THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINGS. Luceo Ncn Uro. WEDNESDAY, 7th NOVEMBER, 1894.

Southland Times, Issue 13060, 7 November 1894, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINGS. Luceo Ncn Uro. WEDNESDAY, 7th NOVEMBER, 1894.

Passed Away.—Ths announcement that Mt John Borrie, Collector of Customs, died last night, although it will not surprise those friends who have been solicitous about his condition for some months past, will nevertheless be received with deep regret. Postponed.—The entertainment in aid of the fund for the construction of swimming baths in Invercargill, which was to take place on Monday next, has been postponed to a later date, which has not yet been fixed. Star Sailing Club.—At the monthly meeting of this club yesterday evening it was decided to institute a race to be called “The Trophy Race,” to be sailed in four heats on Wednesday afternoons. The boats are to be handicapped on their merits so as to give every one on the river a chance of winning a handsome trophy. Shooting.—The following will represent the Southland Rifle Club in a match against a combined team from Bluff, Mataura, and Wyndham Clubs on Friday at the Grasmere range:—Messrs Bannerman, Craigie, R. Dunlop, Crowther, McDougall, Mackenzie, McNab, R. Nicol, W. Smith, R. Wills; emergencies: E. Huffadine, W. Brown. Conditions—7 shots at 200 and 500 yards ; match to commence at 9.30 a.m. An open handicap sweepstake and other matches will also be fired, —A team of twenty men from the Invercargill. City Guards will go to Riverton on the same day to fire a match against the local volunteers. Good Templary.—The quarterly installation meeting of the Southern Gross Lodge, No. 1, 1.0.G.T., was held in the Temperance Hall on Monday night, when officers for the ensuing term were installed by D.D. Bro. J. Lyons as follows :—P.C.T., Bro. Taylor ; C.T., Bro. A. MacGregor; V.T., Sis. Goldie; C., Sis. Jameson; M., Sis. Cowley; Sec., Sis. MacGregor ; G., Sis. Masters ; S., Bro, H. Robb. Arrangi ments were made for a visit of Bro. Crabb, engaged by the Grand Lodge for a lecturing tour throughout the colony in the interests of the Good Templar Order.

Whioh WAS TO Blame.—Two men on one horse charging down a country road in Victoria ; a peaceable cow coming through a gateway; a Collision; a horse destroyed; a man with a skull shattered beyond hope of mending ; a forlorn young woman who was to have been married to him the week after.

Pine Bush.—We have had seven weeks of the most beautiful weather I ever experienced in Southland, especially at this season of the year—quite summer, in fact too dry till Saturday last and to-day (Tuesday) when we had some nice showers which have freshened up the grass and crops. You can almost notice them growing for the ground was like a hot bed. The lambing is remarkably good and sheep are looking well. Shearing will soon be in full operation, Mr Trotter beginning next week. The clip promises to be good.—Own correspondent.

Complimentary.—The comments of Mr G. A. Martin, the judge at the recent band contest, upon the solo competitions will be found in another column. Accompanying his written report was a letter to the secretary (Mr W. Manson) from which the following is an extract: —“ In handing you my report on the soloists I wish to convey to your worthy Mayor and members of committee my hearty thanks for the courtesy extended to me during my stay in Invercargill, and also my appreciation of the manner in which the contest was conducted from first to last — the biggest record yet achieveds.”

A Craze for Books.—An elderly man in a comfortable position and of cultivated literary tastes was apprehended recently for thefts of books from Cole’s Arcade, in Melbourne, and committed suicide before the charge against him came on forbearing. On making search at the residence of deceased some 1800 volumes were found. Of these 43 were claimed by Mr Cole as his property, and it. was testified that the deceased, who was a constant visitor there, had not purchased them. Some 30 volumes were also picked out by Mr Keith£\ dealer in books, and two small books w«e laid claim to by the Education Department. Orepuki.—A concert and dance, in aid of the prospecting fund,reflected great credit on all connected with it, whether as organisers or performers. The string band, led by Mr Heathcote, of Pahia, opened proceedings with an overture which took the audience by surprise, and elicited hearty applause. The band was assisted by Misses Dickinson and Moore, of Riverton. The local singers succeeded in giving the large audience a very pleasant evening. The net takings will amount to over L 6, which, with moneys already in hand, will total over L 26. The Mining Association intend to made immediate application for the Government subsidy and as soon as that is available, applications will be received from parties willing to take up the role of proprietors and a careful selected party of four will be despatched so as to have the best of the season before them. Giving to very long continued dry weather, mining work is almost at a standstill. Last Friday Messrs Mills and Son held a sale here, at which nearly 180 head of cattle changed hands at very good prices. About 80 of them came from a distance, and, though showing signs of travel, were quickly bought up by settlers.—Own correspondent. ' Wairarapa Relief Fund.—A meeting of citizens was held in the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon to consider what steps should be taken to raise a local fund for the relief of the sufferers by the wreck of the s.s. Wairarapa. The Mayor (Mr A. Raeside) occupied the chair and briefly explained the object of the meeting. Mr John Turnbull moved “That the ministers of the various churches in town be requested to make special collections on behalf of the fund on Sunday, the 18th inst.” The motion was seconded by Mr T. M. Macdonald and carried unanimously. An offer from the City Band to give an open-air concert in the gardens on Sunday week was accepted. On the motion of Mr G. W. Nichol, seconded by the Rev. W. C. Oliver, it was resolved that a public announcement should be made through the daily papers that the Mayor would receive subscriptions, and that subscription li-ts should be placed in the banks and elsewhere in town. The Mayor was appointed chairman and Mr J. E. Hannah •ecretary and treasurer.

Longwood.—We had one of the best of seasons up to Saturday last when much needed rain began to fall. On Sunday morning the few inhabitants of this place were startled out of their slumbers by the most terrific clap of thunder I ever heard. The lightning struck a tree in Mr McEwen’s paddock about 300 yards from his house. The tree, a big red pine, was sent to splinters, which were scattered around for at least 100 yards. To look at the place one would think that a ton of dynamite had been discharged there, for where the tree stood is a hole several feet deep, and the debris scattered in all directions.," The gardens are looking very well,, fruit trees especially so. Our school is progressing well and made a good pass. Whooping cough has been in nearly every family in the district. Mr Nuttall lost a promising boy of 34 years, and Mr Wilkinson lost a baby son.” The Pine Company have nearly finished their jetty and tramway at Colac, and I hear that they expect to start their new mill by the beginning of next month. The Round Hill folks have been neatly idle for want of water but the last two days will have given them a start again. The syndicate are on good gold, and if they published their returns it would put those of some of th* big companies in the shade. There is another company starting, in which Mr Erskine, of your city, is one of the leading spirits. There is room for more, and good gold too.— Own correspondent. Post-Sessional.—Mr Saunders, member for Selwyn, addressing his constituents on Monday night, delivered an opposition speech. The present Parliament, he said, was weak through members at the election being pledged to support Richard Seddon, instead of measures. The Sergeant-at-Arms appointment he characterised as illegal, contrary to law, and a corrupt use of money and patronage. The Government’s departure from Mr Ballance’s self-reliant and economic policy was a breach of the pledge on which the Government were returned, and the proposal to borrow L 5,500,000 were the reverse of Mr Ward’s views as expressed in the Financial Statement of 1893, made before the election, and was quite far enough to go in the direction of reckless extravagance. Mr Saunders found fault with the Treasurer for giving a glowing account of the country’s credit when there was no surplus and the national debt had been increased. Mr Saunders did not vote on the Bank of New Zealand L 2,000,000 guarantee as he was not prepared to say the step was a right one. He approved of the licensing poll being taken on the day of a general election. He objected to nominee committees and to paid temperance advocates not being eligible to seats. He supported the elective executive, the Swiss principle, and said some good legislation was passed respecting lands. He received a vote of thanks and confidence.

A Scientific Problem.—An explosion of a really remarkable nature took place in Melbourne recently. In connection with the drainage works of the city it became necessary to sink a big shaft in ground that was “ creepy ” by sinking iron cylinders as the excavation proceeded. But as the sand and water soon began to rush in from the bottom, it was decided to seal up a section of the cylinder, and pump it full of air to a pressure of 251 b to the square inch. One afternoon, two men were working at the bottom of the shaft, a telegraph messenger was dangling his legs at the top, and a little girl was playing close by. Just then the cover on the cylinder of compressed air broke, with such tremendous force that one piece of iron, weighing 2cwt. went hurling skyward, and fell one hundred yards away from the shaft. The messenger boy was thrown upwards and away from the shaft, and the little girl was rolled into the water channel. But the extraordinary thing was the way in which the workmen were affected. They were at the bottom of the shaft at the time of the explosion, but the force of*the escaping air lifted I hem nearly to the top. It held them in that position for a space, and then losing in power gradually, it gently lowered them, they all the time describing somersaults until about half-way down again, when first one and then the other was foitunate enough to clutch at the iroij ladder and hold on until the disturbed atmosphere had regained something like the ordinary conditions.

The Gazette. —- It is notified in the Gazette of the Ist inst. that sections in Invercargill Hundred, Hokonui and .Waikawa have been set apart for village settlements. The purpose of the reserve on section 23, block 25, Jacobs River district, has been changed, the ground is now a recreation reserve instead of a police reserve as formerly. Rural lands in Wallace County and in Southland district are declared open for sale or selection. Several sections in Niagara township and Waikawa and Lillburn districts have been reserved as school sites, and others at Hokonui and Limehills have been set apart for recreation purposes.

Good Tack.—One of the most remarkable results of temperance efforts in this country, says the Home correspondent of an exchange, during recent years is the substitution of non-alcoholic drinks for beer in hay and harvest work throughout the country. This new drink is called “ Stokes,” because it is largely used by the stokers. It is now gradually finding its way into gasworks, iron foundries, the dock and shipbuilding yards, etc. It is not only pleasant to drink, but is most thirst-quenching. It consists of a composition of fine ground oatmeal, lemon, and white sugar in water ; a gallon of this drink can be made for 3d, and if six gallons are made at a time it only costs 2d per gallon.

Still Another Record—lnvercargill to Dunedin- in 12 hours 30| minutes, Invercargill to Gore in 2 hours 19J minutes. These are genuine records, imed by Club officials at each end made on a Humber 28|lb, boating all previous records by 251 min. English machines take the cake for Path, Road, or Touring. A large stock always on hand. Cheapest, best, fastest, and most durable. Premier, LlB 10s; Humbers, L 22 10s ; Raleigh, L 22 ; with all the latest improvements direct from Home. Cycles on time payment. Guaranteed for 12 months. Godward and McKenzie, Cycle Manufacturers and Importers, Dee street, Invercargill. Get the genuine article. Advt.] “ Messrs IV. Gawne & Co. of George Street, have sent us a sample of Worcestershire Sauce manufactured by them, which is in no respect inferior to the imported article. We can safely recommend it as a valuable addition to our rapidly developing local manufactures. The bottles are neatly labelled and ornamental for home use and exportation ; and we hope that the manufacturers will realise a demand equal to the merits of the savoury article. (Evening Star.)

FraoiHO Sovereigns—We have good authority fo r saying that several of Mr Meredith’s customers have recently found Golden Sovereigns in the Sovereign Brand of Ceylon Tea. Independent of Sovereign he Tea is really good Value for money at 2s per lb To Hand at the Exhibition, a very large selection of Tweeds, Worsteds, Worsted Trouserings, Vecunias, Serges, Overcoatings, &c. A beautiful range of Summer Vestings. Also a shipment of first-class Waterproof Tweeds, fair wear and tear, guaranteed for two years. Place your orders early.—Thomson and Beattie.

An Axiom.—lt being much easier to save money than to earn it, we would recommend you to buy your groceries from J. S. Baxter at wholesale prices for ready money, and thus secure a large saving, as under the cash system you are not charged for booking and bad debts. For price list see another page. SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. F J Lillicrap, of the Dresden, quotes prices of several pianos on hand Shearing starts at Five Rivers on 22nd inst Tenders invited for cutting and grubbing gorse hedges at Five Rivers A suite of rooms suitable for bachelors to let Pearson and Co sell fruit to-day A heifer for sale Wm Todd wants twelve dogs for rabbiters Win Todd sells frtiit in Exchange to-day ' J Bath builds buggies and carts of all kinds; has horses and traps on hire Tenders are invited for building a villa residence in East Invercargill jpr Mr McGruer