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

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 10, 18 June 1898, Page 8

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

When the Governor was leaving Invercari gill on Saturday last, Mr Wilson Hall, of “ The Camp,” Eiversdale, made himself disagreeably conspicuous, and as a result appeared at the Police Court on Wednesday to answer three charges of breaches of the law. It was pleaded on his behalf that he was under the influence of drink, and that he sometime ago suffered a severe injury to 1 his head. It was also stated that His Excellency the Governor, to whom an apology had been tendered, did not wish the charges , pressed. The first charge (of using indecent language) was withdrawn, and for using offensive language, and getting on a train while it was in motion, defendant was mulct (with costs) in a' total of £lB 11s. A young man charged at Auckland with failing to support his father, pleaded that he was studying for the ministry, and wanted all his money to buy books. He was ordered to pay os a week. On Thursday, reports the Mataura Ensign, T. H. Brewer and W. Trembath were charged On the information of Arch. Stewart, John

Macpherson, David Walker, and George Macgregor, farmers, of Balfour, with a breach of the Auctioneers’ Act, 1891, in having failed to keep a trust account. After hearing evidence the information was dismissed, leave to appeal being granted. Three other cases were adjourned. “ I told lies to secure convictions,” said in ' effect a constable when giving evidence before the Police Commission in the North Island. He added that while the Department offered rewards to secure convictions, defendants paid more to swear falsely. A nice state of things, truly! Parliament opens on Friday next. The Southland members leave for the North in a few days. One of them, Mr J. W. Kelly, will address his constituents in the Theatre Royal on Tuesday night. Our correspondent informs us that the ! entry money at the Winton show was considerably in excess of last year’s, and that there was also an increase in the door takings —close on 1000 people visiting the hall. The sheen given by Mr Cochrane for a weightguessing competion realised £7 12s, while the cheese containing gold and silver coins i brought £5 16s. Several protests have been J received under bylaws one and seven, and I will be considered at a special meeting. In the weight-guessing competition five persons j estimated the weight at 143 lbs, and the first, j second and third awards were divided between J Miss Knight, Miss Maider (this little girl

also got a half-sovereign in a piece of cheese), and Messrs J. A. Gilmour (Oreti), A. Ferguson, and J. A. Keith. A report of the show is given in another column. There are two daily papers published in Timaru. They are issued from the same office, and are owned by Mr Kerr, M.L.CThe fact of the papers being owned by the one proprietary has caused some dissatisfaction, and now we learn that Timaru is to have a third daily—the Morning Post. It will be carried on by a company, with'Mr J. F. Wilson, formerly part owner of the Souihekn Cuoss, as manager. The May number of the Review of Reviews is up to the mark as to general contents, and remarkable for two features—Mr Stead’s article on the late Pastor Muller of Bristol and his marvellous work, and the reproduction of the. written opinions of 77 leading men in Australia on the question of Federation.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. report having sold to Messrs J. Q-. Patterson and Joseph Todd allotment 7 of theNew Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association's Waicolo estate, Aparima Hundred, containing 302 a Or 14p.

The measures to be introduced by the Government include a bill for appointing official shorthand writers in the law courts. If the system is adopted, there will be no need to appoint an additional judge—the saving in time will prove an “ eye-opener.”

During the first fortnight of this month, 3891 large and small cattle were killed at the Dunedin City Abattoir, and of these 25 were condemned there being one bull, seven cows, five bullocks, four calves, two pigs and six sheep—and were destroyed at the various chemical works.

Invercargill is not the only town in New Zealand with an unsatisfactory water supply. Dr Brown declares that the Dunedin water is simply abominable.

Many very interesting things could be written about trade marks and mottoes ; in England, for instance, there are thousands of such. The most interesting trade motto, however, to the peeple of Southland is undoubtedly that of Mr J. S. Baxter’s, the Cash Grocer, who rejoices in the significant trade motto, S.P. Q. E. (small profits, quick returns). Mr Baxter has no monthly accounts, and therefore gives the best possible value £ s. d, can command.

Mi' Elston, inventor of the Empress needle, which was awarded a gold medal at the Jubilee Exhibition, announces that he may be consulted at Guthrie’s buildings. In addition to being the patentee of this ingenious instrument, Mr Elston is a skilled phrenologist,, one whose '■ readings ” have been pronounced remarkably accurate.

The Supreme Court dealt with some Chamber business yesterday. Mr Justice Pennefather will not sit on Monday, it being a court holiday. The divorce case set down for hearing has been adjourned till next sitting. It is notified in another column that the stock at Benmore Station, advertised for sale on Friday next by Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., have been withdrawnintending buyers please note.

A cake and apron fair in connection with the Winton Anglican Church was held on Wednesday afternoon and evening, and was well patronised. The ladies concerned in it worked well, and deserved well. Mr H. Wilson thanked their patrons before the proceedings closed.

Mr H. O. Cassels, the well-known saddler and harness-maker, has moved to more central premises next the Prince of Wales salejards, Dee street, and has a very large assortment of wares to suit the requirements of farmers and others. As notified in our advertising columns, he has secured the services of Mr Paul, late foreman of Messrs Guthrie and Go’s, saddlery department, which, in itself, is a guarantee of prompt and etficient workmanship. Mr C. S. Hoss, who possesses a large and varied collection of views at Manapouri, Te Anau‘ and other places of interest, will give an entertainment in the Temperance hall on Monday evening. In addition to the pictorial element, there will be a descriptive lecture, and song and recitations —the whole forming a very enjoyable programme. Information reached town on Thursday that Mr James Watson, of Watson Bros., Heddon Bush, had met with a very serious accident. Later particulars were to the effect that his injuries were self-inflicted, he having discharged a gun at himself, with the result that the greater part of Ids face was blown away. Mr Watson, who with his brothers, is highly respected in the district, is a single man, and about fifty years of age, and it is said that he had suffered of late from despondency of spirits, although without apparent cause. The sufferer, who was attended by Dr Eiley, was brought to the Invercargill Hospital, and on enquiry there yesterday we learned that Mr Watson had improved somewhat, but that his condition is very critical.

The June sittings of the Supreme Court were opened at Invercargill before Mr Justice Pennefather on Monday. A. McLean pleaded guilty to three charges of theft, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisionment.— R. 0. McKenzie, for obtaining goods and money by issuing valueless cheques, was sentenced to six months hard labour.— p. J. Thomson, a lad of fourteen, pleaded guilty to the theft of letters containing cheques, and was sent to prison for six months. —Edwar'd Littlelund, alias Glover,

admitted charges of forging and uttering, and received a year’s imprisonment. Ellen Rolfe, charged with concealment of birth, admitted the offence, and was ordered to be imprisoned for three months.—Patrick Cosgrove, charged with indecent assault at Arrowtown, was found guilty of cominon assault, and was admitted to probation for six months on condition that he took out a probation order himself, and paid £5 towards the expenses of the prosecution. —Thos. Nicholls, similarly charged, the offence in this case haying been committed at Orepuki, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. —A boy of twelve named Gf. B. Kinnard was found guilty of arson at Roslyn, and sent to the Industrial School. Thos. Fitzpatrick, charged with an unnatural offence at Mataura, was found guilty of indecent exposure, and received nine months’ hard labour. —J. Gorton was charged with having, on February 15th, knowingly and wilfully made a false declaration to procure a registrar’s certificate of marriage. Accused pleaded Not Guilty. The jury were unable to agree, and it was decided to have a second trial at the next sessions. This concluded the criminal cases.