ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT.

Southland Times, Issue 19102, 21 November 1923, Page 4

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT.

“Umpire.”—Not over a pen-name. The Government Meteorologist last night wired the following forecast: “Present indications are for northerly to westerly winds, strong to gale, particularly in and southward of Cook Strait. The weather will be dull to overcast with rain probable on all the western coast and southern districts. The barometer has a falling tendency, but is due to rise in the South after about 20 hours.” “You have done a little prospecting, you are not a miner?” inquired counsel of a witness in a gold mining case heard at the Supreme Court yesterday. “I was at Port Molyneux and the Mataura diggings, and I was mining long enough to get into debt,” replied the witness. The present session of the Supreme Court will probably be an unusually short one. The hearing of the criminal cases was concluded yesterday and this morning civil cases will be heard. Several of the cases set down have been withdrawn and it is anticipated that the session will be concluded to-day. A deputation asked Dr. Earle Page (Act-ing-Prime Minister of Australia), to relax the prohibition against immigrants from Central Europe to enable Australian families to bring out orphans from enemy countries, the period of prohibition to end in 1925. Dr. Page promised Cabinet consideration.

Latest advices from Waiau in regard to fishing prospects state that tlje river is still high and the wind in the north-west.

The A. & P. Association is asking local bodies interested in the question to appoint delegates to confer regarding the holding of a Winter Show.

A giant lettuce grown from American seed by Mr J. Hislop, of Esk street, was recently on. view at Mr Hobbs’s shop in Tay street, and attracted much attention.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that Cabinet has granted a vote of £l5OO for further improvement to the Keys-Te Anau Road and a small vote for improvement to the Te Anau-Milford track.

A sporting country parson, who punts a little occasionally, was called away unexpectedly, and the curate took his place. Among the mail was a letter containing a cheque only, which puzzled him, but he thought that the congregation should know of the generous donor, and accordingly announced that Mr McShortodds had kindly forwarded to the vicar a cheque for £25, but had omitted to state to which appeal the donation was to he credited. After that the building fund had to get it!

Shortly after midnight, the .Fire Brigade received a call from Clyde Street, the cause being an outbreak of fire in a fowlhouse at the rear of the Marist Bros.’ School. The blaze made a formidable reflection, giving the impression that a serious conflagration was in progress. The Brigade was quickly on the scene, but the building was steadily burnt to the ground and the firemen devoted their attention to seeing that there was no possibility of it extending. A man named Percy Alfred Gregory Sutton, who was arrested in an out-of-the-way part of the country beyond Fortrose, was charged before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., at a sitting of the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court yesterday with failing to comply with a maintenance order in respect of his illegitimate child. He .vas sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, warrant not to issue if he paid £lO into Court forthwith and £l4 13/8, plus £2 1/- expenses before December 1.

Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., who has returned to Christchurch from a visit to Southland asking for financial support for the West Coast coal miners, stated to the Christchurch correspondent of the Times yesterday, that Southland was looking well just now and that it seemed to be very prosperous, but he regretted that there was not more sub-division amongst the large holdings and that there were not nearly as many people on the land as there should be., “The smallhess of the population in such a large, fertile district,” he said, “is astonishing.”

An accident, fortunately attended by no very serious consequences, occurred at the corner of Yarrow and Mary streets yesterday shortly after half-past twelve A motor cyclist was coming into town from North Invercargill and a boy was crossing over from the shelter shed to catch the north-bound tramcar. A collision occurred, the boy being knocked over, but fortunately the motorist was travelling at a slow pace, and the lad escaped with cuts and bruises and some teeth knocked out. A reporter was informed that the accident was in no way attributable to the motorist, who was travelling slowly at the time.

This afternoon at 2.30 o’clock the grand South Invercargill Princess Carnival will commence in King’s Hall and will be reopened in the evening and again to-morrow afternoon and night. The committee has been working very hard and ha 3 done everything possible to ensure success. Who is going to be Queen ? That is the question which is exciting considerable interest and the five parties who have nominated candidates are confident of securing the selection of their own nominee. The result will be known on Thursday and the grand coronation will take place on Friday at 8 p.m. The carnival has been promoted for raising funds to build a Church of England at South Invercargill, and, quite apart from the worthy object in view, will be well worth a visit by reason of the variety and excellence of the entertainment it will provide.

They came with the velocity of a sou’wester, passing all and sundry like a whirlwind and, going serenely on their way rejoicing in the possession of a motor-cycle which could cover fifty miles an hour. They even gave practical demonstration not only of the speed of their machine, but of the nerve and ability of the driver. Last evening about 6.30 o’clock people who happened to be wending their way down the North Road into Dee Street, were astounded to see a motor-cycle, on which were two young men, come tearing along “at the rate of knots”—as one spectator remarked—but certainly at a pace which must have easily approximated fifty miles an hour. Entering Dee Street, the pace w&s not slackened one whit, and when last seen the daring ones were disappearing at a break-neck speed down the chief thoroughfare. Since no accidents have been reported, this escapade has apparently not been attended with the direful results which might easily have followed in its train, and the young men can count themselves not only fortunate in that respect, but also in evading the vigilance of the man in blue.

A tennis afternoon in aid of the Georgetown Hall Fund will be held at the residence of Miss Howie, Pomona Road, starting at 2 p.m. to-day. Tennis and other competitions. Admission, including afternoon tea, 1/-. (Advt.).

Special events. Great white sale and clearing of warehouse stock of millinery and showroom goods at SMITH’S.—(Advt.).

We are fully stocked, with the latest productions in watched and jewellery. Our full range of ladies’ wristlet and pocket watches from 14/- to £l4, cannot be surpassed, each watch being guaranteed. Gent’s watches in metal cases, from 9/6 to £3 10/-; silver, £2 10/- to £9; gold, £4 10/- to £3O. Buy your watch from the practical watchmaker, T. M. Rankin, Tay street, Invercargill.— (Advt.).

Just opened at Thomson and Beattie’s 100 pure linen Damask Cloths manufacturer’s seconds. The flaw in most of these cloths is so small that it is hard to find, but you can buy at less than half-price through it. Beautiful designs 2yds long, 19/6 and 22/6; 24yds long, 19/6 to 29/6; 3yds long, 39/6 to 75/-. Pure linen Serviettes 22/6 a dozen. Ten pieces snow white pure linen Damask, 70ins wide, lovely design, price 5/11, worth 9/6 yard.—(Advt.).

Men’s and Boys’ summer shopping. Best selection at McNeil and Clark’s, next News, Dee Street. Choicest designs in men’s shirts, with soft collars to match, boys’ and men’s canoe shirts, latest fancy handkerchiefs, new dressed and soft collars, fancy socks in cotton, cashmere, and silk, light weight caps and hats, new summer trousers and sports coats, etc.—(advt.). CHRISTMAS GIFTS AT SMITH’S. To most people, to give is more pleasurable than to receive. The selection of Christmas gifts is made easy if you piay our Fancy and Novelty section a visit. There you will find hundreds of useful articles, including Ladies’ kid gloves in all tne latest shades and sizes, at 8/11, 9/11 and 12/6; every pair guaranteed. Fabric gloves in gauntlet style with strap and fringe at 4/9. Holeproof hosiery in. all colours from 3/11 for lisle thread, to 23/6 for all pure silk. See our display of hosiery, and you will see the very latest from the manufacturers. Sunshades and umbrellss at all prices. Belts and bags in a grand assortment. Sunshine purses, leather goods suitable for book marks; calenders, writing pads, Cara wallets, perfumes and soap in endless variety. See special advertisement on page 7. H. and J. SMITH, Ltd., Invercargill, and Main street, Gore.— (Advt.). Through illness, 19,500,000 weeks of work were lost last year. This is equal to the s?'*k of 375,000 people for a whole -'ar.