General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 34, 18 November 1899, Page 8

General News.

A revised list of the sailing dates of the New Zealand Shipping Co.’s steamers will be published next week. In the meantime it may be noted that the Wakanui leaves Wellington on November 30th and the Eakaia on December 28th. Mr C. W. Brown has a property near the jetty for lease, with easy terms of purchase if desired. The summer meeting of the Sonthland Racing Club will be held on January 2nd and 3rd. Nominations for ail events close on 14ith December. A correspondent informs us that in some parts of the Mataura electorate more interest is taken in the no-license poll than in the general election. A good many persons profess themselves confident that no-license will be carried in Bruce, Clutha, and Mataura. Mr Denly has been appointed Secretary of the Invercargill Cycling and Athletic Club.

At the last meeting of the recently-formed Lodge of Manchester Unity Oddfellows at Orepuki, held on Tuesday evening, Bro. A. Todd, Deputy Grand Master of the Invercargill District, and Bro. J. G. Briggs, who occupies the same position in the Otago District, were present and delivered short addresses. Two candidates were initiated. As the Temperance Hall, in which the meetings are held, has been gazetted a courthouse, the lodge will apply to the District to allow the night of meeting to be changed. On Tuesday last the court business was not finished till 9 30 p.m., and the lodge could not be opened till then.

A meeting for the election of representatives of local bodies on the H. and Cl, Board will be held at the Old Men’s Heme on Wednesday next.

Mr J. Stead announces that in compliance with the request of a number of citizens he has decided to offer himself for election for another term as mayor of Invercargill.

A memorial service was held in the Roman Catholic Church, Bluff, on Friday last in memory of the late Mrs Barron.

The auxiliary screw steam barque Southern Cross is at the Bluff awaiting the arrival of the Carine, which is bringing provisions and stores for the Antarctic expedition. .In all probability the crew of the Southern Cross will spend their Christmas at the Campbell Islands. The mate, Mr G. Petersen, and two of the sailors, have had to enter the Southland Hospital owing to illness, but on inquiring yesterday we learnt that they were recovering.

The nomination of candidates for the Invercargill Mayoralty trkes place on Monday. So far there are two aspirants for ti e position —Mr J. Stead, who seeks re-election, and Mr J. S. Goldie, who bases his claim to support on the score of long residence and services rendered in various capacities, including a lengthened term as a member of the Borough Council.

Holiday excursion tickets in connection with the Dunedin show and races will be issued by the railway department from the 21st to the 23rd inst.

A euchre tournament, in which the players represented the Shamrock, Hose, and Thistle Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.TJ., and the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.0. F., A.C., took place in the Foresters’ Hall on Thursday evening. The Shamrock, Eose, and Thistle men won, having 61 games to their credit against 53 gained by their opponents. The “ Americans ” afterwards entertained the victors very handsomely, a programme of songs and toasts being carried out.

Messrs Walker and Mackenzie have secured the contract for the erection of the Primitive Methodist minister’s residence at the Bluff.

Great anxiety is felt at the Bluff as to the safety of Mr G. Williamson’s steam trawler Wolverine, overdue from Auckland. A tug has left Dunedin to search for her.

A list of successful tenderers fo/ Southland County works is published in this issue. The Council are now inviting applications for a number of other works in various parts of the district.

The Auckland Star anticipates that the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mr McGowan (Thames) will replace Messrs Cadman and Thompson in the Ministry.

Now that the holiday season is approaching visitors would do well to note the advertisement inserted in this issue regarding Cameron’s private hotel, Bluff.

Influenza is very rife in Dunedin, and several schools have been closed owing to the epidemic. Our Otautau correspondent states Ihat it is mating a house to house call in that township.

During the carnival week in Christchurch (show and races) nearly .£64,000 was passed through the tote. Early in the week the police shunted over 30 undesirable characters out of the place, and they went to Dunedin and Wellington.

It has been officially announced that Great Britain renounces the islands of Upolu and Savaii (Samoa) in favour of Germany, and Tutuila in favour of the United States, while Germany renounces in Great Britain’s favour her rights in Tonga, Yavau and Savage Islands, situated east and south-east of Bouganville and Buka islands.

Mr W. B. Scandrett has for sale the picturesquely situated property, of Mr E. Ward, on the southern shore of the Riverton Estuary.

The next meeting of the Southland Land Boards will be held on Friday, 28th Nov. The Lands and Surveys Department, insert a number of notifications re the disposal of allotments at the Land Office, Invercargill, on Thursday and Friday next. The first instalment of next year’s calendars reached us yesterday in the shape of two very handsome wall almanacs from the office of the Northern Assurance Company, of which Mr C. Rout is the local agent. A correspondent of the Southern Standard alleges that roll stuffing is going on in the Mataura electorate. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. are just in receipt of the following cable from their London office :—Wheat : There is little demand. Spot quotations have declined Is per 496 lbs since last report. Applications are invited by the Invercargill Borough Council for the position of caretaker of the abattoirs. The butchers of the town and district are also notified that the abattoirs will be available after 27th Nov. A fund for the assistance of refugees has been opened at Invercargill. His Worship the Mayor invites subscriptions to the fund. A Sharebrokers’ Association has been formed in Invercargill, under the chairmanship of Mr W. B. Scandrett. A jockey named Twomey, who fell in the hurdle race at the Christchurch meeting, died from his injuries. Alex. Armit, the well-knowu footballer, who was hurt in the match Otago v. Taranaki on 26th August, died on Sunday last. Mr Thos. McKenzie has apparently been given the cold shoulder in Clutha. He Las retired from the election contest in favour of Mr Thomson, and decided to contest Waikbuaiti in the Opposition interest. The first lot of this season’s wool clip passed through Invercargill to Dunedin on Monday last. It came from Birchwood. It is reported that a rupture between Russia and Japan is probable, owing to the latter’s activity in Korea. The British Admirality has ordered 450 12in. steel wire guns at a cost of millions sterling. These guns will be able to throw shot from Dover to Calais. According to the London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, the Government long ago received information as to the existence of a deep-seated and widespread conspiracy among the South African Dutch to wrest South Africa from British rule, and to convert it into an independent Dutch Republic under the leadership of the Transvaal.

The Hon. J. McKenzie, who returned to Wellington from London a few* days ago, states that the agricultural outlook at Home is a very gloomy one, remarking—“ If the present conditions prevail in the Old Country for another 40 years, as they appear to have prevailed during the 40 years of my absence, agriculture will cease as an industry in Great Britain.”

The formal opening of the Hokonui railway takes place on WednesiSy next, when a special train leaves Invercargill for Hedgehope terminus at 10.30 a.m. The fares hare been fixed at excursion rates, and as the citizens of Invercargill are to be invited to observe a whole holiday, there will doubtless be a large gathering on the occasion. The Hon. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, will be in attendance, and the Hon. J. G. Ward and the other Southland members will also be present. The committee of management will entertain the official visitors at a banquet in the goods shed, and they have also arranged with Messrs D. Kingsland and Son to cater for the public at a nominal charge. The Winton Band will be iu attendance. The day’s doings will conclude with a ball at Brown’s, Forest Hill.

In Lloyd’s Weekly of September 17 inquiry is made, in the list of missing friends for information regarding Edgar Duplock, who left England in 1884, and lived for some years at Invercargill; last heard from at Perth, W.A., in 1894. His brother George inquires.

Any person calling at the N.Z. Book Depot, Athenaeum Corner, Dee and Esk streets, will be supplied gratis with a copy of a book entitled “ The Ethics of Drink Discussed,” by Her. J. T. Wills, fourth edition, on making a representation to the effect that he or she is an elector of Awarua Electorate, is the head of a family or household, and will promise to read the book before the taking of the Local Option Poll.—Advt. The Health World. —A Magazine written plainly for the home, showing how to prevent and cure diseases of the human frame. No. 94d post free, has articles on how to be beautiful, how to cure rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, corpulence, consumption, gout, diseases of men and women, deafness and head noises, the hair, etc., 9, Gt. Russell Street, W.C. London. A good old saying is, “ Call a spade a spade,” in other words it is a plain fact that Mr J. S. Baxtee gives the best possible value in Southland for prompt cash. He can manage this desirable achievement very easily, as he is the only grocer in the province that does not run monthly accounts.