The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, DEC. 1. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 32, 1 December 1900, Page 8

The Southern Cross PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL, SATURDAY, DEC. 1. General News.

* Mr W. B. Scandrett has a suburban residence and grounds to let. The programme o£ the Southland Racing L Club’s summer meeting is advertised. A number of leaseholds in the township of Waimatuku will be offered at the Land Office on the 28th inst. ; Entries for the Southland A. and P. Association’s Summer Show close to-day. Messrs Carter and Co., the well-known drapers, of London and Dunedin, have started a branch of their extensive business in Guthrie’s buildings, and begin operations with a great opening sale to-day. The Invercargill Borough Council has donated £lO towards the expenses of the Garrison Band’s visit to Christchurch to take part in the Exhibition contest, , On dit that a business mamiin Invercargill lately came in for an unsuspected windfall in the shape of about £I3OO. The Hon. J. G. Ward and a number of other gentlemen, at the invitation of the Bluff Harbour Board, visited Stewart Island in the new tug on Sunday, returning to the port on Saturday evening. When at Patterson’s Inlet Mr Ward was presented with three Eskimo dogs, a number of which were placed on an island there after the return of the Southern Cross from the Antarctic regions. The old-established ironmongery business of W. H. Hall and Co., Esk street, has been disposed of to Messrs Smith and Laing, of Dunedin. Both gentleman have had lengthened experience in the business, and signalise their advent by a six weeks’ clearing sale in order to make room for new stock. • Ex-President Kruger will appeal to the Czar of Russia to invite the Powers to intervene and secure for the Boers honourable conditions of peace. Another conspiracy against Lord Roberts has been discovered in Johannesburg, It was intended to blow up the church in which he worshipped. Several foreigners have been arrested. In the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Monday evening Mr Chas. Edwards, L. Mus., T.C.L., will present certificates to the local students who passed the theoretical and practical examinations last year. The trial of Sarah Fogo for the murder of her husband commenced in Dunedin on Thursday. Accused’s son stated that she told him she had had no sleep for eleven days before the tragedy, and the medical witness was cross-examined to show that sleeplessness and worry would set up a condition closely allied to monsomania. The recently subdivided township of Northern! bids fair to speedily pass from the state of paddoekhood in which it has remained so long. The bowling club are busily preparing a first-class green, and in this issue Mr P. Walker, architect, invites tenders for the erection of a residence for one of the purchasers of an allotment at the recent B ale, and others intend to follow suit. Mr I. W. Raymond has been elected chairman of the Southland County Council for the en suing year.

The final round for cups presented to the Railway Rowing Club by Mr H. J. M. Rein, was rowed off on Wednesday evening, when J. G. McPherson (stroke) and W. J. McKenzie (bow) beat D. Rodic (stroke) and D. Bust (bow).

The manager of the Invercargill Gasworks (Mr J. E. Hawkins) and one of the employes have been granted leave of absence to attend the Commonwealth celebrations in Sydney.

The sensation of the hour at Home is an epidemic alleged to be due to poisoned beer* Cases have been observed for some time, and in Salford during the last eight months 88 deaths are reported to have occurred from alcoholism. There are 700 sufferers in the Manchester and Liverpool hospitals. The brewers deny that there is arsenic in the beer, and a Government inquiry is non being held.

Mr W. Wyinks, who succeeds the late Mr Morgan as District Land Registrar at Invercargill, has been presented with an address and a purse of sovereigns the Dunedin Law Society.

The hopes of those who pin their faith to Stewart Island as a gold field have been raised by the report that a gold-bearing reef has been found at Newton’s beach, about seven miles to the north-west of Half Moon Bay. The reef was discovered by Messrs R. Graham and party of Bast Invercargill. A sample of the stone tested at the School of Mines, Dunedin, yielded at the rate of Boz. 3dwts. Bgm, of coarse and 2oz. 3dwts. 17grs, of fine gold to the ton, or lOoz. 7dwts. 19grs. in all. This was not picked •tone.

The funeral of the late William Blay, who was accidentally killed while engaged shunting at the Invercargill station, took place on Sunday last, and was very largely attended, friends and relatives coming from all parts to pay a last tribute of respect to one who was a favourite with all who knew him. The service at the house was conducted by the Rev. Geo. Lindsay, and at the grave the Rev. Mr Beggs, of Gore, officiated, and in a few well-chosen remarks on behalf of the widow and relatives thanked all for their sympathy and kindness. The City Band, of which deceased was a member, played the Dead March, while the Invercargill Garrison Band were also present. The fire brigades arid railway officials assembled in force, the shunters being in uniform, and his comrades carried the coffin shoulder high to the railway station, where a special train was in waiting to convey the sad party to the Eastern cemetery. On the way from the house to the station the firebell was tolled at intervals. It is understood that the railway employees intend to erect a suitable monument to the memory of deceased.

Among the many programmes of sports provided for the Christmas Holidays, that of the Clifton, Woodend, and Bluff Athletic Society for their sports to be held on Boxing Day, will prove specially attractive. This year will see a considerable change made in the programme of past years. The prize money for the long distance events has been largely increased, an entirely new list of short distance events has been prepared, and for these and the wrestling and jumping contests substantial prize money is offered. As a large attendance is expected of those interested in chopping and sawing events, additions have been made in the shape of a maiden sawing and a chopping contest, in which the logs are standing, instead of, as usual, being placed horizontally. The latter event will be specially interesting, and is an innovation so far as this district is concerned. The champion chopping match between Messrs Cash and Mitchell will be the great event of the day, and as both men have left their work for some time and are in hard training, a keen contest may be looked for. Cash is well known in Southland, and Mitchell has a long list of victories to his credit in Australian contests. The ground will be in first-rate order, and every care will be taken to ensure the comfort of both competitors and spectators. Publicans’ and luncheon booths will be on the grounds, and the Bluff Navals Band will discourse music. The grounds, which are within three chains of Clifton railway station, are well sheltered, and patrons will find them a pleasant place in which to spend a holiday. Trains and busses will run to suit the sports, and given a fine day it is expected that the gathering will be a record one.

The annual church parade of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, M. CT, takes place on Sunday evening, 9th December, when the members will attend the Don street Primitive Methodist Church, where an appropriate sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Mr Lyon. The office-bearers hope that members will muster in force on the occasion.

Mr W. B. Scandrett’s list of properties to sell is materially amended in this issue by sales effected since last week. If this be due to advertising ip the Southeen Ceoss (and from enquiries made from country districts we believe it is), it shows the advantage it is to people who have anything to sell to make it known. We have no complaint to make against Mr Scandrett under this head or indeed under any other. For a man on the wrong side of 40 he has a wonderful amount of ‘ go.’

By way of speeding the old century and welcoming the twentieth, the churches throughout Hew Zealand known as the Disciples of Christ hold a three days’ conference at the Dixon street meeting house, Wellington, on 30th and 31st December and Ist January, 1901. Mr Thos. Todd, senr., of Waikiwi, one of the senior office-bearers, who leit on Monday with Mrs Todd for Auckland on a holiday tour, will be present as a delegate from Bowmont street, Invercargill. Mr and Mrs Todd have been members of this denomination for over thirty years.

A volunteer company (not in South Africa) were being put through their facings by a new officer. ‘ Company, ’shun ; open order ’ (pause —— company remains immovable). Officer, with a rising inflexion of voice—- ‘ Op-en order ’ (still the rear rank does not move). Officer ‘Well, you’ve got the order, why don’t you do it ?’ —(suppressed sniggering on the part of the men). The officer discovered afterwards that his men only awaited the executive word of command ‘ March,’ to ‘ do it.’

We have received from Mr R. J. Gumming an amended list of properties, but unfortunately the page containing his advertisement had previously gone to press. There were a number of new properties intended to re place several which are to disappear from his list, owing, doubtless, to the judicious publicity given them through our columns. We will make the necessary alterations for Mr Gumming next week.

On Saturday last a number of gentlemen, acting on behalf of the Awarua electors, presented Mrs Ward, through the Hon. J. Gr. Ward, with a pair of beautiful bay carriage horses. The presentation was happily made by Captain Gardner, who was supported by Messrs D. King, W. Keith, D. Maepherson, and M. Hishon. Mr Ward, in a graceful speech, acknowledged the great kindness of the donors of the handsome pair of horses.

Some idea of the leading features of the fancy bazaar to be opened at the Bluff on Wednesday will be gathered from the advertisement in this issue. The grand march, we hear, will be one of the most picturesque spectacles ever witnessed at the Bluff, including, as it will, representatives, in typical costumes, of nearly a score of different nationalities, Britain, with a sailor and a soldier, being the central figure. We understand the railway authorities will run a late train from the Bluff on Thursday at 10 p.m., for the convenience of friends from Invercargill and intermediate stations.