General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 9, 27 May 1893, Page 8

General News

An article on Winton, with two views of the township, will be given in our next issue.' Mr W. H. Mathieson will detail his experiences in Melbourne in our next issue. A number of new advertisements will bo found on pages 5,8, 12 and 15. Many -lives have, been lost in Norway through a landslip. Four lives have been lost through a train in Tralee, Ireland, falling into a river. A fever epidemic in the Transvaal has killed, over 1,000-natives and many Europeans. After Tuesday next the sales at the Junction Yards will be held fortnightly. A fire doing damage to the extent of' £300,000 has occurred in the city of Saginaw, Michigan. Ulster is reported to be electing an AntiHome Rule Assembly on the basis of manhood suffrage. On the 21st inst. New Zealand rabbitskins,, medium to fair*, were worth 13£d per lb in London ; fair to good, 18d. Defalcations totalling £I,OOO have been discovered in the accounts of the Sydney post office savings bank. A general strike is imminent among the western eolleries (N. S. W.) owing to a. reduction in hewing rates. A mail for Puysegur Point closes at Invercargill at 11.15 a.m. on Thursday, and for the United Kingdom at 10.15 a.m. on Friday. Put not your trust, or money, in banks. Over 67,000 people in N.S.W. have current accounts locked up in the; suspended banks. The Czar is improving. He has abolished the corporal punishment of women in Siberia. The Premiers of Australia meet in Melbourne on Saturday to consider banking and other financial questions. The New Zealand Shipping Co.’s steamer Tongariro is advertised to leave Wellington for London on Bth June. At the Brisbane Police Court the other day a drover named David Spence was fined £123, or six mouths, for cutting a rabbit fence. The Queensland elections have resulted in the return of 38 Ministerialists, 16 Labourmembers, eight Oppositionists, and eight Independents. A number of small grazing runs, being subdivisions of the Benmore and Mount Linton runs, and aggregating 9,816 acres, will be open for lease on and after 22nd June. It is understood that the Hon. J, G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer, will address his constituents at Winton before the opening of Parliament. A notice regarding the Friendly Societies' demonstration on the 14th of June appears in this issue. There is every indication that it will be a great success. The drought in France has caused damage to the amount of eight hundred million francs. The crops in Germany are being ruined from the same cause. The Sydenham Prohibition League are taking steps to have effect given to the local option clauses of the Act in the four new districts in Sydenham. Sunday opening is the rule at the Chicago Exhibition, whose managers in consequence forfeit half-a-million of the Congressional grant. Subject to certain amendments, a large meeting of railway men in Dunedin approved of the principle of the proposed Railway Employes Insurance Bill. While other colonies are preparing to meet deficiencies, New Zealand expects to show a net surplus of about £283,000 for the last financial year. From Sydney we learn that the committee of “ New Australia ” has purchased the barque Royal Tar to convey the members who are to form a settlement in Paraguay. Scott, the Waikomiti murderer, was hanged at Auckland on Monday. He died protesting, his innocence, and stating that he had promised to shield another person. Half the town of Bridgewater (Victoria) has been destroyed by fire. Fire, flood, and financial disaster —surely the cup of Victoria’s woes must now be nearly filled. A number of stones were aimed at Mr Gladstone as he was entering a railway carriage, but they broke the windows in adjoining carriages. It is feared that the Wednesday halfholiday in Wellington will break down so far as the drapers are concerned. It appears to answer admirably in Invercargill. Members of the Irish National League believe that the reading of the Home Rule Bill will take place in August. Funds arc again flowing in from Australia. Mr R. H. Rattray, solicitor, of this town, has been appointed a commissioner of the Supreme Court of Victoria for taking affidavits of that Court. It is estimated that nearly a quarter of a million of people attended the Home Rule demonstration held in Hyde Park oh the 22nd inst. The policy of obstruction charged against the Conservatives was denounced, and . the speakers claimed that- the bulk of the . workers of Britain sympathised with the Home • Rule movement..

The Winton A. and P. Association hold their annual grain and produce* show in the Exchange Hall- on Tuesday next. There should be a good display, in • both departments. The Union Co.’s s.s. Manipouri is due.at the Bluff from Melbourne on Monday, and the same company’s s.s. Wairarapa sails from the Bluff for Melbourne on Friday, 2nd June. The Otago A. and P. Society are of opinion, that our railways should remain under nonpolitical management, and 99 replies to the 100 circulars issued by the society are to the same effect. A blacksmith named John Walls, while chopping wood at Middlemarch, was struck by a piece of wood in the abdomen, and- ' afterwards died from the , effect of his injuries. The recent tragedy in Auckland is bearing fruit. In Dunedin the other day two men who had arranged to take part in a glove contest were bound over to keep the peace for a. year. Presbyterians in the United States are agitating for the repeal of the Chinese Expulsion Act, and the Methodists have Appointed a day of prayer to secure just treatment of the Chinese. Stock entries at Burnside have lately been been small and of poor quality, and now, owing to the shortage, Dunedin butchers have raised beef a halfpenny, and mutton a penny, per lb. Simultaneous action wanted. Owners of land in the Wallace County are elsewhere informed by Mr H. T. Turner, Stock Inspector, that poisoning for rabbits will begin on 12th June. Spotted in time. A bullock suffering from cancer was included in a mob awaiting sale in the Gore Yards the other day, but Mr Turner, Stock Inspector, was on the alert, and had the beast removed and destroyed. Judgment has been given in the Dunedin divorce ease, Ahliield v. Ahlfield. Judge Ward found against the petitioning husband, and said there was not the shadow of a case against the co-respondent. Our old Governor, Sir W, Jervois, has assumed the prophetic role. Speaking to a London reporter, he expressed the opinion that if the Australian Colonies were separated from Britain they must fall a prey to either France, Germany, or China. The City ) -sated life Hospital patients "and" a good number of the public to a very enjoyable concert in the grounds on Thursday night, occupying a platform which the Trustees have erected for the use of bandsmen* The borough council has rescinded the resolution passed in 1890, under which the by-law requiring buildings in the inner area to be of brick or stone could be suspended at the will of the council. The Orchestral Union, an organisation which has done good service in promoting and developing a love for the divine art in Invercargill, announce a concert for the evening of Friday, 2nd June. Their patrons will have a capital programme placed before them. Report has it that Mr Gladstone told Her Majesty he did not intend to dissolve if the House of Lords rejected the Home Rule Bill, and that the Queen, on the contrary, urged that it would be necessary to appeal to the country. While Poet Bracken is working on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. Pastor Isitt is out and about on prohibition bent. The licensed victuallers have discussed the situation, and decided to take “a dignified stand, and act only on the defensive.” Dr Hodgkinson intends to be a candidate for Wallace at the coming elections. Rumour has it that Mr Geo. Evans, manager of the Round Hill Syndicate, will also offer himself. -It is evident that Miss Wallace will have no lack of suitors. Replying to a deputation in Dunedin, the Minister of Education stated that the request for the substitution of the working for the strict average required consideration, and he would confer with the Colonial Treasurer on the übjeet. It is understood that after hotel licenses were granted for several places at Preserva tion Inlet the wants of the miners in the matter of accommodation were very poorly looked after, and it is believed that renewals will not be granted unless there is an improvement in this respect. The residents of Stewart Island lately underwent the excitement of a licensing election —the first'held there since the place was proclaimed a county. The prohibitionists and the moderates were represented in the candidates nominated, and the Prohibitors got all their men returned. Speaking in Dunedin on Tuesday night, Mr Reeves, Minister of Education, declared that something ought to be clone to take the tax off improvements and to transfer it to the unearned increment. It was intended to try and pass a Conciliation and Arbitration Bill and a Shop Hours Bill, and the other measures to be introduced would include an Apprentices Bill, an Eight Hours Bill, a Trades Union Bill, and one providing for the extension of the Factories Act to meet cases where work is sent out by factories. Votes of thanks to the speaker and of confidence in the Government were passed.

It has been/suggested, that , “H. M. S> Pinafore,” given with- so much success recently by the'menibers of the Invercargill Amateur Operatic Society, should be repeated for the benefit of -the Sailors’ Rest funds. The idea is a good one, and should commend itself to all interested in the welfare of - those who “.go down to the sea in ships.” The Australian cricketers played their first match in England on the Bth inst, against Lord Sheffield’s eleven, at Sheffield .Park. They were defeated by eight wickets. . They next met Warwickshire on the 11th, and scored a -win. Their third and fourth matches, played' against the Gloucestershire and Marylebone clubs, were drawn—the former greatly in favour of the Australians. On the - 23ud they met Yorkshire, and were defeated ' by 65 runs. Results to date—Australians, Von one, drawn two, lost two. Balloting for a number of sections- for which more than one application had been received, took place at the Land office yesterday. The area most in demand was section 118, Takitimo, for which no fewer than 39 applications were lodged. It fell to H. McLees. Section 1, block 7, Lilburn (12 applicants) was secured by T. W. Blatch; section 2, block 7. Lilburn (9 applicants) by Catherine Welsh; section 2, block 6, Lilburn, G, Reyburn ; section 108, Waiau, M. F. Stevenson ; section 120, Waiau, H. Patterson; section 123, do, J. U. Russell; section 150, block 1, Patterson’s district (Stewart Island) T. G. Leask. Three of the allotments wore taken under the occupation with right of purchase system, and the remainder on perpetual lease. An interesting question is raised by a correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald by the following letter : —Sir, —As a matter of finance, what but few understand, if the bill pass the Parliament of making notes a logal tender, is this; Say I am one having an account with the Bank of Australasia or the Union Bank of Australia. I receive notes of the colonial banks as legal tender and pay them to my credit with one of the English banks. In making the exchange between banks these notes, say for £IOO, are paid back by the bank issuing them as legal tender, hut that bank which has received the notes and credited me with the same cannot re-issue those notes, and I can demand from the bank placing the £IOO to my credit gold, which means the English banks must for their own conducting of business refuse notes of colonial banks as legal tender. Can we afford to quarrel with'the English banks at present time ? That Invercirgill is forging ahead from a municipal point of view was evidently the opinion of members of the Borough Council after perusing the annual balance-sheet, which was adopted it a meeting held on Tuesday evening. Thj statement was analysed by Councillor BlVeke, who appears to have made this department his special study. He pointed out that on tie revenue side the document showed an increase of £B6- —in itself a small sum, but wordy of note, nevertheless, in view of the fact that last year’s receipts were £250 under those o; the preceding twelve months, and that there had been a falling-off for some years before. The debit side of the statement showed that tlere had been a net increase in the expenditure of £1,054 as compared with the previous yiar, the general account having been drawn ci to the extent of £405 for the waterworks. :.id of £348 for the harbour, while more nii/noy has also been spent in street work. While the of most people are turned to the financifi outlook in Australia, the issue of the Home iule debate, and other matters with, some clams to be regarded as important, there is an i(dividual in the little town of Mosgiel who is troubled by none of these things. He i concerned with a far weightier problem, whih he thus formulates iu the ; columns of tlv Taiori Advocate : —Sir : Might 1 I be allowed o put a question through your valuable cobnuts ? All that I wish to know ; is whether tie congregation of the Mosgiel , i Presbyterian Church bought their organ for ’ the services of the church or did they i buy it for a ertain individual to practice on 1 all through fie week ? I would be very glad I if anybodyould enlighten me on that sub- < ject.—l am etc. Cnoiß.—Unhappy organist! I So not everchurch choirs are exempt from ■ the discord jimlarly associated with lovers of 1 music. V ;

The mombeis of the Orepuki Mutual Improvement Sfeiety had a very successful opening meeting on Monday evening last. It would be (writes a correspondent) to particularise aryone when all the old members and the new cabs did their best to contribute to the evenings entertainment. One visitor, who must Lire graduated at Boston, U.S.A., or else sisters at Girton College, taught us sfcHthing in language (not profane). A young ItlJ gave us her idea of cookery, which madejjery young fellow there wish he was the joil to be operated on; and one talented faiify also must not be forgotten, as it is main owing to their untiring exertions thnt.b society has been kept alive. Glees and sos were given, and a beautiful trio, “ No O- to Welcome Me Home,” that still rings i your correspondent’s ears. Another dugivas also given—one of Mendelssohn’s Songs lithout Words “Drink to Me only with Tne Eyes ” —with grand effect. It will be grafyingfo all kindred societies to know that thitart hero was such a success that now 1 thejis no fear of failure during the the coming vjter.

One of the largest discoveries of fossils known in Australia lias been made at Mullyan Oreek, ,(S. A.) The find consists of three nearly complete skeletons of the diprotodan, j and a large number of the bones of the same animal, three specimens of the iguana and wombat about the size of bullocks, and the remains of an extinct bird similar to, the New j Zealand moa. ' I