SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 35

SOUTHLAND TOPICS.

(From Ona Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 31. The great event of the week has been the. visit of the Canterbury farmers and their, wives. To the number of 760 they invaded Southland by a special train cn Monday night, or rather in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite a journey of nearly 16 hours it was a remarkably merry crowd which alighted from the train to the strams of the'Pipe Band. The executive of the Southland branch of the Farmers' Union had a. busy time making sure that none of the visitors was without a bed. and it. was 2.50 a.m, before the town lapsed into quietness. To the new arrivals it must have seemed no time before they were out of bed again ready for a tour of the Western District. iThe day was squally, but luxurious closed-in ears defied wind and rain, and the men and women from Canterbury were all smiles. The in spection of a few farms,, trie travelling of a great many miles, and the partaking cn numerous occasions of eatables in plenty comprised the day’s outing, and all seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. Next day the Eastern District wa 9 explored even more thoroughly, and the visitors found Plenty to see and plenty to eat. On Lnursday half the partv wont to Stewirt Island expecting to lose their breakfast and the other half went to the Southland races expecting to make money. Both were disappointed. The beauty of rhe island charmed al] who made the trip, and ■ the punters found much to amuse them on - the racecourse. On Friday those who had not been to Stewart Island on Thursday crossed, but did not have, the glorious weather of the earlier trip. The remainder visited freezing works, the sugar of milk factory, ami the Highlander Milk Factory. On Thursday evening the bi-rest banquet that has even been held in Invercargill took place at the Drill Hall, wh.n not far short of 1600 Canterbury farmers. Southland farmers, and prominent Southland citizens sat down to a dinner of 10 whole lambs, 260 dozen oysters. 6001 h of potatoes, 144 dishes of fruit salad .and trifle, 50 gallons of oyster soup. 05 gallons of milk. 15 gallons of cream, and 120 dozen rolls. The quantity of drink consumed was not nearly so formidable. It seemed a cold ni-riit for lemonade. The function, however, d-d nor lack the other kind of spirit, and did much to strengthen the bonds of? friendship between the provinces. When the visitors returned home on Saturday morning they ' were fully convinced that they had- seen some of the fairest land in New 'Zealand. Mod confessed that they expected to* see much inferior country instead of the rich flats The Southlanders were all smiles aftir the welcome rain that immediately preceded the norther invasion, and were purring with pleasure nt the -flattering remarks made about their land and their farming methods. Just to prevent the- Southlanders getting a swelled, head, however, several of the visitors did not fail to reler to the vast amount of land well nigh ruined by ragwort and Canadian thistle. “I fully expected in such a community to see the good. old Scotch thistle, but not the other,” said one farmer. “ I have, been told several times that all you have to do with the Canadian thistle is to let it grow and it will kill itself. -n afraid that wouldn’t do us in Canterbury, but I hope it will have killed itself before our next visit.” The excursion was. unquestionably a great success, and the organisation locally was very good. It would have -been wiser, though, if less touring had been dqne and more farms inspected. During the tour there were many friendly arguments as to whether Canterbury or Southland could grow bigger turnips. The issue was settled on Saturday . morning when there was placed on board the train a monster swede more than a yard in girth, on’ which was a placard bearing the words “ Grown in Southland. Can Canterbury beat it? ” The travellers .had to admit they couldn’t. It looks as if Invercargill will have to do without a town clerk. Last week I mentioned that the third man to whom the position was offered had accepted. So he had. but since then he has sent to the council a doctor's certificate to the effect that the climate of Southland (perhaps that means more particularly the council 'atmosphere) would not suit him. The position will now be advertised for again, and somebody may turn up. Great progress has lieen made with the improvement of the Invercargill streets. By the expeditious sand-carpeting process work all the principal thoroughfares have been rendered excellent, and pot holes will soon lie but a memory. * There has been an interesting newspaper controversy during the week regarding the price of fish. The-merchants complain of no facilities for. cool storage, and the housewives uomplain of profiteering on the part of the merchants, urging that there would be no need for storing the fish if. prices were only made reasonable. The necessity for cool storage apparently arose through the huge catches made possible by the very fine and very hot summer. All the provincial centres are busy preparing for May Fair, and some spectacular. pageants are promised. It would certainly appear that last vear’s carnival, magnificent as it was. will be easily surpassed -by this year ? s festivities. Although £l5OO went out of the province through the magic of Rose Marie’s renutation, there was Still plenty of money left for people to crowd the theatre every night the clever 'little Queenslander and his. revue company played. George Wallace certainly succeeded in banishing gloom, and Fullers may feel tempted to build a theatre here after all.' The week has not been without its toll of. accidents. A young man named Langmuir, who was riding a motor cycle, collided with a car in one. of the town streets, and was. rendered unconscious. A cyclist came to grief in loose gravel, and also lost touch with the., world for a time. Three occupants of a „ car travelling towards town from Riverton were more fortunate. Their lights Tailed,, and they followed’ in the wake of another car, hopiner to. be guided, by it. All went well until they reached a bridge over a culvert. In negotiating this the driver got off tlie track, arid the car. struck the tide of the bridge with great force. The iron rail lof the bridge pierced the Imdy of the car. which turned over’ and landed in the culvert. Luckily no one was badly injured.