The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 18. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 37, 18 December 1897, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Saturday, Dec. 18. General News.

ft e sampled some strawberries—variety, “ Laxton’s Noble ” —from the nurseries of Messrs O’Brien Bros., Winton, the other day. They were well grown and flavorons. The strawberries in their nurse: ies were ripe nearly three weeks ago. A bazaar and sale of work will be opened in the Forest Hill Hall on Wednesday afternoon. The proceeds go towards the local Presbyterian church building. With this laudable object in view the ladies of the congregation hare been busily engaged for some time past, and a capital assortment of articles has been got together, and will be available for disposal. The other attractions in the evening will include a choice musical programme. Two diggers who have returned to New Zealand after visiting the Klondyke goldfield speak very highly of its richness, and intend to go back in the summer. They say that no one should go there without at least £l5O in hand. During the two days over which the first test match between the English and Australian cricketers extended in Sydney the attendance totalled 40,500, and the takings £I6OO. The Indian Prince, although suffering from illness, distinguished himself in the test cricket match in Sydney. He was batting for 3| hours, and when he retired had 177 runs to his credit. The application to have a lunatic named Cresswell, who is in an asylum in Sydney, handed over to his friends, who allege that he is Sir Roger Tichborne, has been refused. The doctors who examined him say that the marks alleged to be on Tichborne’s body were not found on Cresswell, The Mataura Liberal League hold a sociaj and dance at Eimu on Tuesday, and have appointed a committee to arrange the details. Mr McNab, who returned to Invercargill on Wednesday, will be present, and give an account of his trip round the world. The sheep-weight guessing competition at the Tapanui show was won by Mr P. McKinna, of Gore, who guessed the exact weight, namely, 741bs. One other competitor came within half-a-pound, one was half-a-pound too low, and two guessed a pound too much. Most people would think it time to knock off work when they reached three score years and ten. But not so Mary Mullins. She was a witness in the tailoring dispute inquiry, and this is what she said : She was employed in the New Zealand Clothing Factory, Dunedin. She had been pressing for the last 23 years. Until the last few years she pressed all kinds of garments. She did not do so now, as she was nearly 70 years of age. She thought that any girl could press all garments if she werr taught. She had earned 30s the previous week at pressing. The dates fixed for the meetings of the Southland Land Board during 1898 are published in this issue. The railway service plays an important part in the pleasure of holiday makers during the coming festive season. It therefore behoves all such to give careful attention to the advertisement in this issue detailing the arrangements made for Christmas and Boxing Day. The Oamaru woollen factory pays a dividend of eight per cent for the year. The Indian Government will invite tenders for supplying the army and navy with frozen meat from Australia. A block of 2004 acres at Robinson’s Bay, five miles from Akaroa, has been sold for £20,000. Oddfellowship is booming in Winton. Our correspondent states that during the last six months the lodge there has added about forty members to its ranks, and the cry is “ Still they come!” The Manchester Unity must have some enthusiastic adherents in that quarter. Twenty entries have been received for the Sheffield Handicap at the Winton Caledonian. Society’s games. Entries for all the other running and walking handicap events close on Tuesday.

As was expected, and possibly desired, the the 3 ;||ld Ag? Jpiq. ' on its second reading by 20 to 15. : It is in some respects a pity the matter was ever mentioned, for hundreds of people have had their hopes raised, only to have them dis--appointed. The annual church parade of the loca representatives of the Manchester Unity Oddfellows took place on Sunday last, when they attended the evening serviee in St. Paul’s Presbyterian, church. There was a good muster of the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle • and St. George lodges, and the juvenile branch was also represented. The City . Guards Band, under the conductorship of Mr McGregor, kindly gave their services, and played the procession to and from the • church. The Rev. G. Lindsay, pastor of St. Paul’s, preached an appropriate sermon, ■rand incidentally bore testimony to the good work done by Friendly Societies. After the parade the P.G.M.j Bro J. Ward, acknowledged the services rendered by the band. In the first test match the English cricketers scored 551 runs in their first innings, and the Australians followed with 237. They followed on, and their second innings closed for 408. The Englishmen, batting, and when stumps were drawn had scored 30 without the loss of a jvicket. At the last meeting of the Park School Committee the secretary was instructed to write to the headmaster congratulating , him and the staff on the excellent result of the year's work. The Prince of Wales Yards horse sale will be held on Friday next week, when Messrs J. A. Mitchell and Co, will offer a number of vehicles on account of Mr S. Collett, Gore, Klondyke is a long way from here,yet the fabulous amount of gold being got there is attracting not a few from New Zealand. To meet the demand for passages the N ZShipping Co. advertise in another column that a direct ’steam service has been com■menced. - The pupils of Miss Florence Rogers, teacher of music, gave a very enjoyable concert in •the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Monday evening before an audience of parents and friends The •programme contained 17 items, comprising vocal and instrumental solos, duets, and trios. All the young performers acquitted themselves in a manner that reflected credit upon themselves and their teacher. A piano 'trio by three very small girls—Misses- N. Waymouth, R. McLeod, and M. Lawless — ■•was very prettily played, as. was also a duet by the Misses Broad, whilst Miss L. Kinvan showed herself to be a promising player on the piano. Miss Rogers has twenty pupils, and is to be congratulated upon the efficiency they have attained. Reports have been current that the Hon. G. F. Richardson would, owing to financial considerations, have to resign his seat for Mataura at the close of the session. He has telegraphed to the Mataura Ensign to the effect that he did not authorise the report) and that he trusts the Government will Resign long before he does. This, is certainly a very guarded way of stating the positionMeanwhile Mr McNab is ready to take the field, and several other names have been mentioned —among them that of Mr W. F. Ward, ex-chairman of the Southland County Council. The Public Works Statement was laid before the House of Representatives on Tuesday. This district has fared well in the way of votes for roads and bridges. The sum of £IO,OOO is down for the Seaward Bush line. It is expected .that the session will close next week. The Winton Caledonian Society invite tenders for the privileges at their annual gathering on Boxing Day. Our Winton correspondent states that matters are well forward, under the able management of Mrs J ones, for the bazaar in aid of the Catholic Church fundsThe Waikiwi Harmonic Society, under Mr J. C. Howie’s leadership, gave the sacred cantata “ Daniel ” in the Roslyn Church on Wednesday, Bth inst., to a fair audience, •and achieved quite a success. The soloists being each in good voice, were consequently well received. Misses Lister, J. Howie and Myers, and Messrs J. G. Hiddleston, E. Horman, C. Belworthy, and J. W- Fowler were responsible for the solos while the •choruses were especially well rendered, -and reflected credit on Mr Howie, As an additional item, Miss Lister’s “ Ora Pro

Npbis,” was in itself a treat. Mr Charles Griffiths also sang “Nazareth” with fair •success. This concert- 1 shows, that the Society includes some really good musicians, who by study and attention to detail will be heard of in the future.

Xmas Goods —New Season’s Fruits, etc., are selling at Record Prices at BARLOW’S JUBILEE STORE, Dee Street. Best value in town in Groceries, etc.

Pbizes : We have opened up the Largest, and Best Selection of this class of Books ever imported by us, all selected from the Leading Home Publishers’ Lists. We supply at the very lowest rates to Public School Teachers and Committees, and Sunday School Teachers. —Xmas and New Year Cards : The Xmas Cards for this season have been carefully selected from the latest and beet samples. We are confident that our display will not be surpassed in Southland. Mixed Packets and Boxes of Folding Catds from 4d to 5s (splendid value*.— Annuals : New volumes of Boys and Girls Own. Annual, Chums, Young Australia, Chatterbox, Sunday, Our Darlings, Prize and others have now arrived. We have just to hand a large shipment of the Colonial Library Editions of Barrie’s and Tan Maclaren’s Books, formerly 6s, Now- 3s 6i and 2s fid each The Depot will remain open every evening till after the New Year. Inspection invited of the above at the N.Z Book Society, Athenaeum Corner, Invercargill. —-Advt.