General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 26, 23 September 1893, Page 9

General News

Our sixth sketch of “ People We Know ” will appear next week. The New Zealand pork sent Home in the steamer Coptic realised 44d per lb. The Premier hopes to close the session by the end of next week. Mrs Freeman Kitchen, of Wellington, has obtained a decree nisi in the action for divorce brought against her husband. Three Sydney bakers have been fined in sums ranging from L 22 to L 49 for selling light-weight bread. A mail for the Australian Colonies w r ill close at Invercargill at 11 a.m. on Monday, and for the United Kingdom at 3.45 p.m. Brazil is now in the throes of another revolution. The insurgents have so far had the best of it. The second reading of the Government Railway Bill has been carried in the House of Representatives by 20 to 12. Mr Hatch’s ketch Gratitude returned to the Bluff from the Macquarie Islands on Thursday. Rumour has it that at one of the church services in town to-morrow the women in attendance will be invited to sign claims for enrolment as voters. The Government Railways Act Amendment Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Representatives by 34 to 30. On and after Tuesday, 3rd October, th e mails for Te Anna and Mararoa will close on Tuesday and Friday at 6.30 a.m., and arrive on Monday and Thursday at 7.20 p.m. Improving the occasion. A “Spinster” in the Otago Daily Times reminds “all political bachelors that Dy marrying they obtain an extra vote.” London advices state that wool is very firm, and that Home buyers are competing spiritedly in view of an advance in rates. The wheat market shows an advance of 6d per quarter. The vernal equinox, which fell on the 21st, was followed yesterday by the inevitable gale. In town the dust was flying about in clouds, proving destructive alike to clothing and good temper. The “ earth hunger ” is still unsatisfied in America. Some land in the Cherokee reservation was recently thrown open, and in the rush to secure allotments eight lives were lost. The September ■ sittings of the Supreme Court open in Invercargill on Tuesday. There are four criminal cases set down for hearing, and three on the civil side. His Honour Mr Justice Williams will preside. We have been requested by tho manager of the Farmers’ Alliance and Supply Co. of N.Z. to state that there is no foundation for the report current in several parts of the district to the effect that amalgamation with the J. G. Ward Farmers’ Association is contemplated. “ We may put it as we like, but when talking amongst ourselves we know perfectly well that there is a great deal of chicanery in politics. The term seems a hard one, but I cannot find a gentler one.” —Dr. Grace on the Electoral Bill. Queensland, it appears, occupies the most favourable position in respect to the colonies so far as the ravages of cancer are concerned, the death-rate Horn it being equal to 31 in every 100,000 of population, as against 35 to every 100,000 iri New South Wales, and 38 to every 100,000 in New Zealand. Up to 2. 30. p.m. yesterday, 144 claims for enrolment had been lodged by women living in the Invercargill electorate, and five by their sisters of the Awarua district. The men folks are also asserting themselves, and the Registrar, Mr. J. Borrie, will evidently be kept busy for some time to come. Claims to vote can be filled in at this office. The members of the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle lodge at their last summoned meeting agreed by an almost unanimous vote to rescind the by-law enforcing fines for non-attend-ance at summoned meetings. It was stated that the imposition of fines had a prejudicial effect, and one speaker characterised the system as a “ relic of barbarism.” A number of large photographs of M. Francik, violinist, are now on view in various places in town. They were executed by Mr T. Muir, who recently took over Mr Coxhead’s business in Invercargill. The likenesses are, in popular phrase, “ speaking ones,” and M. Francik, who makes his appearamce in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday night, is delighted with them. Milton is evidently to be made a battleground for the assertion of their rights by the Walvation Army. Six members of the local corps have gone to prison rather than, pay fines for infringements of the Borough bylaws re processions, and it is stated that 300 officers and 3000 soldiers are prepared to go to Milton and be taken up. An attractive musical setting of De Foe’s immortal work, “ Robinson Crusoe,” will be given in Hanan’s Hall on Wednesday evening next for the purpose of augmenting the St. John’s Sunday school building fund. There will be limelight views and effects in connection with same, and altogether the programme is one that, apart from the object, should crowd the hall. Over fifty children are engaged, and several favourite- melodies will be wrought into the texture of the piece.

A rare chance to people in search of choice farm allotments is offered in this issue by Mr C. W. Brcwn, who has for sale the well-known Ringway Estate, lying between Fairfax and Otautau in the Aparima Valley. The estate has been subdivided into about 40 allotments, and will be offered at prices ranging from £2 10s to £8 per acre. Further particulars can be obtained at Mr Brown’s office. On Sunday afternoon last (writes a correspondent) a disgraceful and pitiful scene was witnessed in the neighbourhood of the North Road. Two young men, who. were very much under the influence of liquor, whilst driving into town and trying to take two sides of the road at once, found their efforts unsuccessful, and landed themselves in a large ditch. The vehicle was upset upon them, and when picked up by a passer-by one was found to be very much shaken, while the other, who was apparently more severely injured, was conveyed to the hospital. The Public Works Statement was delivered in the House of Representatives on Thursday night. The votes for expenditure during the current year include £15,000 for the extension of the Seaward Bush railway. The erection of a bridge over the Mataura will be undertaken as soon as the plans are ready. A sum of LSOO is also voted for a bridge over the Makarewa in connection with the extension of the Forest Hill tramway. In Sydney on the 21st inst. chick wheat was selling at 3s 2d; milling, nominally, 3s 7d , New Zealand, 3s fid. Flour (roller), £8 10s lo £8 15s. Oats are qm'et —bright heavy feed, 2s 9d; Tartarian, 2s lid to 3s. Maize, prime, 3s fid. Barley, (Cape), 3s. Potatoes — New Zealand, £3 to £5 ss; Circular Heads £6 to £6 ss. Onions (Victorian), £6 ss. Butter —Dairy, 9d to lOd ; factory, Is. Cheese,4d tc 5d Bacon (New Zealand), dull, 7id. Mr F. J. Lillicrap, who has taken over the business of Mr A. F. Lithgow, has vacated the. shop opposite the Post Office, which will be opened again shortly by Mr Shepherd, who is entering into the hatter, hosiery and mercery business. Mr Lillicrap’s Southland Musical Supply Co.’s premises are now opposite Guthrie’s and Co.’s establishment. The bright liberty yellow colour in which the shop has been painted makes at noticable along distance off. Everything is now in order and the fittings complete, and Mr Lillicrap, who is making a good start, has made arrangements with Home firms to have prompt consignments of the latest music forwarded. An illustration of how simply accidents will happen occurred at Otautau on Tuesday evening. Mr Thos. Guppies and another equallj fine specimen of manhood playfully laid hold of each other for a wrestling bout, but by means of a slight twist against a doormat Mr Guppies’ leg was broken just above the boot top. Dr Beauchop was speedily in attendance and successfully set the limb. Mr Cupples did not appear to saaffer much, but will be compelled to enforced idleness for some weeks —a severe privation at this time of the year. Mr B. Edwards’ edge-tool factory at One Tree Point was burned down on Thursday morning. Everything was left all right the night before, and the origin of the outbreak is a mystery. Mr Edwards, who had by hard work and energy built up a good business, estimates his loss at £SOO over the insurance. He will resume operations in temporary premises on Monday. Arrangements had been made to extend the business by forming a company, who were to have taken it over from Ist October. Mr Edwards will have the sympathy of many friends in his misfortune. The Wellington Evening Press in a leading article denies that it made a gross personal attack on the Hon. J. G. Ward in its former article on the J. G. Ward Farmers’ Association of N.Z. It adds that the status of the Company is mainly, if not entirely, due to the fact of its having a man of high standing and aandoubted integrity at its head, aid they regret that a correspondent who has communicated with them should have misunderstood their former article, so as to construe it into an attack on his commercial probity. “ The secrecy of the ballot!” exclaimed Dr Pollen during a debate on the Electoral Bill in the Legislative Council. “ A myth—pure cant. There is nothing of the kind. It is the thinnest and. most transparent of shams. There is no secrecy in the ballot, as everyone knows who has had any practical acquaintance with the business of electioneering in this colony. . . . The majority of men are honest, and observe their plighted word ; and tl e way in which three-fourths of the electors will vote upon any particular occasion is as well known as if their voices were given and their votes posted ou the market cloth. There is a small minority who are ready to avail themselves of the secrecy which the ballot affords. Amongst them will be found the cowards who think more of their own miserable skins than of the public duty imposed upon them ; the hypocrites who have pleasure in deceiving; and the knaves who take pi-o-voking gold on either hand, and use the cloak of the ballot to cheat the fools who trust them. Women have the courage of their opinions . . . and one of the hopes which I have of the enfranchisement of women is that this precious ballot will be abolished that the ancient faith will be restored which regarded the electoral franchise as a sacred trust confided to individuals to bo exercised openly, with the responsibility which belongs to each individual."

“ Long expected comes at last,” and the instruments which were ordered some time ago by the Invercargill Garrison Band came to hand on Wednesday last, in “ good order and condition.” They come from the firm of Messrs Boosey and Co., the celebrated makers in the Old Country, and in every way maintain the high reputation that firm have long enjoyed. The instruments (which number 21, and include silver-plated instruments for the solo-players, and two flugel horns —the latter splendid in accompaniments and cf great assistance in contests) were opened out and distributed to members at a special ■ practice on Wednesday evening. His Worship the Mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) was present, and made a very happy speech on the occasion, congratulating the Band on securing such a fine set of instruments. He said he was sure the public would assist them in every way they could to pay the balance due on them, and he felt, certain the demonstration which it was proposed to hold at the end of the year would be a great success. Lieut. Siddall, in replying, thanked the Mayor for his kind expressions, and said they were badlj r in need of new instruments, and now that they had them he hoped the Band would give a good account of itself at the next contest. They were greatly indebted to the public for the £ls ) which had been raised, and trusted to clear off what was still due with the aid of a bazaar which it was proposed to hold shortly. “ The Bonnets of Blue,” at the request of the; Mayor, was the first tune played on the new instruments —The Garrison Band are assiduously practising three nights a week for the forthcoming contest, and are making good headway with the two selections. —The City Band are also working hard, and, judging by the interest taken in it by Mr Mohr, will not be far away when the next contest is decided. Last Friday night the City Band attracted a large number to Price and Bullcid’s warehouse in Tay street, where a splendid display of dress materials, millinery, and spring goods' was made. Having some beautiful spring goods in, Messrs P. and B. determined that they should be seen, and the large attendance must have been highly gratifying.—Advt.