The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Nov. 18 General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 34, 18 November 1893, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Nov. 18 General News

We understand that the New Zealand Shipping Co. have arranged to take an interest in the Southland Frozen Meat Company, and will send their steamers at regular intervals to carry frozen meat and produce from the Bluff. Large orders for sawn timber are pouring into Greymouth, some from Melbourne. The next band contest is to be held at Saster, Invercargill being the place chosen. Interesting particulars of the great coal strike at Home are given in this issue by our correspondent “ Aurora.” Mr D. Boss, of Palmerston, has been appointed a guide and letter carrier from December to March between Te Auau and Milford Sound. Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.8., has been nominated without opposition for a further term as President of the Shearers and Labourers’ Union of New Zealand. The Southland County Council in this issue invite tenders for a number of works. They close on the 24th Nov. The champion mean man of the colony lives in Auckland. He lately stole the life buoy from one of the wharves. The Tuapeka Times reports that a number of Mormons have settled down at Lovell’s Flat. “ A great and glorious gaspipe ” is the name bestowed by the Wellington journal Fairplay on a recent visitor to Invercargill—Sir Bobt. Stout. Deducting the land purchase and loans to local bodies debentures the Government has £233,300 borrowed from the funds of the Post office, Government Insurance Department, Public Trust, and Slaking Fund. Commissioners. The Trades and Labor Council is formulating a scheme for the employment of some 500 men who arc said to require work in Hobart, half of whom are married, with families. A young bushman named Hynes, after witnessing the Oyclorma of the Battle of Waterloo, at Melbourne, went crazy. He was arrested at the Murray Bridge ‘in an almost nude condition. He maintained that he had been in the battle, and that he was going bushranging. The writs for the general election were is sued on the 13th inst., and are returnable on December 4th. Nominations must be in not later than the 21st, and the polling will take place on Tuesday, November 28th. The prize offered by the.proprietors of this journal for the best criticism in. Gaelic of the first article published .in our Gaelic column, was awarded this week. It fell to the gentleman who wrote under the sioni de plume “ Eileanach,” whose contribution was in every respect admirable.

During the twelve months ending on 16tlb September last there were 580 visitors to thegrave of Carlyle, at Ecclefechan. Of the nationality of these pilgrims we learn that two were Chinese, two Gormans, two Australians, 14 Americans, and there was found one Frenchman to visit the tomb of the sage Chelsea.

An inquiry is to be made by the SydneyMarine Board into the statement made byfour sailors belonging to the Louisa Messel, that during the voyage from Newcastle the captain and the mate bored auger holes in the hull with the intention of sinking heiv and it -was only owing to the superhuman efforts of the crew at the pumps that she was kept afloat. Mr McKevenan, principal of the English firm of Cooy and Co., which expended some £84,000 in New Zealand butter last year 3 and Mr G-erritsen, are both on their way to the colony and are expected to take a large share in New Zealand’s output this season. There are 16 2 dairy factories at work in the colony as against 104 last year. The Otago Daily Times laments the unwillingness shown by “ men of standing ami position ” to come forward for the representation of the city, and adds— £i Graduated, taxation and the distribution of wealth are the great public questions of tbc future, and if only one class has the settlement of these matters we can guess in anticipation what that settlement will be like.”

The Hon. J. G. Ward, although he is. apparently to have a walk-over, is determined. to keep the Awarua electors well posted in political matters. He holds a meeting at. the Bluff to-night. Wellington Fairplay is “down” on three or four cabbies who drive people to houses of ill-fame, and threatens to expose them if their licenses are renewed without question... A band contest in a city means a good thing for most of the hotelkeepers. There were ten visiting bands at the recent contest in Christchurch, and in at least one case the hotel bill was represented by a chequefor LSO odd. Allowing that the others paid at the same rate, the tidy little sum of LSOO went to Christchurch bonifaces, to say nothing of the influx of the non-musical visitors. It may be added that the catering • was not in every case satisfactory. An addition has been made to the ranks of Wellington journalism in the shape of' “ Fairplay,” an illustrated weekly of twentyeight pages, including the tinted covers, it is published for the Fairjffay Company byMcKee and Gamble, and the editor declares in his opening article that the paper is “ against, prohibition of any sort, whether it be applied to the temperance movement, or taken in itsbroader sense as meaning the suppression of honest thought, or the attempt to givepublicity to such social and political evils as r may be remedied or upre oted by the attraction of popular attention to their existence.” Fairplay is smartly written, and the letterpress, with the accompanying illustrations, ' makes a good threepen’orth.

The following good stor} r is told by “ Old Sportsman” in t lie Australasian ; Mr. T. W. Field was one of the roughest of rough; diamonds, but a sterling good fellow, and worshipped by his workmen. No man waamore fond of a joke, whether for or agains himself, as the following instance will serveto show, and which he often related hinself. In the evening of the Champion Eace Day that Strop was victorious, a number of choice spirits, were foregathering at the BrisbaneHotel. When conviviality was almost at concert pitch another of the “ school,” who, it may be mentioned, was as deaf as the proverbial post, walked into the room, and insisted on taking part in the good-fellowship that prevailed by “standing” a round of', liquors. Mr. Field proposed the newcomer’s health, and knowing that he could not hear a word, said, after the glasses were lifted—“ You. old scoundrel, here’s hoping that you will be hung.” Scarcely had be resumed his seat when Mr. —— rose and said, “ Thank you, Mr. Field, the same to you and all yourfamily, sir.” The laughter that followed is. left to the reader’s imagination.

The annual brass band contest closed, in Christchurch last Saturday, and resulted in the Invercargill Garrison band securing first place with 128 points, the Wellington. Garrison and Kaikorai bands tying for second place, with 123 points. The Invercargill CityGuards band were tenth with 108 points. The majority of the members of the Garrison band returned on Tuesday afternoon, and received a right good welcome. Quite a, concourse of citizens was in waiting when the train came in, and lusty cheers greeted the victors. The latter had a great surprise sprung upon them. As they drew near the station they heard the strains of a welcoming band. It played well, too, but the question was—“ Where on earth had it come from ?”—lt was eventually elicited that Messrs T. J. Anthony and J. Walker were mainly responsible for its existence. It consisted for the most part of ex-bandsmen, and they could not have devised a bettermeans of at once pleasing and surprising the returning instrumentalists. Soon after the arrival of the train a procession was formed and marched to the rounda, where the band was welcomed by the Mayor (Mr D. McFarlane) and presented with a handsome address, in which full recognition was made of the- achievements of the band and of its three soloists : —Messrs A'. F. Lithgow, ■A. Ferguson and B.Jenkins. Lieut. Siddall duly responsed, and after three cheers hadboon given for the City Guards and reception band the proceedings closed.

A mail for the United Kingdom closes at 3 45 p.m to-day. The Star Sailing Club is arranging for an ■art union— prizes, L-500 in value. The ilon. Mr Seddon will probably address ;a meeting in Invercargill next week Mr J. Hatch addresses the Invercargill •electors on Monday night in the Theatre. Mr J, W. Kelly, in the prosecution o£ his candidature for Invercargill, invites the electors to meet him in the North larercargill town hall on Monday-night. Several articles, including the second Instalment of our special reporter’s notes on the Drummond District, are crowded out of this issue.

The Hon. G . F. Richardson addressed the electors.of Mataura ntWyndham on Tuesday, and subjected the financial policy of the Government to a keen criticism, be received a -vote of thanks and confidence.

It is stated that Messrs Hud dart, Parker and Co-.’s steamer Tasmania is to be put on the New Zealand trade, leaving Sydney on the 22nd.

Ominous. Out of a call amounting to 4E153,050, which was made on the contributories in the Anglo-Australian T3ank, only <£62o has been paid. The assets of the bank simply amount to £4O 400 with which to meet debts amounting to £400,000. Hard luck.' A man named Noble, awaiting trial at the next criminal session for perjury, died in the Wellington gaol of consumption. Noble had come into a legacy since he was iSent to gaol of nearly £3OOO.

The shelves of the AtheniEum library Teceived a substantial addition this week in -the shape of over 100 books, comprising novels, books of travel, history, theology, etc. They include some representative works in these departments, and will greatly enhance the popularity of the library. The Rev. J. Standring, of the Esk street Baptist ehurch, has left that body and joined "the Presbyterians. In another column, Messers E. W. Wright and S. Eerguson respectively announce that they have removed into those central premises at the corner of Dee and Esk streets. The joiners and painters have been at work and have made the place, which is divided into two shops, look very attractive.

A meeting of the directors of the Cale•flonian Society of Southland was held a few ■evenings ago—the President (Mr J. Aitken) in the chair. The programme for the annual games, at which over £240 will be distributed in money and trophies, was ordered to be printed. It will include several bicycle races, •and should, taken all round, evoke keen competition. The Caledonian Dramatic Society .are also hard at work on ‘‘ The Heart of Midlothian,” and, judging from the interest taken in the annual fixture by all concerned, the gathering of 1894, with its complementary dramatic performance, bids fair to break the record in point of interest and attendance. A united temperance bazaar will be held in the Temperance Hall on Nov. 29th and SOth. The Auxiliary branch of the Alliance, amder whose auspices it is being held, is not an the happy position of having what Sir Julius Vogel termed an assured finance.—it is dependent on the support of those interested an the cause for the sinews of war. Of late it has tieen unusually active in the advocacy of its ■views, and this means considerable outlay. The bazaar, for which the ladies have already ■prepared a large collection of attractive work, ■has been adopted as a means of raising funds itbat will not press on the willing few, and •will enable all interested in the cause to contribute towards the work. Donations of anoney or produce, however small, will be received by the persons named in the advertisement.

The elements were again unfavourable on Wednesday, and the United Friendly Societies’ gala at Biverton had to be once more postponed—-this time to Wednesday next. Holders of excursion tickets can travel that -day by the ordinary morning train, and also Jby-a special leaving here at 1.30 p.m. The ■delegates have worked like Trojans, and the railway department have met them in every possible way, and it is to be hoped that success will at last reward their efforts. It anay be mentioned that it would be a great (convenience if business places closed at 12. 30 p.m on Wednesday instead of 1 p.m, sas this would give holiday makers an h-,ur in which to get ready for the afternoon train.

The new Davis "Vertical Feed Sewing Machine. On reference to our advertising columns it will he seen that Mr R. W. Jones, the well-known sewing machine expert, has suceeedcd-in securing the agency for the above celebrated- machine. That Mr Jones should Xiave elected to,run the Davis may he considered a very substantial testimony to its merits, for, as is well known, he will handle nothing "but the best. It will be seen that the Davis is the only vertical feed machine, and on that .account possesses (it is claimed) advantages ever all other makes, as it will do work which cannot possibly be, as well as quickly, done on under or step-feed makes, in the earlier patterns of the J 'avis there were one or two defects in the mechanism, but in the up-to-date type these Ixave been entirely removed ; it is light running and noiseless, and Ihc finish is superb. Mr Jones invites all interested to call and see tbe machines.

A suite 5 .of furniture, finished in tapestry and plush, made to order by Mr A. Dewe, 3velvin street, will be on view in his window until Tuesday next. —Anvx.