General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 41, 2 February 1901, Page 8

General News.

In an advertisement in another column Major Hawkins publishes a District Order in reference to the parade of volunteers to-day (Saturday) in connection with the Memorial Service to be held at the post office square. The volunteers are to assemble at 10.30 a.m. His worship the Mayor also invites the Friendly Societies and members of local bodies to meet at the Western /Reserve at the same hour in order to take part in the service. Members of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows are invited to meet at their Hall in Tay street at 10 a.m. on Saturday to take partin the Memorial Service. Tenders are invited by Mr P. Walker* architect, for the erection of a residence at Gore. A. property in South Invercargill is advertised for sale by Mr W. B. Scandrett. Mrs Blue intimates that her classes for voice production, singing, and piano and organ will be re-opened on Monday. Messrs Mitchell and Co., Leven street have been appointed agents in Southland for the Victoria Insurance Co.

It is expected that the Imperial troopers from Australia will reach Irlvercargill early ■on Monday forenoon. They will march after arrival to the Western Reserve and Queen’s Park. Major Hawkins publishes several orders in connection with the interesting <event. If the following telegram from London, appearing in the Toledo Blade, be correct, the polar dogs under Mr Traill’s charge at Stewart Island will be as valuable as a gold mine to their owners : —According to Sir Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographical Society, Americans are responsible for forming .a corner in polar dogs, so that the pending British and other Arctic- expeditions are confronted with a difficulty nearly as great as the ice fields. It appears that Mr E. B. Baldwin, the American explorer, has bought up such a large supply of dogs that their price has risen from 18 dol. to 30 dol., and they are' hard to procure even at that price. Capt. Bernier, the Canadian explorer, hopes to get out of the dilemma by taking young dogs and training them on the voyage. What the two British Antarctic expeditions will do Sir Clements Markham does not yet know, Mr Baldwin says he has no more dogs than he needs. He foresaw the scarcity and bought early. It is understood that Dr Macleod, who recently resigned charge of the Southland Hospital, intends to make a trip to the Old Country. The contract for Mr J. Holland’s block of buildings at the corner of Main and Mersey streets, Gore, has been let to Mr M. Frain at a figure between .£SOOO and .£6OOO. In addition to shops and offices, the block will include an arcade of 30 shops. Sergt Kidd and Trooper Crowe returned from South Africa on Saturday last, and were welcomed by His Worship the Mayor and a large gathering of town and country residents. Sergt. Kidd, who resigned from the City Band on leaving for the front, will he entertained by that body at a social on Monday night, and Trooper Crowe will be similarly treated by the hospitable people of Makarewa on Bth February.

Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s favourite hymns included “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” “ Jesu, Lover of My Soul,” and “ How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds.” Her chosen texts were those beginning “ I have fought a good fight,” and “ Fight the good fight of faith.”

The death is reported of another of Otago’s pioneers in the person of Mr John Allan, who died at East Taieri on the 28th ult. Born in Kilmarnock in 1831, he came to Kelson Tvith his parents in 1812, and then came South to Otago in 1848. He was attracted to the rush at Gabriel’s Gully in 1861, and some years later became one of the original partners in the firm of Thomson, Bndger and Co. His son, Mr J. Allan, is manager of the Invercargill branch. The late Mr Allan is survived by five daughters and three sons, the eldest of whom is serving with the Fourth Contingent in South Africa. Mr James Cooper, nurseryman, Waikiwi, brought in yesterday for inspection and sampling a nice picking of thornless gooseberries, introduced by him some three or four seasons ago. They comprised fruit from the variety known as Madame Lefort and fully bore out the description sent by the grewer-— ‘‘ Vigorous habit, fruit ranging from medium to large, colour wine- red, flesh firm, juicy and sugary, good travellers. Mr Cooper left a few at the office, where they can be seen by those to whom the species is as yet known by name only. Mr P. Georgeson, whose restaurant is a favourite resort for holiday makers at the Bluff, inserts a card in this issue. Messrs A. Weir and Son, bootmakers, Dee street, insert a short price-list of some of their leading lines.

Messrs McQ-ruer, Taylor and Co- notify that they are selling all seasonable drapery at greatly reduced prices. On Tuesday evening we received the following telegram from the acting-Pre-mier leading journals have decided not to publish on Saturday next, and I am asked to express the hope that non-publication will be universal.” A section of the Southeen Ckoss had then gone to press, and it was too late to alter the date of the pages from 2nd to Ist February, but the paper was printed and distributed as far as possible on Friday, Ist February.

.The oyster season opened yesterday, aud Mr Blodorn signalised the event by opening his new saloon in Dee street, the fitting up of which has just been completed. It includes one large and airy room containing five tables, one semi-private and one private room for ladies. The appointments are of the best, and everything is invitingly clean and fresh, and the arrangements for cooking are first-class. The place is fitted up with incandescent lamps, and it is evident that Mr Blodorn has spared no pains to consult the comfort and convenience of patrons.