General News

Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 9, 30 May 1896, Page 8

General News

A rej ort of the snow held at Winton under the auspices of the "Winton A. & P. Society is given in a supplement published with this issue.

‘lt is a standing disgrace to a Christian colony that there should be so much perjury in the law courts,’ declared one of the delegates at the recent temperance convention. He advocated the appointment of a public prosecutor as a means of checking the practice. The remark had reference to the failure of so many of the cases brought for breaches of the licensing laws. The formation of a lime-burning company is to be discussed at a meeting of farmer’s at Brown’s on Tuesday night. It will be held under the auspices of the Hokonui Farmers’ Club. Following his usual custom of letting their friends and the public see and hear for themselves what his pupils can do, Mr J, Black will give a vocal and instrumental concert at the Bluff on Friday next. The programme, of twenty-one items, is a good one and comprises songs by Mrs Ross and Mr VV. D. Smith, besides performances by his family and pupils. The Song “ Fiddle and I ” will be sung by Miss Nellie Black, while she accompanies herself on her instrument—• the violin—and should be very effective. The proceeds are in aid of the Sailors’ Rest. The Corporations of Gladstone and Campbelltown publish annual statements of accounts in this issue. Small grazing run No. 39, Centre Hill district, will be open for lease at the local land office on and after 17th June. Charles Hansen, building contractor, Invercargill, has filled his schedule. Liabilities, L 197 10s 7d, assets, L9O. At a meeting of the creditors the Assignee was authorised to wind up the estate, and ar- i range with regard to an unfinished contract, i'he debtor was asked to give up a watch, valued at LB, that he had bought within the time that he ought to have known himself to be insolvent, and agreed to do so. The Full Court, Sydney, has decided that Mrs Dean is entitled to a divorce. The local volunteers held their annual church parade on Sunday 'last, attending divine service in the Theatre Royal. The rev. Mr Oliver delivered an eloquent and appropriate sermon, and the choir of the Wesleyan church led in the singing of a number of specially selected hymns. A verse of the National Anthem was sung at the close of the service. A sentence of seven years penal servitude has been passed in London on one Charles Baker for wholesale bigamy. He ran a land agency business in Melbourne in 1883 under the name of Crispi. Mr T. Fleming (of Messrs Fleming and Gilkison) has purchased the property of the late Mr J, Bain, Waikiwi.

Proof of the musical culture of Ofcautau was given last Monday night, when a very successful concert was carried out by Mr and Mrs; 0. Wood, assisted by a number of friends and pupils. Solos were contributed by Miss McLeod, Mrs Wood, Mrs Cupples, and Mr Smith, and instrumental selections by Misses Sweetman, Graham, Swap, and Mesdames Wood and Smith, while Dr Graham gave a'recitation in capital style. The local orchestra also gave a very good account of themselves during the evening, Mr Wood, in addition to conducting, gave one of his popular ’cello solos. A correspondent, who is evidently anxious to shine as a prophet, writes :—We shall have the elections in a few months, and I want to give* iyour readers the benefit of my powers of second-sight. Here are my tips for the Southern seats : Awarua, J. G. Ward; Mataura, R. McNab ; Wallace, G. McLeod ; Invercargill, J. W. Kelly, The excellent programme submitted for the concert held in the Elies Eoad Primitive Methodist Church on Thursday evening attracted a large attendance. In opening' a tribute of respect to Her Majesty was paid by the audience singing a verse of the National Anthem. The vocalists included several of our leading amateurs, and, as the Rev. W. Woollass remarked, the programme was one of the best submitted in town for a long time. Two trios were played by Mrs Wood (piano), and Messrs Wood (’cello) and Blue (violin), and the two last mentioned each contributed a solo on their respective instruments, that of ‘II Trovatore ’ on the violin being played very artistically. Mr W. Field, although his forte is conducting, gave two solos with good effect. A pretty duet by Mrs Blue and Miss Innes, ‘The Wind and the Harp,’ followed, but they were heard to far greater advantage in their solos. Of the two sung by Mrs Blue, ‘ The Scottish Emigrant’ was given with exquisite expression. Miss Innes’s solo ‘ Lochnagar ’ evoked great enthusiasm, owing to the patriotic fervour with which it was sung. Both ladies were recalled. Mr W. D. Smith gave ‘ The Lost Chord ’ and ‘ The Last Muster,’ and with the latter the audience were so pleased that he had to respond to their demand for more. Mr J. E. Taylor was received with applause His solos were ‘The Mighty Deep ’ and ‘ Nazareth,’ in each of which his voice seemed to fill the church. As an encore he sung ‘ The Boys of the Blue ’ with good effect. The frequent demonstrations of approval evinced the feeling of satisfaction of all present. A vote of thaniis was accorded the vocalists and instrumentalists on the motion of the Rev. W. Woollass.

A little more than twelve months ago we reported the opening of a Benefit Society for women in connection with the local branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The new institution has prospered, and on Tuesday night Court Queen of the South No. 8212 A. O. F., marked their first anniversary with a social in Hanan’s Hall. There were 65 couples in the Grand March, which started at 8.30 p.m. The hall had been tastefully decorated by the Sisters of the Society, aud right well did they do their work. During the evening. Bro. Blomfield, one of the Trustees, on behalf of the court, presented Sister Prior with a handsome life-size portrait of herself in recognition of her being the first Chief Ranger of Court Queen of the South, she having held the position of C. R. for two successive terms and discharged her duties fairly and impartially. Bro. Gladstone replied for Miss Prior, thanking the members for the valuable gift—Sister Prior, as one of the founders of the Court, had done her best to further its interests and had watched it gi owing slowly but surely. They had now 70 members, and as young women became aware of the benefits derived from membership their ranks would be added to. Several songs were sung during the evening, and all went awa ’ thoroughly satisfied. The catering was in the hands of Mr D. Kingsland, and that speaks for itself. Speaking at Napier, tte Premier stated thit if Parliament wished it he would eliminate the one per cent, sinking fund under the Loans to Settlers’ Act, aud would borrow money to lend to local bodies on the same terms as to settlers.

In the Otago A. and P. Society’s farm competition for Sir John Bennett Lawes’ shields the executors of the late William Seoular (Southland) secured the shield for the best managed farm of over 400 acres, G. H. Gilroy (Stirling) taking that for farms under 400 acres The winners are the present holders of the shields. The American House of Representativeshas imposed an education test on immigrants. Three hundred thousand men are employed, on relief works in India. The king of Swaziland, a lad of eighteen,, has shot six of his servants. He explained that he wanted some rifle practice. A medical man at Home recently divulged, certain statements made to him by a patient, in consequence of which she lost an allowance of £SOO a year made by her husband’s brother; She accordingly brought an action against the doctor and was awarded £12,000 damages. At Melbourne Inigo Tyrrell, the actor, has been acquitted on a charge of manslaughter of Anderson, a New Zealand solicitor, with whom he boarded. Tyrrell struck Anderson with a knife during a quarrel. All around, says the Wyndham Farmer,, we hear of inquiries for fat sheep, particularly; for lambs and wethers of good sorts.

Messrs Faulks and Pratt, of the local telegraph office, have been promoted to Wellington and Dunedin. Before leaving they were the recipients of handsome tokens of the esteem of their fellow-workers, Ms J. L . Bush making the presentations. Sheep quotations :—Addington—l7s to 18s 6d for heavies, 14s to 16s 6d for prime freezers, Burnside —12s to 14s 6d. Wallacetown —12s to 13s 6d. The sum cf Ll 9 was realised at the sale of work held in Hanau’s hall on Monday after noon for charitable purposes. A large number of people attended the so-ree, for which Messrs Kiugsland and Son catered. Mr Jno Neill presided at the concert that followed, and songs were contributed by Miss J. Wilson, Messrs Todd (2), and Wheeler; a duet by Mesdames A. B. Todd and Robertson; recitations by Miss Wright and Mr bneyd and readings by Miss Todd and Mr T. Todd. Sacred songs were rendered by the choir, under the baton of Mr K. Todd ; and Miss J. Wilson acted as accompanist. Short addresses were given by Messrs W. B. Scandrett, Sims and the chairman, and, last but by no means least, the Orchestral Club assisted materially by givimr two 'selections. * Temperance was buried at the last election of the Wallace district,’ exclaimed a rhetorical speaker at one of the Convention meetings the other night ; ‘but,’ he added, ‘there will aoon be a resurrection.’ Mr F. W. Duval, business manager of the Pollards Opera Co., is busy making arrangements for the local season, which opens in the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening. It will extend over ten nights, and during that time some of the most charming operas in the company’s extensive repertoire will be presented. The box plan is at the Dresden, and as popular prices will rule, the company, whose visits here have"always been welcomed should command liberal patronage. The company is now playing at Dunedin, and in writing of the performance on Wednesday the Otago Times Remarked; —An hour before the commencement crowds poured in at every entrance, and long before the curtain rose the building was literally a sea of faces from floor to ceiling—not only every seat being utilised, but every space where standing room was available being thronged. An Orepuki correspondent writes : —Hong Turn Wah v. W. N. McLean was a re-hearing of a charge of larceny of an account book, which was heard before Messrs Gr. Robertson and J. W. Hamilton J.P.’s at Riverton on Bth May. William R. McLean was convicted of being in unlawful possession of the book and was given the option of returning it or having a conviction recorded against him. McLean chose the latter, and therefore applied for a re-heariug. which was granted. The case was beard on 20th May and adjourned to the 26th, when the court reversed the decision and removed the conviction, McLean leaving the court without a stain on bis character.

There are 2319 Justices of the [Peace in [New Zealand.

[Referring to the market for oats the Wyndham [Parmer reports that on Thursday bu ; ers were offering Is 7d to Is 7id, and occasion ally Is 8d for very prime, at wayside stations. Earlier in the week a few lines changed hands at Is 9d.

Mr A. W. Nicol, the well-known shorthand teacher, opens a class for beginners at Winton shortly.

The Winter Show of the Southland A. & P. Association will be opened in the Zealandia Hall on Tuesday., these exhibitions invariably cause great interest amongst the settlers, and the latest of the series will, we have rea son to believe, be well worth seeing. Excursion fares are announced by the Kailway Department for the occasion the show will extend over two days —and on Wednesday, 3rd, “ The People’s Day,” the outgoing trains will be delayed.

The Invercargill Borough Council has accepted the offer of the Australian Mutual Provident Society to purchase the L 19,000 worth of 44 per cent debentures at par. The transaction will be completed on the arrival of certain documents from London. A commission of three quarters per cent is to be paid to the Society’s agent in connection with ti e sale.

A petition is in circulation asking the Co lonia 1 Treasurer to deliver an address in In vercargill next week.

Captain Bussell, leader of the Opposition, -will address the electors in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening. A reception committee has been appointed, and all arrangements made in connection with the hon. gentleman s the first we understand, that he has paid to the district. The members of the Invercargill Borough Council waited on the Hon. J. Gr. Ward on Thursday in reference to the re-establish-ment of railway workshops in the town. The mayor (Mr J. Sinclair) and several Councillors addressed the Colonial Treasurer on the question, and he promised to bring their representations before the Minister of Labour, and to co-operate with the other Southland members in securing justice to the district. Mrs Dyer, who has been sentenced to death at Home for murdering a number of infants, has maae three attempts to commit suicide.

An accountant named McPhee was waylaid in a suburb of Melbourne the other night, and made to hand over his money and " valuables to a man who held a revolver to his head.