SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 31

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(From Our Ovvx Correspondent.) .IN VERCARGILL, August 2. Ike weather during the past week has been good, and farmers are more than satisfied with the conditions prevailing during the winter. All stock is looking well,and the abundance of grass has more than made up for the shortage in turnips. Southland has experienced a mild winter, anti a few frosts are now required to improve fallow lands. A successful season was experienced by the W inton Jockey Club, which finished the season with a credit of £92. Ihe annual meeting was well attended, and tne following office-bearers elected: — President, Mr J O’Shannessy; vice-presi-dent. Mr W. D. Cowie; treasurer, Mr F. Moore, and secretary, Mr H. A. Pierce. Keen competition was the order for the six vacancies on the committee, the following being successful: —Messrs W. Swale, R. B. Steven, W. Boyle, J. I.arnach, M. Riellv, and J. A. Horner, while Mr J. Matheson was elected to fill an extraordinary vacancy. Some very successful runs have been held by the Birchwood Hunt Club, the hounds being run all over Southland. The final run ol the season will be held at Otautau on Wednesday next, when a flag steeplechase will also be held in connection with the meet. The Aparima (Riverton) Bowling Club hold its annual meeting after a successful season. The following office-bearers were elected: —President, Mr G. Kerse; vicopresidents, Messrs W. Jordan and J. A. .Martin; committee —Messrs H. E. Philp, D. Kelly, J. A. M'Kinnon, T. Bulnran, J. Paul, I>. Little, and G. Swift. Some little time ago the Southland Teachers’ Institute asked the Kudeation Board to sanction the holding of a winter school in Invercargill. The board has now approved of the school, providing ij is held during the school vacation period. Matters in the dairy industry are beginning to look up, and factory directors are preparing the annual reports for the various meetings. The final payments are being awaited with interest by the suppliers. Last year a white' heron took up its abode in the Estuary, but disappeared during the autumn. A bird of this type was seen in the same spot recently, and appeared quite at home, the passing trains not interfering with its search for food. The Dairy Assistants’ Union held its annual meeting on Saturday, the balance sheet showing' a credit of £lB1 —an increase of £62 on last year. The election of officebearers resulted as follow: —President, Mr James Phillips (Woodlands); vice-presi-dent, Mr J. P. Gardner (Mataura) ; committee —Messrs G. Fisher (Rimu), T. Wyeth (Omiini), L. C. Keach (Otautau), G. Craeh (Kennington). N. Marshall (Edendale), J. Seat ter (Boggv Burn), W. M‘Greg or (Orepuki). C. Wyeth (Seaward Downs), and E. Clent (Invercargill). There is still trouble in the Ohai coalfields, and last week the New Brighton minuers came, out again, after working a few days. So far the trouble has been confined to the one mine, and there is every prospect that the trouble will not develop. A fatal accident occurred at Gore when George Whittingham, inn., lost his life from burns sustained through falling into a vat of boiling water. The victim was employed in his father’s brewery, and there was no direct evidence as to how lie slipped into the vat. The Gore A. and P. Association held its annual meeting on Saturday. The balance sheet showed a credit on the year’s working to the extent of £224. The total credit of the association was £440. of which £4OO had been placed at interest. The eleciion of office-bearers resulted: President, Mr John Scott : vice presidents, Mes.srs E Dodds and G. Smith ; committee—Messrs J. Cooper. J. Stevenson, Henry Smith, S. G. Tnder. G. P. Johnston. J. Bruce. J. Davis, D. Dickie. J. S. Waddell, and G. R. Herron. The Invercargill Poultry Club finished it.s financial year with a credit balance of £26, after a difficult season The show had been a success in every way, and it was deckled to hold a social in honour of (hose officebeavers who had worked so hard for the success of ihe club. Good preliminary work in connection with the Southland vadium appeal lias been accomplished. Collectors have been appointed for the various districts throughout the province, and a house-to-house canvass will be conducted. Southland aims at raising £2,500 towards the fund, which, with the Government subsidy, will mean £SOOO for the purchase of radium. There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Southland Bowling Centre, which was held on Wednesday night. The balance sheet showed a credit, of £l2 on (lie year’s work, while the excess of assets over liabilities was £BO. The following office-bearers were appointed for (tie ensuing season: —President. Mr R. D. Donaldson: vice-president, Mr John Mao-Gibbon ; auditor. Mr Gen. T. Ste->-ens; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. F. R. Miller: E v eci:live Committee—Messrs T. Prvde, A. J. H. Loudon. J. Hollowav. and W. Stewart: Selection Committee —Messrs J. Holloway. J. Strang, R. Donald'on. and T. Prvde; Postponement Committee —Messrs J. Holloway. T. S+rang, R Donaldson, and T. Prvde: Central District Fixtures Committee—Messrs Prvde, Sog.nrlrett .and Herbie: Western Disfvio*Fixtnves Committee —Messrs G. Kerce and A E. Willett; Eastern District Fixtures Committee—Messrs A. Lindsay (Wyndham) and T. Rhodes (Tlokonub The Bluff loan proposals came before the ratepayers on Wednesday, and the various votes were as follows: —

The result of sanctioning the borough offices and Town Hall proposals will be that the former will be dropped. The expenditure involved is £13,805. Since the close of the voting the results of the election for the Southland Education Board have been awaited with interestThe polling was as follows: INVERCARGILL URBAN AREA. Votes. A. W. Jones 25 A. Anderson (the sitting member) 23 Majority for Mr Jones .. 2 CENTRAL WARD. Votes. J. D. Trotter (sitting member) .. 116 J. A. Reilly 80 Majority for Mr Trotter .. 36 EAST WARD. Votes. Stanley Rice 131 H. E. Niven (sitting member) .. 82 Majority for Mr Rice .. .. 4D WEST WARD. Mr J. C. Thompson, M.P., ire s’King member, was returned unopposed.

For. Aerainflt, Streets f£3620) .. Fcotnatlis and drains 166 Of) (£2588) 1M 62 Borough offices (£900O') Town Hall and land 162 112 (£6000) 152 120

Land for recreation (£1500) 137 132 Baths (£5\,0) 116 154