SOUTHLAND NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3584, 21 November 1922, Page 27

SOUTHLAND NEWS.

(From Opr Own Corrnoponsext. > INVERCARGILL, November 17. Although marred by rain the Children’s Fair, organised by Mrs J. W. Mair, was a success. Over £3O was taken, and this will go to assist putting the sewerage into the Children’s House, any balance being devoted to providing toys, etc. for children in poor circumstances at Christmas. A programme of music was given by children, and despite a shower the girls and boys stuck to the programme and carried it through. A baby show was held in conjunction with the Fair, but the judging was not completed at time of writing. ihe entry of Mr James Armstead as the official Reform candidate for the Invercargill seat has added interest to the coming election. In his address to the Reform committee he briefly outlined his policy anu spoke forcibly for about an hour. A strong committee has been formed to further his interests, and judging from the enthusiasm shown at the first meeting, it will not be the fault of the committee if the Reform candidate is not returned.

With the exception of Mr 11. Varrant, Labour, tile Invercargill candidates have not addressed any meetings. Mr Farrant held an informal meeting at South Invercargill, but opens his campaign proper on Tuesday, when he will speak in the Municipal theatre. Ihe Hon. J. A. Hanan’s committee has held several meetings, and good progress has been reported A good audience greeted Dr M. Armour when she spoke in the Municipal Theatre on the Prohibition question. She made a good impression, being a fluent speaker with a good platform style. She is visiting the country districts and is due to speak in Invercargill again on Sunday. Ihe threatened stoppage of the ferry service was viewed with alarm by manv householders in Invercargill, as there was a possibility that both sugar and fruit would be short if the service was suspended for any length of time. Fortunately, arrangements have been made to carry on a restricted service, which will relieve some of the anxious ones. Even with the restricted service some of the importing fruit houses will be losers, as they have fruit on some of lh .jj vessels which are hung up, and which will be unnfc for human consumption by the time they receive delivery. Mr J. R. Hamilton, M.P. for Awarua, had a rough meeting at Bluff, but lie came out of it well. The labour section of the audience was out to give the candidate a rough time. However, Air Hamilton was ready for the interjections, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the end of his address. His opponent, Mr P. de la Perrelle is meeting with encouraging meetings, but the prospects of the third member, Mr J. MTntyre, are not taken seriously by the electors. The campaign in Wallace is getting keen, and the candidates, Messrs A. Hamilton, AI.P. and J. C. Thomson are covering a lot of ground in their electioneering campaigns. Opinions are divided as to which will win, and a close contest is expected. Ihe first of the Southland shows was held at Ota-utau on Wednesday. The display of cattle was a good one, and the outstanding feature of the show. The other sections were not up to the usual standard of the show, and in many classes one competitor had no opposition. j A few skin dealers were before the court charged with having in their possession opossum skins that had not been stamped. Some were fined £1 and costs, blit the big ease, against Eingsland Bros, and Anderson, was held up for the Alinister of Internal Affairs to decide. The skins in this ease were left with the firm for stamping by a trapper but had been overlooked. An extension of time was applied for, and granted by the Alinister, but by then the Acclimatisation Society’s ranger had seized The Minister is being written to asking if the time extension still stands. The work of reconstructing the building acquired by the Farmers’ Co-op. Butter Factory Co. has been commenced. The company was first mooted during the winter, and a large meeting of small dairy farmers was held which decided to go ahead with the establishment of the factory. The work of organising was entrusted to a small committee, and the members of this met with good support in every district they visited. With good management the factory should be a success, and the Company is fortunate in securing the services of Mr D. Rutledge to act as manager. With the appointment of Air D. Rutledge as manager of the new co-operative butter factory the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, the Farmers’ Union and other bodies will lose their secretary. At a meeting of the Chamber held on Thursday, the President, Air It. AI. Strang, paid a tribute to the work done by Mr Rutledge during his term as secretary. It is the intention of the Chamber to make the late secretary a public presentation. The Farmers’ Union also praised Mr Rutledge for his work. With the championship regatta fixed for Bluff on January 1, interest in rowing is getting- keen in Southland. All the clubs are getting crews into training for this regatta, which should prove a big attraction. With the object of trying out the Murihiku, the Stewart Island I'lC. has purchased another 14 footer from Port Chalmers. The boat is the Tom Thumb, and it is proposed to try botli boats out in a series of races ai Half Moon Bay before the Murihiku leaves for Auckland lo contest the Sanders Cup again.

There has been a number of minor motor accidents recently, and in one of these the occupants of the cars were lucky to escape with bruises. Air Donald Macdonald, (Mandate, and his daughter were overtaking a ear driven by Air Saxelby, of Woodlands, when the cars collided. The. lighter car was driven by Mr Saxelby, and it turned completely over when hit, Air Macdonald’s car also upending. After the accident the cars presented a forlorn appearance as they were lying on the roadline in a very battered condition. The local Borstal Institute farm is at present milking 200 cows, and at last meeting- of the Town Council the problem of establishing a Alunicipal dairy supplied from the farm was discussed. However, it will be some time before this project can be carried out, as the matter will have to be thoroughly investigated before anything definite is done. Two dairies are at. present in use on the farm, while a third lias been completed and will shortly be going.