The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, April 14 General News

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 2, 14 April 1894, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, April 14 General News

The story of an old-time tragedy in Duh* edin, told by one of Southland’s oldest inhabitants* is given in another column. The Railway Commissioners have accepted th* tender of the proprietors of this paper for the printing required for the local section of railways during the current year. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin possess among them 373 hotels. Ry a firo in Baltimore, 137 racehorses, worth LIOO,OOO, were burnt to death. The latest news from Coolgardie is the Inding of an 82 ounce nugget. A movement is on foot to establish a dairy factory at Winton. General Booth, it is said, now looks to Paraguay as a site for one of his over-sea colonies. The Mosgiel woollen factory continues to thrive. The directors have just declared an interim dividend of eight per cent. The Norwegian whaler Antarctic has left Melbourne on a cruise to the southward of New Zealand. • Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H R., has been elected President of the New Zealand Shearers’ and Labourers’ Union. Harry Laing* of Wanganui, known as a prize-fighter, in attempting to board a moving train the other day, fell, and had his two legs cut off. He died a few hours after. Her Majesty the Queen is to be asked her reasons for some recent bestowals of peerages and Victoria Crosses.

According to dog tax collt et ir McKenziemany rabbiters make more money than farmers. The Mataura Paper Mills, of -which we recently gave a description, were formally opened on Tuesday last. Mr Massey (Oppositionist) has been returned for Waitemata, vacant through the unseating of Mr Monk. Mr Massey is a strong opponent of party government. The inventor of a protected bullet-proof cuirass allowed himself to be shot at, but felt nothing. A horse was operated on with the same result. Just the thing for New Zealand. We can do without Colonel Pox after all. Wheat is selling in London at from 2s to 2s 3d per bushel, and oats at from 2s 3d to> 2s 7d. In Melbourne wheat is quoted at 2a 5d and oats at from Is 9|d to 2s. Queensland has again been cisited by severe hoods. Pour Italians, a Chinaman, and a European have been drowned. The list is suggestive of the extent of the foreign element in the population. Not so bad in these times. A rabbitor in Southland got a cheque for £37 10s for a month’s work lately, Mr Inspector Hassall (states the Tapanui Courier) reported that a cow running on the Tapanui commonage was troubled with cancer last week, and it had to be destroyed. A cow suffering from tbe same disease is said to have been killed in Tapanui quite recently for human consumption. An Association has been formed at Milton to put down sheep-stealing in the district. A committee was appointed to canvass for subscriptions for a fund from which to reward persons giving information likely to secure convictions. We learn with regret that Mr A. F. Lithgow is about to leave Invercargill. We are sure the feeling will be shared by the music-loving section of the community. As leader of the Garrison Band, and as champion cornet soloist of the colony, Mr Lithgow has achieved fame for himself and brought honour to the town and district, which in view of the forthcoming band contest, can ill afford to lose his services. It will be noted that Mr Lithgow gives a farewell concert in the Theatre Royal on Monday, 23rd inst. when he will bo assistedby his comrades of the Garrison Band and a number of local musicians. We trust the public will turn out in force, and give “ Alick ” what he well deserves—a good “ send off.” He intends, we believe, to give a series of entertainments throughout the colony.

Hedgehope settlers will be pleased to learn that the Southland Land Board has rescinded its previous resolution, and instead of recommending the granting of an additional area for water supply purposes at Dunsdale to the Invercargill Council, will advise that it be cut up for sale. The Southland Hospital Trust intend to ask the Government for money to build a new wing, more room for operating purposes being urgently needed.—The charge for paying patients has been reduced, on the motion . Mr Dunlop, from 30s to £1 per week. Dr Henry, the well-known medical practitioner of Wellington, died the other night from heart pang. The fatal attack was preceded by pains in the lumbar region, and the sufferer, who correctly diagnosed the symptoms, made his will, and passed away a few hours later. The Wyndham Dairy Factory has made a cheese weighing about 11001 b for the Otago A. and P. Society’s winter show. A-number of gold and silver coins have been distributed through it. By way of protest against the number of drills imposed some of the men of the Dorset regiment, stationed at Belfast, mutinied. Numerous arrests followed. With ironclads becoming unmanageable and smashing barques every now and again, and with discontent in her land forces, there is apparently a screw loose in the naval and military affairs of the “ tight little island.” Their Majesties of Germany and Italy are hobnobbing, and the Kaiser declares that their best friend is a united trust in thebrotherhood in arms. Not much comfort for the Peace Society in that utterance. A correspondent calls attention to what he deems a source of danger to pedestrians. He points out that the asphalt at McGruer’s corner has been worn by the passage of many feet till it is as smooth as glass, and that it f alls away sharply to the kerbing, so that p sms hurrying to or from the railway static., are very apt to slip—indeed, only recently he saw a settler come a regular “ cropper ”as he rounded the corner. An inquiry into certain alleged irregularites in connection with the recent licensing elections in Invercargill was opened before Mr C. E. Rawson, S.M., on Thursday, and adjourned till to-day. It will this afternoon be further adjoined till the latter end of next week, as Mr Solomon, who is one of the counsel retained in support of the petition against the election, is engaged in a similar case at Balclutha on Monday. We will give a summary of the Invercargill case next week.

A motion for the abolition of mining royalties, representing L5,001',000 annually, has been rejected by 107 votes in the House of Commons, it being objected that its adoption would involve the acquiring of the mines by the State, which would need a capital of LI 5,000,000.

The Rev. W. C. Oliver, who comes to Invercargill, did his late charge (Trinity Wesleyan Church, Dunedin), a good turn when leaving. Declining a gift, he suggested the wiping out of the circuit deht, amounting to £l4O. One person gave £BO, another £2O, and the remainder was subscribed in n%e minutes. Mr Oliver preaches in St Raul s Wesleyan Church to-morrow, when the Sunday school anniversary services will be held. Mr T. McKenzie, a well-known and highly respected former in North Otago, was killed on Monday last while weighing wheat, through several bags of gram falling on him. He came to the colony nearly forty years ago and an exchange states that a few years a |o’he assisted his eldest son to take up a farming property in Southland. In the case of Cuddihy v. McNab, beard at Gore last week, a claim for £IOO for injuries sustained by plaintiff and his horse, through the latter taking fright at bicycle, judgment was given for £55, with costs, £lO Ifis 4d. A man named W. »T. Atkinson was before the Police Court on Thursday on a charge of having wilfully set fire to a house belonging to him at Grove Bush, and also with having endeavoured to obtain, by false representations, money from two insurance companies. He was remanded to the 19th inst. Mr Macalister appears for the accused. The Invercargill borough council, at the instance of Or. Hanan, has passed a motion Eslsing the GroverDment to bring in e bill pioviding for the erection of public abattoirs and the inspection of all animals to be slaughtered for human consumption On the suggestion of the same councillor the .appointment of a resident analyst under the Adulteration Prevention Act is to be asked for We notice that in Dunedin, where they have such an official, two business people have been fined for adulterating meal and pepper with starch. Mr W. Cunningham Smith, manager for the past 18 years of the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., has been appointed manager of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, and takes command next month. At the meeting of Directors at which the appointment was made, Mr G. W. Nichol, managing director, received a hearty and unanimous vote of thanks in recognition of his many and able services in the interests of the company.

Miss Jessie Ackerman, the well-known temperance advocate, who held meetings in Eamsay’s Hall, Invercargill, a few years ago, lias been presented with £I,OOO by a lady and gentleman in Sydney.

The opening meeting of the Union Literary and Debating Society was held in the Ythan street hall on Monday, 2nd April. _Mr L. Thompson ably occupied the position of chairman. After the chairman’s opening remarks, the company were favoured with some songs (capitally rendered) by Misses Geddes, N. Thompson, M. McLean, Messrs Walter Quinn, A. Grenfell, A. Brown and A. Thompson. Mr W. Farnie contributed a Scotch reading, which was well received. As a novelty a phonograph reproduced some well-known songs, Mr Farnie giving an interesting description of the way in which it was worked. A charade in character entitled Marry in haste and repent at leisure ” called forth repeated applause. The principal parts were taken by Messrs D. Farnie, W. A. Ott, J. T. Ennis, J. Martin and A. Boss. After supper had been handed round Miss Geddes again favoured the company with a song. The same lady acted as accompanist during the evening in her usual excellent style. The company dispersed after singing “ Auld Lang Syne,” seemingly well pleased with the evening’s entertainment.