The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Nov. 13. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 32, 13 November 1897, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Nov. 13. General News.

It is reported that another goldfield similar to the Klondike has been discovered in Alaska. Thirty Sikhs accompanying the Kurmana column in India were cut off from it while taking a short cut, and were surrounded by tribesmen. The Sikhs fought heroically, but none escaped. An order has been issued by the direction of Colonel Pole Penton dispensing with the services of the Christchurch Garrison Band, which failed to attend the Governor’s reception and levee when ordered. The weather on Tuesday last was emphatically not of the holiday order, and the lieges who went abroard for their pleasure enjoyed themselves in spite of wind and rain. Paces, picnics, and sports were each and all more or less interfered with. An exception should perhaps be made in favour of the totalisator at the Winton races, where over £4,000 was pul through the machine. It was stated last week that Mr Macalister appeared with Mr Solomon to oppose Mr Ward’s application for an order of discharge It should have read that he appeared with Mr Chapman in support of the application. Hudson’s Surprise Party open here on Tuesday evening. Music, song, and dance make up their programmes, which are very highly spoken of, combining as they do the best features of two or three distinct entertainments. A Foresters’ entertainment in the shape of a social and ball was held at Clifton on Monday night. It took place in the public hall, and was attended by about forty couples the weather telling against a large attendance. Messrs W. Holland and H. Dillon as M’s.C, spared no pains to promote the enjoyment of the dancers, who were fortunate in having as musicians Miss A. Couling and Messrs Heaven and Couling, and as caterer Mr Kingeland. Songs were contributed by Messrs G. Couling and G, Winton, and Mr R. Folley gave an address. Daneiag was carried on till 4.30 a.m. The Invercargill Public Offices Site Act | Amendment Bill has been passed, but according to the Wellington correspondent of the Southland Times, a proviso has been attached to the measure to the effect that the reading room of the Athenaeum is to be free to the public. There was a fall of snow in Canterbury on Wednesday. Henry Lawson, the well-known Australian writer, who has been in charge of a native school near Kaikoura, has resigned that position. He has received an offer from Methven and Co., English publishers, for the complete rights of his next book. Were-publish one of his poems in this issue. . Railway arrangements in connection with the Dunedin show and races are advertised in this issue.

The heat in Adelaide on Wednesday was* intense. During the afternoon a cloud of dust obscured the sun and gave it the appear-' anceofa ball of fire. The children at a public school observing it, stampeded, crying hysterically, believing that the end of the world had arrived. Mr Donald 0. Urquhart, at one time a bank manager in Invercargill, has been appointed Attorney-General of Tasmania. Six old residents of Southland died on the 3rd and 4th inst., whose united ages totap, 463 years, or an average of over 77 years. Mr Gilkison, of Messrs Fleming and Gilkison, is returning to New Zealand in the - steamer Taletta. He has left his son in England, apprenticed to an eminent firm of electrical engineers. It is proposed that the friendly societies of Wellington shall arrange for the services of an eye specialist. Mr T. Culling (Mayor of Mataura) who ia on a visit to Dunedin, was on Saturday last seized with a paralytic stroke, which extended down the left side of the body—from the waist downwards. Mr Calling’s medical advisers recommend that his hopes of recovery lie in his abstaining from any kind of mental excitement or worry, and he has accordingly withdrawn from the forthcoming mayoral election. Some people are still worrying themselves over the Tichborne Claimant business. Mr Edward Priestman, of Sydney, who is acting under a power of attorney for the Rev.Edward Williams, Catholic priest, of Devonshire, has obtained the sanction of the courl to have William Crcsswell, a lunatic in Parramatta Asylum, whom Mr Priestman claims to be Six Roger Tichborne, examined' to discover if marks on his body correspond! with those on Tichborne. The nomination of candidates for the Mayoralty of Invercargill takes place on Tuesday, So far only one aspirant for theposition is in the field—Mr H. Mair. This gentleman has a very good record as a Councillor, and will, we are sure, give a good account of himself if elected to the higherposition. The next meeting of the Southland Land Board will be held on Saturday, 20th Nov. Correspondence to be dealt with at that meeting must be in the ofiice by Wednesday, 17th inst. The commission of inquiry into the policeforce matters is holding its first silting in Auckland. The proceedings are open to thepress.