Invercargill.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1017, 11 June 1878, Page 6

Invercargill.

. » — . (From our own Correspondent.) DrSnnierviile's visit and the religions services connected with it have been the main ■topic of interest for the past few" days. Of ' the crowded audiences which night after night filled the Theatre it is probable that a large number was drawn together in- search of excitement and something sensational.; However this may be, there can be no questiun but that very many were benefited by the, doctor's visit. The simple truths of the Gospel were put forth with a clearness and facility of illustration which is but seldom met with in pulpit or platform oratory, and which could not fail to commend itself to the understanding o£ the /most unlettered. With some of the doctor's most simple and homely touches an amount of ,psthos' was combined moving the sensibilities, whUe r the deductions which were logically to be drawn from the premises addressed themselves very con-

vincingly to'.tHe'-vmderstatidingv ■It is doubt- : furwhetheir.any visitor to Invercargill has on his departure -been followed with more of gladsome joy Vat the result of his visit or of regret that ■ his stay among us was so short: The work which Dr/S. initiated has been taken up by the Young Men's Christian Association, who have engaged Messrs Kirkland and -Wright, from Dunedin, who are now carrying on Evangelistic services in lha city. " ■ •'•■'■;■■"■' : '- ■ The Exhibition of Fine Arts, on behalf of the Benevolent Association, hats closed, having • been' fairly successful, financially, although not to the extent to which the .character -of the Exhibition and the nature of itß object fairly entitled it. As an object of study and an intellectual 1 treat it has been a marked ■ success,' and as developing the. Art ..treasures of tne district no less so. In.the character of the exhibits there has been nothing whatever which the most censorious critic could have desired to have left put, and it is but fair to say that, while at least a degree above mediocrity might be assigned to: the poorest in its classification, there were many entitled to rank as works of* high merit— painting, statuary, articles of verfa Costly and rare curiosities were' represented in no small number, and the mechanical and industrial arts lent their aid to stamp on the Exhibition the character of utility as well as of pleasure seeing. The marvels of the telephone i and of electricity, of the model steam>engihe and its capabilities, of galvanism and photography,, were illustrated by skilful manipulators who seemed never to weary of their self-imposed duties. The Exhibition was brought to a dose after six dajs patronage by a promenade concert, the music being furnished by the fine band of the Volunteers, conducted by Captain Heywood, and an auction sale of such of the exhibits as had been presented by the exhibitors. Our worthy Chief Magistrate has got himself into hot water again with his councillors, at which I am not much surprised, for a more ignorant, imbecile, and conceited lot of men, with two exceptions, it would not be possible to get together. The matter of umbrage to these civic dignitaries is that a slight has been put upon them by his Worship in reference to an agreement entered into by him ' - with respect ,to gas plant on board. the wrecked vessel Ann Gambles. The agreement entered into by his Worship is one which compromises no one, yet places the town in a position of special advantage, probably saving several hundred pounds, and I believe the wisdom of the Btep taken is admitted by all unbiassed persons, competent to judge. Some formula, it seems, have been neglected by the Mayor, or at least it is said so, and the sensibility of our Solons is moved to such a degree that they refuse to be comforted except by the immolation of the civic king. The display of childish petulance and wounded vanity which our muni- ■ oipal rulers are constantly in the habit of furnishing, and which in thiß- particular instance is more apparent than ordinarily, would be really ludicrous but that in the mean time it is -disastrous and and has already brought our institutions into contempt. "Ex uno disce omnes." Let our young and newly forming municipalities lay to heart the needa be of selectin* as their rulers sensible men qualified for office and free from the petty foibles of inflated and inflating vantity. The work of wrecking gnes on bravely. The cargo of the Ann Gambles is being got out without much trouble and apparently the speculation will nut be a bad one. .At the Licensing Court this week all the . licenses applied for were granted, with the exception of one which was refused on the ground that the house for which the license was asked was in a dilapidated condition. As -it forms one of several early bui 'dings which now disfigure Dee-street, from their proximity with the fine block which is now ' erecting on the east side, the refusal came as a matter of course, especially as the buildings must shortly comed own to complete. present arrangements. The Bench expressed a determination to insist on the improvement of the character of the accommodationfurnished by the licensed houses. A suggestion by the Inspector of Police, making provision by way of fire, escape compulsory upon hotelkeepers is worth tleveloping. A splendid hotel of brick is just completed for Mr James Galbraith, in Don-street, which offers firat-clasa accommodation, and taking advantage of the fine weather which has ruled for the last week, a marked progress has been made 'on most of the buildings which are now going up. Our JR.M. is again laid up by sickness, probably by his having; resumed hit duties somwhat too early. I trust, however, . that he Will toon be about again, - v ;. \?,