The Ensign. GORE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1898.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 467, 4 August 1898, Page 2

The Ensign. GORE : THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1898.

A very successful dance was held in the Mandeville Public Hall on Tuesday evening last in connection with the Quadrille Assembly. Despite the rough night there was a good attendance, fully 20 couples being present, and enjoyed themselves immensely. During the evening Messrs Staveley, Began, Bambaum, and A. Boss gave excellent songs, and Messrs McDonald, Brass and Green supplied fust-class music for the dance. During the evening a choice and liberal supply of refreshments was handed round, being highly appreciated. — Own correspondent. '

As the Kaitangata coal mine is being handed over to the English Co. which has purchased it, all the men have received notice. This has given rise to the impression that there is a dispute, at the mine, but so far as is known the men will be reinstated by the new company. At the Allendale coal mine there is a dispute between the company and the men as' to the reading of the Arbitration Court's awards. The employers contend that the eight hours to be worked under-ground means eight hours at the face ; while the men hold that it means from the mouth of the drive to the mouth of the drive, which it is alleged would practically reduce the working hours to GJ. The company has issued a notice that men on shift wages should work eight hours and that in the event of their not doing so they will be paid only for the hours of labor they do work.

The latest phase of the deadlock in Nelson between the Education Board and the Town Schools Committee on the question of religious instruction in schools was the carrying : of the following tesolution at the last meeting of the Board a few days ago :— " That this Board regrets that the committee has not adopted the suggestion of the Board to state a case for the Supreme Court. The Board consequently must ÜBe its own interpretation of the law, and requests the committee to desist from giving religious instruction upon days and at hours when the school buildings are being used for public school purposes."

Speaking at Christchurch the other evening, Mr BenTillett said : " Everywhere chaos existed. A man was welcomed in the best society because he was a rogue. In Australia he found a city magnate, whose firm had been fined £1500 for defrauding the customs, sitting in judgment on two men who had stolen 9d, and giving them three months for it. This was in Australia. Advance Australia! (Laughter.) They were told that this was the divine ordering of things. If he believed that humanity had nothing better before it than this he would cut his throat."

Mr C. Brannigan, rabbit agent, who has been stationed in Gore for.upwards of twelve months is under orders to take up his quarters at Lumsden. Mr Brannigan will be succeeded by Mr Koan, rabbit agent of Outram

The Christchurch Progressive Liberal Association has passed the following resolution to be forwarded to the Government : " That the Association is of opinion that it is in the best interests of the colony that the Government should purchase or build steamers for the Wellington-Lyttelton trade."

At an early hour on Tuesday morning fire broke out in the bottling house of Joel's Bed Lion brewery, Dunedin, at the George street frontage to the premises. The brigade succeeded in confining the flames to the bottling house, the interior of which was wrecked, and the contents totally lost. The cause of the fire is not definitely known, but it is supposed it originated from a stove used to maintain the temperature, though the man in charge says the fire was safely out at five o'clock the previous afternoon. The insurance on the part of the building burnt is £700 in the Standard. The stock is insured to some extent as part of a general stock insurance of £3300 in the same office. Mr Joel estimates that £500 will cover the loss of stock.

Away up on the ranges between Nelson and Marlborough there lives, according to the 1 Marlborough Express,' a hermit as exclusive as ever human being was. The discovery was made quite recently by two tourists, who were the first human beings the recluse had seen since his seclusion from civilisation two years before. The hermit's hair and beard had grown long, and he was clothed entirely in goatskins. His habitation was an excavation in the side of a hill. For two years goat flesh had been his only food, but he was apparently in good health. On one occasion he did not succeed in capturing a goat for more than a week, and during that period he had to subsist on the skins of that animal, boiling them down for his^ purpose. The solitary being appeared to be an educated and cultured man, and conversed with his visitors in an intelligent and friendly manner.

The special committee set up by the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association to consider the question of future shows has passed the following motion : " That this committee report to the general committee that the results of the canvass for subscribers makes it apparent that it is advisable to wind up the Association."

Tuesday's snow vanished very suddenly before heavy rain showers which set in shortly after midnight. The weather yesterday was of a most execrable character, and thfi only consolation to be derived from the condition of things then prevailing was the fact that It could not be any worse if it tried.

There is some talk of establishing a club in Gore, and it is probable that a meeting of gentlemen interested in the project will be held at an early date.

A wedding of much interest to. numerous friends' was solemnised on Tuesday morning last at Wairuna, the contracting parties being Mr 3, McFarlan,e, of the locomotive department, Gamaru, and Miss M. Murray, eldest daughter of Mrs Wm, McG.' Murray, Wairnna. The Key. 3. M,' Sp.enc.e officiated, and the ceremony was witnessed jjy a large number of friends. The bride, who wore a stylish cream costume, was given away by her eldest brother, Mr .James Murray. Miss Fanny Murray attended her sister as bridesmaid, and bit A, Murray acted as best man. After the ceremony, about 40 guests (principally friends of the bride and bridegroom) sat down "to tho wedding breakfast, which was laid out in elegant style. This over, the happy couple left en route for Christchurch, where they spend their honeymoon, and aftervards return to Oamaru, which is to be their future home. Mr and Mrs McFarlane were the recipients of a large number of beautiful and useful presents and numerous good wishes for their future happiness. — Chvn Correspondent.

As will be noted by reference to our business columns Messrs J. M. Barron and Co., of Main street, have been appointed sole Gore agents for the world-famed Lipton Company's teas. These products, which have for a quarter of a century enjoyed the greatest popularity in the Home country,' are little known in this colony," but the fact that the Lipton Company has been appointed purveyors to the Queen is a sufficient guarantee of the excellence of the teas which Messrs Barion and Co. now handle.

Cottage in Gore to let. J. Duncan and Co.'a annual clearing sale stat'ts pn Saturday.

Wright, Stephenson and Co. sell horses at Dunedin on Saturday,

A. W. Sinclair and Co., imctjoneers, etc., have' started business in Gore.

Boots and shops of good quality and fit at Simon'e, Gore and Wyndham, Large reduction in the price of waterproofs at 3. Mac Gibbon and Sons.

Johnson's great boot sale eomnienees oij Saturday.

F. J. Sherwood, Matauva, agent for Niinmo and Blair's seeds.

Lloyd and Co.'s great clearing sale of groceries, etc., commences on Monday. | |A meeting of supporters of the Opposition at Gore on Monday evening. Professor Elston may be consulted at Green's new buildings, Gore.