Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 14515, 15 December 1899, Page 2

Middle School.—The annual prize-giving function will be held this afternoon-At halfpaet two. Parents are invited to be present and will doubtless respond numerously. There will be, besides some short addresses, a competition in dumb-bell exercises, the prize, the gift of Mr J. A. Hanan, M.H.R., to be adjudged by Lieut.-Col. Thomson. The pupils will assemble in the quadrangle of the main building, and the prizes will be given in the several class rooms. ,

Severe British Reverse.—The latest cablegrams to hand make it apparent that the force under General Lord Methuen, operating for the relief of Kimberley and the invasion of the western side of the Transvaal suffered something closely akin to defeat on Monday in an attempt to carry by storm a long line of Boer entrenchments between Magerefontein and Spytfontein. The London Times practically says that someone has blundered. The opposing forces were nearly equal but the enemy were, as usual, on the defensive, a fact that, in that rugged etooy country, makes one man equal to two opposed to him. The Boers admit terrible losses, principally from lyddite shell fire. The losses on the British side seem to have been chiefly caused by over-confident or incompetent handling of the men, when we are told that the Highlanders were brought, in close formation, and unprotected by artillery, to within 200 yards of the Boer entrenchments to be shot d iwn on the open veldt. Methuen reports that he retired in perfect order ; but the Boers are in the British entrenchments and our men are back to Moddtr River, with a possibility that they may have to retire to Orange River and so lose the advantages of Belmont, Grass Fan ani the hard won pa sage of the Modder. The reverse has made a deep impression at Home and will, of course, be made the most of by our fiiends on the Continent.

Gas Day.—Consumers are reminded that gas accounts must be paid to-day to receive th i usual discount.

Summer Race Meeting.—The nominations received for the Southland Racing Club’a summer meeting are published in another column. They are, both in number and in class of horses, moat Batiofootory to the club and give promise of a successful met ting. The only further condition of success that is indispensable is good weather. The privileges for tho meeting will be sold to-morrow by the N.M. and A. Co. at their Creicent rooms.

Professor Anderson.—Oa Monday evening Professor Anderson will commence a two night? season in the theatre, when, in conjunction with Mdlle. B anche, he will introduce several novelties nob yet seen in New Zealand. Since their last appearance here in 1891 these art’stes have performed in all parts of tho world, and have just returned from two successful seasons through South Africa and India, wheie they have been received by large audiences. Mdlle. Blanche’s astounding feats in olaiivoyancy _ and materialisation cf sp rit forms are said to ba the theme of universal admiration, and as the medium in Nero’s suspended coffin she simply astounds the audience. Tne “Wizard of the North’s ” wonderful illusions are as bewildering as ever. Death of an Early Resident.—The de«th is announced of Mrs Dewe, relict of tho Rev. J ohn Dewe, who was minister at Gladstone nearly 40 years ago. Mrs Dewe, whose maiden name was E. M. dhead, was married at Leamington, England, in 1840. She came to the co'ony with her husband in the ship Blundell, in 1848, settled in the Tokomairiio district when only two families resided on the plain, and her kindness and hospitality are well remembered by old settlers. She afterwards lived with her husband when he was ordained at Roxburgh, Clyde, and Gladstone. After Mr Dewe’a death she took up her residence with Mrs J. F. Herbert, her daughter, at Ardmore, KeLo, where she died, aged 88 years. Fatal Termination.—S uno months back Mrs Thomas Crow, of Makarewa, was very severely injured in a runaway accident. She was in the act of getting into a buggy when the horse bolted, and, unfortunately, her skirts caught on the step, the result being that she was dragged a long distance and terribly bruised ani contused. Mrs Crow was conveyed to the Southland Hospital and had every attention, but her injuries and the shock to her system following on her terrible experience gave little hope her recovery from tho first and she parsed away late last night after much suffering. One of her sons is a member of the New Zealand contingent serving in South Africa.

Horses in a Hurricane.—A Natal paper gives a c iption of the loss of horses belonging to H.M. 9th Lancers. last the Indian transport Wardha sailed from Durban for Capetown with 157 N.C.O’s and men and 168 horses and 12 mules. Shortly after leaving i urban a storm sprang up and increased to hurricane violence. The officers and men were now at the horses heads endeavouringjto keep tho animals on their feet. As the hurricane increased immense seas swept over the transport. They rushed from stem to ttern as high as the bridge. The terrified animals broke loose aad the sceae was appalling. The poor brutes were tossed about the deck and smashed against the maste, iron railings and deck fixtures. They groaned with pain, some‘fell senseless and rose to stumble blindly about till they were carried overboard and vanished from sight. One notable incident occurred. An officer’s charger got loose, and rushing wildly over the dead and bleeding horses that lay all over the deck till he slipped and fell heavily. When the ship rolled again the charger regained bis feet. Wherever he looked he saw nothing but the carcases of his comrades flung about by the threatening seas. Mad with fear the fino animal dashed forward at the railings, cleared them with a magnificent effort and plunged into the boiling white sea. It was over in a moment. Of all the horses on deck only three survived. Between decks the sight was even more ghastly and horrible. There the hones were literally piled on top of each other and killed by their own struggles. The Wardha lost her rudder, but it was temporarily repaired. She was forced to return to Durban, and reached their after a long and painful journey. Police Court.—Yesterday Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., convicted and discharged a male and female inebriate, bath having been locked up since the previous evening.— Elizabeth Hurley was charged, on remand, for drunkenness in Leet street. She did not. appear. Mr Wade, speaking for the woman’s husband, said that the latter felt the loss of his wife’s company very much. When at home she was a most affectionate wife and careful housekeeper, but unfortunately when she came to town contracted drinking habits. He had done all he could to try and get her to reform and wished the bench to be as lenient as possible.—His Worship explained tr.at on her last appearance when charged with vagrancy thecase was adjaurnei sine die, and she was warned then that if brought up again and convicted she would get three months. She seemed to ba utterly incorrigible, and after all tho kind treatment she had received from her husband there was no excuse for her now. She had no domestic misery, consequently there did not seem any reason for her behaving like this.—Evidence was given by the constable who arrested her, which showed that the woman was so drunk she had to be conveyed to the police station in a cab, and Sergeant Warring also testified to her conduct in connection with the previous charge of vagrancy when she was living in Mrs Wilson’s house in Esk street. For a month previous to when she was charged she bad been living there, during scenes of debauchery and immorality. His Worship sentenced her to three , months’ imprisonment, the warrant not to be executed until she returned to town.—B. C. Lovett and Henry Edward Staunton received sentence for the theft of a case of whisky from the railway goods sheds. Sergsant O’Neill stated that Lovett had shipped on a vessel going to South Africa on the day after the case had been heard and his father had refunded the value of the whisky to the railway department.—On Staunton’s behalf Mr J. Macalistsr stated that there was nothing against him previous to this. He had been in the railway service five years.—His Worship said that be had been informed the men hai been dismissed. He regarded this kind of thieving as more serious than that from shops. Should it occur again he intended to punish it very severely. Both the accused would be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.— James Blue, a prisoner at present undergoing sentence in the Invercargill gaol, pleaded guilty to attempting to break out of it between the 10th and Uth inst. He was recently sentenced to six months for a similar offence. A further term of one year’s imprisonment with hard labour was imposed, to be: umulative on the present aeutenoea

Practice.—At mid-day yesterday the fire ■ brigade was called out, but on arrival in Leet street it was found that tho cause of the alarm given was only a chimney on fire in Mr Otway’s house. S.M. Court.—Yesterday Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., gave judgment for plaintiffs in the following undefended oases Nightcaps Coal Co. v. Thos. A. Patchett (Riverbon), io*, costs ss; Do. v. Thos. A. Mclnerney (Winton), £3 0s 6d, costs 5s ; A. Hay and Co. v. Elizabeth Clarke, £8 l(h 7d, costs 18a 61 ; Herbert, Haynes and Co. v. James MoGallam (Gore), 18s costs 5s ; J. Maoalister v. R. Ralston (Orepuki), £3l 10s Bd, costs £1 31. Southland Rifle Club. —The final match (10 shots at 500 and 600 yards) for Captain Johnston’s trophy was fired on VVednesday afternoon, 11 members competing. The wind proved very puzzling and upset the nicest calculations though some very good scores were put on. Mr John Johnston, who shot very steadily throughout, won with a very good score irrespective of his handicap, though he required it all, as Mr Jas. Ritchie, on the limit, wat on y four points short at the finish. The chiet aggregates made in the match (200, 300, 500 and 600 yards) were :—Jno. Johnston, 42—37— 41—40 (handicap 16)—176; Jas. Ritchie,3s—: 36-33-32(36)-172; J. 8. Murphy, 43-36-41-35 (15)—170; W. B. O’Toole, 40-41-39-39 (6)—165.