General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 41, 6 January 1894, Page 8

General News

A young Invercargillite, Mr McNeilage, who was with Messrs Carswell and Co. for some years, has obtained an appointment in the Treasury Department, Wellington. An interesting letter in Gaelic is to hand from an esteemed contributor, and will be published next week. Houses are in demand in Invercargill just now. From the Wakatipu Mail we note that Queenstown timber merchants have raised prices owing to an increase in charges of 2s per 100 ft. by Southland mill-owners. The Tapanui Courier reports the death from heart disease of Mr Donald Ferguson, of Crookston (father of Messrs Daniel and Malcolm Ferguson and Mrs Adam Swan). The old gentleman, who was 77 years of age, and a native of Scotland, was found sitting at the foot of a stack, with a pipe in one hand and tobacco in the other, apparently having been preparing for a smoke, Mr Oughton’s favourite mare Jenny Lind dropped a colt foal to Spot ” last week. The mare being by Traducer, something good may be expected from the youngster. We are informed that on Tuesday next begin the sittings of the annual meeting of the Council of the N. Z. Educational Institute. The meetings this year are held in Nelson, and Southland for the first time sends a contingent of four members. These are Messrs Selby (Lumsden), Clark (Central School), and Misses Bain (Central), and Sangster (Clifton). Evidently the ladies in Southland at least, are resolved to assert themselves, and we do not doubt that these ladies will justify their selection as delegates.

The local business of the Colonial Carrying Company, owing to a dissolution of partner* ship, has passed into new hands—those of Messrs W. Martin and A. McKellar. The combination is a good one, both being energetic and practical men, and it may safely be predicted that success will attend, their new venture. On and after Monday there will be an extra train run to and from the Bluff daily,, leaving Invercargill at 9.25, and the port on the return journey at 10.30 a.m. A slight change in the starting time of the succeeding train will also take effect on Monday—therewill be no train at 11.15, but at 11.25. At the Police Court on Thursday last John O’Donnell was charged with having on the 2nd January at Waikiwi assaulted Charles Gardiner by striking him on the face with a stone, thereby inflicting actual bodily harm—Mr Macalister for the comj plainant and Mr Harvey for the defendant. The complainant in cross-examination denied that he had thrashed the defendent on the Ist inst. The defendant was committed for trial, bail being allowed. Attention is elsewhere called to Mr E. Clcmpson’s Botanical Dispensary. A prejudice prevails in some quarters against herbal remedies, but judging from the testimonials which Mr Clempson has received his preparations appear to have proved highly efficacious in a number of cases. Ho has submitted several for our inspection but space will not permit of extended quotations—suffice it to say they are to the effect stated. Some particulars in connection with the wool industry in America are given in our correspondence column. We may supplement thsse by staling that the duty on wool in the States is 11 cents, per lb. Buyers in America, can get their own wool at 10 cents, per lb, yet so superior do they find the Australian article that they prefer to pay 18 cents, and 11 cents, alb duty for it. It may also be interesting to note (remarks an exchange) that although there are 60,000,000 white people in America there are only half-a-million sheep, whereas in New Zealand there only half-a-million people and about 2,000,000 sheep. A pleasing ceremony took place at the Bluff on Tuesday at the conclusion of the Garrison Band’s lengthy programme, when an unnamed march for the band written by Mr A„ F. Lithgow, leader of the Garrison, and just finished that morning prior to their departure fur the port, was christened “ The Barque Wairoa.” The barque was the vessel on which the band played during the day. Capt. Fox, on hearing the march played, said he would be very pleased to have it called after his ship. Lieut. W. V. Siddall (the conductor) then informed those present of what had just taken place. Mr Lithgow was introduced to Capt. Fox, and the latter, having made a few appropriate remarks, invited the baud to partake of refreshments in his cabin, which was done, one and all voting Capt. Fox “ a real good fellow.” With reference to the march we may say it is a, really good one, as all whoheard it on Tuesday can testify, and reflects the greatest credit on the youthful composer. Capt. Fox has since been presented with a “ score ” of the quickstep, which he intends taking Home with him in the course of a week or so.

A writer in the Tapanui Courier thinks that sports at that place and at Kelso and Herriot on three separate days is rather overdoing the thing, and suggests the amalgamation of the funds for one big day’*, sport. He adds: —“At present there are hardly enough athletes to go round between Christmas and New Year, and the consequence is that the prize money is often ‘ cut up ’ between two or three men, and tha public get very tame sport for their money.”

Stewart Island is unrivalled as a holiday resort. The tourist who goes there can secure immunity from many of the ills that civilised flesh is heir to —among them cable messages, telegrams, telephones, etc. But even there a man must not expect too much —he cannot get quit of the outside world altogether. This has been the experience of Mr iPerrctt, the well-known artist, who went over to the Island a few weeks ago, accompanied by Signor Nerli, on a sketching tour. Soon after landing Mr Perrett was told by several people that they had known he was about. His curiosity was excited, and he inquired “ How ?” “ Oh,” was the reply, “ a parcel arrived here some days ago for you.” Mr Perrett was puzzled. He knew nothing about such a parcel, but whereever he went that parcel turned up. Mr Perrett couldn’t get away from it, and at last it was duly brought to his lodgings. Its odour reached him afar off The bearer, with * consideration that will surely meet with its reward hereafter, carried the parcel into the back yard, and Mr Perrett got a nearer viewo. His curiosity was more than satisfied. The parcel contained a quantity of fish, and they had gone bad. Inquiries were made, and it was discovered that they had been forwarded from Invercargill fancy sending fish to Stewart Island! The explanation is that ft label had fallen off a parcel of easels, etc., belonging to Mr Perrett, and had been duly affixed to the first unaddressed parcel that came to hand, which happened to be the aforesaid fish. This may reach the eye of the sender, who may have wondered as to their fate. Having got rid of that troublesome parcel, Mr Perrett and his companion set to work, and during their stay made a large number of sketches of the numerous “ beauty spots” of the Island. The pictures in question are now on view in the Southland Art Society’s rooms, over Wcsney’s premises.

A man backed himself for five shillings to fight a dog in a hotel yard in Wellihgton the ether day. The dog won and the man is bow in the hospital with his face badly bitten. [Nobody will sympathise with him. Hs is the greater brute of the two. “ Strikes me I’ll have a slap at this game, The speaker was an old sailorman who stood on the bridge of the steamer Dispatch oa Bluff regatta day, just after Mr Cavill, Ihe champion swimmer, had plunged into the ■briny to give one of his clever exhibitions, [No sooner said than done. The old fellow, SIS a necessary preliminary, started to rid himself of superfluous attire—this under the gaze of four or five thousand people. A bystander remonstrated with the local son of 4he sea. “ You can’t undress in front of this crowd. Go below.” “Oh,” replied the ambitious one, not in the least disconcerted, and indicating the mass of onlookers with a comprehensive wave of his hand, “ if these people will only go out of my sight for a minute or (two it’ll be all right!” The disrobing process was then resumed, but forcible arguanants were now invoked, and Mr Cavill’s would-be rival disappeared from view, wearing his clothes and a look of keen disapxnent. The “Village Blacksmith” has been im--anortalised, and whatever science may discover to abolish'that useful and at present indispensable bandar aft, those implements of the trade specially mentioned by the poet will soever be forgotten. Who in our generation can disassociate the Blacksmith from his •“bellows,” his “heavy sledge,” his “flaming forge,” his “ blazing sparks.” and that afterthought, bis “sounding anvil”? But there did exist one feature of the smithy familiar to those -whose memory can look back ten or twenty years, which was not enumerated, and that was the little bench anvil used to point the horse nail upon. Who does not remember the rat-tat-tat which -FFII upon the ear almost before the “ roaring bellows” or the “ ringing anvil ” as Vulcan laboured to give the old hand-made nail the necessary finish. Machinery has changed all this, and for years past nails have been available that can be used direct from the package, .aind the familiar rat-tat-tat has died away in the ■reverberations of a forgotten past. The 3»ames and makers of these machine made mails striving for a place have been legion, but at last a nail has been produced that is as near perfection as possible, and it is calculated to supersede all others. It is called the “Star,” and particulars are to be seen in our advertising column. With the advent of 1894 Mr A. Kaeside, pastrycook and confectioner, entered into This new premises, a substantial two-storeyed brick building, which has just been erected in Esk street. From its ’ height, and the general finish the shop, which is fitted' up in the very latest style, has .a very attractive the effect being greatly enhanced 4>y the mirrors set in to the back and sides of the windows. Besides a special ladies’ room with lavatory leading off, there are four private coffee rooms, three of which can at any time he thrown into one by removing the panels. The back portion of the ground iioor is taken up by the bakery and kitchen, from which hot and cold water is supplied throughout the whole building. The upper ijtory will be used principally as a private dwelling house, the large sitting room upstairs in front (20ft. by loft.) being separated from a smaller one by large panels, so that when the two are thrown into one a room 15ft. by 30ft. is given. The fitting up of every part of the premises is equal 4o that of the best hotels, electric bells connecting with the various rooms. Messrs Walker and Sons the contractors have fulfilled their part of the work in a first-class manner, ■and when the structure is quite finished it will be a decided ornament to that part of .Esk street and a credit to the contractors and architects (Messrs McKenzie and Gilbertson). We hope Mr Kaeside will find his enterprise rewarded, and that he and his gonial betterlialf will have a happy and prosperous New Year.