General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 16, 15 July 1893, Page 8

General News

The London wool sales close on July 21st. Prices on the 11th inst. were firm. It is expected that the Chicago Exhibition will result in the loss of a million and a half. A mail for the United Kingdom closes at Invercargill on Friday, 21st inst., at 10.15 a.m. A French lady, after losing £IO,OOO at the Monte Carlo gambling tables, murdered her two children and committed suicide. No. 1 of this session’s Hansard—precursor, judging from present appearances, of a goodly series—is to hand. At the Mataura ploughing match Mr D. McFarlane was first in class A; Mr Dickie, in class B, and Mr W. C. Ladbrook in class C. It is announced that the Ocean Beach Freezing Works have been purchased by Messrs Nelson Bros. We are in receipt of a further budget of travel notes from Mr W. H. Mathieson, who dates from Colombo, and will endeavour to find space for them next week. Mr Wilson, the Victorian dairy expert, has inspected a fish and rabbit evaporating plant which will dry 3000 rabbits per day ready for export. As ordinary cargo they will keep fresh for six months. Lord Salisbury has requested the Peers to attend during the last week in August to debate the second reading of the Home Rule Bill. A wretched bungle was made of the execution of the man Archer, convicted of the murder of a Miss Harrison, in Sydney. Owing to the noose slippjng he was slowly strangled to death. Sir R. Stout, it is reported, thinks the Woman’s Franchise Bill will be cornered this session. It is also possible that the Direct Veto Bill may be shunted. The English mail, via ’Frisco, reached Auckland on Thursday, and the southern portion will probably be to hand on Monday night. The Globe states that three years ago Rear-Admiral Tryon ordered a similar manoeuvre to that which resulted in the Victoria disaster, and that Admiral Tracey refused to comply, whereupon the signal was annulled. Old identities will find something of special interest in the letter of 1844, published in our Old-Time Echoes column. Even in those days, it will be seen, some of the Australian colonies had their periods of fir aucial tribulation.

A capital likeness of the Colonial Treasurer, enlarged from a photograph, is on view in the establishment of Mr D. Boss, Taj street. Photographic enlargement is a branch of the business that can now be done by local artists in first-class style, of which the example in question affords • satisfactory proof. The installation of officers of the bham- • rock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., for the current half year, took place on Tuesday evening, when the following were installed by P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Bindlay:N G., Bro. A. Carnahan ; Y-G., Bro. John Ward; E.S., Bro. A. C. Mitchell. “ Only about one quarter of the men in New Zealand are married.” This interesting item is given‘in the Settler s Guide, which the New Zealand Shipping Company, is distributing at Home for the benefit of persons thinking of emigrating. Talk about the new world being called in to redress the balance of the old! If this paragraph catches the eyes of “ Our Girls ” at Home the process may be reversed. , “I am afraid children are too much indulged in the colonies,” incidentally remarked the Rev. Mr Sharp during his address at the local Orange gathering on the 12th inst. He then quoted the statement that used to be made regarding Scotch children, to the effect that they were brought .up on porridge and the Shorter Catechism “ two very essentia! things,” added the speaker, “and if the children were brought up on them now, they would make better men and women.- There does not seem to.be the stamina in these young people that there w r as in their fathers and mothers.” The balance-sheet of the borough of Gladstone is published on our page. One item which now figures in it—that of ren t —will be absent from future financial statements, a substantial town hall living, lately been completed to the order of the Corporation. At the last meeting Cr. Brey gave notice to move that the Council take steps to borrow £IOOO to pay off the £6OO loan falling due on the Ist January, the balance to be expended on necessary works. “ The whole Bill, from beginning to end, 1 is downright rot—another proof of. ‘ tools rushing in where angels fear to tread, said Cr McQueen in the County Council yesterday, when discussing the Noxious 'Weeds Bui. How could a local body, for instance, go on a man’s farm and undertake-to clear oil a lit he thistles ? —Cr. McCallum stated that the Bill, as it stood, would ruin the farmers. Ci. Baldcy also took exception to the measure, which, while containing some good points, was inconsistent.in its present form.

To-morrow, and on Monday and Tuesday evenings the Theatre Boyal will be occupied by Rawei, a talented young Maori, whose chief object is the improvement of the spiritual and physical condition of his people. The success achieved by this Maori evangelist and lecturer during his tour through the colony should be a good indication of his merit's as a lecturer. In Dunedin the Garrison hall was filled on six successive evenings, while he lectured on “His mother s people, and Maori life and customs/’ The press speaks highly of his oratorical powers -, while among'his testimonials is one from Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin. Dull particulars arc advertised in another column.

Like a bolt out of the blue came the news the other day that the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company had suspended payment. We had been pluming ourselves so much on our immunity from the financial disasters of our neighbours “ on the other side ” that wc could scarcely credit the statement that a New Zealand institution was in difficulties. The directors have, however, been able to make prompt arrangements to meet the emergency ; demands have been met; business is to be continued, and people once more breathe freely.

The Premier has received a deputation of brewers and licensed victuallers in icfeieiicc to the Direct Yeto Pill, the adoption of which they declared would moan the throwing out of employment of a largo proportion of the population, the liquor ti-affic with those dependent on it being about one-thirteenth, of the whole population. The loss of license fee's would also necessitate an addition of one shilling in the X- to local rates, and the deputation reminded the Premier that one-tenth of the revenue of the country was derived from the liquor trade. In replying, the Premier said he thoi ght it would be better if the two parties could come to some arrangement on the question instead of going to the country, although lie had full faith in the judgment of the constitcncies. We have to acknowledge receipt from Mr Dunlop, local representative of the New Zealand Shipping Company, of a copy of the first edition of a handy little book of seventy pages entitled “The Settler’s Guide to New Zealand.” In a concise form it contains a great deal of information of interest to persons thinking of settling in the “ Britain of the South,” and the details given as to climate, settlement conditions, stock, minerals, cost of food, education, etc., cannot fail to be useful for the class in question. The company deserves credit for having such a guide compiled, and the colony is also indebted to it in a still greater degree by virtue of the concession which it is prepared to make in case of emigrants with moderate capital, to whom they otter, under conditions set out in the Guide, passages at substantial reductions on existing rates. A page or two is devoted to the history and present position of the company, which, it is pointed out, is ef colonial birth, and we may add, is an enterprise that the colony has good reason to be proud of.

The promoters of the mass’meeting held in the Theatre on Friday week to advocate the claims of the Direct Veto have reason tqbo well satisfied with its success. Thfe meeting was : large, over 800 people being present, and thoroughly representative, the publican and the! Salvationist, the Good Templar, the “ Moderate,” and the Licensing Committeeman being seated side by side. The speakers were short, sharp, incisive, and to the point, and had the effect of producing a .unanimity of sentiment which completely defeated any hopes of opposition. Mr J. Stead struck the key-note of the meeting when he stated that the direct veto gave equal opportunity to each side, and all the temperance people wanted was the opportunity for a fair stand-up fight over the question. Mr Wesney also touched a salient point w'hen he urged the audience not merely to enthuse at such a meeting but to carry out their convictions to the ballot-box. The mass meetings which have been held all all over the colony ■ cannot fail to produce a perceptible and decisive effect upon the action of the Government fwhen the Direct Veto Bill is read a second time.

Southland matters were brought under the notice of the Premier on Thursday by a deputation composed of all the Southland members. With regard to the Gore traffic .bridge- they wanted the Government to increase the offer of £I,OOO made by the Colonial Treasurer towards the work, which would cost £3,0'0. The Premier said he thought the Government had been very liberal in this matter, and ho could not see his way to grant any further, assistance. —The question of the Forest Hill tramway extension to McDonald’s corner was also • discussed. The Premier said that the Government could not interfere during the currency of the present lease of the tramway to the Dokomii Coal Co., which had two years to run and they would make it a first consideration that the land required for the line should be given to the Government free of cost. —The Hon. G. F. Richardson urged the necessity for two bridges over the Waiau river or an extension of the Orepuki railway across the river to properly open-up the western district area for settlement, and Mr Scddon undertook to carefully consider, the suggestion .