EVENTS OF THE MONTH.

Southland Times, Issue 1185, 20 December 1869, Page 4 (Supplement)

EVENTS OF THE MONTH.

A ceremony •which has never before been witnessed in Southland was performed on Sunday 28tb. We refer to the burial of the late Mr J. W. Danby with masonic honors. Unforfcunat ely ita effect waa greatly marred by the continuance of drizzling showers during the whole of the afternoon. As it was, it sufficed to prove th at no man who is a freemason need be a stranger in Invercargill ; for the bond which unites the members of that ancient and honorable body together, is of a much more endurable nature than mere friendship, providing, as it does, an almost universal passport. Nor must we omit to mention that the members of the two local lodges of oddfellows assisted at the obsequies, and thus testified their respect for a departed brother. The masons having previously met in their lodge-room, marched in procession to the residence of the deceased, ■where, having duly borne the corpse to the • ■conveyance provided for its reception, they reformed, and as it is their custom in carrying out the prescribed ceremonial to precede the body, they took their place accordingly, in the following order: — The Tyler, with drawn Bword; the deacons with wands ; master masons and visiting brethren, two deep ; the treasurer and secretary ; the senior and junior wardens ; the immediate , s~^past master j a master mason, carrying the volume ii||gE the tacred law ; the worshipful master ; the * "carriage conveying the bony of the deceased ; the chief mourners, followed by the two youngest master masons initiated in the lodge, the rear of the masonic procession being brought up by the • inner guard, with r drawn sword. The body , having been duly carried to and from the chui eh, by the worshipful master, the immediate past master, and tbe two wardens, the route was taken for the ground set ; apart in the Waikivi Bush as ( ■a Church of England cemetery, some two and a lialf miles from 'town. On arriving there, and -after the impressive funeral service had been concluded, P. M. Butts read in a most effective manner the solemn and beautiful masonic oration suitable to the occasion, the Rev. Mr Tanner, who is a member of the order, taking part in the ritual which follows. At its conclusion, the brethren marched round the grave, and dropped into it the sprigs of acacia which they had carried for the purpose. This concluded the ceremony, and the procession waa then formed in reverse order; returning to town in that manner. A special meeting of the committee of the Acclimatisation Society was held at the Government buildings on the 2nd inst., at which the lion. Dr Menzies (chair), and Messrs M'Arthur, Basstian, .M'Pheraon, Steuarfc, M'Culloch, Wood, Gilmour, and Butts (Secretary) were present. The minutes of former sitting having been read and confirmed, a letter from the curator was read, stating that the Californian quails were laying, and that he had already about a dozen-and-a-half of eggs, which might be disposed of for hatching under common fowls. It was agreed that Mr Butts should endeavor to get some one having bantam hens to undertake their incubation, and the rearing of the chicks. The curator also stated that the young trout recently brought from Dunedin were doing well, fewer having died than was at one time expected. A letter from H. Hill, Esq., requesting a supply of young trout for himself and some others in the Waimea district, was received and read. In consideration of the interest manifested by the gentlemen alluded to, and of the expense and trouble they had incurred in objects connected with acclimatisation, and of their offer to present the Society with some young pheasants — they having several broods now hatching — it was resolved to comply with the desire as far as possible. Mr But s was requested in the first place to communicate with those gentlemen who had purchased fry in advance, to ascertain if they would consent to accept a smaller number of fish than they had paid for, the deficiency to be made good either in ova or fry at a future time. This appeal had been rendered necessary through the Society having a much smaller number of young fish than had been calculated upon, when the ova was sent for, and will, no doubt, be readily acceded to. It waa intimated that the volume of water entering the ponds had been recently increased by the turning into it of several more springs, and that the trout were doing well ; they should spawn during the coming season. Our readers will be pleased to learn that the Provincial Government have conferred the appointment of Inspector of Police upon Ser. geant-Major Chapman, who now acts in that capacity. This officer is so well known for being unflinching in the discharge of his duty, that he has justly earned the respect and esteem of the community at large, and the fact of his promotion will be generally acknowledged as a proper appreciation of long and faithful service. The first rifle match of the season took place at Itiverton on the 29£h ulfc. The Invercargill Corps started at 6 o'clock that morning in two waggons, and arrived safe in Riverton, nothing remarkable happening on the road. The weather was very boisterous, and the drive consequently uncomfortable. Firing began at the Riverton range at 12 o'clock exactly • the Invercargill team being under the charge of Lieut. Geisow, and the Biverton one under Lieut. Surman, Captain Instone being in command of both parties. The weather was very unsettled during the day, and at the time that the Invercargillites fired at the range o£ 500 yards, a strong wind blew across the line, while the Rivertonians had the advantage of a nice calm while firing at the same distance, which accounts for the former being so low at that range. The following are the scores : — iNTEECAEaiLL. Yards.

Abundance of refreshments were provided by the Riverton Corps during the firing, and after the match was finished the volunteers amused themselves, by firing private matches and sweepstakes, till nearly 8 o'clock. An adjournment was then made to a first-rate dinner in the Marine Hotel, catered by Messrs Mills and Humphries. Capt. Instone acted as chairman, and Lieut. Surman as Vice, the former being supported by Lieut. Geisow and Sergt. Brown, and the latter by Sergts. Dunlop and A. Brown. The usual toasts were given, and the festive board was not vacated till nearly midnight, a pleasant evening, enlivened by songs and toasts, having been spent. It was agreed that Capt. lustone should challenge 10 Dunedin Volunteers to compete with 5 Invercargill and 5 Riverton Volunteers ; the match to be fired at the respective butts. The Invercargill team returned next morning. On Saturday, 4th, in Mr Colyer's Princess Hotel, Dee-street, and in the presence of a numbe r of our most influential citizens, his Honor the Superintendent presented T. M. Clerke, Esq., with a very handsome gold watch and chain as a memento of the appreciation which his fellow, townsmen had of the many services that gentleman had rendered to the public, i After reading the following address, bearing a large number of signatures, his Honor made a few appropriate remarks, and handed the case containing the watch to Mr Clerke : — " Invercargill, 4th December, 1869. T- M. Olerke, Esq. Sir,— We desire, on the eve of your departure from this Colony to express to you our sense of your private worth, and of the value of the many public services you have rendered to the community here. As a small token of the esteem in which you are held, we beg your acceptance of the accompanying gold watch and guard; Wishing yourself, Mrs \ Clerke and family every happiness in your future ( home. We are," &c. Mr Clerke, in expressing his thanks, said that he left Southland with considerable regret. He had been so long here, and taken such an active part in public affairs, that he had become thoroughly identified with the Province, and acquainted with, nearly all its inhabitants. His regret was increased to some extent on his own behalf at least, because he believed Southland to be on the eve of renewed prosperity. He enumerated a number of the signs of brightening prospects, and expressed himself especially hopeful of the results of the flax industry. As an evidence of his faith in this enterprise, he stated that he was taking with him to Tasmania a large quantity of flax seed, where he intended to introduce its cultivation. He concluded a feeling address by proposing a toast which would include good wishes to all present, remarking that he was particularly pleased to see amongst those in the room some who had been political opponents; The toast he proposed^was " Prosperity t ) Southland." Several other appropriate toasts, accompanied by suitable remarks, enabled the company assembled to spend a very agreeable half-hour. We were shown on Wednesday, Bth, a very fine sample of new potatoes, grown by Mr Rankin, of Ingle wood, Waikivi. They were of the lapstone kidney description, and of considerable size. This speaks well for the season so far as it has gone, which, with the exception of one or two frosty nights — very destructive in exposed situations to the potato growth — has been an exceptionally fine one, and crops of every kind promise an abundant harvest A meetbg of the committee of the Southland Horticultural Society took place at Colyer's Princess Hotel on Monday evening, the 6th inst ; Mr W. H. Hall in the chair. The sub-com-mittee appointed at the previous meeting brought up the schedule of prizes prepared by them, which was adopted. Several preliminaries connected with the exhibition to take place in March next were arranged, and an alteration was made which is expected to be of advantage to the society, by inducing a larger number of exhibits, namely, permitting non-subscribers to compete on payment of a nominal entrance fee on each exhibit. On Tuesday, 7th inst., a goodly number of our citizens met in Mr Colyer'a Princess Hotel, to bid farewell to Mr C. H. Reynolds, late proprietor of this journal. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and, glasses having been filled, proposed the health and prosperity of the guest in suitable terms, remarking that although he had not always been able to . agree with, the political sentiments of Mr Reynolds, he believed that gentleman had generally advocated the course which to himself appeared most conducive to the public weal. Mr Reynolds replied shortly, thanking those present for the cordial manner with which the toast had been received, and assuring them that wherever he went he should cherish the memory of many of the friends he had found a in Southland. The health of Mrs Reynolds and family followed, as did several other toasts incident to the occasion, all of which were of course duly responded to. The Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society held its last meeting for tbe season on Monday evening, 6th inst. The business was principally of an executive charactei', the meeting resolving itself into a committee of the whole to consider the best steps to secure the continued success and usefulness of the association. After arrangements had been made for maintaining the existence of the society during the recess, and for the resumption of its legitimate functions, when the proper time again arrives, it was proposed that the members should unite their efforts, and give a soiree. This was agreed to, and the social re- union is fixed, we understand, for an early date — about the 20th. As the entertainment is to comprise readings, recitations, speeches, music, &c, &c, and to be supported by all the " available talent" of the institution, there can be no doubt that ifc will be a very enjoyable one, and largely patronised. The work of distributing trout throughout the rivers of the province has been commenced. On Monday last 100 of the young fish were taken from the ponds at Wallacetown, and forwarded to the Te Anau district, in charge of 81.B 1 . E. Butler Esq. Mr Butler has, we learn, made excellent arrangements for the health and protection of the fry, on a stream in his neighborhood, and has expressed himself as willing to further the objects of the Society to the extent of his power, by attending to any other fish, Euch as salmon, which may be consigned to his care, or by establishing a breeding pond in his own vicinity, where excellent rivers abound. Arrangements are also in progress for despatching other detachments of the fry to suitable districts. One lot will shortly go to the Waimea, and probably another to some tributary of the Waiau. It is to be hoped the removals may be successfully accomplished, and that the tiny little creatures may thrive in their new homes.

There are numerous entries for the New Year's Day races, and the meeting promises to be a success. A boiler explosion has taken place at the Reynella Mine, by which the fireman was killed, and another person seriously injured. The South-eastern Railway Bill, authorising the construction of a line towards the Victorian border, near Mount Gambier, has been read a second time.

300 400 500 Total. gergt. Donlop 11 IS 2 26 „ 0. Brown 15 13 5 33 „ A. Brown 18 12 14 44 , Corpl. Campbell 14 15 10 39 Private Keeee 17 17 12 46 „ Huffadine 11 13 16 40 „ M'Conechy 12 12 8 32 J. M' Arthur 15 10 3 27 „ Millar 14 15 4 33 „ Johnston 15 9 4 28 142 129 77 348 BIVEBTON. Lieut. Surman 12 12 9 33 Sergt Robinson 15 10 11 36 „ Wilson 15 14 13 42 „ Smith 19 15 5 39 CorpL Atkinson 14 17 17 48 Private Clode 17 18 12 47 „ Hancock 13 8 2 23 „ lee 13 6 13 32 „. Henderson 18 9 5 32 „ Grant 15 6 14 35 151 115 101 367