SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 31

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(Fbom Our Own Correspondent.! INVERCARGILL, May 16. True, the nights are becoming distinctly chilly, and it is pleasant to have a good fire burning in the hearth, but winter has not yet gripped the south in its icy grasp. The days aro doiightful, the sun apparently having astounding powers of endurance this year, judging by the whole-hearted way in vhich it shines on our province. One or two mild frosts have not done much harm, but the careful gardeners are taking the precaution of covering up the most precious .plants at night, and the farmer surveys late crops with a worried but benignant eye Whatever political views may be held by the people ot Southland, one and all heard with regret of the death of the Right Hon. W. F. Massey on Sunday last. The towns throughout the district were in deep mourning on Monday, the holiday given the children not being taken advantage of as a day for pleasure-seeking, and all premises with flagstaffs displayed bunting at halfmast. Thursday was observed as a whole holiday, though many people preferred to consider it a 3 a welcome break m the week’s work rather than as a day of mourning. A massed children’s service .was held in First Church, and a combined general service in the Theatre,’’•which was well attended. In the country districts also memorial services were held and fairly largely attended, while many churches held their own special services in honour of the memory of New Zealand’s G.O.M. The 'amount of trouble and inconvenience and bickering which has been caused through the abandonment of the Winter Show and Carnival will no doubt make those concerned more careful in future in coming to any decision which so affects the whole province. The A. and i*. Association directors held a special meeting to discuss the Question of whether fat stock and cheese classes should be judged this year despite the abandonment of the show. Members were of somewhat diverse views on the matter, some being of opinion that it was now too late to judge tne classes, many farmers having killed the lamsb prepared for the show, and two factories now being unable to show cheese. Eventually it was decided to judge both classes, Mr K. J Anderson generously donating his share of the special fund for exhibitors at the Royal Show for the prizes required. The rod poll lias long'been advocated as a suitable beast for. Southland, and in substantiation of this comes tne news that in Mr Singleton's list of cows which secured the certificate of record during the first three months of 1925, the performance specially commented on is that of Mr G. », Young, West Plains entry. This is Mr Young’s first experience of C.O.R. the animal being a heifer with a first calf. The cow, Wayward 6tn, was ored by bn Heaton Rhodes, and has the distinction of being the first privately-owned red poll to quality for the C.0.R., all, previous certificates having gone to the bovernment herd at Weraroa, Wayward 8 record of 511.421 h butter-fat establishing a red- poll cl.ass leadership and making the highest C O R. vet awarded to this class in New Zealand. Farming matters have been progressing very satisfactorily of late. Thrashing is now finished, except on a few farms, and the quality of ?rain has been very good. The local fiourmillers express satisfaction at. the grade of oats being sent to them, the demand being keen. The demand for practically all classes of sheep continues to be very brisk, and prices are particularly good for this time of year. The keenness of the Home importers continues (although wool has “crashed") for New Zealand mutton, and this accounts for conditions ruling. In addition to the fat stock prices bein<r so satisfactorily high, there 13 a very heavy demand for store stock of every C The honour of being, able to lay claim to bringing the first reaper and binder into New Zoaland belonged to Mr Henry Wilson, late of Invercargill, who died at Dimearn a week ago. The late Mr Paddy M’Oaughan and Mr Wilson imported the first machine, and erected it without plan or guide book, demonstrating it at the old show grounds in Queen’s Park. _ ’lho first trial was made hi the early eighties on the M'Nab estate at Knapdale, near Gore. Mr Wilson, who went to Australia in 1852 and joined in the Melbourne gold rush, came to Invercargill in 1866 and set up in the ironmongery business where the New Zealand Hardware Company now conduct business. He had a striking fund of anoedote of the early days, and could remomber the stato of the Old Country during the Crimean War. He could recolleot seeing wrongdoers at Wolverhampton undergoing punishment with their foot in tho slocks. ‘The American policy ia to tax imports into tho United States up to the lost dollar,” said Mr W. Ford, president of tile Invercargill branch of (he New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when speaking at the annual meeting. Mr Ford appealed to farmers to trade within the Empire. Too much money was going from Now Zealanil to tho land of tho almighty dollar, especially as regarded motor cars, and it wns only by reciprocating with Great Britain in the matter cl imports that the Dominion could hope to keop prosperous through its export ot produce and wool. Mr J. D. Trotter also appealed to those present to trade within tne Empire. Tbcro wero 20

members of the union present at tho meeting, the annual report showing a satisfactory position. The year had been commenced witn 32 uierncers, and now 106 wero added to that numoer. Mr lord waa again elected president of the branch. Tho NVnyham branch of the union held its annual meeting on Saturday night, when Mr K. Arnett presided over a large attendance. Air Arnott was re-elected president lor another term of office. At the annual ineeing of the Waikaka Valley branch-18 I ” em^ er * attended, the retiring president, n At the cnair. Mr it. AI. IStchol was elected president for the next year. At the Gore branch’s annual meeting Mr H. E. Bacon presided, and was re-elected president for another term. Tho financial membership at Gore is 44, and at \> aikaka Valley 48 members aro on the roll. .. on Jy ft small number of buyers attended tfte JYaJlacetown stock sale on Tuesday A small yarding of fat and store *tock was put under the hammer, the quality not being up to the usual standard, and consequently high prices did not rule. Only 465 fat sheep were offered, as against 1333 the previous week, and other stock waa proportionately lower in yarding. Fat lambs created no demand, and showed a decline of a penny per pound. Good lines ot freezing wethers made 395, and prime wethers 40s to 43s 9d. Heifers and cows were most in evidence among the fat cattle, some of poor quality. A few pens of Waitoru steers sold at £ll 10s to £l3 10s, but the rest made only from £2 7s 6d £7. In the store cattle section the bulk of the yarding was passed in, despite some good offers. Captain M. Hutton is well known to all who have dealings indirectly or directly with this part of Southland. For the last 25 years he has been the presiding genius in matters relating to the Customs, and hi 3 word has been law. Mr Hutton has now retired, and this, week a large and representative gathering of Bluff citizens, headed by the newly-elected Mayor (Mr W. Hinchev) met the captain and presented him with a wallet of notes. Mr Hinchey spoke of his untiring work in making matters run smoothly in the Bluff Customs office, and also to his prowess on the bowling- field. Other speakers also wished Mr arid Mrs Hutton many years of well-earned retirement Mr Hutton, in reply, said that the presentation and good wishes had taken the wind out of his sails. He had always tried to carry out his duties in ft manner that would bo fair to all concerned. A new Presbyterian Church will soon stand at Waimahaka. The foundation stone was laid a week ago, when, tho day being a good one, young and old turned out to attend the ceremony. Amongst tha visitors were Mrs J. Templeton, who waa the first woman to reside in ‘Waimahaka township, Airs Carlaw, and Mr and Airs William Dunlop. Rev. W. Findlay, Timaru, conducted the ceremony, being assisted by Rev. D. Heggio, South Dunedin, and Rev J. A. Reilly, Oteramika* Tho stone being well and truly laid, the reverend gentleman addressed “the large gathering, and Air Alexander Holmes briefly outlined the- growth cf the district, and Mr J A Stirling also expressed gratification that at last there would be a Presbyterian church in the district.