THE BLUFF

Southern Cross, Volume 19, Issue 26, 21 October 1911, Page 12

THE BLUFF

Y A

i * t FROIV! WEEK TO WEEK, t * 4-

THE WEATHER. There has been no uncertainty about the weather the last wee'.;. It has been wholly and continuously bad —heavy rain, sleet, ha'i' showers. and strong cold winds. Mr Bates' predictions were amply verified. The storm struck us to time—within an hour or two—and we shall not be sorry when this unwelcome visitor passes us by. It's an ill wind that blown no one. any good, and at last the tanks and the reservoir have benefited, and a . good supple of water is available for some months to come. SKII'ITNO. Shipping has been quiet, the marine officers' strike having l,a id up the small coasters. The arrivals have been the Invercargill. Moeraki, and Warrimoo. Tnese have abl gone on, leaving in port the Kaikoura and barques Ariel and Mataura. All have been delayed in working by bad weather. 'I he Kaikoura has n heavy cargo to discharge, some 2500 tons, chiefly railw-iy iron, a tedious freight to handle, and she will probably be here for s;ov c .ral days longer. On. the arrival of the Moeraki from Melbourne on Monday, a steerage passenger named Sanders was found to be missing, lie had not been seen since soon after the vessel left Mel-

! bourne, and his berth had not been I used. There was no other conclusion I possible than that he had fallen overboard on the night of the depart--1 tire. j ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. 1 The road between Invercargill and Bluff has long been a bane to motorists and other travel hers by veIhicle. Government grants made hitherto have only sufficed to improve the road from Bluff to Ocean Beach. Crs. Hinchey and Tipping were appointed to interview the County Council, and as a result of their efforts application has been made to the Government through the Premier and Southland members for a grant of £IOOO for the road this session. A reply from the Premier states that the request is noted, and would be fully considered when reviewing the estimates. It has been said on good authority that the present state of the road' will take £5 off the value of a set of motor tyres in the course of a motor journey from Invercargill to Bluff and back. REGATTA. The round of-time brings up the Bluff regatta of 1.912, amd the preliminary meeting to form the management committee was held on Saturday last, when the Mayor (Mr E, A. Nichol) presided. The report of the last committee showed receipts to lie £81.4, expenditure £241. increasing the total credit in hand to £258. and it was well received. The following office-bearers were elected lor ;he. coming regatta : President, Sir J. O. Ward. Bart. :. Vice-Presi-dents. Messrs G. A. Whoa Her. S. Nichol, R. King, E. A. Nichol.. G. R. George. G. R. Waddell. C. A. Tipping. W. Hinchey and Dr. Torrance. Committee. Messrs E A A. N'ichol (chairman). H. Martin, J. Murison. J. Barker. A. McKenzie, 11. H.ankinson, W. 11. Johnston, F. J. Tipping. T. Macdonald. C. E. Graham. J.

Murison. E. Parker. V*. Metzger. J. Meizgcr, Capt. Stewart, J., Bannerman. P. Mc.Qimrrie, J. Murison, and C. Bradsha w. Secretary. E. Parker. Aii(!i!;.)i-s, 11. Martin and G. R.George.

An important motion was moved by F. -J. Tipping that the incoming commiflee consider the desirableness of registering the committee under The Unclassified Societies Act. and report to a special meeting, and this was carried.. This is the weak" spot in the management of the Bluff regatta. At present the a funics ai'e arranged by a committee elected at a meel ing called every vear Ire the Mavor bv advertisement. Fortunately, of lail.e years finances have been saiisfactoiy. and a large credit balance has accumulated, but had there been losses there has been no responsibility on the part of the committee beyond doing their best to keep things straight. Some years ago. at much trouble, a const Rut ion was drafted and adopted, providing for continuity in oflice of two-thirds of the committee, but the chairman of the following annual vear swepl the whole ihing awav. and affairs relapsed into the .present unsatisfactory stale. The retnedv is the formation of apermanent Bluff Regatta 'Association on the lines suggested by Mr Tipping's motion. duUy "registered, and thus providing continuity and responsibility, arid giving" a guarantee of good management of u..growing function. in which Ihe whole province has an interest. 1 PERSONAL. ft is stated that whereas the Maori troupe of entertainers at present in London will leave for N.Z. next j month. Miss Eva Skerrett. the Bluff vocalist, will remain behind under engagement to appear at some of the principal London music halls. Mr F. Digby Smith, of tin- U.S.S. Co.. I ; um-iferred to Oamaru. took his dopar'uro on Wednesday. On Tuesday evenbig he was presented bv the members of the Bowling Club. 01 which be. had been for some months secretary, with a handsome travelling bag. Mr R. A. Criuckshank, President, who made the oresentation. referred in eulogistic terms to the valuable services he had rendered during the short time he had been secretary, to the regret of the members in parting with him. and to the universal good wishes they entertained M'or his future welfare. Mr Smith, in the course of his appreciative reply, said he had travelled a good deal, but Bluff was the best place ne had been in yet. and he. was sorry to have to leave it. Mr Wilson.of Gisborne. Mr Smith's successor, took charge of the branch o7i Monday.

POLITICAL. Mr W. A\ Morris, one of the candi

dates for Awarua seat, addressed about 60 or 70 BluiT electors on Thursday evening last. His address was on the lines previously reported in the daily papers. He had an attentive hearing from his audience, and received , x vote of thanks at the close, Mr Morris announced his in-, tent ion of speaking again after Sir Joseph Ward had delivered his election address. TENNIS. The opening of the tennis season was flxed for Wednesday, 18th inst., but owing to the inclement weather it was decided to postpone it. The Bowling Club htave decided to open their green on Wednesday, Nov. Ist. The opening of the boating season has been fixed for Oct. 23rd, Labour Day. GENERAL. In the present state of the weather Mr T. ("rocket has found it futile to attempt to reach the Waukare in. Dusky Sound, and he has returned to Bluff from Stewart Island. A movement is cm foot to provide a pa.i-.'-ilion on. the recreation reserve to serve the sports clubs using the grounds. Representatives of theclubs have been appointed to confer together as to the feasibleness of the proposal. The athletic clubs of Invercargill and Bluff are agitating for some better train arrangements on Wednesdays, m the direction of a later afternoon train to and from; the port. The sportsmen of the seaport are greatly- handivapped by the necessity for catching the 5.10 p.m. train from Invercargill, this cutting short their afternoon't play, either at tennis, cricket, or bowls, while the visitors from the larger town have to curtail their Slav at the seaside in. order to catch the '(i.23 p.m. train from port. It is suggested that the delay of an hour in the case of both trains would prove a boon to ajll during the summer months. The BluiT Cricket Team iiad dead hard luck in the continuation of their unfinished match with the I.C.C. The umpires decided that the game shouW. be played, although a week's rain had soddened and ruined the wicket. Bluff could only get 58 (Bannerman 10, T. Crocket 11) against bowling, which hung and jumped in most erratic fashion, and they were the victims by sfi to 125. The juniors journeyed to Wa'ikiwi and beat Waikisvi. IT on the Ist innings by a small margin.