SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 27

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, July 15. A continuation of severe frosts followed by bright sunny days is the prevailing order of weather in Southland, and farmers are now well advanced with ploughing operations The severe frosts have had a very bad effect upon the Southland roads, and in some areas (particularly on the Main road from Invercargill to Gore) motorists have of late found their petrol consumption going up by leaps and bounds. The. sudden thaw that took place in the middle of the week made the roads well-nigh impassable, and come very slow times have of late been recorded by travellers, who had all they could da to keep to the sticky roads. Residents of Gore. AVyndha.ni. Lumsden, and B’ipto-n had an anxious time as a result of the sudden thaw, which was accompanied by a day’s steady downpour in the high country. In the head waters of the Mataura and the Oi-eti an alarmingly rapid rise took place in these two treacherous streams, and settlers in the lower reaches anxiously prepared for a repetition of the 1913 flood experience. Luckily, however, the early predictions and forebodings were allayed by a change in temperature and by a cessation cf the rain, which brought about a correspondingly timely reduction in the level of tlie riven * which were rapidly reaching danger-point. As it was, in the liipton river-flat areas there were some dock-owners who unfortunately hacl not been apprised of the threatening appearance higher up. and it was only with the greatest difficulty that they saved their stock. The fortunes of the Invercargill football teams in the Galbraith Shield competition continue to fluctuate with heart-burnings and high hopes in the ranks of respective barrackers and opponents. Star, whose many supporters were but- a week or two ago predicting another unbeaten record to add to a long list, has been twice defeated, and the redoubtable “Blues,” who gained much credit by eclipsing their old rivals, have played a drawn game with Pirates, which combination was successful last week in defeating- Star to lhe tune of 16 to 5. On Saturday Blues and Pirates will meet in a great struggle, which will have a verygreat deal to with the disposal of the Shield for the year. The park last week had an attendance of over 3000. and tomorrow's match will witness an even bigger crowd in attendance. The interest locally aroused in Rugby when Southland wrested the Ranfurly Shield from its \A ellington monopolists lias been well maintained. The money raised locally on Anzac Day (Peppy Day). £650, is now being expended in providing work for returned soldiers who have been until recently filling tlie ranks of lhe unemployed. The local R.S.A., workingin conjunction with the Borough Council, lias the scheme in hand, ad as a result of their deliberations the two bodies have the men engaged on work in the various parks and reserved around the town. Good progress is being made, and the number of men engaged proves lhe value of this timely assistance. Aw enterprising entertainment party, quite recently organised in Bluff, is shortly to give an entertainment in Invercargill to provide funds for continuing this fine scheme, and as die fame of the party has preceded it a tine public response is assured. The Pearson Memorial Fund continues to receive generous additions, and has now passed the £IOOO mark. Many lists are still to come in. and 'Southland bids fair to establish a new record for philanthropy in this effort. , . Now that 'be most recent project of the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Pari), the organisation of Junior High Schools, is afoot in the north, we may expect farreaching and insistent claims for_ centres from ail parte of New Zealand. No doubt (he Southland Education Board will be fully alive to the needs of its wide and important district and will bring under the Minister s notice ’ the . ill-effects of the lpng tram journeys that face ambitious pupils who come to Invercargill from (he Western District There seems no more suitable centre than Riverton for the establishment of cue of these new schools. Tho buildings are there in the fine secondary equipment used in the palmy days when that school boasted the status of a District High School, and the present penalty that is imposed upon secondary pupils by an inordinately long train journey must in tlie end be injurious to a sound educational it is rumoured that Air J. R. Hamilton, M P for Avarua, is to be opposed at the next election by a fellow-townsmam Mr Perrelle, chairman of the Southland Education Board. Mr Perrelle, as editor of the AY i Tit-oil Record, and »b « member of numerous local bod.es m Southland has kept well abreast of economic and political questions of the day. and should, if his committee can secure his consent to nomination prove a formidable opponent to the present member who jumped into prominence last election fcv his remarkable victory over Sir Joseph AAard. Dr C B. Snow, who was in medical practice in Invercargill since 1904. died on Sunday last al Clyde, whence he had recently removed on account of content*-! ill-health in Invercargill. During the mfluenza epidemic in 1913 a time when, owing to the war. the local medical ranks were depleted. I>r Snow worked untiringly, and suffered in health from his exertions. In fact, this was the beginning of the trouble that finally sapped his strength, and, despite a gallant light, he passed awav last, week at the early ago of 49 In addition to being an able and skilful doctoi. he was highly esteemed by a wide civile of friends who realised his many splendid qualities.