SOUTH ISLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 10, 9 March 1910, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND.

New Canadian Service.

Regarding the new Canadian-Austra-lasian steamship service, the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company states that the subsidy is to be £24,000 per annum, and the contract is for three years. The Canadian port of departure in the summer months will be Montreal, and in winter St. John. The ports of call will be Melbourne, Sydney, and the four principal New Zealand ports. The service will be carried on by the company’s steamers, but. if necessary suitable vessels will be* chartered The New Zealand Shipping Company are the sole contractors.

Stewart Island Oysters.

Although it is well known that the Stewart Island oyster is distributed northwards for a considerable distance, few persons are aware ■ f the immense distance sometimes traversed before it finds its way into consumption. A Bluff merchant, with a large export business in oysters, told a “Southland News’’ reporter that not only is there a keen sale as far north as Auckland, but, as regularly as elockwork, there is an average weekly shipment of about 150 sacks (11.250 dozen) to Melbourne. Melbourne is 1200 miles distant. It is on record, however, that Melbourne merchants have sent a few bags on to Adelaide, a distance of over 2000 miles from their native beds in Foveaux Strait.

The State Collieries.

The bins at the coal mines at Westport, Westport-Stockton, and Seddonville State and Railway, are full, or almost full, of coal, with orders in abundance, but there are practically no boati available to take the coal away. The State mine is idle to-day. and is also expected t’o be idle to-morrow. The impression prevails here that the failure to send sufficient colliers to Westport is intended to create the false impression that the New Zealand mines cannot supply the demands of the Dominion, and so

divert trade again to Newcastle. A vigorous effort is stated as likely to be made to induce the Government, to take up the sea carriage of coal.

Mixed Bathing.

The subject of mixed bathing has been warmly discussed in Christchurch newspapers during the past week. The matter was raised by a request made by .Mr. Ell, M.P., to the Minister for Marine, that he should make regulations governing bathing on New Brighton beach, his suggestion being that if women wanted to hit he by themselves they should be given the opportunity to do so. The Mayor at

Brighton carried the matter further by declaring his intention to “clean-up” the beach, and put an end to bathers and unseemly behaviour. The bathers resented the implied accusation, and on Sunday demonstrated on the beach in quaint costumes.