General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 12, 23 June 1894, Page 8

General News.

The local railway employes hold their annual conversazione, supper, and dance in Hanan’s Hall on 20th July. The Colonial Treasurer left for Wellingtoni on Monday. On board the same train were a bank manager and a bank inspector. A capital cha'nce for discussing State banks. In the Police Court yesterday, during thehearing of a charge of sly-grog selling, a'constable was asked to sample the contents of a bottle believed to contain whisky. He did. so. “Is that whisky ?” he was asked. With, lips recovering position after an appreciative smack he answered—“ It is, and very good whisky too.” “That,” dryly remarked Sergt. Macdonell, “ will be a good advertisement for the vendor.” At the Police Court on Thursday, John Keenan, charged with stealing a sheep belonging to H. M. Stuck, near Thornbury, reserved, his defence and was committed for trial, bail bein g allowed. It is estimated that the Dunedin Corporation will lose L 1690 in revenue through the closing of a number of hotels. Mr Hatch’s Gratitude returned to the Bluff' from the Southern islands on Wednesday,. At the Campbell Islands she met the whalerAntarctic, which had lost an anchor in a gale. Her captain intends to remain thei’e a couple of months, and commissioned the Gratitude to bring him a cargo of coals, etc. Parliament opened on Tuesday. SirMaurice O’Rorke will preside over its deliberations, securing 45 votes against 19 in favour of Major Steward, the formerSpeaker. A lecture in aid of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church building fund will be given in the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening by the Rev. J. Ferguson. As the rev. gentleman leaves shortly for Sydney, it will probably be his last appearance on the platform here. 11 is ability as a lecturer is so well known that it is needless to bespeak a large attendance—none who have been privileged to hear Mr Ferguson’s lectures will be willingly absent on this occasion, especially when the themeis the poet Burns and his works.

The local agent of the New Zealand Shipping Co., Mr Dunlop, is advised that theirsteamer, the Rnahine, a vessel of over 6JOO tons capacity, is due at the Bluff about 2nd July, when she will load frozen meat and produce. We are sure a large number of people will desire to see this fine specimen of marine architecture. Perhaps the Railway Department may see their way to run special trains on the occasion and if a small charge were made for going over the steamer, the funds for the Sailors’ Rest might be materially argumcnted. Orders for copies of the Vocabulary ©f Code Words containing about 200,000 words, and the use of which will eventually become obligatory, will be received at the local telegraph office before the 28th inst. The Invercargill Foundry, lately carried on by Mr Jabez Hay, has been purchased by Mr ffm, Wylie a gentleman who was for many years connected with the late Dunedin firm of Kincaid and McQueen. He has had a large experience in engineering, especially with hydraulic plants, both in JN'cw Zealand and Australia, and was manager of the Ross United Gold Mine on the West Coast, when a volume of water of between sixty and seventy gallons of water per hour had to be coped with. Mr Wylie is a thoroughly practical man, and hopes to have his works in full swing shortly. The Brisbane Gaiety Pantomime Company,, who opened to a good house in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday nicht, have siwee done excellent business. They submit a bright and. varied programme each night, and the succession of songs and dances, droll and quaint doings of the speciality artistes, and beautiful tableaux make up an entertainment that drives dull care away most effectually. Space will not admit of a detailed notice, but it may be said that the clever acrobatic feats of theConnor Bros, are alone worth the money charged for admission. The company give a matinee this afternoon, and make their farewell appearance to-night. We have to acknowledge receipt of the annual report of the Southland Teachers- 3 Institute, with the programme for the annual conference of teachers, which will take place in the High School on Thursday and Friday of next week. The Institute now numbersupwards of 100 members, and its funds are evidently buoyant. The papers to be read at the meeting include one from the President, Mr MeNab, M.H.E., and another by Mr Gammell, 8.A., formerly school inspector in this district. The known ability of these two gentlemen should secure the filling of the room to overflowing on Thursday evening, next. Papers at the afternoon sessions are to be read by Mr Fowler, M.A., Eector of the High School, and several well-known country 0 teachers, on topics interesting alike to professional and lay minds. A conversazione closes the proceedings on Friday evening, and Horn the success attending last year’s gathering we can prophesy similar success for this. The meetings, we may add, are open to com-mittee-men and all others interested in education.

The’f olio wing resoliltibnswerepassedat the last meeting of the Invercargill branch of the W.C.T.U.(I) That this meeting expresses its thanks to the licensing committee for their faithful fulfilment of the duties to which .they were elected, and sympathises greatly with them in the difficulties of the tasks imposed upon them ; (2) As it is well-known and acknowledged by all that women and children are the greatest sufferers from the, drink traffic, we appeal to every man who sincerely desires the good of his country, or who sympathises with the sufferings of the weak and helpless, to assist us in carrying out our purpose, knowing that the heartfelt thanks of thousands of the innocent victims of the trade, will recompense him sufficiently for any self-denial he may have to practice; (2) Seeing the committee have been publicly threatened that their trade in future will be seriously affected in consequence of the fearless manner in which they have performed their duty, we trust all who have the good of the temperance cause at heart will do their best to counteract any such action, by giving members their support and patronage. They will thus give practical proof of t heir sincerity in voting reduction.

Major Thomson, of this town, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, the commission to date from the time he left active dirty in the volunteer force, and has been awarded a long service medal. The appointment is an exceedingly popular one, and the officer in question has been the recipient of numerous and hearty congratulations.

Floods in Hungary have drowned a great many people and damaged property to the extent of six millions sterling.

An Auckland telegram in the Otago Daily Times states that “ at a meeting c£ the committee for the forthcoming temperance mission of the Dev. L. M. Isitt,-the secretary was instructed to write to the Premier, Minister for Justice, and Sir B. Stout, drawing attention to the remarks made at the recent meeting of the Invercargill Licensing Committee. The- Jubilee Pioneer Assembly Knights of Labour h ve also passed a resolution which is to be forwarded to the Minister of Justice expressing regret at such remarks, and requesting that he will take recognisance of them.” This probably refers to Mr Wade’s “ war to the knife ” speech.

The Presbytery of Southland met on Tuesday last, and, among other matters, dealt with the call received by the Eev. J. Ferguson to St. Stephen’s Church, Sydney, the leading Presbyterian Church in New South Wales. Bepresentatives of the Kirk Session, Deacons’ Court, and congregation of the First Church, Invercargill, were present, and intimated that while they would deeply regret his loss, they had no reasons to urge against the call. At a later stage Mr Ferguson formally intimated bis acceptance of the call. The representatives of the First Church and the Presbyterian ministers in Invercargill and district, bore emphatic testimony to Mr Ferguson’s qualities 'of head and heart, and recognised his special fitness for the wider”sphere of duty which he was about to enter. His success in influencing the young, the high quality of his pulpit deliverances, his administrative ability, as shown in the deliberations of the Presbytery and Synod, the zeal and earnestness -with which he discharged the varied duties that fall to the pastor of a large congregation, were each mentioned, and reference was also made to the part he had taken in the intellectual and public life of the community.—The Bev. Mr Ferguson, in the course of a feeling reply, spoke of the loyalty with which the congregation had worked with him and of the unbroken and cordial relations that had existed between the Eev. Mr Stobo and himself. •It is understood that Mr Ferguson leaves here on the 9th of July.

For some time past complaints have been made to the police that sly-grog selling was going on in the Centre Bush district. Accordingly two constables were brought down from Dunedin, and, donning plain clothes, airiyed in the district about the middle of May. One had a plan of sections for sale, and it was thought they were in search of land. They stayed at two different houses, and while there were supplied with, and paid for, whisky. They also witnessed sal-s of it to others. The results of their trip were seen at the Police Court yesterday, when William and Mary Smith, of Centre Bush, were charged with selling liquor without a license. The defendants, for whom Mr Harvey appeared, pleaded guilty. Fined £5, each, including costs, the Magistrate remarking that for a first offence a fine not exceeding £SO, or a month’s imprisonment, could be imposed.— Henry and Elizabeth Hammond, of Centre Bush, pleaded not guilty to a similar charge, and were defended by Mr Macalister. After hearing the evidence on both sides, His Worship inflicted a fine of £lO each. The Smiths were given a month in which to pay the fines, and the Drummonds a fortnight.

That part of Conon street between Bowmont and Crinan streets is becoming quite a commercial centre, and residents near that part of the town can have their wants supplied in almost evrry line without going far. In addition to the Burnside Bakery and Mr Merrett’s butchery, Mr W. Harlow has just finished a new shop where, in conjunction with the bootmaking business, stationery and fancy goods will be dealt in. Opposite to him Mr Hose, painter and paperhanger, has opened a place of business, and further along are the premises of Mr Findlay Forbes, tailor, ,