SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 23

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(Feom Ouk Own Correspondent.) Invercargill, September 17. The Assessment Court has been busy during the past week in Southland hearing evidence in the Gore and Lumsden districts adjudicating upon cases in those areas. Ilie jubilee celebrations, a weeks festivities awaLod eagerly by many pioneers ot Southland, are now a tuing of the past, and the Invercargill Borough has entered upon its second half-century. ihe main tunction— the old identities’ procession—took place on Wednesday afternoon, when * large procession was arranged through the principal streets to the Show Grounds v.heia* sports -were held. Quito a big number of representatives ot 1371 and before occupied the post of honour in the procession, while tabie-aux. of pioneer da vs ai.-l bi/.arie vehicles added a touch of holiday spirit- to the scene. As if to show the crpm-ast with 50 years ago a De Havi land aeroplane circled overhead while the procession vns in progress. i ndeubtedly the whole proceedings held Die greatesi, interest for those splendid ; pioca-rrs who so proudly bore their little distinguishing red badges, but there was scarcely enough excitement to attract the younger generation, whose languid interest revealed a distiv ssing but typical luck of understanding of the difficulties undertaken cheerfully and successfully by the "dew driers" of Southland. il;e ingenuity of respective firms in the city was well displayed in their efforts to bring shop windows into line with the irn portant question of “pioneer days.'’ Edmond’s and Thomson Beattie’s windows depicted old Invercargill, most of it then bush, with its half-dozen shacks, its inevitable hotels and its then well-known characters following accustomed routes. The model attracted considerable attention a-ud comment from old identities, and much could be learned, by listening to the excited voices of some old worthies whose memories were suddenly jogged by some familiar landmark. A detailed study of the shop windows made one realise what splendid material is available in Invercargill for tlie formation of "pioneer day' section in the museum, -.there there should bo placed with advantage malty of the relics in the shape of photographs, books and newspaper articles, where were to he seen this week in the Invercargill shop- windows. On Thursday evening the Municipal Theatre was crowded for the old identities' concert. tieldom has there been displayed in rue rather phlegmatic town such enthusiasm as was shown at this concert. The well chosen opening .song "Where are the boys of the old brigade,’’ splendidly rendered by a very popular erstwhile performer, Mr J. L. M'G. Watson, opened the proceedings with a spirit that main, tained its vigour throughout the long per formance. Many items on tho programme wi re rendered by old identities themselves, and opinions expressed everywhere the next day revealed the general belief that the concert was one of the best held in Invercargill for a long time. Fishermen in Southland are making keen preparations for the opening of the trout fishing season on the Ist of ('-rober. The trout are expected io be plentiful and in good condition, and the mildness of the season has led sportsmen to make extra preparations for tho great day. The Tourist Department expects a very heavy - asou this- your on the cold lake--Manapcuri-Miiford resorts, and already numerous bookings have taken place for the forthcoming holidays. Io lms long been suggest; d that, thy short but beautiful route from the head of Manapouri to Hall’s Arm in Doubtful Sound should bo re-opened. Some 40 years ago this track wits cut, but now it is completely overgrown and cannot oven be- followed, so dense is tho bash. Even in its present state, however, hue route is a safe one i-.:r resolute and experienced tourists, but it would take very little expense to bring the beauties of Doubtful within easy reach of all tourists’. There are no difficult grades in thi.-o 10 miles from the lake to the bourn's. The attention of the Tom Ist Department has for some time been direct <1 to the task < f making a round trip of tho Queens-town-Milford Sound route. : .he aria :genu :n-i are nearly : nnph e. ;\iu! oo.i the "lit. >r walk in the world” will have the additional charm of variation hi tho tetutn journey. ( ~ i .ni: ■_ the N.Z.K.K. - T rs rc-su'cii! in Sou id i I held their mnual ro-i; .ie; li'.uuor Hi 1 Fedc il T ut il .ouis. '< !, lie! .. ii, i- , | )., ,\i.('., o npi-.a! the chair, aud .he chief rue-r was Brig.. Geo. r.d R. Vo V . C. 8.. D.S.O . About 50 oie -el re] - uling ail 1". i- lies of tile old division v. ere pre-eni, and with a, i lengthy toast list, a varied musical progrannr.e. and a varied fund of stories to dm .• upon die evening did not have a- dull j moment. Many of those present had come long eb.-tauee.s to be at- the gathering, e-.-nio j motoring as far as 50 miles. I r- m 1 ail:, otic , f the, finest nrn-

; > if tv i i ill,mo. oho oi me lines', proj fes-ional runners .New Zealand has pro- , (Itu oil, is, the siory goes, making an i aticnipt lo "come hack.” Those who have ► seen him in action say that ho is going better than ever, and predict some fast | time; for ihe championship events in which this Southland pedestrian takes part-. His l old Gore friends will be pleased to learn t- of his re-appearance, and will watch with , interest, his doings on the tract. Ij Whitebait is plentiful in tidal rivers and ( creeks around Invercargill, and the familiar net on bicycles and motor cars is everyj v.-liere seen just now. e Several matters of provincial interest ,-u-o, L it- is said, shortly to be discussed al a con-f-.'H ..- ,- of All'm I i of Parliament, the ~ lav.il I.aagiio. and the ;■ of Io *a) } udie?. ()no que.-fi ion for ronsiderau tion is the old one of a better tourist .-or- ? -,'yp be!we':i Stewart J.slarnl and the Bluff. , l Ot lii r linn , riant matters, ’-he mail eervi< e ; j to i]te lain the arterial roads, and tho lav.n.'- ;il to obiaiii u L-roperl v defined !1 bo:i!alary for Southland are said to bo ° u ■ »■ i i«"• r . .'n.-idora inn. r ’» lie eui'igcric members of the Afakaiewa S j.’-oi Li-niinitti e have List:, concluded <* 1 :• < • ! 11 1 1 a: aar, whieh will uive 1 ho .-t iiool i wa i kiny capital of £4OO, including u hsitly. T he - ■ • i«i 1 made b.j ■ limit » and friends <.f the - i.t>ol ■ tor its aim ihe improvo- ; ni; -;i o the school grounds. r LTiis fine re u 'lt, wiii ii is 1: 11 i n-pn -en!a-tive of wlun }} L . : i-bvt: ■ y - 1 - lit Xov /o alii ml by .school (am,mi; is : lie first guarantee of theii (ami iiiuai ion. i'ise new h-Titd in eonneetion with ino G«i:e High School is nearing completion, and v. ill 'apply a long-felt- want in this l’s di--;;t i. ii will, when completed, be a is haiKisomc addition to the educational v stnutiue in (lore. Tho re-building of the West Gore School, too, is progressing apace.

Teachers and pupils are long since tired cV the homeless condition under which they have been struggling. That there is no decay in the realm of musical talent in Southland is evidenced by tho competitions held in the different centres during the winter. Winton concluded a successful season just prior to tho Invercargill competitions. It is said that Otautau will shortly promote a musical an.d literary competition in that western town, while the Gore competitions, last year so successful, are shortly to be held The Tapanui State Nursery has had a busy season lining out seedlings cf the fir family. This important State concern is yearly occupying a more important place in tile country, now that farmers are beginning to realise the importance of forestry.