The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, AUG. 4. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 18, 4 August 1900, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, AUG. 4. General News.

The Milestone Dredging Company invite tenders for fitting up the machinery on their dredge at .Nokomai. A property at the West Plains is advertised for sale by Mr R. J. Gumming, Athenaeum Buildings. Mr F. G-. Stone, who is a member of the Borough Council, and who some years ago did good service on the old Invercargill Road Board, announces that he is a candidate for the Invercargill Mayoralty. Onr readers will be pleased to learn that next week will we begin the publication of a second series of reminiscences by “ Old Identity,” whose sketches of life on the early Victorian goldfields excited so much interest when published in the Southern Cross a few years since. The writer on this occasion deals with some West Coast episodes. A cycling and military gymkhana will be held in the Zealandia Hail from 19th to 22nd September. A movement is on foot to establish a branch of the M.U. Oddfellows at Nightcaps.

The Invercargill Borough Council is inviting tenders for the purchase of the dredge Alpha. This is a wise step, and as dredges are in demand just now, the Alpha --should command a good price. Mr Scandrett has a number of town properties for disposal. Mr W. J. Noble, Gladstone, who has been very successful at the poultry shows this season, advertises brown and white leghorns for sale. ‘ The members of the Acorn Lodge of Druids recently invited the members of the Sham, rock, Rose and Thistle Lodge to a euchre party, and secured a. victory over the visitorsThe Shamrock men returned the compliment on Wednesday evening, and won by seven games —the scores being 32 to 25. “ He went away with .£lO and a cart load of specials,” said Mr J. A. Mitchell speaking of one of the successful competitors the day after the champion ploughing match. In another column we give some particulars of a champion match held near Wallace town thirty years ago. Three Southlanders who were present then were on the ground on Wednesday—Mr A. Ross (Secretary in 1870), Mr A. Drysdale, and Mr J. B. Sutton, and there were doubtless others, unknown to us. Mrs Blue, whose singing has so often charmed Invercargill audiences, has returned from Melbourne, where she studied under the .well-known and successful Madame Miranda, and has arranged lo give lessons in voice production in the Music Rooms, Esk street west, beginning on Monday next.

At the last meeting of the Shamrock, Eose and Thistle Lodge of Oddfellows, three candidates were initiated and four others proposed. P.P.G.M. Bro. Findlay called attention to the value of the juvenile branch of the Order connected with the St. George and Shamrock, Eose and Thistle Lodges, audit was decided on the motion of P.G. Bro. J. S. Goldie to entertain the young people at a social at an early date.

The unfenced state of part of the railway line in Taranaki district has been a source of loss to owners of stock, to say nothing of danger to passengers. Attention was lately called to the matter in the House of Eepresentatives, and the Minister of Eailways promised that the section of line referred to would be fenced at an early date.

A householder writes suggesting that it i B high time the price o£ bread was reduced in Invercargill. He says it is dearer here than in Dunedin, and wants to. know why the staff of life, as well as luxuries in the shape of opera, should cost more in Invercargill than they do a hundred miles or so further northward. [The price of the 41b loaf in Invercargill was reduced to 4d on Thursday.]

Southlanders have been congratulating each other on the mild winter experienced, and a correspondent, referring more especially to June last, quotes a weather report published here in August, 1870, by way of comparing then and now from a meteorological point of view. The report in question is up to June of that year, and the extract is as follows ;—June, 1870 : A very wet month, but remarkably mild, so warm a June having only once before been experienced during 11 years, viz., in 1865, Hail fell on two days only, snow but once, and then very • lightly. The rainfall was 1.35 inch above the June average for the previous ten years.

The Highland Society of Southland hold their annual gathering, concert and ball in Ashley’s Hall on Friday evening, 10th August. These gatherings have [proved very successful hitherto, and the programme prepared for the one under notice is of such a character as to secure a large and representative attendance of members and their friends. The speakers will include the Revs. Luxford, and Bates, and Dean Burke, the Chieftain of the Society, Mr A. Carmichael, and the vocalists Mrs Blue, who will be heard here for the first time since her return from Melbourne.

The Kev. —Why can goods be supplied so much cheaper for cash than for credit ? The key to the whole question is simply this: One profit is enough when cash is paid ; four profits, however, are required when credit- is given, namely, (1) for booking, (2) for b ad debts, (3) ledgers, books, etc., (4) for interest on money lying idle in books. One profit is sufficient for Mr J. S. Baxtee, as he makes it a special study to give good value for cash.

Mrs M. Ross intimates in our Home Circle column that she has started business in Neil’s buildings, Dee street, as a ladies’ and children’s hairdresser. Mrs Ross, who will have the assistance of Miss Ross, has had the premises very tastefully fitted up and equipped, and is thoroughly experienced in the business.

A Erench missionary, who had been robbed by one of his most promising converts, thus unburdened himself to Dr. Morrison, who, b/ the way, was reported to have been killed at Pekin, but who fortunately escaped with a slight wound:— No Chinaman can resist temptation ,• all are thieves. Justice depends on the richness of accused. Victory in a court of justice is to the richer. Talk to the Chinese of religion, of God, of heaven, of hell, and they yawn ; speak to them of business and they are all attention.' If you ever hear of a Chinaman who is not a thief and a liar, do not believe it, Monsieur Morrison, do not believe it, they are thieves and liars every one.

Eobix Years. —Mr Jas, Colvin, M.H.R. Member for Buller, when speaking in Parliament a few days ago said, “As a business man of forty years experience, the credit system was the curse of the colony.” Moral—buy your groceries from Mr J. S. Baxter, who gives best value for cash iu Southland.