The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 1. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 36, 1 December 1894, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 1. General News.

The Christmas Number of the Southern Cross will be published on 22nd December. It will consist of twenty-four pages, and a pictorial supplement. In addition to the usual budget of reading matter, a New Zealand Christmas Story, specially written for this journal, will be given. It is from thd pen of a colonial writer, and will, we are sure, prove deeply interesting to our readers. Other special features are also in preparation, and those who wish to obtain copies of the Christmas Number should order early from runners and agents, and so avoid the disappointment experienced by many people last year. There will be no advance in price—the popular penny will purchase a copy. The Hon. J. G. Ward arrived from Dunedin yesterday afternoon. The Western District A. and P. Society’s annual show takes place on Wednesday. Riverton people affect to believe that they are sometimes overlooked by the Railway Department, but they ought to be well satisfied with the arrangements made on this occasion. The fares have been fixed at the exceedingly low rate of 3s and 2s for the return journey figures that, given fine weather, should cause a large number of townspeople to have a run to the “ .Brighton of the South.” * Notices in reference to the rates of commission on stock sales are published in this issue by the J. G. Ward Farmers’ Association and the N. M. and A. Co.

Mr E. L. Stanford, formerly a clergyman and new a barrister in Dunedin, is appointed a Magistrate, with headquarters at Palmefston Norlh. The Norwegian whaler Antarctic has arrived at Stewart Island, and is anchored in Patterson’s Inlet. We hope to treat our Highland friends to several articles in Gaelic at an early date. A Christmas Pair in aid of St John’s Sunday School building fund will be opened in Hanan’s Hall on Tuesday next. It will be strong in attractive features. The Hon. John. McKenzie, Minister of Lands, is due in Invercargill early next week. Tenders for a number of Southland County works elose on the 7th inst. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Statutes of New Zealand for 1894. The late session was a long one, and the Acts passed fill a volume of 693 pages. At a meeting of farmers in Dunedin a colnmittee recommended the formation of a Parmers’ Co-operative Association on lines similar to the one now carrying on successfully in Canterbury Mr E. McNab, the member for Mataura, has been delivering a series of pos*t-sessional addresses, and has been well received. “ Safety” writes;—Since sending in my usual budget of cycling notes I see that Mr Duncan Macpherson has completed his tour from Invercargill to Auckland. He reached the latter city on Wednesday night. Both he and his bike are in the pink| of condition. The handsome Indian carpet which has been made for the Queen in the Agra central prison, (India) lately arrived at Windsor Castle. It weighed three tons. Mr A. N. Lindsay, of Invercargill, scored well at the Otago A. and P. Show. He was the largest prize-taker for hams and bacon by 8 points. He took Ist and 2nd for smoked sides ; second and hon. certificate for green sides ; first and 2nd for smoked hams ; second for green hams ; second and third for green rolled bacon. Bandmaster Slater, Bluff, has been presented by the members of the baud with a handsome baton in recognition of his services in connection with the formation of the organisation. The Czar of Eussia was married in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, on Monday. The royal couple walked about the streets unguarded—a fact which excited great enthusiasm in the city. The Czar’s bride is a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria. On Nov. 27th Nelson Eros, quoted best New Zealand mutton in London at per lb.

A cantilever bridge, costing about £7,000,000, is to be built across the Hudson at New York.

The Public Trustee is receiving numerousapplications for loans under the Advances to Settlers Bill, and the Treasurer is said to havereason to suppose that trust funds will be largely invested in local consols. A new bore well has been successfully sunk at Bourne, from which place Spalding obtains its water supply. The bore was driven a depth of 134 feet, and will yield a supply of 2,592,000 gallons of water a day, at a pressure of ten pounds to the square inch. It is stated to give the largest yield of water of any bore well in England. The water is of first-class quality.

We have to thank the office-bearers of St. John’s for a copy of their Church almanacfor 1895. In addition to a great deal of useful information re parochial matters, a number of illustrations are given, including one of St. John’s as it will appear when completed. In the centre is a fine reproduction of Holman Hunt’s great picture, “ The Light of the World.”

This has been a week of elections. Ob Wednesday Mr O. G. W. Hast, the “Eather” of the Southland County Council, was unanimously chosen as its chairman for the ensuing year, his predecessor (Mr T. Green) receiving; a well-deserved vote of thanks; Mr W. B. Scandrett was elected mayor of Invercargill,, polling 447 votes against 161 cast for Mr J. Stead; Mr H. S. Pish was re-elected mayor of Dunedin; Mr Brewer ditto of G@re; Mr J. Smith beat Mr Findlay for East Invercargill ; and Mr Sutherland scored a victory over the redoubtable Mrs Yates at Onehunga.

Pyramid Siding, three miles from Rivers - dale, can now boast of a school of its own, which will be a great convenience to the little ones, who have heretofore had to trudge to Biversdale. The new school, which was erected by Mr P. Petersen, and painted by Messrs G-raves and McCulloch, will accommodate fifty pupils. The settlers in the district greatly appreciate the accommodation thus provided. At Stalybridge Daniel Concannon, previously convicted of a similar offence, was fined LlO and costs for detaining pensioners’ life and identity certificates as security for loans on which he had charged 500 per cent interest. The result of the sale of work in the Baptist Church, continuing for two days, was a highly encouraging one. The nucleus of the building fund has been fairly started, and the erection of a substantial church that will be a credit to the denomination and an ornament to the town, is a thing of the near future. It is intended to hold a sale of work on a much larger scale next year. From Ist January, 1895, the postage on newspapers for the United Kingdom and foreign countries will be for the first four ounces in weight, Id ; for each succeeding two ounces while postage on newsprpers for the Australian colonies and South Sea Islands will remain as at present—ld for each newspaper. At 'he Westminster County Court, thecase of Bussell v. Dace was heard before Judge Luraley Smith. Plaintiff said his claim was for two guineas for introducing a lady to the defendant with a view to marriage. The parties were brought into communication purely by his instrumentality, and he believed they were now married;; therefore he claimed two guineas, in accordance with the defendant’s promise.—HisHonour referred the plaintiff to the old law on the subject, wherein it was laid down thatmoney promised for the bringing about of marriage was contrary to public policy, and could not be enforced in a court of law. Judgment was given for the defendant with costs. The Japanese have captured Port Arthur, and have also beaten the Chinese at otherpoints. One hundred and twenty of the highest officials in China have signed a memorial to the Emperor impeaching theViceroy, Li Hung Chung, for treachery. It; was recently reported that a nephew of theViceroy has been robbing his country by the purchase from Germans at a cheap rate of useless rifles and charging them to theGovernment at an enhanced price. On this point a London writer says :—I am ratherinclined to think the Germans are innocent in this matter. There has been for years a depot in London for these obsolete arms, which can be bought at the price of old metal, and which are wholly useless without special cartridges that arc no longer easily purchaseable. Numbers of them .are continually being foisted off upon uncivilised’ countries, which find they cannot be loaded or fired. Of course Germans may have got a commission on these old weapons; but the great stock of them is in this great city. Thus a correspondent : The referencemade in your “ Cycling Notes ”of last week, to Mr Duncan Macpherson’s ride to the West. Coast reminds me that a namesake of his made the journey under very different conditions about twenty-nine years ago. I wason the Nokomai at the time, and was about to leave with my mate for the West Coast, then the El Dorado of New Zealand. About the time we left Mrs Bella McPherson, who kept a store at the Nokomai, intimated herintention to walk overland to the West Coast, u and, mark my words,” she added, “ I’ll he there before you.” She was as good as her word, for she was the first woman we met when—after a tedious passage in a sailing vessel—we reached Hokitika. Mrs McPherson, who was a fine stamp of woman, was, I believe, the first of her sex who made the journey from the Lakes District to the West; Coast on foot. She was of the stuff of which, true pioneer colonists are made.”

The annual church parade of the 1.0.0. F., M.U., took place on Sunday evening, when there was a capital muster, nearly 80 members, iucluding the representatives of the Juvenile branch, joining the procession from the Oddfellows’ Hall to the Don Street Primitive Methodist Church. The Rev Mr Jones, who officiated, after referring to the origin, early struggles, and progress of Friendly Societies, selected as his text the following words from the fifth chapter of Timothy, eighth verse “ But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own home, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” From these words the preacher delivered an admirable address, in the coul '® e of which generous testimony was borne to the beneficent results flowing from the operation of friendlv societies. As bearing on this point, and showing what a bulwark had been raised against some of the effects of sickness and illness the preacher mentioned that the Manchester Unity numbered over 7to UOU, and distributed annually over a million sterling in sick pay. It should be added that the juveniles were under the charge of that pillar of the Order, Bro. T. Findlay, P.P.G.M.

The Juvenile Foresters’ Court, “ Pride of Invercargill,” celebrated their first anniyer* sary in the orthodox style by holding a soiree and concert in the Foresters’ Ball on Wednesday evening, 28th November. The boys rolled up in force, and their wondeful appetites spoke well for the climate of Invercargill. The good things which loaded the tables at the start were provided by the adult court, and Mesdames Cory, Harper, McNeece, and Misses Bloomfield and Quin kindly dispensed them. Mr James Harper, president of the Juvenile Court, occupied the chair at the concert which followed. A capital programme of vocal and instrumental music was successfully carried out, and parents and friends having been invited the hall was well filled. Duririg the evening a number of prizes were awarded, Master E. Folley receiving one for being the first nominated Chief Eanger, and Master Walter Eaines for having proposed the most members. After a capital evening’s enjoyment the gathering dispersed shortly before ten o’clock. The Juvenile Court started with 65 members twelve months ago, and the roll now numbers 85, while the court is .flourishing financially. The members meet once a month, a committee from the adult court managing the business and supervising operations generally. It is intended to offer further prizes for essay-writing, etc., which will he:p to keep up the interest in and attendance at the meetings. J. S. BAXTER is SELLING ALL Groceries of the BEST Quality at EXTREMELY LOW PRICES FOR READYMONEY. A Trial will convince you THAT HE IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN ANY OTHER IN THE TRADE. Your, Spring and Summer Clothes, which may have been laid by during the winter, months, can be scoured and pressed by our new process which extracts all dirt and greese without disturbing the shape. Suits, 5s Coats, 2s 6d; Trousers, 2s. Ladies’ Costume, Cricket, Cycling, Band Uniforms carefully renovated. Country parcels, carriage paid oneway. GEORGE ROSS & CO., opposite Supreme Courthouse, Tay street. —Advt. “What! Not closed up y et?” “No, and Mclnerney does not intend to be if jhejcan help it.” “ Well, we’d better go and see how Austin is getting on; we are always welltreated“at his hotel.” “ Yes, when I want comfort'and good fare in WTnton I go to the Railway Hotel.” —Advt.