The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, JAN. 6. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 41, 6 January 1900, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, JAN. 6. General News.

The big holiday season is over for another year, and people are settling down to everyday life again—not a few of them, it may be taken for granted, in the spirit of a member of the Scotch Yeomanry in the Old Country. At the close of several weeks’ drill away from home, he bid his comrades good-bye, and added—“ It’ll be auld claes and parritch the morn.”

The printing of the Oddfellows’ Handbook for 1900 (Manchester Unity, Invercargill District) will begin shortly. The secretary of the Eiversdale Lodge has forwarded their programme for insertion, and the publishers will be glad to receive those of the other lodges as soon as possible.

We have to thank Messrs Macalister and Co. (Mr. J. J, Hiskens) for a very handsome date-table. It is of bronzed cardboard, to which, in addition to the usual date slips, is attached a small thermometer.

Although the railway officials worked hard on Tuesday, it was impossible to get all the trains off to the Bluff to time. A passenger who was, as he thought, too late for the 10.50 a.m. train got into a truck at 11.15 a.m. in the belief that it was part of the train leaving at 11.30. He remarked to a guard who was rushing past—“ This is the 11.30 train, isn’t it ?” “Oh no,” replied the hardpressed official, “ this is the 10.50 a.m. train.” So it was, but for all that it did not get away till 11.30. Dr Macknight has left Invercargill to settle at Naseby.

Mr W. Warren, founder and proprietor of the Wakatipa Maili died on Wednesday.

What a genial boh of Erin’s Isle termed the irony of fate was exemplified at the games on Monday, when a northern visitor, who had an official interest m the events, was observed “ shooing ” off the ground persons who had a right to be there. His zeal, however, found a better channel when he obligingly made up a set in one of the Highland dances, and was greeted with cries of “ Well done, old ’un ! ”

The installation of officers of the Shamrock,'Rose and Thistle Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., for the ensuing year took place at the meeting on Thursday evoning. P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Findlay acted as installing officer, and P.P;G.M.’s Bros. J. H. Smith and J. Ward as conductors. Bro. A.C. Spence was installed as N.G., Bro. J. F. Thom as Y.G., and Bro. Porter as E.S.- It is worthy of note that Bros. Spence and Thom began as members of the Juvenile Branch, and are now the chief officers of the oldest lodge in the district. Bro. T. Brown, who has made a first class Noble Grand, passed to the Grand Master’s chair.

Five hundred and twelve marriages were celebrated in Dunedin last year—of these 68 took place in December.

The tug Awarua made a number of trips down the harbour on Tuesday, Among the many groups who watched her from the shore was one which included a poet. As the vessel turned to go back she churned the water into foam. “Look!” cried the poet ecstatically, “see the white foam rising high. What does it suggest ?” “ Soap ß uds,” interjected a practical housewife, and the poet collapsed.

The Bishop of Dunedin will to-day ordain three priests and one deacon—the later being Mr Edgar Ward, solicitor, Riverton, and for a number of years mayor of that borough. The Rev. Mr Ward will take tip clerical work immediately as third curate to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin. Mr Ward’s services as lay reader in the Anglican church at Riverton have been much appreciated.

Mr H. Joosten, of the Bluff, has successfully passed his examination at Dunedin as an Associate of the Institute of Accountants.

Mr W. B. Scandrett has a property in Ettrick street for sale.

Mr Smith, of Napier, secretary of the affiliated Caledonian Societies of New Zealand, and who has had a good deal to do with athletic gatherings in the North Island, was loud in his praises of the way in which the Caledonian Society’s officials carried out their programme. The work done by the competitors was also somewhat of an eye« opener to our visitors.

A party of gentlemen in Invercargill are organising a trip to the West Coast Sounds under conditions that will ensure “all the comforts of a home,” and facilities for indulgence in sight-seeing, shooting, fishing, boaiing, and other holiday pursuits. There are a few berths still available on the vessel chartered for the excursion. Letters addressed to this office will be forwarded to the promoters.

One of tue hardest jobs that officials of the Caledonian Society undertake is that of keeping unauthorised persons out of the ring, “ Surely these are not all committeemen, Tam ?” queried a perplexed office-bearer on Monday, as he made towards a group of spectators. “ The Lord only knows,” was the reply, spoken more in sorrow than profanity.

Beds were at a premium in Invercargill on Monday night. Several people hunted round the town for hours before they secured accommodation.

The Rev. H. E. Wilson, 8.A., curate at Palmerston Worth, and who was ordained a priest on Sunday last, is in Invercargill on a holiday tour, and will conduct the services in St. John’s to-morrow morning, and preach in All Saints at night. Mr Wilson is a son of our townsman, Mr E. Wilson. It may b« mentioned tnat during this and the next month the evening services at All Saints begin at seven o’clock.

The banquet to have been tendered to the Hon. J. GK Ward in Edie’s hall, Waikiwi Plain, oh Tuesday night has been postponed to the 25th inst., owing to Mr. Ward having to leave for the Worth to attend a meeting of the Cabinet on Monday next.

The Waianiwa Athletic Society held their annual gathering on 28th ult. The officebearers had to contend with very bad weather, but made the best o£ the position, and by judicious management got the programme through by train time.

The Caledonian Pipe Band were present at the games in full force, and played their very best. That c: Cook o’the South,” Mr Jas. Macgregor, was in his usual place. “Drum majors are like poets—they’re born, not made,” observed an onlooker as the Macgregor strode past with his staff of office in full swing. Our Bluff correspondent writes : —On Sunday evening last the bush near the sea on the Ward Parade was wilfully set on fire. Now, it is recognised that this is the most attractive walk the Bluff possesses, and anyone setting fire to this lovely bit of bush should be prosecuted. Fires not only destroy the beautiful scenery, but are a danger to property, and I would ' recommend the borough council to erect notice boards re the prosecution of persons guilty of these acts of vandalism. The Ship Westland, commanded by Capt. Kelly, arrived at the Bluff on Thursday from "London, after a smart run of 79 days, she brings cargo for the Bluff aud Timaru, Fisher, of Southland, won the chopping match at the Otago Caledonian Society’s games on Tuesday, beating Hudson, Kilkelly, and Kelleher, to whom he conceded 50, 40, and 10 secs, respectively. We learn that disease has broken out among a number of pigs recently bought at auction by Mr Yyner and sent to Tisbury. Four or five of the animals have died. Mr Vyner communicated with the Inspector of Stock, and it is understood that the services of the Government Yet. are to be obtained to determine the nature of the trouble. E. Scott, after winning one of the wrestling matches in Invercargill on Monday, went through to Clinton that night, and on to Dunedin next day, and took part in the wrestling events, winning in the Border style and catch-as-catch-can. There was great looking up of rules at the games on Monday owing to the importance of the events from a record-making view. A knotty point arose and a quartette of men put their heads together to settle it. “ No»v,” said a keenly interested onlooker, “ see what’s happening. The one man who knows all about the thing is dumb and the others who know very little about it are doing all the talking.” This is often the case in other things than sports.

At the meeting of the Shamrock, Eose and Thistle Lodge of Oddfellows on Thursday evening P.P.G.M. Bro. F. G. Stone, and P.P.G.M. Bro. J. H. Smith (Trustees) and P.P G.M. Bro, J. Ward, and P.G. Bro. R. Miller, members of the Advising Board, were presented with handsomely designed gold medals in recognition of their services. The presentation was very happily made by P.P.G.M. Bro. T. Findlay, and was suitably aeknowiedged, Bro. Stone, as chairman of the Trustees, giving some interesting particulars of the financial position of the lodge. Bro. Eabbidge, a member of the Trustees, was absent in the country, and will receive his medal at the next meeting.

TO THE DEAF. —A rich lady, cured of her Deafness and Noises in the Head by Dr. Nicholson’s Artificial Ear Drums, has sent ,£I,OOO to his Institute, so that deaf people unable to procure the Ear Drums may have them free. Apply to Department AC.B., The Institute, “ Longcott,” Gunnersbury London, W., England. Readers of the Southern Cross are cordially invited to call and inspect our large and choice stock of seasonable books for presents hr 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 com mittees will be supplied at the very lowest rates. New annual volumes to hand, viz., Chums, Boys’ and Girls’ Own Annual, Young Australia, Chatterbox, Quiver, Prize, Leading 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 valae), only Is fid per dozen. Inspection invited to the above at the N.Z. Book Society, Athenaeum corner, Invercargill.