The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL: SATURDAY, OCT. 26. General News.

Southern Cross, Volume 9, Issue 30, 26 October 1901, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. INVERCARGILL: SATURDAY, OCT. 26. General News.

After seeing Sir Hector Macdonald, an enthusiastic Highlander summed up the man and his career in the following quotation : “ The strong man and the cataract channel their own path.”

Mr C. Rodgers, of the Railway Bookstall, may now also be found in Tay street, where he has acquired the tobacconist and hairdressing business lately carried on by Mr Bell. Mr Bell remains in charge of the hairdressing department, but Mr Rodgers is having the rest of the building altered to meet the requirements of a first-class book-selling and fancy goods establishment, and will in a few days have an up-to-date stock on the shelves.

Messrs J. H. Kirk and Co., Don street have for sale “ Champion ” New Zealandgrown clovers of all descriptions. An advertisement in reference to their supply of seeds will be inserted next week.

According to a Home paper, a post mortem examination proved that Prince Christian of Cumberland’s death was due to his having swallowed a cherry stone, which brought on appendicitis.

At a time (wrote the Pilot last month) when multitudes of Englishmen are being hurried north to their holiday on Scotch moors, many thousand Highland girls are being dragged south by special train to the rough and arduous work of herring-curing in the East Coast ports. Twenty thousand of these girls leave their homes in the spring to 1 follow the fish ’ in Scotland ; and of late years bad fishing and the consequent poverty in their homes have induced numbers to engage for the English season. Many of these girls come from remote Highlands and Islands, and some speak only Gaelic.

There are 19,914 locomotives at work on the railways of the United Kingdom, and each of these, says Engineering, on an average runs 19,096 miles in a year, and earns for this <£4,573, so that each mile the locomotive runs its gross receipts are about 4s 9d.

Mr J. Robertson, the popular landlord of the Wallacetown Junction Hotel, expects to take possession of his new and commodious brick premises in about three weeks from date.

A few weeks ago at least eight persons in Dunedin and several in Southland claimed to be relatives of Sir Hector Macdonald. The General has stated that as far as he knows he has no relations in the colony.

Two labourers at Messrs Palmer’s works at Jarrow-on-Tyne, named Joseph Keenan and Peter Kelly, recently came by their death under extraordinary circumstances. After leaving work, they looked in at the new electric forge to examine the machinery, and were afterwards found lying dead. It is supposed that they were killed by touching a •' live ” wire.

A report for the Southwark Borough Council prepared by the local medical officer with respect to a case of typhoid fever due to infected clothing sent home from the Transvaal, states that the case is sufficient to show that the practice of sending home the kits of men who have died from this disease is capable of proving a source of grave danger to the public health.

President Roosevelt and his wife have already caused two sensations in America — the President by inviting a negro, president of a University, to dine with him at White

House (the first time such a thing has been known), and his wife by stating that she can dress on £6O a year.

Seven members of the Limerick Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters were recently remanded on bail at Limerick on a charge of conspiracy against Mr Michael dough, a builder, who has refused the society’s demend for higher wages. Messrs Connolly, solicitors for Mr Gough, have served notice on the Carpenters (society, stating that legal proceedings will be taken against the society in the High Court of Justice for damages, following the decision of the House of Lords in the Taff Vale Railway case. The friction between General Buller and the War Office has ended in his being retired and placed on half pay. General French has been appointed to succeed him. The event has caused considerable stir. /Lord Roberts held that there was no alterna- ' tive after General Buller’s recent speeches. An old colonist, Mr T. McEwen, passed away at his residence, Avenal, on Sunday last, in his sixty-third year. The deceased arrived at the Bluff with his wife in the ship Robert Henderson in 1862, and soon after he started the Clyde Bakery at Avenal in the building now occupied by Mrs Aspray. Later he bought the two-storeyed house a few chains further north, at the time known as the Plough Inn Hotel, afterwards leaving it for the. substantial brick building alongside, in which for many years he carried on the business of baker and storekeeper. Mr Me Ewan, who had of late years been in failing health, stuck closely to business, but some years ago be took a well-earned trip to the Home Country. The funeral took place on Wednesday, the mourners including the representatives of the Rechabite Order, of which Mr McEwen was a member. It is understood that Mr Thomas McEwen, intends to carry on the business of his late father.

The Rev. D. C. Bates is attending the meeting of the Anglican Synod in Dunedin, and will not return till next week.

Messrs Henderson and Batger, under instructions from Mrs Henderson, will sell at Willowbank farm, Centre Bush, on Friday next, stock, implements, and furniture. The prize competition arranged by Mr E, B, Jones in connection with his popular remedy, Honey Pectoral, closes on Friday next. There will doubtless be a number of guessers anxious to win the £l, 15s, and 10s offered. Messrs W. Todd and Co., on behalf of Mr J. H. Kirk, offer for sale by private 'treaty two freehold sections between Yarrow and Leet streets, and fronting Doon street, together with a residence of eight rooms ; also two sections with a frontage to Leet street.

On Wednesday next Messrs Wright’ Stephenson and Co. will offer in their rooms at the Crescent Mr J. Fox’s farm, near Fairfax. The property, which was formerly in the occupation of Mr Collie, is one of the best in the Western District, is near the Fairfax railway station, and comprises both terrace and rich river flat land. The pro perty includes a good orchard, and the buildings a fine residence of fifteen rooms. On Saturday, Nov. 2nd, the same firm will hold a clearin'g sale of Mr Fox’s stock and implements.

Persons in search of good value for their money are invited to visit the Bargain Shop recently opened in Don street.

The Southland Mounted Rifles hold a grand cavalry tournament in the Queen’s Park on Wednesday next.

Messrs McKenzie and Wilson, architects, invite tenders for re-building shops and an hotel at Winton for Mr C. D. Moore, to replace those recently burned'down.

Mr Geo. Mxmro, watchmaker and jeweller, who has for the last six months occupied premises next to the Princess Hotel, Dee street, inserts a business notice in this issue. Mr Munro, in addition to a first-class stock of wares, has a well-equipped workroom, and being a practical jeweller, is able to execute orders for trophies, gifts, etc., without delay. He has already done some very good work in this department that has given the utmost satisfaction to his patrons.

Mr E. S. Perry is now in possession of one of the new shops in Thomson’s buildings, Dee street, and has opened with a first-class stock of seeds, fruits, and horticultural requisites.

The ©ffice-bearers of the Clifton, Woodend, and Bluff Athletic Society are determined to spare no effort to maintain the popularity of their sports, held each year at Clifton on Boxing Day. The already liberal prize-list has been increased by .£SO, and in some cases the prizes have been doubled. The sawing and chopping stakes in particular have been made very attractive. The Bluff band will be in attendance. We expect to see keen competition iu every event and a record gathering of the public.

It is related that once when General Hector Macdouald 1 asked by Lord Roberts if the Highland Brigade could reach a certain place by a certain time, replied, ‘ Yes —if your cavalry can keep up with them.’

The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce have advised the Government that in their opinion it would be inadvisable to meet the Commonwealth tariff with retaliatory duties.

Messrs J- A. Mitchell and Co. sell a number of light; and draught horses in their yards to-day.

Mr W. B. Scandrett has 77 acres of land, forming part of the township of Hawthorndale, for sale ; also a property off Elies Road.

Some anxiety was felt this week owing to the non-arrival at Hobart of the steamer Monowai, which left the Bluff on the loth inst. with a large number of passengers. Outgoing steamers were advised to be on tbe look out, and on Thursday afternoon the Mokoia, which left the Bluff for Melbourne on Monday last, was sighted off the former port with the Monowai in tow. The latter signalled all well,” and the vessels then went on to Dunedin. —A Dunedin correspondent telegraphs ;—“ The Monowai arrived at Port Chalmers at eight on Friday morning. Two blades of her propeller broke off in such a manner as to render the other two blades of the screw useless, at 6.40 am, on the 17th, when 446 miles from the Bluff. The engines had been “ racing ” considerably, and the engineers reported feeling a shock as if the propeller had struck something, six hours previously. All possible sail was made, and the vessel headed back to the Bluff, but the wind carried her north of the course. Captain Spinks, of the Mokoia, picked the steamer up 343 miles from the Bluff on Tuesday. When the Monowai’s distress rocket was first seen there was great excitement, and when she was secured to the Mokoia, tbe feelings of her passengers found expression in the singing of the Old Hundredth.

The country bands contest at the Bluff on Wednesday and Thursday next is exciting great interest, and there is sure to be a big influx of visitors to the port. The Mosgiel band, who are among the competitors, wish to have the next contest held at Mosgiel.

A parcel mail for London closes at Invercargill at 3,15 p.tn. on Monday, and a general mail for the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa at 2.45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sister Elinor’s second lecture in the Theatre Royal on Thursday night attracted an audience that filled every available foot of space long before eight o’clock. Sister Elinor took her hearers on a tour through the Continent, and charmed them into forgetfulness of the storm outside with her graphic word pictures of historically famous places. She repeopled the old Colisseum, recalled phases of life in ruined Pompeii, and spiced the narrative with a seasoning of humour that frequently unloosed the springs of mirth. The singing of Miss Layton and Mr J. E. Taylor gave the finishing touches to an entertainment that will linger pleasantly in the memory of all present. The Rev. Mr Luxford presided, and his opening statement, “ The Monowai is safe,” was greeted with a hearty round of applause.