The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 16. General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 38, 16 December 1893, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. I nvercargill, Saturday, Dec. 16. General News

Some particulars of our Christmas Number, to be published next week, are advertised.

There was once upon a time a row in an English mining village. “Who's down now ?” cried someone in the middle of the fray.” “ Cousin Billy.” “ Pick un up,” was the quick response. “ Who’s down now ?” was repeated a little later. “ A stranger,” was the answer. “ Hit un with a brick!” was the order. And they did it. Coming nearer home, one is reminded of the incident by the savage attack made by the musical critic of the Southland Times on our visitor from Christchurch, whose singing in “ The Messiah ” delighted so many this week. The writer “hit un with a brick” with a vengeance. The annual picnic in connection with the City Guards band will be held at Mokotua on Boxing Day. A special train leaves town at 9.30 a.m., and returns at 6 p.m. The bandsmen are working assiduously to provide a capital outing, and, should the weather be fine, a large number of citizens will doubtless avail themselves of the opportunity presented to enjoy a trip into the country. A special programme of music (including selections from the latest operas ; also favorite waltzs) besides music for dancing will be given. A feature of the outing is that hot water and fresh milk will be supplied free to picnic parties. The annual meeting of the Southland Art Society will be held in their rooms on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday afternoon and evening, and on Thursday evening the public will have an opportunity of judging of the work done by the students during the session just closed. Admission will be free, and as the work referred to will be supplemented by a number of pictures lent to the Society for the occassion as well as photographs from the Camera Club, a very attractive collection will be on view. People who want to spend a very pleasant Wednesday half-holiday will know where to go.

The Anarchists are pursuing their fell work. On the 10th inst a bomb was thrown by a man named Marechal into the French Chamber of Deputies, the result being the wounding of 63 persons.

Don’t know when they are well off. It is expected that the Royal Tar will go to New Zealand on her next voyage to “ New Australia, ” Baraguary, to take intending emigrants.

Mr Gladstone has pledged his Government to bring in a hill next session giving full local option.

Mails for the United Kingdom close at Invercargill at 10. 15 a.m, and 3.45 p.m. to-day.. The following candidates were nominated on Thursday for the Second Ward to fill the vacancy caused by Mr Eaeside’s election as Mayor : —Messrs J. S. Goldie, W. Smith, and J, Kingsland. One hundred and twenty-seven deaths from influenza have occured in London during a week. At the last meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board the tender of E. J, Foord, Dunedin, for berthage dredging was accepted at 6d, 7d, and Is per cubic yard, or £1847 10s lOd in all.

“ Men are hard to get ” was the statement made by a contractor to the last meeting of the Southland County Council. A good number of works are now in hand.

The annual church parade of the I. O. 0~. F., M. U., took place on Sunday evening,, when the members of the Loyal Shamrock, Bose, Thistle, and St. George Lodges attended St. John’s Church in good force. The Ven. Archdeacon Stocker officiated, and delivered an eloquent and appropriate discourse.

Ten thousand acres of the Cheviot estate are to be thrown open on perpetual lease. America is still an easy first in the matter of sensational occurrences. Maas, the City Clerk of New York, charged with stealingL 20,000, suicided in the presence of his employers. This style of thing savours of the Japenese hari kari, or “happy despatch.” The children always receive a good deal o£' attention about Christmas time, and those who attend the Juvenile Fair to be in Hanan’s Hall by the Colonial Treasurer on Wcdnesday afternoon will find it a vei’itable temple of pleasure. So, too, for that matter, will theirelders A varied bill of fare has been arranged, including the dolls, name-guessing competition, for which very handsome prizes areoffered, to say nothing of a lot of good things in the way of musical selections, Among, them violin and cornet solos by Miss and Master Black.

On Christmas day all the train services on the Hurunui —Bluff section, with the exception of the express trains and a few of the principal connecting trains, wil be suspended. The following will be the only local trains running—7.s a.m. Invercargill to Gore and back; 9.15 a.m, Invercargill to Riverton and back; and the 8.45 a.m., Kingston to Gore and back. On the Bluff line the trains will leave Invercargill at 9.50 a m. and 2.15 p.m., returning from Bluff at 10.45 a.m. and 6 p.m. According to the correspondent of the OtagoTimes a prospectus has lately been issued privately of the New Zealand Barafin Oil Company (Limited), with a capital of £IOO,OOO, in 83,000 ordinary shares of £1 each and 17.000 founders’ shares of £1 each. It is. announced that 40,000 shares have been subscribed in New Zealand, leaving only 10.000 for' subscription in this country. The Hon. T. Fergus, late Minister for Mines, is a provisional director; and there are fourothers—all of them being persons well known in the colony. It is stated in the prospectus that the consumption of mineral oils for burning and lubricating in New Zealand is rapidly increasing, and now reaches the value of £120,000 per annum. The object of the company is to acquire and turn to profitable account valuable shale and coal fields situate at Orepuki, in the district of Southland, New Zealand.