General News

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 9, 2 June 1894, Page 8

General News

Wednesday, June 13th, will be a big night in the annals of the local Friendly Societies, It is the date chosen for their annual demonstration, which will, if the well - directed efforts of a corps of energetic and experiencedorganisers count for anything, surpass in point of brilliancy and attractiveness, all previous displays, good though these have been. The proceedings will begin with a procession of the members of the Societies in regalia, among them the youngsters belonging to the newly-established Foresters’ Court and Oddfellows (M.U.) lodges, who will make their first appearance in public. With the music of two bands, and with banners and handsome headlights, the “ Friendlies ” will make a right brave display. The rallying point of the procession will be the Theati’e Koval,, where a concert takes place. For this the management have secured the services of some of our most capable vocalists and instrumentalists, who«e selections give promise of a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Among; the good things with which the programme is crowded will be a violin solo by Miss Nellie Black. This little lady’s portrait—the gift of the citizens of Nelson in recognition of a kindly service on her part during a recent visit—is on view at the Dresden Piano Warehouse. In addition to the concert a ball will be held in Zealandia Hall, where dancing will begin at 9.30 p.m. Popular prices will rule in every department, and as tickets are going off well, the success of the demonstration is practically assured. In connection with the programmes issued we wish to correct the figures appearing in the New Zealand Express Co.’s advertisement. They forward packages up to 1121bs, not lllbs, as inadvertently printed. The Hon. J. G. Ward left for the North yesterday. He will hot return till the 18th inst., and then, after a stay of a day or so, he will be off to Wellington Tor the opening of Parliament.^

A meeting to discuss dairy factory matters •will be held at Winton to-day. Mr W. C. Wilkins, of this town, intends to have an exhibition of lamps in connection OTth the Winton show on Tuesday. They will be used to light the hall at night. The winter show of the Dunedin A. and 3?. Society opens next Thursday , and a good ■ma ny people will doubtless avail themselves ®f the exceedingly low tariff of charges advertised by the Bailway Department, and aain up to Dunedin on Tuesday or Wednesday. The member for Mataura, Mr Bober* McNab, leaves for Wellington on the 18th Inst. Before doing so, however, he intends ito make a pre-sessional tour of his district—*mt for the purpose of speechifying, but the yery practical one of giving the people in the electorate an opportunity of acquainting him with local requirements. The idea is a good ,uc€ and will prove far more satisfactory to ®ll parties than the more roundabout method ■of correspondence. A list of places to be visited is advertised. At the London wool sales prices are better Sor the better sorts from New Zealand. A lice branded “ Edendale ” fetched 9d per lb, and “ Bayswater,” 9£d. On Thursdry week, Mr E. Johnston, who Ims acted as choir master at the Presbyterian Church at the Bluff since its formation, had tps services very handsomely recognised, Ibeing the recipient of a gold albert and locket. The Kev. Mr Gardiner presided at the and the presentation was made on ibehalf of the congregation by Mr McHut*heson. Mrs Johnston was also presented with a silver cruet stand of elegant design, and both gifts were suitably acknowledged by IMr Johnston. Since the church has become 48, sanctioned chargelheprovisional committee Jfirst appointed has given place to permanent .office-bearers, and all departments of church work are doing well. “Tox’s ” budget and other articles crowded ©nt this week. The Supreme Court sittings open at Invercargill on Tuesday, 12th June. A grain, roots, poultry, and dairy produce ■show under the auspices of the Winton A. and P. Association will be held in that town on Tuesday next Thanks to energetic manageanent these annual gatherings have hitherto ■proved highly successful, and an effort is feeing made to eclipse all previous records. There should be a large gathering in the aaorthern centre on Tuesday, a hand _ bazaar feeing among the incidental attractions of the day and evening. The Sons of Levi, L. O. L., will celebrate the 12th July in their hall in Liddel street with a soiree, concert, and dance. The annual meeting of the Invercargill licensing Committee will be held on Monday. .Being the first since the licensing elections it as looked forward to with great interest. The , choir v - of the Primitive Methodist iChuroh will give the cantata, “ A. Day with C)ur Lord,” on Wednesday evening. The composition is a very pleasing one, and as She vocalists have spared no pains in preparatory work, a really good performance can be Hooked for. Strong feeling exists in Sydney over the ■execution of the burglars Montgomery and Williams, which took place on Thursday. JL woman offered to suffer in their place. Bobert Bailey, son of an old and respected resident of Biverton, was killed while felling ■trees near Eairfax on Wednesday. The hearing of the charge preferred against Constable Burnett of pre curing drugs •for an illegal purpose occupied the Police dourt till 9 p.m. on Thursday, and resulted in the dismissal of the information. A good ammber of “ men ” occupied the body of the court most of the day, and there was a great craning of necks to catch every word spoken by the unfortunate girl concerned in The case. On and after Monday the whole of the railway locomotive workshops throughout the colony are to be put upon a five day’s week, Saturday being the off day. This is with a view to curtailing the expenditure on account of the non-elasticity of the revenue owing to the falling off in the grain traffic. A sale of work, followed by a tea meeting and concert, was held cn the 24th May in the Bowmont street church, and the proceedings proved a great success financially and otherwise. The programme consisted of songs, ducts, recitations, and speeches, the performers being Misses E. Wren, Manifold, J. Wilson, and Messrs John, Bobert, Jos. and Thos. Todd, Geo. Black, and Pryde (Mataura). JMr A. Todd occupied the chair, and Miss Black acted as accompanist. Some little stir, writes “ Eoadster,” was caused in the bicycling ring on Wednesday last, when it became known that a match between Mr H. Double and Mr Eobt. Ferguson Lad been arranged. Quite a crowd assembled :at the cinder hack, which, I am sorry to say, ■was not in 1 lie best of form for a record being put up. The distance was one mile, and the lime a trifle over four minutes. “ Bobby ” proved a game rider, and, urged on by the small fry, landed a good second, declaring that bad it been two miles be could have ■scored a victory, as he was only getting his second wind towards the finis):. “Harry” was not so shaky on the machine as was at dirst thought, and won the race—the prize Being a box of cigars. 'J be opening of next ■season promises to bring out a lot of new adders, ai d I am glad to see bicycling is making such rapid strides in this district.

A correspondent writes, drawing attention to the number of Assyrian hawkers in this district at present, and states that it is very unfair to business people, as they do not pay rates, and only a small license fee, and can sell at a very decided advantage in consequence. “It was only on Thursday evening last,” adds the correspondent, “ that I met a lady who keeps a boardinghouse looking for one of these gentry, who, it appeared, had lived well at her expense, and, when payment was asked for, made himself scarce. I only hope he my be made to settle. I would suggest that the license fee be five shillings a day, as they have made it in a Northern town.” Mr G, Callender, in advance of the Heller Bonanza Coterie, is in Invercargill again, arranging for a brief return and flying visit through Southland, before leaving for the n: rth, where, after playing at all the intermediate towns, they will finish their New Zealand trip in Auckland. Arrangements i. e made to appear in Invercargill on Mond y next, 4th —Otautau, Winton, Lumsden, j, ipton, and the Bluff to follow. Since the company was here in January last, they have been touring S. Canterbury and Otago, including Dunedin, where they liad crowded houses for seven nights. Madame Heller, as everyone is aware, is extremely clever in her Eosicrucian seances, giving replies to written questions, etc. Mr G. W. Heller is also a very amusing and popular entertainer, as well as being a mystifier and good comic vocalist, while Mr Percy Abbott scores in his piano and banjo ditties. We ase also promised some new items in his vocal selections. Crowded houses will doubtless mark the farewell visit of these clever artists.

On the question of Dr Stuart’s successor the Dunedin correspondent of the Taieii Advocate understands that a number of members of the Synod are anxious that the next pastor of Knox Church should be chosen from those in the colonies, and I would not be surprised to see a motion passed at the meeting, recommending that the next minister should he selected from the ranks of the elergy in New Zealand and Australia. Some of the selections made at Home have not been acceptable to many members of congaegations—l am not referring to any particular selection, but am speaking generally—and I understand it is contemplated giving the congregation of Knox Church an opportunity of setting an example to other congregations by selecting a colonial man for the position. Personally, I cannot see that the question is of much importance ; the cougregation should be afforded every facility for choosing the best man, and to that extent only should the Synod interfere. The matter is sure to provoke a lively discussion, and the next meeting of the Synod should therefore be interesting. The Eev. Anderson Gardiner, of the Bluff, who has conducted services in Knox Church on several occasions lately, has given great satisfaction with his preaching, and a number of members of the congregation have hinted that his selection would give them satisfaction, but nothing definite can be decided upon until the matter has been brought before the Synod.