News and Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 12, Issue 43, 21 January 1905, Page 7

News and Notes.

Wednesday has again been chosen for the weekly half-holiday by the Southland County Council and the local authorities of Invercargill. M. Burke, a bushfeller in the Blenheim district, has been shot through the calf of the leg by a companion named Thomas, who was explaining the jvorking of a rifle, and was unaware that it was loaded.

Owing to the backwardness of the season, the Wyndham flower show and industrial exhibition has been postponed from 15th and 16th Feb. to Ist and 2nd March. Dr. Barclay of Oamaru will act as house surgeon at the Southland Hospital during Dr. Hendry’s leave of absence.

The increase of mutiny on merchantmen is attributed to the large number of foreigners in the service, and it is urged that conditions should be improved so as to attract Britishborn seamen.

It is now alleged that the surrender of Port Arthur was disgracefully premature, as General Stoessel had 31,000 soldiers available for defence, and food enough, to have enabled him to hold out for months. The Czar is to he petitioned by St. Petersburg citizens to discontinue the war.

Through the collapse of a trench on the site of the Auckland city dust destructor, a man named J, Russell was killed. Another, M. AtcClure, was dug out an hour later with only a few bruises.

Fifteen thousand iron workers in St. Petersburg have struck owing to the dismissal of Unionists.

The receipts from the New Plymouth exhibition, which ran from Boxing Day to 17th January, totalled £4 200. The attendance was equal to 28,743 adults.

Arrangements for the Municipal Band’s fair are being pushed ahead. A number of novel features will be introduced. Provision will be made for a band contest on 3rd May. The Hon. Mr Seddon has accepted the invitation of the Mayor of Invercargill to lay the foundation stone of the Troopers’ Memorial in April next.

At the last meeting of the Southland Hospital Trust it was reported that X-rays apparatus for use in the institution had come to hand from England.

Frank Forde, whose prowess as an all-round athlete has been thoroughly established, has challenged Cameron, of Scotland, now on a visit to the colony.

A meeting of the provisional committee of the Invercargill Co-Opera-tive Bakery (Limited), was held at the Railway Hotel on Wednesday evening Mr J. Forrester in the chair. A further list of names of shareholders was submitted and inscribed. The position of the institution was discussed, and it was ultimately resolved that in view of the large accession of shareholders enrolled, the time was now ripe for the holding of a general meeting, whereat a consensus of opinion will be taken as to the line of action to be pursued —such meeting to be held in February on a date to be fixed. Meanwhile intending shareholders are urged to take up their shares with as little delay as possible. Thos. Ward, aged 22 years, a railway fireman, was struck by one of the posts at the cattle yards near Dunedin, and feel between the load-ing-bank and the waggons. The wheels of some of the vehicles went over one of his legs, and he died a few hours later. At the inquest, J. Pearson, engine-driver, stated that deceased, who was a careful young man, had been warned that the posts were very near the line, and when deceased was picked up he said to witness —‘ Oh, Jack, I forgot all about it.’ The jury returned a verdict that 4 Deceased met his death by having been accidentally struck by a post in

the fence of the cattle yards, which, in the opinion of the jury, is dangerously close to the railway line.’ A little boy named Mounsey, aged foul* years, whose parents live at Miraihau, ate some phospborised pollard, kept for poisoning rabbits, a few days ago, and died in great agony. In lieu of observing a half-holiday each week, a Gore Councillor made the original suggestion that a full day once a fortnight be taken. But (adds the Ensign), as the proposal was against the spirit of the law,- he was ruled out of order.

It is reported by the Shire Horse Society’s auctioneers, Peterborough, that the year’s sales have realised a total of £47,455 16s, as against £60,108 6s last year, the average being £7B 6s, as against £lO7 18s.

If Ministers were to spend a week under the present housing conditions of the poorer classes they would return to Westminster as the most vile set of Socialists that ever breathed, and their first act would be a demonstration in Hyde Park, said Dr Macnamara, M.P., at a conference at Essex Hall on the housing question.