General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 October 1893, Page 8

General News

An account of a local romance is given onpage 9. This is Labour Day, but so far as we can learn no arrangements hare been made for its. observance locally. In other centres sports, etc., are to be held. The result of the Southern Cross writing •ompetition will be published in next issue. Owing to pressure of late country news and advertisements we have been compelled to., hold over “"Vox's” budget of “ .Random,. Notes ” till next week. A mail for the United Kingdom and Australia closes at Invercargill at 10.15 a.m. to-, day. [Another mail, via San Francisco, will' close here at 3.15 p.m. [on Tuesday next. A meeting of the Southland County Council will be held on Tuesday, 31st October. Messrs J. Hatch and G. W. Brodrick are out for Invercargill. Mr J. Mackintosh, who seeks re-election for Wallace, elsewhere notifies a number of meetings. Mr R. McNab is still on the warpath in the extensive Mataura electorate, and is meeting with a very good reception. A few choice lots of Victorian dairy factory butter have brought as much as 118 s per ewt in London. The Russian naval officers received upward* of £IOO,OOO worth of presents dui’ing their stay in Paris. In demand. The season’s output of cheese from the Wyndham factory—about 110 tons, —has been bought by a Home firm at a fair price. Mr Pilcher, the popular local agent of the New Zealand Insurance Company, is an enthusiastic knight of the camera, and under his initiation a new body was on Thursday night added to our local institutions in the shape of tlic Southland Camera Club. A chemist at Elsternwick (Victoria) was experimenting with a new explosive on Wednesday last, when an explosion occurred, and he was blown to pieces. Six hundred delegates to the “ Ulster Parliament representing 170,000 enrolled Liberal Unionists, have elected a committee of 40 to watch their interests and formulate a policy. It is not likely that the Hon. J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer, will address his constituents at Wiuton before the 6th Nov. The City Guards Band gave a promenadeconcert at the Rotunda on Wednesday night, and charmed a very large audience by theiradmirably played selections. Sir George Grey is into public life again. He lately addressed the first meeting of the women of the Purnell electorate, and proposed to abolish the Legislative Council and substitute a female chamber. He received a unanimous vote of confidence. Mr T. Corbett, the head of the well-known Perseverance Ironworks in Shrcwsbury.passed through Invercargill a few days ago on his periodical tour round the world. During his stay he visited several of our publie institutions, and space will be found next week for his views concerning them and other subjects. The members of the Caledonian Dramatic Society are now actively preparing for their New Year engagements. They have in rehearsal “ The Heart of Midlothian,” a five-act melodrama based on Scott’s wellknown novel, and judging from the spirit with which the work nas been undertaken, the members will give a capital account of themselves. The cast is a strong one, and everything bespeaks a first-class performance. The Bluff Presbyterian Church building fund was augmented to the amount of £2l 11s 7d by the special collections in its aid made in the First Church, Invercargill, last Sunday. The services, both morning and evening, were conducted by the Kev. J. Anderson Gardiner, of the Bluff, who at the close of the evening service referred to the kindly treatment he had received in this part of the world ; and in thanking the congregation for their liberal gift, said that it would be appreciated by his people and materially assist them in their laudable undertaking. A special sermon—“ The true aim of life ” was preached to young men at night, when the church was crowded. A condensed report appears in onr Sunday at Home column. A juvenile Foresters’ Court was opened at Dunedin last week, over 250 members beingenrolled. The Gore Standard reports that an old man named John Stewart, a stockman well known throughout Southland, and who brought the first shipment of sheep from Australia to the” Bluff, was found dead on Thursday on the Cairn road, near the Anise Hill homestead. The City Band give a concert in the Theatre Eoyal on Wednesday evening, prior to their departure for Christchurch, where they take part in fhe forthcoming band contest. Some very attractive features are comprised in the entertainment. Sections 2 and 3, block 12, Limehills township, and section 50, block 2, Oteramik a, have been permanently set aside as gravel reserves, while section 191 Wairio, has been set apart for cemetery purposes, Section 10, block 1 Alton, has been, temporarily declared a landing reserve.

A shocking tragedy is reported at Guyra (N.W.S.). Miss Wrightson was visiting her brother-in-law, who is manager of the Joint Stock Bank at Guyra. tie fancied lie heard burglars on the premises and roused the household. Seeing a figure in the dark he fired and shot Miss Wrightson, who died in a few minutes. There was no sign of burglars in the place. The members of the Garrison Band occupy "the stage of the Theatre Royal next Friday evening, appearing in a capital programme, particulars of which are given in another column. Tickets are going off rapidly, and a crowded house is assured. While strong instrumentally, it will be noted that some choice vocal selections are included in the bill of fare. If the Cheviot Estate allotments, to be scld next month, do not sell readily it will not be for lack of effort on the part of the Lands Department, who are distributing plans and sketches of the country in various forms. We Lave to acknowledge receipt from the Department of a brochure of 50 odd pages, with maps and illustrations, together with large lithos and plans, the whole containing full •details as to terms, etc , and at the same time enabling people at a distance to form a good idea of the district in which the Estate dies. The twenty-first anniversary of the Don-st. Primitive Methodist Church was celebrated on .Sunday, when special services were held, Dev. Mr White, of Wallacetown, officiating, and on Wednesday evening by a soiree. At the after meeting on Wednesday addresses ■were given by Kevs. Taylor, Woollass, Standring and Sharpe, and Mr Geo. Froggatt (chairman) in the course of his remarks referred to the pleasing fact that the church funds showed a credit balance at the bank. Musical items were rendered by an efficient choir, and other ladies and gentlemen, Mr E. Service presiding at the organ. The customary votes of thanks brought a very pleasant evening’s enjoyment to a close. The Committee of management in connection with the Friendly Society sports and picnic on the 9th are working very energetically to make the gathering a success. Diverton was visited on Wednesday last, and the site fixed upon. It is near Tail’s Point, about fifteen minutes walk from the bridge. The visitors will be met at the station by the Diverton Brass Band, which will provide anusic during the day, and it is understood that a regatta will take place in full view of those assembled upon the rising ground, ■where the sports are to be held. One feature of the regatta, it is said, will be a race between two Riverton ladies. The prizes in Mr Goldie’s possession now number several hundreds, and include almost every conceivable form of toy as well as other useful and ornamental articles, which should tempt many of the older boys to compete well. Given fine weather on the 9th November, Diverton ought to be the rendezvous of many hundreds of holiday-makers from various parts of the district. The first meeting of the directors of the Southland Caledonian Society since the annual meeting was held iu the Temperance Hall on Wednesday, the President (Mr J. Aitkcn) occupying the chair. After a lengthened term of service as secretary Mr A. McKellar tendered his -resignation, and it was Teluctantly accepted, a cordial vote of thanks bbing passed in recognition of his able services. Mr John Matheson was elected to the office, and was also appointed treasurer. He is an old office-bearer, and will prove a worthy successor to the late holder of the position. Mr A. McKellar was subsequently elected superintendent of sports, Mr W. Martin deputy-superintendent, Mr A. Potter starter, and Mr C. Wyeth handicapper. The grounds and games committee was constituted as follows: Messrs Geddes, Robinson, Potter, Mair, Rankin, Raird, Cameron, Martin, Blacke and McKellar. Messrs Racsido, Sinclair, McEwen, Potter and Blacke were elected the Finance Committtee, and Messrs J. Mackintosh, J. W. Blacke, MeKellar and Racside the Education Committee. The Presbyterian Church at the Bluff was opened for public worship on Sunday last, the Rev. J. Fcrgusou, of Invercargill, preaching morning and evening. Large congregations assembled at each service. A soiree in connection with the same event was held in the Drill Hall on Wednesday night, and was well attended, The ladies of the congregation presided at the tables, and Mr P. Georgeson acquitted himself well as caterer. The after-meeting took place in the church, which was almost completely tilled. The Rev. J. Ferguson, Moderator of the parish, presided. Addresses were given by the Revs. Asher, Thornton, Williams and Gardiner, and Messrs T. Perkins, S. Nicbol and T. Denniston, while first-class music was discoursed by a choir xmcler Mr Johnston, who deserves great praise for what he has done in this department of church work. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to all who bad contributed to the success of the gathering, and to the avchitect and contractors, Mr W. A. McOaw (Gore), and Messrs Hall and Saudilands, and in replying Mr McCaw bore testimony to the excellent manner in which the contractors had done their share, not only carrying out the spirit of the contract, but even going beyond it. In the course of his remarks th« chairman mentioned that the ground and building had cost £7OO and the manse £3OO more. ... He added that the charge had not cost the Synod a single penny for maintenance o' ordinances, which was quite a singu'aas well as creditable, feature in the case cf so young a charge.