The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, March 3. General News

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 49, 3 March 1894, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, March 3. General News

To the local branch of the National Mortgage and Agency Co. belongs the distinction of introducing a new stock fixture at Winton. We refer to their ram fair, which is advertised for the 16th inst., and is the first fair of that kind held there. Winton is looking up as a stock centre, and buyers and sellers will doubtless appreciate the new departure. Madame Patey, the great contralto singer, fainted in the course of a concert at Sheffield and died six hours later from apoplexy. She visited Invercargill in 1891. An article in Gaelic is to hand from an esteemed contributor, and will appear next week.

Last week’s warm rains have done a good deal of damage in various parts of Southland, and the crops have suffered severely. A graphic account of the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal is given this week by “ Aurora.”

A resident of Hobart named Normoyle, who discovered his wife in compromising circumstances, shot her paramour dead. He has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. A subscriber to the Wanganui Public Library read 260 books last year. Of these 229 were novels. An old New Zealand railway man, Mr Alison Smith, is suing thcJVlelbournc Age for £15,000 for libel. The local option poll and that for the election of a committee will be held in the Invercargill electoral district on 21st March. Good! New Zealand 31 per cents, arc now bringing 98£ readily, which is the highest figure ever reached. A very successful exhibition under the auspices of the Southland Horticultural Society was held in the Theatre Eoyal on Wednesday and Thursday. In some departments it eclipsed all previous shows. The Weslevan Conference is in session at Christchurch.' Invercargill is represented by the Eev. E. Taylor and Mr G. E. George. At the first reading of stations the Ecv. S. Lawry was named lor this circuit. Mr Gladstone has had an interview with

The Weslevan Conference is in session at Christchurch." Invercargill is represented by the Kev. R. Taylor and Mr G. E. George. At the first reading of stations the Ecv. S. Lawry was named for this circuit.

Mr Gladstone has had an interview with the Queen, and it is believed he will shortly undergo a critical operation to his eye, involving confinement for seven weeks in a darkened room. It is believed he will shortly retire, and Lord Rosebery is mentioned as his probable successor. “ Love laughs at rank,” and therefore, in consequence of her friends urging a distastefid marriage, Miss Hopkins, an American heiress, who was staying at Leamington Spa, married a policeman with whom she hud only been acquainted a month. We are reluctantly compelled through pressure of space to hold over “ Vox’s ” Random Notes this week.

An astronomical observer writes : “ The sun’s disc is now well worth observing. One spot nearly in the centre is enormously large, ax. d is plainly visible to the naked eye, protected, of course, by a dark or a smoked piece of glass. For those who have large glasses the spot will be especially interesting, but it is well seen in an ordinary binocular. During 1892-93 there were in existence in New Zealand the following licenses Publicans 1,431. .New Zealand wine 7, accomodation 240, bottle 50, packet 01, wholesale 137. The license fees paid to local bodies totalled £00,299.

At the public meeting held in Dunedin to protest against the proposed street by-law one jf the speakers said in effect that drinking went on in tlie town hall and should be prohibited. The imputation has been warmly resented by the Council, and the Mayor (Mr Fish) stated that if the law could not touch the author of the statement, they should horsewhip him through the streets of Dunedin as they would a mangy cur.

The Bluff has been plunged into grief since Sunday last. On the morning ot that day five young men—William Wilson, Abraham McKenzie, Evan McQ.uarrie, Andrew King, and James Felix Pleasants—went out for a sail on the Awarua Arm, and were never afterwards seen alive. The boat was found on Monday full of water, with, mast and mainsail gone, and the dog taken by the party was discovered alive on shore, but in a very bedraggled condition. Indications point to the fact that the boat having filled, her occupants left her and endeavoured to reach the shore. Four of the bodies have since been recovered, viz., those of McQuarrie, Pleasants, King and McKenzie. The deceased were well known at the port, and were deservedly respected. Bewi, the great Maori chief, is dying. He fought against the Europeans many years ago, and afterwards co-operated with Sir G. Grey in bringing about peace. Kewi recently gave the Rev. Mr Gittos a startling piece of information. He said—“ You pakehas have always blamed the Maori for the murder of the Rev. John Whitely at Whitecliff. The Maori never did that deed. It was done by a European—a pakeha-Maori, 1 * whose name he gave.

Wyndham Valle}’ was the scene of an ex ceedingly distressing occurrence on Thursday' 22nd ult. A settler named Kcil McDonald went out at night to sho,*t pigs, which had been getting among the oat stooks. Another man, named William Johnston, bent on the same errand, came up behind, and, in the belief that he saw a pig in the darkness, fired twice. The shots struck McDonald, the second discharge inflicting injuries which speedily proved fatal. At the inquest the jury found that the occurrence was purely accidental, but expressed the opinion that (the use of firearms is too commonly allowed to youths, who are inclined to fire without first ascertaining the object at which they are aiming.

The following nominations have been received for the Sheffield Handicap (135 yards) to be run at the Irish Athletic Society’s sports on 14th March :—B. Bain, C. Kane, J. Manson, M. J. Forde, John Humphrey, and G. Strachan (Invercargill), A. E. Walker (Canterbury), A. Dickson (Milton), H. T. Dawson (Lumsden), G. A. Cameron (Mat,aura), Arthur Thomson and F. IT. Green (Riverton), Janies Wilson (Winton), G. Harris (Limehills), A. Herman (Waikiwi), T. Eeidy (Balfour), and J. McKenzie (Sandy Point). “ Land for the people ” is a cry often heard. In Kew Zealand our paternal Government is endeavouring to meet the demand by the purchase and subdivision of large estates. Private enterprise is also doing its share in this direction, the Eingway Estate, comprising upwards of 5,000 acres, suitable either for dairying or sheep-farming purposes, and situated in the fertile valley of the Apurima, being now open for selection. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns, and all information can be obtained from Mr C. W. Brown, the local agent for the vendors.

The Weekly Standard, a -well got up and evry readable 12-page penny weekly, issued in Auckland, notes that “ Invercargill, New Zealand’s Ultima Thule, generously supports a 16-page penny weekly, the Southern CecOs.” We thank the Standard for kindly mention, and hope it may “ live long and prosper.” The Cross will probably be the forerunner of a good many penny weeklies.

The great attraction for the public next Wednesday afternoon will be the cycling sports. All the races, with two exceptions, will be ridden upon safety bicycles. No races have yet taken place upon the new quartermile "track on these machines, and Wednesday’s e rents, it is expected, will be an eyeopener as to what can be done on a good track. There arc 27 different competitors for the various ’cycle events, including riders from Dunedin and elsewhere. The Garrison Band will play a choice programme of music, and if the weather is favourable the gathering will'probably be a very large one. A Chinese lantern parade will "take place on Tuesday evening, starting from the post office.

The tea set of 39 pieces offered by Messr* R. L. Begg and Sons, tea merchants, for the best paragraph upon tea, brought forward a large number of competitors from town and country. The decision as to who will take the prize will be arrived at in a few days, and the first, second, and third essays will be published in next week’s issue.

Old identities have often regretted the closing of the store in Tay street, formerly occupied for many years by*one of our most sterling citizens, the late Mr D. Smyih. We are glad to learn that it is about to be reopened, and by a son of that gentleman, Mr G. T. Smyth, who has had a thorough business training in Melbourne. He will be welcomed both for his own and the late Mi Smyth’s sake.

The business premises of the well-known drapery firm of J. 1). McGruer and Co. have undergone extensive interior alterations, giving greater facilities for carrying on a firstclass business. We believe they arc large importers of French millinery, jackets, and children’s requisites. At the present time they are holding their annual stock-taking sale, which is a genuine one. They have received their winter shipment of French pattern bonnets, hats, and children’s millinery earlier than usual. Ladies desirous of purchasing a pattern bonnet or hat should not fail to see them.