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Mataura Ensign, Issue 118, 2 April 1896, Page 2

f Southland sheep still continue to omigrate northwards, to replenish the runa which suffered most from last winter's snow storms. Yesterday morning a special sheep train came down from Mossburn, consisting of 33 wagons containing 3003 merinos consigned by Messrs Taifc (Burwood), to Mr McKellar, Otekaike, on the Duntroon line. On arrival here, the sheep wagons were attached to the ordinary morning north train, and necessitated the employment of two engines to convey them to their destination/ /f TheMataura Fi e;z'ng Worts are still being kept fully employed, about GO) sheep besides 1500 to 2000 rabbits being frozan daily, these latter on account Messrs Tanner (Rivorsd&le) and Taylor (Dunedin), Mr Sullivan (Dunedin) will probably be sending rabbits to tbe works next week, and the number trsated per day will then be considerably over 3000. Last week the Company sent 13,000 carcases of mutton, and 9C.10 rabbits from Bluff by the Aorangi, and the Binfiihire, which sailed on Monday, took 2000 carcases of muttony Mr Taylor's rec;ntly-arected sheda for the re* ceptioo and cleaning cf rabbits have become one of tbe busiest spots in the town, and numerous drays, wagons, etc., arriving trom all parts of tha country bearing the mortal remains of thousands of hapless bunnies, considerably add to air of prosperity presently worn by the progressive little town. The price that frozen rabbit^are commanding at Home, fully warrants the extensive manner in which the industry is being taken up, and besides providing work for a very largenumber of persons in one way or another, it is assuredly an infinitely more profitable mauner of disposing of a product which under ordinary circumstances ia practically wasted. /A meeting of the Mataura Domain Biard was held after the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening. The principal business was an application by the Cycling Club for permission to form a cycling track on the recreation ground opposite the Freezing Worka. Tbe Chairman (Mr T. Mac Gibbon) said tha Mayor had asked the secretary of the club to submit plans and specifications of what was proposed to be done, but these had not come to hand. He understood that the track required to bo built on an incline, and the reserve might therefore be made unsuitable for o.her games. Jt would, he thought, be unwise to do anything until plans were forwarc^— Mr Cameron said the track would possibly injure the eround, and were tha Board favorabla to tbe proposal, it would hardly ba wise of the club to build their track on the reserve, as they could have no control of it, tho ground being practically open to the public all the year round. He moved that tho secretary be informod that, owing to no particulars as to the nature of the work being to hind, tho Board could not at present entertain the application. — Mr Allison seconded the motion, which was carried .—The ,aue3tion of renewing the fence round the reserve was referred to a subcommittee, consisting of the Chairman (Bfr dulling) and Messrs Mac Gibbon, Cameron, I Main and Allison, to report at next meeting, I

I Threshing returns show that Mr John ! Spratt, of Mataura Island, has secured the magnificent average yield of 97 bushels to the acre. A complimentary social was tendered to Mr G. G. Fyfo, one of tho oldest settlers in the Wyndham district, onTu.eday evening, prior to his departure on a trip to the Home country. Mr James Milna occupied the chair, Mr James Cii3hnio boinp vicechairman. The chairman (in proposing Mr Fyfe'a health) said he remembered (when a boy at eohool, 46 years ago), Mr Fyfe leaving the parish of Banchory for the colonies ; and he eulogiced tho good work done by their guest on many local institutions and his many good qualities as a pioneer settler. The vice-chairman and Messrs Kidd, Noble, Stirling, Beange, Paull and Stalker testified to the sterling qualities of the guest of the evening, wishing him and Mrs Fyfe a pleasant trip Home and a speedy return. Mr Fyfe feelingly responded, referring to the changes that had taken place since he first saw the light in 1825, and also gave some of his early experiences as a colonist. Several other toasts were proposed, and a very enjoyable evening was brought to a close with "Auld Lang Syne." A special practice of the Gore Wesleyan choir was called for last evening, the object beiDg to bid farewell to one of its members, Miss Tinsley, who leaves for Christchuroh to-morrow. At the close of tho practice, the choirmaster (Mr E. G. Maopherson), on behalf of the members of the choir, presented Miss Tinsley with a very handsome writing desk (in morocco) as a token of the esteem in which she was held. He referred to the ' willing and valuable assistance rendered by : the youner lady during the three years she 1 had boon associated with the choir, the last i three months of which period she has officiated as organist, Mr J. Allott replied on behalf ; of Miss Tinsley, and, after the singing of " God Be With You,", the proceedings terminated. The weekly meeting of the Gore Young Men's Temperance Mutual Improvement Society was well attended on Tuesday evening last, twenty-one members being present. The question box and elocution formed the programme for the evening. The " Journal " will be read at the next meeting, to be held on 13th April. The Milburn L : me Company have issued a larce number of invitations to farmers in the ' Oluths, Clinton and Tapanui districts to ' visit and inspect the limed paddocks at Edendale, an excursion train being run on : the Bth inst. No doubt a great many landowners will take advantage of the opportunity. A fine stag, secured by Mr R. A. Rodger, was on view at Tapanui on Tuesday, reports [ the 'Courier.' The animal was commonly known as the " Pet," and it is evident from , bis skin that he has been mush sought after. ( He appears to have been struck by bullets on several occasions, hiving wounds both old and fresh. : A surveyof the Heriot-Roxburgh railway has almost beon completed, and last week Messrs Uasher and Thomson, of the Public Works Department, wont over the line laid off some 10 or 12 years ago between Lawrence and Roxburgh ; ss that it would appear as if Government baa some intention of giving? the Roxburgh district railway communication either from the Hmot or Lawrence and. The incandescent light has been installed in the public library at Auckland, and the results have more than realised anticipations. , Librarian Shellington informs the ' Herald ' that " the light is really a splendid one, and the installation has been a grand success. Since it his been in use tho number of readers in the evening has increased by quite one third. They can see to read so much , better now, and can use tbe centre tables , which before were blank. They used to look in and go : now they come and stay. Tha light is admirably spreid, Tha saving, too, is considerable ; where there were six lights before now there are only two ; before there were fifty-eight lights in the library, , now there are but twenty-eight • The names of books can cvon be road up to ; those on the top shelves of the presses. This, too, with a docroasod consumption of gas. Before thu installation our nightly : consumption was 1300 f t; now it averages between 700 ft and 800£t per Dight." A four-roamed house at Tapanui, belonging to Mr H' Chandler, was destroyed by fire about two o'clock on Wednesday morning. Mr Chandler lost everything, the family barely escaping with thoir lives. The house was insured, but there was no insurance on the furniture. The Mataura Paper Mills at the present time are working at high pressure to overtake the larga number of orders in ihand. The works are kept going day and night with double shifts of operatives, and the Company has not known such busy times for years past. The shooting season which opened on < Wednesday, has not as yet been productive of many phenominal bag?. Mr J. Allott, of Charlton, was among the luckier sportsmen, and secured 41 ducks in the morning of the 1 Ist, 33 of them being got ia 27 shots. All the 1 historical Ugoons and swamps in the district were thoroughly exploited, and where decent 1 bags were secured at all, they invariably 1 comprised ducks, piikikia and rabbits — 1 chiefly rabbits. [ Mails for the United Kingdom and the i Continent of Europe, via Naples, also for . India, China, japan, Straits Settlements, i Aden, Egypt, Mauritius, Tasmania, and tbe Australian Colonies, advertised to close this (Thursday) morning, postponed to Satur- : day, 4:h inst., at 7.15 a.m. ; due L*ndon, 20th ' May. ) Herr Probasco, whose talking horse, Ma- . homer, was a great faature of Fitzgerald's 3 circus, has, wo hear, commenced horse train--1 ing in Gore. Already he has secured five of , Mr Green's ponies, and is proceeding to j Ohristchurch for more equine pupils. J Mr O. R. Valentine, spaiking at tho So? 1 ciety of Arts, London, said the Australasian •J butter trade would be profitable in the face of any competition, and becon ought to de--3 velop into an important industry. Babbits ' should be able to defy competition, and eggs ' ought to displace the imports from the Contin ent, except from France. r The following judges have been appointed ; in connection with the Gore Industrial Exhi- , bition and Hobby Show : — Music, Mr Philip i H. Mohr, bandmaster of the City Guards j Band, Jovercargill ; literary work, Mr Jas. E Hendry, B-A , chief inspector Government r schools, Invercargill ; horticulture, Mr J. . Lannie, Invercargill ; mechanical and hot.---r bio?, Mr W. Earnshaw, M.H.R., Dunodin; cookery, Mr F. W. Eberhardt, Dunedin; spelling bee and mental arithmetic, Mr W. Macandrew, Mataura ; plain and fan<y ' needlework, Mrs F. W.Eberbardt, Dnnedin j ' boot-blacking contest, Mr H. Weaton, Gore ; time-keeper, Mr W. Biker. Competitors in ' vecal and instrumental class are requested to send copies of thoir selection for approval , and for the purpose of judging as early as possible. la the recitation contest (all ages) two prizes have been added— lst, silver medal ; 2nd, value of 4a ; 3rd, value of 2s 6d. Class 6, vocal and instrumental, will be open to all except teachers, or those who gain the principal portion of their income from music. The Mataura Brass Band will play in the Square on Saturday evening; next the following programme i — March, ?.' Precision f? (Hume) ; wallz, "Buttercups and Daisies 1 ' (H. Round) ; schottischo, " Welcome Home " (Walters) ; slow march, " Slasher and Crasher " (Wright and Round) ; quadrille, " Florence " (Allan) ; march, "On the Warpath " (J. Bailej); galor," Whip and Spur" (Wrishl). Mr J. Bailey, the conductor, deserves credit for the pains he has taken in bringing the bandtothqefficiontatate it is now in. The public will haveopportunitiesof hearing some excellent music during the winter months, it being the intention of the Band to i frequently glya the residents a taste of their I quality,

At the Gore J.P. Court this morning, a prohibition order, to have effect throughout the district, was issued against a well-known Mandeville resident. The pupils of Mr S. M. llobbins, Dairy Inspector for the South Inland, intend making a presentation to that gentleman this afternoon, as a mark of their appreciation of his many kindnesses to them in his ofiicijl capacity. The sub-committee of the Gore A. and P. Association have completed their labors in connection with tha programme for the Winter Show, and posters sotting out the different * classes will he sent all over tha district in a faw dsya. During the progress of tho show tho electrio light works, Messrs Fleming and Gilkison's flour mill, and Messrs Tjthil', Watson and Co.'s mammoth seed-cleaning plant, through the kindness of tha respective proprietor?, will be thrown open to country visitors. The townspeople generally havo responded to the appeals of the sub-com-mittee in a most generou3 manner, and it only remains for tha farmers to do their share to make ths Winter Show a thorough success. A sensational runaway occurred about one o'olock to-day. A two-horse team owned by Messrs R. and F. Wallis, attached to a waggon loaded with skins, drivon by a man named O'BrieD, while waiting at-the Mersey street crossing for a train to pis 3, got restive, and swerving snapped tha pole, and headed down Mersey street towards the river. The chains alone kept tha horses attached to the vehicle, which was swaying from side to side of tho roid in a manner which made a cipsize appear inevitable. Turning the corner towards the bridgo, O'Brien was thrown off tbe waeeon, and landed on the crass uninjured. Meanwhile tha horses kept going, and, much to the consternation of bystander', made for the bridge, on which wsre a number of women and children. The lurching vehicle crossed the bridge without the slightest mishap, and the horses were eventually pulled up near the fellmongory by Mr Penney, the only damage sustained being the broken pole. While tho horses were being unyoked, another equine, hitched up to a spring-cart in Messrs Wallis' yard, had an attack of bolting mania, and, after careering over several wire fences, came to a full stop at a straining post, vehicle and horse escaping unhurt. The Government have decided to recommend hig Excellency to amend the Order-in Council lately issued prohibiting the landing of bonedust. The alteration will allow of boned list being landed if accompanied by a declaration that the boncn havo been subjected to a heat of at least 274 decrees before being crushed. It' has also been decided to remove the restriction on hides so far as requiring that they should ba taken direct from tbe ship's side to a tannery. Two shining -lights of the lavorcirgill musical firmament, Mr Daniel Blue and Miss Ada Gsddea, were married at First Oburch, Invercargill, yoaterday afternoon. After the ceremony the happy pair left by the afternoon train for Gore, and in the evening a large number of quests were entertained at a social given at the Temperance Hill in honor of the event. Good acceptances have been received for the Riverton Races, which take place on Easter Monday, and a most successful day's outing is looked forward to. Suitable train arrangements have been mide for those in this district desirous of attending this popular meeting, a special train leaving Gore at 7 a.m., returning from Riverton at 6 15 p.m. Brewer and Trembath sell privileges on Saturday next. Gold mining dredge on Pomahaka river for sale by W. Quin on 11th inst. ' Annual olection of school committees on April 27. Men wanted for scrub-clearing contract at Teviot station. Tenders invited for erection of residence, woolshed, stable, etc., at Heriot. The Farmers' Agency Co. publish entries for Gore R<»m and Ewe Fair. Three or four-roomed house wanted. B»y gelding hack lost from Mataura. Tothill, Watson and Co. sell a big line of sheep at Gore sale on Tuesday. • Brewer and Trembath give particulars of ontrios for Gore stock sale on Tuesday next. Grand concert in Goro Town Hall in aid of Brunner Belief Fund on Easter Monday. Additional line entered for J. A. Mitchell and Co. 'B sale of dairy cattle at Edendale on 8 h inst. T. R Carroll announces a clearing sale at Stoney Creek on 15th mat.