatre-goers. Friday and Saturday are to be devoted to the entertainment of the children, and Saturday’s sports, run by the Sports Association, there are exceptionally large entries. Those people who visit die Show Grounds on Saturday next will not find much proof for recent complaint that tho decay of athletics has its roots in the schools. With the delightful spring weather lately obtaining tennis enthusiasts are busy preparing for their popular summer sport, and annual meetings of clubs are the order of the day. The .(Southend and Invercargill Clubs have held their meetings, and judging from the numbers of new players seeking admission to those clubs, there is every indication of a very heavy season. Lack cf playing areas for tennis in Invercargill is a serious drawback, especially when it is impossible to have grass courts, and the asphalt ones are difficult and expensive to construct. Last year’s tennis competitions revealed a distinct improvement in the standard of tennis in Southland, a fact that was more in evidence in the country teams, and the hitherto unchallenged superiority of the Invercargill Club will be hard to maintain if the Gore, Wyndham. and Winton clubs have improved on last year’s form. The determination on the part of the country districts to reach a standard of sport equal to that of the town has been much in evidence during the sporting revival since the war, and that success is attending these efforts ha.s been demonstrated in many avenues of sport during tlie present year. The recent Competitions Festival proved an unsuccessful venture from the financial point of view, the balance, sheet revealing a deficit of £IOO. This, however, in view of the heavy cost of ro-orgamsation after the war is really a creditable showing, for expenses all round this year were very heavy, and the public interest, so marked before the war, has not yet revived. An effort is being made bv the Competitions Committee to run a few concerts, in the Municipal Theatre to help to make up the deficit. Full operations on the hydro-electric works at Monowai are shortly to be resumed, an announcement that will be welcome to many men who have been out of work for some considerable time. Before the deadlock over the ’loan oc-cured a very big gang was employed at tho Monowai end. in connection with the jubilee celebra- I lions to lie held this week an interesting souvenir booklet has been published containing’ the history of the borough from its foundation in 1871. Old Southland id-unities in all part.- of New Zealand will find this souvenir volume highly interesting. Last year’s collapse of the wool market has had the inevitable economic effect of ■driving colonial producers into more lucrative channels, and already the effect, is noticeable in the increased demand for dairy herds. All available dairying land will this year be taxed to its utmost rapacity, and those who arcs in weil established dairy farms should this year reap good returns. Much of the dairy land on the margin of cultivation will this year be taken in for tho production of dairy products. By competent authorities it hire been computed that from 1500 to- 2000 cows will scarcely cover the increase in Southland herds this year. The general economic situation, with its perplexing problems, is the subject, of much concern and debate amongst farmers at the present time, and the recent action of the Inborn - representative from the Arbitration Court on the quc-iioii of a decision in favour of reducing the shearers’ remuneration will not find much support- amongst New Zealand pustorali-ts. Lambs have already made their appearance in many parts of Southland, and given a continuation of present weather conditions sheep owners should be able to report a fine percentage this season. Returned soldier settlers are not altogether satisfied with the local administration cf' the Discharged Soldiers Settlers’ Act, and frequent complaints are made of the east-iron interpretation of the departmental rulings. No doubt the Government is hard put to it to find the wherewithal to fill a sadly depleted revenue; but surely our soldier settlers have every reason to expect a sympathetic treatment from those who are responsible for the disbursement of an allegedly patriotic vote set aside to make a tardy recognition of the country’s thanks. On Friday evening Mr A. Entricon, engineer in the State Forest Section, delivered an interesting address on “The Utilisation of our Forest Resources.” The small audience must have disappointed the lecturer, and those few who see the potential wealth of this country being wantonly neglected. This subject- of forestry, which has been under scientific consideration throughout Europe and America, for the past half century, is corning into prominence i'l this country; but its importance is such that, if behoves all interested in the welfare of New Zealand to give it earnest attention. Too long have we squandered untold v.ealih given us by tiie lavish hand of Providence, and now wo are beginning to see whither it is tending. If is to he hoped that Urpluin Ellis and his nowlyapnointod commissioners and staff will be able to accomplish some redly useful work in the dii’OC’fb'T) of bringing New Zealand forestry inio lino with the systems of more prov ideiit f ount l ies.