SOUTHLAND TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 35

SOUTHLAND TOPICS

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ♦ INVERCARGILL, September 1. Southland farmers have good reason to feel optimistic about the coming season. The winter has been a good one, and the rain on Friday dispelled any fear of excessive dryness. The early growth is coming away splendidly, particular!’- in ton-dressed paddocks, and farmers are well ahead with their work everywhere. Sheep flocks have wintered wo’ and the dairying season m 'nin<r most encouragingly. On many farms lambs have made their appearance, although lambing cannot be said to have really commenced yet. Those that have been born are reported to be doing well. Invercargill has been busy with competitions during the week. A highly satisfactory festival concluded on Thursday and Friday with concerts. Contrary to custom, the meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council on Tuesday was not productive of any heated controversies. and the city, fathers seemed astonished when the business concluded at a comparatively early hour. The council met in committee again on Friday, when Mr F. M. Corkill, engineer to the Egmont County, was unanimously appointed engineer in succession to Mr Grumbley. There were 29 applicants for the position. Mr Corkill was an applicant at the time. Mr Gumbley was appointed, and it was only on the casting vote of the then Mayor that he failed to be appointed. Needless to say, everyone in Invercargill is hoping that harmony will prevail in civic affairs until the next election comes round, when burgesses can 3115 niistal<es they made in April,

A secret meeting of dairy factory directors was held in Invercargill on Saturday morning to make arrangements for nominating a representative for the Southland district on the Dairy Control Board. Evidently there- is a distinct difference of opinion as to the merits of

the present representative, and an interesting contest can be anticipated. Rugby enthusiasts in Southland have good reason to feel pleased with the suecess oi the Alaroons in*- the five representative matches they have so far played. Only one has been lost, that against Auckland, and Southland is the only side that has lowered Wairarapa’s colours this season. There are still four or five engagements ahead of the Maroons, however,• aa d the historic clash with Otago on Wednesday may result in a set-back. Ihe sub-union’s touring football team returned on Monday morning after a wonderful tour round the West Coast, .Nelson, and Marlborough. Needless to say, the visitors were most hospitably entertained everywhere, and it is gratifying to know that both on and off .the field they established an excellent reputation tor themselves. There were several amusing incidents in the tour. One of the wing three-quarters was nearly made a corpse in Greymouth when he swallowed embrocation instead of cough mixture. On the road between Nelson and Blenheim the hood of one of the big cars conveymg the team whs blown completely off, and its occupants thereafter caused much amusement by standing up and waving to passers-by through the shattered upholstery. On September 15 the country team will, have the oportunity of trying conclusions with the Southland representative side which has, contrary to the usual practice, been selected almost entirely from the town clubs, it win be H some of the sub-union men do not find places in the representative team beiore the season ends. Southland s famous hockey "girls are in Timaru trying hard to regain the New Zealand championship which they lost rv\ Y ear to Dannevirke. Two Eastern Tima 1 ! *' eains are a^so competing at Gore is happily in the throes of its Gaiety Gala this week, and although the first two days did not produce as much enthusiasm as was anticipated, Wednesday saw the vast crowd of revellers rise to peaks that were not attained even in the glorious success of last year’s gala. } er " as that could be desired until l-riday morning, and although rain fell then it cleared later, and for Saturday, the concluding day, sunshine prevailed. Scenes of wild enthusiasm greeted the ringing down of the curtain, and all in the Eastern District were firmly of the opinion that the 1928 gala was well worth while. A short time ago very few towns in Southland could boast of swimming baths, but in the past 12 months civic authorities m many centres have realised the importance of public baths in the health a, * < ‘ happiness of the community. The latest to fall into line is Edendale, and arrangements have now been finalised for the construction of a good pool. Hot and cold water will be supplied by the dairy ractory. and soon there will be some champion swimmers in the busy little town. ‘ ■ xiie calm usually pervading the conduct of business at the Riverton Borough Council has been ruffled lately, the cause I w'>i b s ldge over the Aparima. tl™ H °«. r W,llatt L’Jf forward a suggestion that an alteration be made in the t 0 S 'Y e a better approach at the noithern end. A remark by the Mayor that the councillor’s suggestion vias actuated by selfish motives did not M harmo . n J’’ On the casting vote of U -"'9 s fina,, y decided to at ‘!l9f. e to t bc original plans. Either something has gone wrong with ers nr®T drinkln s ca P a city -of Southiandeis oi the quantity of ale brewed in the home must be greatly increasing, for the thatch* ) retU j nS < . f ° r Al 'S ust - IP2B, show that the beer duty amounted to only £’’72 as against £416 for August. 1927. In Dunedin there was an increase in beer Wlmt O lL fls0 ° f ° r eSe two Hhat has come over Southland?