General News

Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 4, 25 April 1896, Page 8

General News

Meetings for the election of school com mittees will be held on Monday evening. An entertainment in aid of the Sunshine Committees of the Wesleyan and Baptist C.E. Societies will be given in the Baptist Church on Wednesday evening. The last consignment of cheese from the Tapanui factory only averaged about per lb in London, and the Courier reports thatmilk suppliers are getting disheartened. Temporary trustees have been appointed to take charge of the Brunner relief fund until, the question of its disposal is settled. Last year the United States bought at the London sales from 25,000,000, to 30,000,000 Australian and New Zealand rabbitskins at prices ranging from 2.}d to 16d per lb. There is no duty on raw skins, and a direct tradewill probably be opened with the States. The Invercargill Y.M.C.A., whose new building in Kelvin street is almost completed, will hold. the opening ceremony in the Zealandia Hall on the 19th inst. Particulars* will be notified very shortly.

The Invercargill volunteers were inspected at Kew on Wednesday by Lieut-Golonel Fox. " A cantata of which report speaks highly will be given here for the first time on the evening of Wednesday, 6th May, .by the choir of the Don street Primitive Methodist Church. It is entitled “ The Haymakers,” and is illustrative of harvest work and scenes. It contains a number of beautiful solos and choruses, and is from first to last instinct with the bright and joyous spirit associated with the ingathering of the golden grain. The choir are determined to do full justice to the work, and to that end have been diligent in rehearsal, and a musical treat is in store for their patrons. It will be remembered that the hearing of the action Southland Frozen Meat Co. vNelson Bros., in Dunedin, in November last resulted in the jury returning a verdict for the Company for £7OOO damages. The verdict was appealed against, and the case is one of those set down for argument before the Court of Appeal, which opens its sittings in Wellington on Monday. Sir Hobert Stout and Mr W. Y. H. Hall represent the Company. Mr Hall left for the North on Wednesday. The Dunedin Presbytery has decided that the translation of Kev. W. H. Ash from Bavensbournc to Bluff is not expedient. The“Mosgiel Woollen Co. pay an interim dividend of 8 per cent. By the death of Mr Peter Milne, of Woodlands, last colony loses a settler of nearly 40 years standing. He was a shipmate of Messrs Alexander Storie and William Fraser, of Invercargill and had lived in Woodlands for about thirty years. Constable Barrett, of South Invercargill, is to be transferred to Canterbury, and will be succeeded by Constable McChesney, of Dunedin. A bill has been introduced to relieve farming land in England, assessing it at half the rateable value. The loss in local rates is estimated at a million and a half yearly. Four young men named Hall, Thomson> Sheridan, and McCombe were crossing the railway line at Adelaide in a cab when the vehicle was caught by a passing train, th e occupants of the cab being killed. An industrial exhibition was opened at Gore on Wednesday, the Hon. J. G. Ward delivering an appropriate address. As the result of the inquiry into the railway accident at Waiwera, the Government have decided to dispense with the services of Mr Coker, stationmaster at Clinton, Mr Bray, clerk at Balclutha, driver Wiugham, and guard Hughes of the goods train. The employes of Messrs Guthrie and Co. and Broad Small and Co. met on the eastern reserve for a friendly game last Wednesday when the latter gained a victory by an inn', ings and 72 runs. Fish (18), Henderson (9) Cassells (5) did best for the former, and m ith 45 (retired) Bull (28) Bloomfield (18) McGill | 11 for the winners. tor the losers, Stevens j took 6 for 43, Pasley 2 for 3L, Boyce 2 for j 16. Ball 12 wickets for 27, Bloomfield 3 fur 7 Wesney, 4 for 15, bowled well for the | ytctors. j The members of the Loyal St. George Lodge, M. together with their frieuds i • were treated on Tuesday night by F. W. Ben- j netts and party to a musical programme The | N. (Bro. L. S. Mitchell) occupied the chair, j Songs were given by Miss Morrison and i Messrs Cox, Spratt, Bigg, Mackley, Merrifield, Edmonds, J. Wilson, W. Byan and F. W. Bennetts, the t hree last-named having to respond to encores. A duet was j also capitably sung by the Misses Spratl and | a reading given by Mr Hamilton. Mr Dunnett and Miss Morrison acted as accompanists ! in their usual efficient manner. The attendance was very good, the lodge room being filled to overflowing. Votes of thanks to the performers and chairman closed a very enjoyable evening. Air B. McNab, M-H.8., will address tbe Mataura electors at Waituna, Oteramika and Mabel next week. One of the indications of the approaching elections is the issue by the Lyttelton Times o: a “ political ’ edition every Saturday. Mr L. Eodgers is the local agent. The annual meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society will be held on Tuesday evening.

The annual Convention of tbe Southland; Prohibition Council will be held in Invercargill on May 25th and -26th. Delegates are invited from all churches C.E. Societies, Pro hibition Leagues and Good Templar Lodges and it is expected there will be a large attendance of representatives. Several prominent temperance workers' from the North will be present, and matters of interest to the temperance world will be fully descussed and public meetiags held. Up to date Invercargill subscriptions to the Brunner relief fund amount to £3OB 2s 6d.