SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3674, 12 August 1924, Page 31

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(From Our Own Correspondent. ) Tl m • August 9 *{ le . coal strike has been definitely sc-ttled at last, and the men from the New Brighton mine have resumed work. Since the trouble the miners have been working creired^ 61 ' T ace > aild the output iias inA complimentary luncheon was given Mr D. Rodie, District Traffic Manager, bv the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce prior to his leaving for Wellington, where he is to till an important position at- railway headquarters Mr Rodie is to take oventoe control of the commercial branch of the service (a new branch), which will deal wnn tim many problems concerning traffic lates. There was a large attendance, and the President of the Chamber. Mr A le 11. Hoyles, wished their guest success in his new position. Mr R. MeGillivray, Department of Agriculture, is still addressing farmers on the improvement of pastures. During the past week lie has been giving his lectures in the Eastern District, and he has been favoured with good audiences. The - lectures a’-o very popular and Mr MeGillivray has more requests for addresses than it is possible for him to deal 'with. The Radium Appeal Fund campaign has been launched, and with onlv a small part of Invercargill canvassed, the'committee has over £s'oo in hand. A new hunt club, to be known as the Murihiku Hunt Club, has been formed in the Eastern District, the present headquarters being Wyndham. It is proposed to hunt over the country from Lumsden to Waikawa next season. The election of officials for the club resulted: —President Mr George Hunter (Wyndham) ; vice-presi-dents: G. Whitt ingham (Gore), Maurice Roche (Mandeville), A. Horne (Morton Mains), P. Campbell (Wyndham) ; secretary, Mr Wm. Sheehan; committee: Messrs H.’ A. Price and D. Tit,her (Edendale). P. Amos (Mataura). Wm. McLeod (Wantwood). J. Sloan (Glenham). and W. G. Reekie and J. ff. Marshall (Wvndhnnib The O-hai Railway Board’s biennial election takes place this month, and 11 candidates have been nominated. They are: Messrs W. Crawford. G. S. Edie. W. Exfigll. -Tames King, D P. Macdonald. W. •T. A. M'Orearor'. A. W. Rodger, J. ,T. H. MtLean. S. Mills, I>. Sinclair, and M‘Lonnan. The seven named first constitute the present boa id, Mr A. W. Rodger being chairman. The annual report of the board states that in 1917 17,463 tons of coal were carried over the railway, while last year’s total was 163,130 tons. After a successfuf sea-son the Birch wood Hunt Club concluded its season on Wednesday with a run and two steeplechases. The 11.7 Hunter Class Steeplechase was won by Mr D. Chooney’s Lady 'Lea, while

Mr A. Gatley won the 13.0 Steeplechase on Snowstorm. The club's race meeting will be held in Invercargill this .year, some time in October. The North Invercargill Hall Committee called another public meeting, which was held on Wednesday. The chairman was* Mr A. W. Anderson, and after a lot of wrangling he left the chair before any business was done. The committee proposes holding a private meeting to deal with the situation. Three boys, aged 13, 11, and nine respectively, appeared in the Juvenile Court charged with breaking and entering and theft. They confessed to having stolen goods from 13 different business places. H hen an entrance had to be forced the cider bovs broke a window, and assisted the small boy through it, and he would then open the door. The oldest boy was committed to the Caversliam Industrial School, sentence being deferred on the others. In the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., John Shaw was convicted and fined £2, with costs £2 9s, for taking fish otherwise than with rod and line. Charles F. Arnold, who was on probation, was convicted and sentenced to three years’ reformative treatment for stealing- a bicycle. The Ryal Bush residents recently enlarged their hall, and the official opening of the reconstructed building was held on M ednesday. the ceremony being performed by Mr J. R, Hamilton. A bazaar followed the opening, and good business resulted. A successful dance was held on Friday evening, the proceeds also going to the hall funds. A breeze has occurred between the Fire Board and the Town Council over the closing down of the standby steam pumping plant at the waterworks. This was closed by the Council, as the Fire Board would not. contribute to the cost of running it, and now the Fire Superintendent reports that not enough pressure would be available from the electric plant should a big fire break out. There was also the risk of a break-down with the electric plant. Neither body has taken anv definite action, and both are awaiting developments. The Otautau Progressive League held its annual meeting during the week, the balance sheet, showing a credit of £3O 3s 6d. Mr W. J. Wesnev was elected president, and he will have the following to support him: —Vice-presidents, Messrs T. H. Walker, G. Sinclair, J. Seatter, G. Hodges, A. Rowe, J. Fisher, Rev. Ford. L. J. Brown, M. Richards, 11. L. Chandler, and G. Bone, and the following will represent the various public and sporting bodies : Messrs E. Matheson (Racing Club). W. Portions (Croquet Club), H. Laing (Bowling Club), W. Walker, sen. (Saleyards Company), and G. H. Stevens (School Committee). The appointment of sub-committees was held over till next executive meeting. Vacancies on the directorate of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association have been tilled by the appointment of the undermentioned candidates, who, being the only ones nominated, have been declared duly elected fo the respective offices: —President, Mr James King; vicepresident, Mr John Gilkison. Mr W. F. Scandrett, the retiring president, replaces Mr Gilkison cn the board, while Mr S. Edie (Birchwood) will represent the Otautau district in place of Air Lindsay, who has removed from that district. The following retiring directors are also re-elected unopposed :—lnvercargill, Mr J. J. McCrostie ; Woodlands district, Mr Milne; Eastern District. Mr Angus Campbell: Winton. Mr W. Swale; Western District, Mr James Drain. Air A. AY. Wyllie. senior inspector of schools, who has just retired from the services; was entertained by the Teachers’ Institute on Saturday last. A pleasant luncheon was enjoyed by all. and Air Wyllie was assured that he carried the best wishes of the teachers with him in his retirement. A popular officer, Adjutant Hanford, Salvation Army, passed away during the week. The adjutant had charge of the local barracks, and was a zealous and efficient officer. The Wright’s Bush Hall Committee held a successful bazaar on Thursday, when over £7O was taken for the hall improvement fund. A good attendance was secured and business throughout was brisk. The export dairy season has practically dosed, only a few crates of cheese and boxes of butter remaining in store. For the season 140.211 crates of cheese were shipped from Bluff, and 34,756 boxes of butter.