The Southern Cross Published Weekly. INVERCARGILL, SAT., JULY 24. GENERAL NEWS.

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 15, 24 July 1909, Page 8

The Southern Cross Published Weekly. INVERCARGILL, SAT., JULY 24. GENERAL NEWS.

A good deal of .Nightcaps coal has been going- north lately, and now comes the news that the cash price of "Westport coal has been reduced to 31s per ton—a reduction of 4s.

Mr A. J. Service, County clerk and treastirer, gives particulars of rates for the coming year. The four different- rates are set forth in another column.

The citv of Auckland is in luck. It is to receive £SOOO a year for thirtyyears from the Imperial Government as a subsidy towards the construction of a dry dock.

The Hospital Trust has decided to place all their insurances with colonial companies, also to insure the furniture and effects in the Nurses' Home for £SOO.

Mr T. Pryde, secretary of the H. and C.A. Board, invites applications for the position of medical superintendent at the Gore Hospital, at a salary of £l5O per year ; also matron at £BO per annum ; and cook at 20s per week. Applications must be in by 9th Aug.

The Y-.M.C.A. Tennis Club are holding a social early, in August.

The Kapuka football club give a grand concert in their hall on 28th July, followed by a dance. Quite a string of leading talent takes part in the concert.

If you have got an idea that there is a'tightness of money, it would do you good to go round to the Corporation office on gas discount day, and see the staff taking in the coin that makes the municipal wheels go round..

A new medical officer in the person of Dr. Wm. Stewart has commenced practice in Invercargil], and has applied and been placed on the honorary staff of the Southland Hospital.

Dr. Hendry does not think that it would be any use to procure radium for the Hospital, as it is still

in the experimental" stages, and a supply to be useful would run into close on £SOO. |||t A number of the unemployed are engaged in re-forming the upper part of Tay street, while others are making a road between Oala street and the Avenue, where the unsightly block or trees obscured the view for many years,

Mr Lillicrap is arranging; to give a concert at the Hospital for the benefit ot the patients. Miss Eri Thomson has kindly consented to assist. This forethought is commendable, and will be appreciated.

The Rev. W. Laycock will conduct the morning services in the Elles Road South P.M. Church on Sunday. The Rev. A. Pybus will take for his subject in the evening, "An unknown Prophet who uttered Falsehoods." A sacred solo will be sung by Mrs Earsman, jnr.

The Rev. W. C. Oliver, who was formerly Minister of the Leet street church, is at present in Invercargill, and has consented to take the service there on Sunday morning. Many of his Invercargill friends will be glad to hear him again.

"He has worked the one run for 50 years—a record that must surely be hard to beat," remarks Mr Beattie in the Mataura Ensign in referring- to Mr T). A. Cameron, who took up Glenfalloch station, Nokomai, in 1859.

"Some burglars, when entering houses now wear gloves," remarked Detective Herbert, when before the Police Commission in Dunedin, his point being that too much publicity had been given to the finger-print system as a means of identifying criminals.

Nominations close to-day for the Southland Coursing Club's final meeting. The stakes' are : Lady's Bra'celet, £IOO, and Open Stake 'of £55. Nominations must' be made ■with the secretary (Mr A. A. Paape). Quite a number of local dogs are in training-, and probably there will be a large entry.

In regard to the road broom, we found it a complete failure, and only good for scrap-iron. Foreman Miliarias three men on, keeping the crossings clean and in a passable state, while the streets are in a hopeless muddle. Ratepayers will have some consolation in the fact that Dunedin streets, where not paved, are equally as bad as local ones. The only remedy appears to be asphalt from one end to the other.

Mr Thos. Hamilton, farmer, Lochiel, donated six paid-up shares in the Southland Farmers' Co-o'perative Association to the Southland Hospital. They represent £3O, and were received with thanks. Mr Hinchey also intimated thaT he had a stray £lO which would come along in due course, while Mr T. \V. Walker, secretary of the Wakefield memorial, sent £1 ss, the balance over from the recent memorial.

The new operating theatre will be ready for use in a few months, and will prove a benefit and convenience to the hospital. The padded room is to be artificially heated. This is especially necessary in the D.T. cases. Mr Lee has made a start with the Children's Ward, and it will be ready for use in a few months. It is much required, and will be a useful addition to.the institution. Matron Ewart is on her way back to take up her duties at the Hospital, and has been asked to endeavour ■to secure a registered nurse in Christchurch. Sister Smailes, acting matron, has discharged the duties in a; satisfactory manner, and the question of remuneration will be considered when the matron returns.

Entries are coming in well for the Invercargill Competitions Society's gathering, but it -has been found impossible to get any choirs to "face the music," and that contest will be dropped in favour of a drawing-room entertainment, which will give scope for more originality, and afford greater variety than a choir competition.

When the prisoners shift into their new quarters we understand it is the intention of the Railway Department to extend the platform to Spey st. an similar lines to the south platform, retaining the station building in the present position. Probably the question of an overhead bridge at Spey street for vehicular traffic will be considered at the. same time.

I The services at the "Leet street I Church on Sunday next will be conducted by the Rev. W. C. Oliver (formerly minister of the church) in the morning, and in the evening the Rey. |A. Mitchell will conduct a musical service, the choir rendering special I anthems, and Miss Vera Small will sing Carey's fine song, " Xearer my i God to Thee." Mr Searoll will play 'organ selections from 6.1"). The subject of the address will be "The New Era." Special reference will be made ! to the struggle of the leading nations | of to-day for supremacy, and the pro- ' bable issue of that struggle.

i The erection of smelting works at Orepuki for the treatment of black sand and other materials has given an impetus to prospecting, and some excitement . has been caused in that . district by the discovery of an apparently rich reef about four miles to the north-east of the township. Since then reports have been made of further "finds," including a good 1 seam ot coal and the beaches and other areas inland have been pegged off for miles. Nothing definite will be , known until assays are made, but the Longwooci country is notoriously "patchy." and good prospects can be obtained almost anywhere. so that there is no need to get excited in the .meantime.

The Salvation Army are celebrating their 26th anniversary on Sunday by special services, which will be conducted by Brigadier and Mrs Albiston,.from Christchurch. The Brigadier has seen service for 29 years as an officer, having been trained in the Clapton Congress" Training Home. He spent several years in the Old '."Land, and over 20 years in various leading positions in the land of the Southern Cross. Mrs Albiston has spent 28 years as an officer, coming into the Army in the early days in South Australia, where she took part in many interesting incidents. Both officers are acceptable and fluent speakers, and good services should result. An anniversary- tea will be' held on Wednesday, and a special programme given Last-year a series of competition concerts were inaugurated in connection with the Leet street church, which proved a decided success. The trustees have decided to repeat the experiment again this year. The gentlemen will begin with theirs next Wednesday week, August 4th, 1909, and this will be followed by the ladies' concert a month later. Both parties are at present busy with their programmes, which are to include several novelties ; and there is no doubt that this year's effort will surpass that of last year, both in merit and success. Lovers of good, wholesome and enjoyable entertainments should at once secure their tickets, as, owing to the size of the building a limited number only will be issued.

l)i\ Findlay, Minister of Justice, visited Invercargill in reference to the establishment of a prison farm on the Western side of the Fstuary. He was waited on by a. large and representative deputation" at the Municipal Hall yesterday forenoon, and left by the second express for Dunedin. - During his stay in town he was hurried from point to point per motor car, at a speed which he said set. all by-laws at defiance. In regard to the reclamation Dr. Findlay was favourably impressed, and promised to send an expert down to look into the matter. Looking at it fr.oni a prison point of view he thought the land might be too valuable as the ■- town advanced into a city. In the North Island the land proposed to be taken over would not, when improved, be worth more than a few 'pounds an acre. He was pleased with the work now being done in the prison, and the return for the five acres' under cultivation was-most satisfactory. He promised at an early date to make a longer stay in -town, and was pleased to say that he had more encouragement in his prison reform ideas from Invercargill than any other part of the. Dominion. In addition to lo-

caL speakers, Messrs Viner and Goold (Otatara) spoke in favour of the scheme. We understand that if the work is undertaken the Invercargill prison will be made more of a' reformatory, and only the best class of prisoners sent here to work.

We learn that Mr A. Barron, Land Purchase Inspector, recently inspected an estate in Southland, which is under offer to the Government.

Messrs T. W. Raymond and Co. have large quantities of Black, Red, and White Pine timber for sale at low prices.

The skating- rink in the Garrison T-Tall is meeting with liberal patronage from lovers of the fascinating pastime of roller-skating. In order to make more room it has been decided to reserve the afternoon for children. and the evening for ladies and gentlemen only.

The Caledonian Society's animal concert takes place in Victoria Hall on Tuesday evening next. A fine programme of local talent will assist. Admission 2s, while members and ladies are admitted free. The concert will be followed by the annual ball, and run on popular lines should prove a draw to those in search of an evning's entertainment.

The anniversary tea in connection with the Salvation Army will be held on Wednesday next. Brigadier and Mrs Albiston will be in command, and officers and leading citizens will take part. A special programme has been arranged, and a good evening's entertainment is promised. A tea on an elaborate scale will be proyided at 6 p.m.

During the month a. woman attempted suicide in the Hospital .by taking a. dose of carbolic solution. It was done intentionally, but as the acid was well diluted, and prompt measures taken, no ill effects resulted. In the interest of the patient, who was extremely sorry for her rash act, the matter- was not reported. She was treated for ulcers at the Hospital, and stated her intention was to go back to Palmerston .X. On Friday a' message, was received front the latter place that Mrs Quayle committed suicide, by taking lysol ( a form of disinfectant), and probably this is the same woman as was treated in the Southland Hospital.