The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, DEC. 9 General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 37, 9 December 1899, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, DEC. 9 General News.

*. Several articles are held over till next issue including final instalment of “ Overland to Nelson.” A proposal put to the ratepayers of Timaru and district for a loan of .£100,003 for harbour works there, was carried by three to one. During the thunderstorm on Sunday the flagpole on the grandstand at the Gore racecourse was struck by lightning, and broken to pieces. The Land and Survey Department invite tenders for the erection of a bridge, and other works at Waimatua. A number of sections in the township of Pourakino, Oraki, and Dipton, will be offered at the Land Office, Invercargill, on December 30. Mr P. Walker, architect, is preparing plans for sale yards at Winton. The Government Advances to Settlers office is now lending money on freehold security at 4| per cent. The Hon. J. G. Ward states that the Government intend to make a substantial reduction in railway passenger fares. Mr E. B. Jones inserts a new advertisement regarding his influenza cure. “ Wounded in the house of his friends. ’ It is understood that Mr J, W. Kelly attributes his defeat for Invercargill to the defection of a section of the temperance party. , Entries for a number of events at the Clifton sports close on Saturday, 16th inst. On Friday next, in the Exchange Sale Rooms, at noon, Messrs McKay Bros, will submit a number of leaseholds to competition. A house close to the Jetty is advertised for sale by Mr. O. W. Brown. The machinery, inculding engine and boiler from the “ Mountaineer ” dredge, arrived at Mataura on Thursday, and will be placed in position on the new pontoon built by Messrs Donaldson and Curwood for the Eureka Company as rapidly as possible. Mr Crookson, one of the former owners of the Mountaineer dredge, is in charge of the wort, and expects to be ready to make a start with, dredging early in February. Tenders are called by the Invercargill Corporation for painting the band rotunda.

The farce of closing the hotels on election day and keeping open a free tap-room almost alongside the polling-booth is most reprehensible, and (remarks the Southern Standard) was freely commented «n in Gore on Wednesday. It is stated that the Eev. Allon Poole, of Invercargill, has received calls to churches at London and Napier. Messrs W. Todd and Co., acting on behalf of Mrs J. W. Bain, invite tenders for the lease for five years of grazing paddocks at Bainfield, Waikiwi. Mr J. W. Kelly publishes an address to the electors in this issue, in which he has something to say concerning the action of a section of the temperance party at the election. In effect, he states that he has been wounded in the house of his friends. The British forces have inflicted another defeat on the Boers at the Modeler Eiver. An important engagement is imminent at Ladysmith. The Southland Metropolitan show will be opened in the Queen’s Park on Tuesday. A list of judges, train arrangements, and particulars of exhibits to be shown by the National Mortgage and Agency Co., the N. Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Messrs Tothill, Watson and Co., and the Southland Implement and Engineering Co. will be found on pages 10 and 11 of this issue. The election campaign was marked by two sad incidents —the death of Mr John Joyce, who was one of the candidates for Lyttelton, and that of Mr T. E. Taylor, who was standing for Eangitikei.

Invercargill was visited by a severe thunderstorm on Saturday forenoon, and shortly before 11 a.m. a young man named C, Brebner, son of Mr Brebner, stationmaster, was struck by lightning while working in the yard at Johnston’s foundry in Leet and Kelvin streets. He was rendered senseless, but speedily recovered under treatment.

A syndicate has been formed in Wellington to work an extensive area of totara bush near Taupo. It is asserted that its members include one or more of ttfb leading legislators of the colony.

It is reported that the directors of the Eureka Gold Dredging Co. have acquired another claim on the Mataura the Nil Desperacdum, adjoining their original holding.

A two-storyed cottage on the North Hoad, at Gladstone, occupied by Mrs O’Toole and family, was burned down on Wednesday evening. Several members of the household were at tea, when a neighbour, Mr Curtis, alarmed them with the news that the place was on fire. The roof was blazing near one of the windows, and the flames spread rapidly. Mr Curtis, Mr Hewitt, Mr Brown, and others did good servi3e in removing furniture from the lower rooms, but very little was got out of the upper storey. That enthusiastic volunteer, Sergt. O’Toole, lost, among other things, four uniforms—that of his old cadet corps, one of the late G Battery, one of the City Band, and one of the Oreti Rifles. The building was insured in the Royal office for £l5O, but the furniture and effects were not covered. A traction engine passed along the road into town shortly before the outbreak, and it is just possible that a spark from it may have caused the mischief. The annual church parade of Ihe Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, will be held to-morrow evening, members marching in procession from the hall in Tay street to St. John’s church. Mr A. Macpherson, district valuer to the Yaluation Department, has resigned the appointment in order to engage in business on his own account. At the wool sales at Napier Lincoln crossbred averaged 3d per lb. more than last year, and greasy half-bred brought ll^d. Burglars entered a house at Masterton early on Wednesday last, chloroformed the inmates (five in number) and helped themselves to all the money they could find, about £2O. A linen rag, saturated with chloroform, was placed on or near each sleeper. Miss Zoe Poynter has been appointed pupil teacher of the Bluff school, and James Gifford to the Invercargill Middle school.

Mr W. B. Scandrett has a very desirable property at the Bluff for disposal. The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodist church, Bluff, were held on Sunday last, the preacher being the Eev. T. Pybus, of Invercargill. The Sunday School anniversary social was held on Tuesday last, and was a decided success. The Hon. J. G. Ward was met at the Bluff on the arrival of Thursday evening’s train by a great many residents of the port, and the Bluff brass band. Speeches were made and cheers were given for Mr Ward and family) and he was heartily congratulated on his success. A carriage was in waiting at the railway station to drive him through the town. Horses were dispensed with, their places being taken by a number of enthusiastic supporters of Mr Ward, who was presented with floral tributes by Mrs McGrath and Misses Hamilton and Metzger.

The Hon. J. G. Ward will open the Church of England bazaar at the Bluff on W ednesday next, 13th inst., at 8 p.m.

A most successful school concert was held on Thursday evening in the Drill Hall, Bluff, to provide funds for school prizes. MrEeed, the Mayor, presided, and Mr Ward occupied a seat on the platform. Two prizes were given by Mr D. MaeDougall, junr., for the best recitations, and were won by Mary Morrison and William Bailey. The programme included a violin solo by Eebecca Spencer, a Highland Eling by Master M. Macdonald, and choruses, recitations, solos, and the “ Maypole Dance ”by the children. A play entitled “ Cinderella ” was also performed, the leading parts being taken by the Misses Daisy Hamilton, May McGrath and Mabel Hewlett, and Masters Vincent Ward and Earnest Newman. Great credit is due to Mr Miller for his efforts in making the affair so successful, and. three hearty cheers were given him at the close of the entertainment.

On Sunday last the Eight Kev. the Lord Bishop of Dunedin opened the newly-erected Church of England at Half Moon Bay, Stewart Island. The edifice, built from the plans of Mr C. H. Eoberts, of Invercargill, by Mr Eameay, contractor, of Oban, is a large and handsome one for the place. It is beautifully situated on a rise in the centre of the township of Oban, and is a conspicuous object from many directions around the Bay. The Bishop preached eloquent sermons to large congregations, returning on Wednesday, accompanied by the Kev. D. C. Bates. The Bishop preaches at Gladstone to-morrow evening, when the services will be of a special character.

A very old resident of the town Captain H. Y. Ullicrap, who was at one time in charge of the Immigration Barracks at Invercargill, passed away at his residence, Liddcl street, on Thursday evening.

By the death on the Istinst. of Mrs George Lumsden Invercargill lost one of its earliest residents, the deceased lady having arrived here with her husband and family in 1861. Mr and Mrs Lumsden were to have celebrated their diamond wedding in January next.

The Hinemoa has returned to the Bluff from a fruitless search for the schooner Wolverine, long overdue from Auckland to the Bluff.

In spite of an exhaustive search, no trace has been found of Mr J. Sim, who disappeared from Orepuki on the 28th ult. Over 100 persons were engaged in the work, and were at it from Tuesday night till the following Sunday night, every race and shaft known to the searchers being examined, and the bush scoured for a radius beyond what a man of Mr Sim’s age (85 years) would be likely to travel. Mr Sim’s relatives have engaged several of the Natives at Colac to continue the search in the hope that the body may be found, all hope of finding him alive having been abandoned, Mr Sim was one of the earliest settlers on the Otago Peninsula, arriving in the Strathfieldsay over fifty years ago, and engaging in farming pursuits. In 1897 he visited England in order to witness the Queen’s Record Reign celebrations. He returned to the colony a few months later, and in 1898, still hale and hearty, he took part in the Otago Jubilee celebrations. He leaves three sons and three daughters, to one of whom (Mrs John E/ans, senr.) he was paying a visit at the time of his mysterious disappearance. A feature worthy of note in connection with the episode was the readiness with wliich the mining community turned out to assist

in the search for the missing one, and their sympathy when it proved unsuccessful.

Visitors to the Agricultural Show next Wednesday are cordially invited to call. and inspect our large and choice stock of seasonable books for presents or for school prizes. We have just opened up the largest and best selection of this class of books ever imported by us. All are carefully selected from the leading Home publishers’ lists. Teachers and school committees will be supplied - at the very lowest rates. Hew annual volumes to hand, viz., Chums, Boys’ and Girls’ Own Annual, Young Australia, • Chatterbox,. Quiver, Prize, Leadine Strings, Our Darlings, and others. Our large stock of Christmas and New Year Cards in packets, boxes, and single, have been carefully selected from the latest • and best samples. 500 Dozen large Floral Cards (good value), only Is 6d per dozen. Inspection invited to the above at the N.Z. Book Society, Athenseum corner, Invercargill. Costiveness Cubed. Hale’s Cones for Costiveness do away with the need for Laxative Pills which are so damaging to the walls of the stomach, to say nothing of the griping pains caused by them. Splendid for the children. Is a box from Richardson Bros., Chemists, Great Bussell Bt,, London, W.C.—The Health World No. 9, describes these Cones, sent free by us. S.P.Q R. is Mr J. S. Baxter’s trade motto which means Small Profits, Quick Returns and it is certainly a good one, as it means groceries and provisions at very reasonable prices for customers, as well as bonus gifts to all purchasers of goods of ten shillings worth and upwards.