The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 8. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 37, 8 December 1894, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 8. General News.

In connection with our Christmas numberto he issued on the 22nd inst., we have plea, sure in announcing that the subject ot our pictorial supplement is N Z’s ‘ Grand Old Man,’ Sir George Grey, K.C.B. The portrait is a chalk drawing o£ large size, taken from the most modern photograph, and is pronounced by those most competent to judge to be a fine specimen of artistic work. The printing of the first section of the special number will begin neit week, and all who wish to secure copies would do well to give their orders to our agents in town and country as soon as possible. Orders can also be booked with the runners and at the office. The letterpress will include several original New Zealand stories, and these, wdth the supplement, will, we venture to think, form one of the best Christmas numbers published in the colony—certainly the best at the price—one penny.

The Christmas Fair in aid of St John’s Sunday School building fund, held in Hanan’s Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, proved highly successful. Those who patronised it were delighted, the tableaux vivants in particular exciting great admiration, while the promoters have the gratification of knowing that their efforts will result in a substantial addition to the building fund, the gross proceeds totalling about £54. Where have all the eggs got to ? Mr D. MeFarlane, the well-known caterer and confectioner, recently advertised for 3,000 dozen eggs, but was only able to obtain about 700 or 800 dozen. Hitherto he has experienced no difficulty in obtaining as many as he required, but this season, although the price is higher, eggs are scarcer. , Mr J. H. Kissell, of Invercargill, had some fine harness and saddles on exhibition at the Hivcrton show on Wednesday. The articles were greatly admired, and—no prizes being given—were highly commended by the judges. A buggy built by Messrs Widdowson and Fogarty, of Esk street, and in which the winner of the light harness class was shown, was much admired by the public, and the owners received a certificate highly commending their exhibit. The railway arrangements in connection with the Invercargill Show are advertised in this issue.

The Winton Caledonian Society hold theirannual sports on Boxing Day. The management always furnish a capital day’s sport,., and this year’s gathering will be no exception. Tenders are invited for the privileges. Conditions may be seen at this office. Members of the Trades and Labour Union are reminded that the annual meeting will be ■ held this evening, when some important business will be transacted, including the election of office-bearers and consideration of the balance-sheet. The Bank of New Zealand have made a call, of L 3 6s 8d per share on all ordinary shares, payable in three instalments in Wellington and London on February Ist, August and November 25th 1895. The call if paid in full, will produce half a million. It is made in pursuance of clause 5 of the Bank of New Zealand Share Guarantee Act, 1894.

An old miner writes in the Ballina ‘Pilot’’ as follows: —The phenomenal discoveries of gold at Coolgardie recall the wonderful find at Tarnagulla, Victoria, in the fifties. A party of Maoris from Poverty Bay, New, Zealand, discovered a mass of gold-bearing stone, which. they called Poverty Beef, after their native place. If ever a mine was ironically named,, this one was, for no less than £1,346,000 worth of gold was taken out of it, though the property was only 500 ft long, and 430 ft broad,The Maoris did not get much of the gold, but a party of white men, who were told of thefind by a negro, were made wealthy through it. The Wellington Benevolent Trustees harereceived a letter from the private secretary of the Governor stating that during Lord Glasgow’s visit to Earatonga he was presented with a large quantity of coffee, more than he is ever likely to use, and offering the trustees the option of taking one or two sacks (1201 - in the sacks) on payment of the duty of 3d per lb. The coffee is at present in bond. His Excellency ought to “ pass on ” the kindness of the natives by releasing the coffee from bond and distributing it to charitable institutions. It would make a nice Christmasbox.

Mendelssohn’s great oratorio “ Elijah will be given by the Invercargill Choral Union in the Theatre Koyal on the eveningsof Tuesday and Wednesday next. Two years have elapsed since the work was given in Invercargill, and since then the Union has made a marked advance in respect of abilityto interpret this class of composition. MissInnes will visit Invercargill to take part in the performance, and the management have secured the services tor the occasion of Mr Prouse, the well-known vocalist, of Wellington. No pains, and no expense are being spared to give a first-class rendition of Mendelssohn’s noble work, and we hope to see the efforts of Mr 0. Gray, the energetic conductor, and those of his colleagues, rewarded by well-filled houses. It is gratifying to know that the town possesses a musical organisation capable of undertaking oratorios, and, as experience has proved, of acquitting itself most creditably therein.

Mr A. Storrie, who is well-known to thefarming community in connection with agricultural implements, will in a few days take possession of a new shop and show-room in Dee street, now in course of erection by Mr W. Hamilton. Next to Mr Cockrell, the father of the drain plough ” in Southland, Mr Storrie has done a good deal to bring that useful implement to its present position, and now that he has set up on his own account he will doubtless develop further improvements in this and other lines. He has also had a lengthened experience in grain and manure drills, and next season it is his intention to to place on the market a “ make ” specially adapted to this district. All kinds of implements will be made, and castings will alse have special attention. Mr Storrie, it may be added, bolds several important agencies, including those for Booth, McDonald and Co., the Planet}Jr. horse hoes, Aveling and Porter’s new draining and hauling plough, and for the Walter A. Woods’ harvesters. He had a a number of exhibits on view at the show at Riverton, and will be strongly in evidence at the Metropolitan Exhibition next week.

The trials and tribulations of some holidaymakers in the Orepuki district have beeu recounted to us by a correspondent, but we have only space for the closing sentences of his letter. It appears that he and his companions drove out from Orepuki to the neighbourhood of the Waiau river, and how the return journey was accomplished is thus told :—“ Thinking I could get more out of the horse (described as a good trotter) than our pilot, I took the reins. We had only an hour and forty minutes to return in, but thinking the horse would go homeward faster than it came we were not very anxious about the few miles intervening until we discovered such was not the case. The animal was quite knocked up, and only with great difficutly and much whipping could we get it past a walk. At every hill out all had to jump and push the buggy, and sometimes the horse as well. Struggling like this, and full speed without brakes when going down hill, one driving and one whipping when on flat ground, enabled us to arrive with two minutes to spare, so leaving the horse and trap standing in an hotel yard we ran to the station, vowing to leave Orepuki horses to Orepuki people in future.

The Theatre Royal has for some time presented an attractive appearance, a large assemblage gathering night after night to see the members of the talented Lilliputian Opera Company “ fret their little hour upon the stage.” On Monday night they closed their week’s sojourn by playing “ The Forty Thieves ” to an appreciative audience, and on Tuesday left for Dunedin. Great care and attention must have been 1 given to the troupe to enable children to achieve such triumphs as those won by the company. Miss Metcalfe and Miss Mitchell took the most prominent parts, and played with a verve which would not have disgraced actresses who had spent their lives in representing the trials and triumphs of the characters pourtrayed. Master Queally is a perfect mountebank, and kept everyone in a continual simmer of merriment. To judge by the manner in which he screws his face and contorts his limbs he might be made of guttapercha. We are unfortunate in Invercargill, in so much that we have either what the French term an embarrassment of riches or else the Theatre is shut up and given over to silence and solitude. However, it will soon be called'into requisition again—oratorio, bazaar, and dramatic entertainments each coming in their turn.

A very friendly cricket match was played on the Star ground on Saturday—Press v. Post and Telegraph, the latter coming out victorious by 42 runs. A large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled, no doubt expecting plenty of fun. J. Aspray captained the Press, and G. Pratt the Post and Telegraph. The latter winning the toss, elected to bat first, which meant everything, as the match was started in the afternoon, when the light was bad, but was very much worse when the other side went to the wickets. Quealy, of Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company, played for the P. and T. Having been at one time connected with the Postal Department, no objection was made to his inclusion in the team. He proved an acquisition, securing seven wickets, and also came out second highest scorer. Purdue batted a splendid innings (52, not out), only giving one chance ; and Ferguson showed some of his old representative form. Maguire was top scorer for the Press (13), giving a fine exhibition of hard hitting. Unluckily, for himself, he hit the wickets when playing back at a ball. Had it not been for this he certainly would have done some more fast scoring. Ekensteen made a well-earned 12, placing every ball very neatly. After Tapper’s departure there was a continual row in the timber yard, which the tail end were unable to avert. Kane was principal trundler for the Press, securing eight wickets. Anxious enquiries were made as to the date of the return match, when the Press vow vengeance. THE BROWN-JONE3 and ROBINSON QUESTION. Mrs Brown (married last week) —“ Now which do you really think is the best sewing machine ?” Mrs Robinson (who has tried evefy make) —“Why, the Latest Improved NEW DAVIS, of course. It’s far ahead of all others, and you can get it at our friend JONES’, Dee street, who also repairs all other makes. I advise you to give him a call.” 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 ANT 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 j Coats, 2s 6d; Trousers, 2s. Ladies’ Costume, Cricket, Cycling, Band Uniforms enrefully renovated. Country parcels, carriage paid oneway. GEORGE ROSS & CO., opposite Supreme Courthouse, Tay street.—Advt.