THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 31st OCTOBER, 1900.

Southland Times, Issue 14785, 31 October 1900, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 31st OCTOBER, 1900.

Police Court. — Before Mr S. K. McCarthy, S.M., yesterday a middle-aged woman was convicted of drunkenness and discharged. Accused, who is a stranger in tlie town, was found on the street in an intoxicated state on Monday evening. Pkrsonal. — During the temporary absence of the Dunedin Chief Postmaster, Mr J. W. Wilkins, cur C.P.M., takes charge of that oiliee, his place here being filled by MiTipping. Southland Rifle Club. — In order that members muy attend the Mounted Rifles sports no matches will take place to-day. Bluff. — Henry's Dramatic Co. gave a performance of "Charley's Aunt" in the Drill Hall on Monday evening to a fair house. The* performance went smoothly, and the various parts received due attention from the cast. The company leave NewZealand to-day hy the Monowai. Middle School. — The monthly meeting of the committee was held yesterday evenin., there being present Messrs Stirling (chairman), England, Field, Ibbotson and Scandrett. The head master reported the average attendance as 575, and that it was decided by the Old Boy's Committee to unfurl the flag on the Hth November at 2.30. Accounts amounting to £8 7s 2d were passed for payment. The Northend Bowlincj Cluh. — This club, which has now made a vigorous start into being, may be congratulated upon having secured an excellent bit of ground of its own. It will thereby have exclusive I rights that/ will tell in the direction of good play. The first committee of management was chosen on Monday night, and the names of the office-bearers will give satisfaction to all likely to use the green. Mr P. L. Gilkison is president, his V.P.'s being Messrs Walter Guthrie and Alex. Cross. Mr Richard Allen acts as secretary and treasurer. Personal.— ln a letter to Mr T. Lennie Mr Jules Tapper says that in hospital in Buenos Aires he had made the acquaintance of a brother New Zealander. This was Mr Hassell, who was at one time in the Union Bank in Invercargill. Poor fellow ! he-had been attacked by a malady known in the country as "grano malo - ' through which he had lost an eve and had had his face disfigured. Musical Union Concert. — Tho programme is published in this issue : further comment is needless, except to add that the re-appearance of Mrs Blue will be hailed with satisfaction by her numerous admirers, and that Mrs Forbes-Williams' debut in cantata being looked forward to with great, pleasure. The other soloists are all tried favourites, and the chorus and orchestra will doubtless be as effective as ever. A most enjoyable evening's entertainment is assured. The full final rehearsal takes place tliis evening, and performing members are particularly requested to attend sharp to time. Southland Mounted Rifles. — The following is an account of 3'csterday's work done at the camp: — Reveille at 5 a.m and parade mounted at 5.30 a.m; handed over by commanding officer to Lieut. Davis, Government instructor, who gave the corps a couple of hours' smart work. During the morning class firing was completed and sports practice indulged in. Mounted parade held at 5.15 p.m and in very boisterous weatber, the company being putthrough useful work by instructor ; at 7 p.m, mess ; 8 p.m, guard mounting and stable patrols; tirst post, 9.30 p.m: last post, 10 p.m, and " lights out" at 10.15 p.m. Quartermaster-Sergt. Wesney has been promoted to Sergt. -Major and Sergt. Boyd to Quartermaster-Sergt. The sports to be held to-day should induce a record attendance at the show grounds. Payment ok Pensions. — To-morrow is pay day for old age pensions. Yesterday we drew attention to the erection of a pay office in the vestibule of the Government buildings. This office will be used only on the first day of the month, and it is very desirable that as many as possible should come for their money on that day, when a special officer is told off to attend to them. On former first pay days as many as 200 pensioners have applied for their cash, and it can be easily understood that such a large accession to the ordinary business at the public counter involves a serious inconvenience to the staff and to the public, hence the new arrangement. The pensioners will further facilitate the business of paying out, and oblige each other, if they will kindly observe a little order and method in approaching and leaving the pay window. It is requested that they go forward by the left of the pay-box and retire by the other side. That is, that in going toward the officer in charge they keep to the left hand side of the box and just go round it and pass out. This will save all jostling and scrambling for position or turn at the window. Charles Arnold Season. — The curiosity of the public to learn, by ocular demonstration, "What Happened to Jones" and " Why Smith Left Home," will be allayed next week by the appearance of Charles Arnold and his company of London comedians in the Theatre Royal. " Jones," as the farce comedy is termed in the professional argot, which invariably abbreviates the long and cumbrous title often bestowed by an ambitious author, is having as triumphant a march as Lord Roberts on his way to Lydenberg, with this difference, that the success of " Bobs " was accompanied by the weeping and wailing of the Boers, wliilst "Jones" bowls along to the hearty laughter of all sorts and conditions of men and women. Mr Arnold has always been a popular actor with Invercargill play-goers, and everybody will be delighted to welcome him back. The company supporting him is one of the most complete organisations that has visited Australia, where they have just brought a long tour to a brilliant conclusion. " What Happened to Jones" is preceded by a pretty and pathetic little curtain-raiser, entitled "An Empty Stocking," which nobody should miss. Tho advance booking betokens a crowded house, and it is safe to predict a most successful season for MiArnold and his company. South Invercargill. — The monthly meeting of the Borough Council, held on Monday night, was attended by the Mayor (Mr A. Bain), Councillors Walker, Ferguson, Brown, Price, Peace, Archer, Lyons, Stirrett and Lewis. It was agreed to fall in with any action taken by other local bodies to recognise the gratuitous services of Mr Pilcher of Capetown, to New Zealanders serving at the front. — A lessee of one of the endowments asked that the Council should endeavour to get a crossing over the railway to give access to hia land, and it was agreed to take the necessary steps. — A number of small matters were left in the hands of the AVorks Committee and accounts amounting to £45 loa 6d were passed for , payment.

A Fell Disease. — An Adelaide family lost three daughters from consumption, between September 24th and October Ilth, their ages being 27, 21 and 18 years repeotively. A son is seriously ill of the same disease. Oreti Rifles. — There was a large muster of this corps at the weekly parade yesterday evening, when the chief business transacted was the election of a captain. Mr C. S. Spaul was unanimously elected, and, in returning thanks for the honour conferred, said he had had ten years' connection with volunteering, and hoped this experience would assist him in keeping the corps in its present high state of efficiency. Before parade Sergeant T. D. Lennie, who had charge of No. 1 section which competed in tlio recent physicalandbayonetcompetitions, held by the company annually, presented Privates E. Keast, 1). Bissctt, and J. Peters each with a neat and unique rifle-cleaning apparatus for good attendance and general efficiency. Gladstone Cricket Club. — A concert in aid of the funds of this club was held in the schoolhouse on the night of the 24th inst. and was a great success, the building being crowded. The Rev. 1). C. Bates, president of the club, 'shoived a number of interesting limelight views, aud the following contributed in a very able manner: — >'ongs by Miss Howie, Mrs I ) yet and Messrs Brooks and Stevens ; recitations by Mr R. Todd and Master McNamara. Overtures were nicely played by Misses Broad, Edwards and Stone, and a violin solo by Master Mc- j Chesnoy ; a ventriloquial performance by Mr C. August was much enjoyed. A hearty vote of thanks to tlie performers was passed. Bluff Volunteers. — Our Bluff correspondent states that the newly formed company, whose offered services have been accepted, is likely to select for Captain MiBarber, a gentleman who has held commissions in northern companies, and who is an enthusiast in volunteering matters. The fact that Mr Barber's services are available is expected to obviate initial difficulties, and if our correspondent's information, he says, is correct, the company may be congratulated on being able to obtain so efficient an officer for its chief command. Railway Rowino Club. — This club is getting off some interesting races. On Monday evening Jacquiery and Pedler beat McNicol and MeGavock and McPherson and McKenzie beat Power and Everex. Last night there was too much wind. Cleared Ur. — From advice received by a Bluff resident from one of the crew of the ship Margaret Galbraith it appears that that vessel put into Rio (not Valparaiso as reported) on account of having picked up the wrecked crew of the Danish barque Thor, 800 tons, formerly the Scottish Bard, of Glasgow. When the Margaret Galbraith picked the crew up it commenced to blow a hurricane, and blew for 72 hours, so that the rescue was a very fortunate one. The men were landed at Rio, and the detention of the Margaret Galbraith there was not expected to exceed 24 hours, a few provisions being merely required. Cricket. — The teams for the following matches have been arranged for to-day, but the state of the weather and the very low barometrical reading do not leave much hope that they will be played -.—Waikiwi v. Gladstone, on the latter's ground at 2.15 p.m. McLean, Fraser (3), Gardiner, McNie, Robertson, Burgess, McCloske}', Cockerill and Harris. Gladstone : Pettigrew (3), Noble (2), McGill, O'Toole, McNamara, Sorrenson. Cooper, Stone ; Emerg. , McChesney. Waikiwi B (13) v. Star, Waikiwi, 2.15 p.m. Meredith, Russell, Paterson (2), J. Ready, Gardiner (2), Fraser (2), Edginton, White, Hendry and Cockerill. Star : Galbraith, Mentiplay, A. Strang, Gilbertson, R. Strang, Wesney, Ford, Daniels, Travis, Smith and Hall. Star team will go to Waikiwi by 2 p.m. tram. " The Master-Christian. "—Some books are bad in their intention, some are bad in their execution, some are bad in their results. In the latter class we must put the novel just published by Miss Marie Corelli under the title which heads tliis article. It is not an ordinary novel. A story which had over seventy thousand purchasers before the day of its publication, and which since then has been read by thousands and thousands more, must have in it something extraordinary. And it certainly has. It is extraordinary in many ways ; it is extraordinarilyelever, extraordinarily far-fetched, extraordinarily inexact, extraordinarily illogical. Its plot is impossible, its characters imaginary, its teaching injurious. . .- Itis not for us to assume the roltoi a promoter on the Index ; but if ever there was a justification for the existence of that tribunal it will be found in the publication of " The Master-Christian," a work as impossible in its idea as it is clever in its execution ; aa sure to be of injury to thousands, as it is of being read by tens of thousands ; as forcible iv dramatic presentment of its characters as it is foolish in the teaching it is intended to convey. — Catholic Times. Wrovo and Right. — A schoolmaster gave his pupils a lecture on patriotism. He pointed out tlie high motives which moved the volunteers to leavo their homes and fight for their country. The master noticed that one boy did not pay attention, and as a test question asked him, "What motives took the volunteers to the war ? " The boy was puzzled for a moment, then remembered the public "send-off" to the local reserves and volunteers at the railway station, he replied, "Locomotives, sir." Singular Poisoning. — A mysterious case of poisoning occurred at Edendale on Monday evening, but luckily the effects have not proved so disastrous as they might have done. Three men — Charles Milne, William Gordon and John White — who were engaged on Edendale Estate and camped in a building locally known as tho new station, had finished their evening meal, and having thrown some scraps to the dogs, they soon noticed that the dogs were seized with fits, violent twitching of the muscles and vomiting. While attending to the dogs Milne was seized with a fit and immediately afterwards Gordon was similarly affected. White, becoming alarmed, hurried to the camp of some contract ploughmen a short distance away for assistance. He also was taken very ill and was given tobacco juice which acted as an emetic. Dr. Rogers, who happened to be in the vicinity at the time, was soon in attendance and at once administered emetics. Gordon and White were the first to show signs of recovery, but very little hope was entertained of Milne up to about midnight. However, all are now progressing favourably, but one of the dogs has since died. The meal consisted of boiled beef, cooked at midday (and partaken of at that hour without any evil effects), bread and butter and billy tea. Constable Bogue is investigating and an enquiry is to be held, when it is hoped to clear up the mystery. White says he cannot account for the seizure. Everything was from the same as at dinner time except the tea which was out of a fresh packet. The ladies of the locality, among whom Mesdames McDonald, Finlay, Faris and Ballantyne were prominent, rendered valuable assistance in tending the sufferers. — Own correspondent. The Greatest Strike on Earth. — Across the Atlantic they do not do things b}' halves, and it is perhaps (says an English paper) almost with a sense of pride that Americans will read of the " greatest strike on earth " just arranged in Pennsylvania. At all events, that is an impression to be gathered from the address issued by Mr Mitchell to disc-on tentedanthracite coal miners. " This," he says, " is the greatest strike ever ordered, affecting as it does 1,000,000 wage earners, whose earnings are over 10,000,000 dollars a week." He further observes that an appeal will be issued asking for the moral support and sympathy of the American people. Now, we have not yet been informed what exactly arc the grievances of the men, and it is impossible, therefore, to judge the merits of the case in dispute. But it is certainly hard to see, if a community of a million people can average ten dollars a week in wages, what on earth there is to strike about. The coal owners ridicule the whole business, stating that the men already drew fifty or sixty dollars a month, after paying for powder, oil, and house rent. Really, three pounds a week, with a house, is not so bad. But then you can never tell what may be deemed right or wrong in places like Pennsylvania. [The strikers secured an advance of 10 per cent, aud other concession's.]

Exit Kruger.— The Daily Telegraph says: Mr Kruger realised that the curtain was about to descend on the Transvaal stage, and the time had come for him to make his farewell bow. Under the cover of night all that remained of the Pretoria oligarchy crept for shelter to the house of Mr Potts, at Lorenzo Marques, and asked for the protection of the Portuguese police. In a fortnight South Africa will know Mr Kruger no more. With his departure, poor, undramatic humiliating as (it is, dawns a happier day for the country he has led in paths which did not make for peace. How It Was Done. — A misconception (says the N. O. Times) exists in regard to tho means by which the Bank of New Zealand was enabled to relieve itself of the liability to the Government attaching to the £500,000 worth of preference shares. This misconception is no doubt induced by the not too explicit statement made by Mr Seddon. There can be no intention to lead the public to the belief that the money has been paid out of profits made by the bank during the last or any other year. The profits of the bank were stated in its last balancesheet, and although far beyond anticipations, they did not approximate to £500,000. In our issue of the 18th we stated that " the banks of the colony held in excess of deposits over advances and diecounts the sum of £4,362,247, but as there are free deposits of £7,002,235 in the banks a great many people must have a considerable amount of idle money on their hands." As a matter of fact the banks have far more money than they know what to do with, and while this is so the Bank of New Zealand adopted the wise policy of relieving itself of the annual interest payment of £17,500. The £500,000 will come as a " boon and a blessing" to the Government, and the bank will be able to add the -_I7,")00 save* l to its annual profits. The transaction is thus a good one for the bank, for it manifestly stands to reason that while it cannot find profitable investments for all its own moneys it should not continue to pay unnecessarily a large sum every year for interest. Gin. and Its New Governor. — Sir Geo. White, since his installation as Governor of Gibraltar, has greatly improved in health. He is very popidar, and attends, says the Daily Telegraph's correspondent, nearly everything going on He has received another presentation of a horse from Lady Meux's stud. It is a brown thoroughbred, five years old, and named Nectanebus. Much has been done in transforming Gibraltar into a large dockyard, but a great deal remains before the scheme of converting it into a great naval station at a cost of £4,000,000 is accomplished.