SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 8, 25 August 1909, Page 7

SOUTH ISLAND.

No-licenae in Invercargill. A few months back Mr. Ranking, Queensland Magistrate, visited New Zealand on a tour of investigation into the results of No-license in parts of this country. On returning to Brisbane, Mr. Ranking gave expression to remarks of a character not altogether favourable to the condition of things under the “dry” regime, especially in the South. These adverse criticisms have brought forth a sworn declaration from William Benjamin Scandrett (of Invercargill), as follows: —“That I was Mayor of the Borough of Invercargill in the year in which No-license was carried there, and continued Mayor for almost three years afterwards; that in the year following the carrying of Nolicense in Invercargill, the capital value of property in the borough increased by £139.904 in round figures; although the license fees had been lost to the revenue, the rates levied by the Council were reduced by three-sixteenths of a penny in the pound, and they have not been raised since; that since the carrying of No-license in Invercargill, the outward signs of energetic business life are more apparent; many shopkeepers extended their businesses, and large verandahs have been erected along the business front in the main thoroughfare. In pursuance of instructions from the Municipal Council of Invercargill, the Borough Inspector, on 7th September, 1908 (two years two months after the bars had been closed), reported as follows:—‘I am fully aware of the fact that slanderous statements have been circulated in respect to the present condition of hotels and boardinghouses, as against the time of license, but, after carefully investigating all the facts for and against the changed conditions, I am firmly of the opinion that hotels and boarding-houses at the present time are as good, and in some cases better, than under former circumstances.’ ” New Zealand Salmon, In all probability there will be no necessity to import any more quinnat salmon ova into New Zealand, as there is reason to believe that future supplies can be obtained from the- fish in South Island rivers.. Last season large numbers of quinnat salmon went from the sea up the Waitaki River and its tributaries, and the Marine Department collected 238,000 ova—a. record for New Zealand. The ova has been hatched out at the Hakataramea depot, and the fry liberated in the streams close by. The Department has decided that next year it will liberate some quinnat salmon fry in one of the rivers on the West Coast of the South Island. Slackened Demand for Coal. Owing to the slackened demand for coal, the Westport Coal Company have knocked off the second shift at the Millerton mine. Two hundred and fifty men have received notice dispensing with their services. The Otira Deadlock. The “Star’s” correspondent advises that the Otira tunnel deadlock continues. Police reinforcements were sent up on Friday. They created an angry feeling amongst miners, who, at a meeting held last week, decided to teleraph to the Minister for Justice requesting their withdrawal.