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Southland Times, Issue 14797, 14 November 1900, Page 2

Mi dole School Celkbkations. — Tlie flags presented by ex-pupils of the Middle School will be unfurled this afternoon at 2. 30. There will be a short but attractive programme, comprising speeches, patriotic songs by the children, and selections by the Garrison Band. An invitation is elsewhere given to former pupils and friends to be present. honu Ranfurly's Movements. — His Excellency the Governor will probably be at Nightcaps to-morrow and thence he goes to Orepuki, where he will stay until Monday morning. His Excellency will then come to Invercargill, remaining here for two days. Cycling Sports. — The Invercargill Cycling Club open the season on the Union Grounds this afternoon with a complimentary race meeting. The programme is an attractive one, consisting of the usual events, and the handsome trophies have attracted a fair number of competitors, so that an enjoyable afternoon's sport should be provided. Most of the local cracks will be riding and the racing should be quite up to the standard of previous years. The outgoing trains have been delayed so as to enable country visitors to witness all the events before returning home. The City Band will be in attendance, and their presence should enhance the enjoyment of spectators. Anniversary.— The Don street P.M. Church holds its anniversary social this evening. There will be tea in the schoolroom at 6.30, followed by a public meeting in the church, at which a programme of addresses and music will be given.

Open End. —The public are cautioned that Christmas cards^ etc., posted in envelopes, mußt be entirely open at one end, or the flap turned inside and not sealed. Small slits cut in the ends of closed envelopes are not regarded as leaving a packet open for inspection. The effect of posting cards in the wrong way is just this, that the receiver at the other end has to pay the deficient letter postage and a fine besides. An Hour Late. — Our Orepuki correspondent in his last contribution, reporting the sports said " the train was an hour late." Probably this was a rough guess at the time on the part of some who were anxiously awaiting the arrival of friends. At all events the train time by official report cuts down the delay to one half. The train, which is due at Orepuki at 12.5 p.m., reached its destination at 12.35, or exactly ! half an hour late. Even for this loss of time a very satisfactosy reason is at hand. The increase in the train c was unexpectedly large — about double that of last year, and extra carriages and an extra engine had to be picked up and put on by the way. Indian" Famine Fund. — The treasurer to the Southland Indian Famine Fund has just received the following letter from the hon. secretary to the fund at Calcutta : — " Wm. Young, Esq., Town I lerk, Invercargill, N.Z. — Sir, — l have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30th August, addressed to his Excellency the Viceroy, enclosing draft for £19 Js 3d, being balance of contributions from the inhabitants of Southland. For this contribution, as well as for the sum of £1200. previously remitted, I have to convey to you the grateful thanks of the Central Executive Committee. Will you kindly inform the donors how greatty their generosity has been appreciated." There is still about £30 in hand to send on, received since Uic fund was supposed to be closed. This will he forwarded in a day or two. LoNCßtisn.— A (juiet and interesting marriage function took place on the Bth inst. at Blantyre farm, the residence of the parents of the bride and bridegroom — Mr Gavin Percy and Agnes Isabella Rose. About fifty friends sat down to the marriage breakfast in the barn, which was nicely decorated. The weather being auspicious, games wore enjoyed on the green in front of the house, and a pleasant evening was passed in song, social games and dancing. Before parting Mr Me Arthur echoed the sentiments of all by complimenting the host and hostess for their genial hospitality, and wishing the bride and bridegroom happiness and prosperity. The Victoria Band will give one of their conceits in the school on Friday, 23rd, proceeds in aid of school trip. These concerts have been deservedly popular here, and the interesting programme in course of rehearsal bids fair to surpass all former efforts. — Own correspondent. Cricket Teams for To-day. — Gladstone v. I.C.C. Juniors — McGill, Pettigrew, McNamara, O'Toole, Stone, Noble, Sorrenson, Cooper, Hurley, McChesney, Stead ; emergency, Jameson. I.C.C. — Jones (2), Thomson, Totton, Sloan, Geo. Watson, Webber, Proctor (2), Knee, Mehaffey, Deschler ; emergency, Moir. Waikiwi A v. Star Juniors — Gardiner, Fraser (3), Malcombe, McNie, Woodworth, McCloskey, McLean, Harris and Cockerill. Star — Mcntiplay, Galbraith, A. Strang, Ford, Gilbertson, Wesney, Travis, Daniels, W. Smith, R. Strang and Featherstone. The attention of secretaries is again directed to the advisableness of making arrangements for the publication of teams simultaneously — on Tuesday for preference. By so doing they secure an understandable programme for the day's events ; apprise players selected early; further the object the clubs have in view, and avoid some unnecessary work and uncertainty in a newspaper office. Following our rule for years past we shall not publish the names of a team till we have those of their opponents and thus give all the information desired in one act, except where one is from a country club and not readily procurable . The Volunteers.' — In our report of the proceedings at the camp on Sunday the Mercantiles were mentioned as having been specially complimented by Major Hawkins for their marching in the review. The position of honour was really gained by the City Guards, whose inarching was almost perfect, and the Mercantiles were awarded the second place, although the whole battalion marched exceedingly well and fully deserved the praise given them by the officer commanding the district. On Monday morning reveille at 5 a.m. found the weather damp and cold, and the prospect of pick and shovel •.vork was not very enticing to the men, who were to be drilled in shelter trenching by Sergeant-Major Knee. Some preliminary work was done in the morning, but no actual trenching. The evening parade was held at 7 p.m., and all defaulters who had absented themselves from guard duty, were called out, armed with pick and shovel, and marched to where a piece of ground had been selected for trenching. The battalion was drawn up close at hand so that the men could follow the interesting and instructive work. The trenches were dug to the regulation size, each being sft. long, 2ft. Gin. broad (from front to rear), and 18in. deep. This, with the earth thrown up in front gives 3ft. cover, which is sufficient for a man in a kneeling position. The men worked with a will aud got through their trenches in about 20 minutes each, and the result gave some idea of the excellent shelter that could be constructed by an army within an incredibly short space of time. Two files from eacli company were then told off to replace the earth, and this being done the men wore marched back to the camp and dismissed, at about 8.45. The Queen's Park was crowded with visitors who had been attracted by the sweet music discoursed by the City Band, whose programme was much enjoyed by the volunteers also. Heavy rain set in shortly after 10 o'clock, and most of the men were snugly housed for the night when "lights out " was blown. Yesterday morning broke fine and clear, and the warm sun counterbalanced the sloppy ground, and made the morning parade more enjoyable than it might ..have been. The battalion was exercised as a whole in the various formations for resisting cavalry, and some interesting work was gone through before the 7 a.m. mess was served. At the evening parade the battalion was exercised in physical drill by Sergt. -Major Knee, and also drilled by bugle call. Good work was done for over an hour, when the men were dismissed. A large crowd of spectators had gathered in the park, where the Garrison Band plaj'ed a choice selection of popular music, which was much enjoyed. A large bonfire was also an attraction, and burned merrily till 10 o'clock. "Lights out" was blown at the usual hour, but, this being their last night in camp, the men were not much disposed for sleep. This afternoon there will be a sham fight, the men mustering at 2 o'clock. Pure Flam and Flapdoodle. — The Premier, speaking at the banquet to Mr Mills, said New Zealand had a friendly feeling towards Australia and would look with pleasure on the birth of the new nation there. The strength and unity of Australia was our strength and Australia knew that iv New Zealand she had a friend with power to aid if necessity arose, but New Zealand led and would still lead. He would be present at the inaugural ceremonies of the Commonwealth, ana, in addition to the sending of a contingent of 50 men as a guard of honour, it was iutended to send a band of Maori warriors in charge of Mr Carroll, and also the finest band of Maori pipers south of the equator. The British Parliament, said Mr Seddon, had not been so far-seeing as that of New Zealand when it let New Caledonia, Hawaii and Samoa fall into the hands of foreign nations. If the right thing had been done at the right time the whole of those islands would have been British under the control of colonial Parliaments. Referring to the annexation of the Cook Islands, he emphatically denied that the action which was taken in regard to this matter was actuated-by jealousy towards Australia. Sermons in Stones. — Professor Hilprecht, of Pennsylvania, exploring the ruins of Babylon and Assyria, has discovered the library of the great temple at Nippur, destroyed in the year 238 be. This library consists of 16,000 documents, written on stones or bricks, about astronomy, theology, mathematics, and linguistics, and 5000 most interesting letters and biographies. The total is 23,000 written stones. The University of Pennsylvania has made Professor Hilprecht guardian of these treasures.

Too Great to be Wibldy.— Napoleon Bonaparte, when asked by some of his officers to conquer and hold certain provinces of China, as Great Britain did in India, replied : " Better let China alone. The Chinese are harmless. They trouble no other nation, but they are a great people. We might conquer some of their provinces, but we should teach them the art of war. In time they might raise great armies, buy or build great navies, and conquer France." Shattered Theory and Window. — It has been generally understood among cyclists that they were free from lightning strokes whilst cycling, rubber being a nonconductor, but an Adelaide cyclist, named Coucho, was unpleasantly undeceived recently. He was riding to work and whilst turning a corner of one of the city streets the handle-bar of his machine was struck by lightning. He remembered nothing more until he was picked up inside the plate glass window of a shop, he and his cycle having been driven across the footpath and through the window. Barring a few cuts and bruises he sustained no serious injuries Elevation Extraordinary. — A young man was sinking a shaft in the Lilydale district (Vie), when he came on an old drive which was full of water. The water rushed into the shatt in a torrent, rising in a few minutes about 30ft. He was carried up with the rising water, and rescued by his mates at the surface. The Source of Our Eternal Lease. — The Chinese are the most lightly-taxed people in the world. They have no Chancellor of the Exchequer worried over budgetmaking. All the land there belongs to the State, and a trifling sum per acre, never altered through long centuries, is paid as rent. This is the only tax in the country, and it amounts in a sum equal to about £1 per head annually. Oretuki. — Last Saturday a young man who had been obtaining goods here by false pretences, was brought back from Dunedin to answer the charge. Messrs Merrilees and Griffin, J's.P , occupied the bench. The accused man pleaded guilty and had in the meantime paid for the goods. He was fined £1, costs £2 14s Bd, in default seven days' imprisonment. On Sunday evening the R.C. choir gave a sacred concert in the church. The night was wild and in consequence the audience very sparse. However the singera went through the programme and acquitted themselves remarkably well. Probably the concert will be repeated under more favourable conditions. On Monday evening a meeting was held in Sorenson's Hall for the purpose of enrolling members of the lately accepted volunteer corps. Forty-one were enrolled, but owing to the very bad weather a number who had promised to join did not come forward and a comriiittee was appointed to look up the absentees and procure their signatures. Several names were submitted to the meeting and recommended for appointment as officers. The swearing-in will probably come off in a fortnight. — Own correspondent. Cycling Extraordinary. — Particulars are to hand of the grsat French 24 hours' contest— the Hoi d'Or. The Cyclist says that the race began splendidly and concluded miserably. It was interesting as a duel between those three giants of the. long distance game, Walters (England), Huret (France), and Cordang (Holland). Huret, who was suffering from a recent fall, was forced to give up after three hours' riding and many mishaps. Walters rode superbly (covering 349 miles 1512 yards in the first twelve hours) for four-fifths of the journey, beating all the world's records and lapping his opponent. But towards the nineteenth hour his knees began to bother him, as a result of a recent fall; they swelled ; he gamely struggled for a while against nature, and tßen he, too, to his own disgust and the the crowd's disappointment, was forced to give up, leaving the victory to Cordang, who had been riding consistently all through, but who was then thirty miles behind. He would have left the fight, but for his trainer, who forced him to go on. The weather was perfect, the night still, and the track illuminated by torches. The Premier Colony Without Docbt. — Mr Coughlan states that the area under cultivation in New South Wales this season is 2,539,639 acres, an increase on last season of 85,859 acres. The area under wheat is 1,910,539 acres, or an increase of 69,560 acres; but the present estimate is that 179,727 acres more of the wheat area will be cut for grain. Putting in a " Snibble." — In the will of Mr John Wood, late of Prahran, Victoria, which covers an estate valued at £95,791, there was one peculiar proviso, wherein the testator declares that any beneficiare who shall dispute the validity of the will shall absolutely forfeit all benefits, the share so forfeited to go to the United Methodist Church. Woods was a wise man, for Victoria produces more disputed will cases than any country nnder the sun, in proportion to population. Great Cry and Little Wool. — A meetin c; of Gladstone ratepayers on Monday night for the purpose of considering the question of raising a loan of £600 for drainage purposes was 30 poorly attended that the Mayor (Mr A. F. Hawke), said he would go no further in the matter, as those who had worried the Council about drainage seemed to be quite indifferent now. The Melbourne Cup Winner. —As occurs annually, a large crowd assembled at The Mercury office on Tuesday awaiting the cabled result of the Melbourne Cup. When the names of the placed horsed were posted the countenances of those congregated were remindful of Shakespeare's lines in one of his infrequently rendered plays, " Thou hast deceived me, Lancaster!" which, to the sporting reader, will signify that the favourite has once more brought grief to backers. The winner of this year's Cup, Clean Sweep, is a three-year-old colt by Zalinski (son of Nordenfeldt), from Benzine, by Proto-Martyr, from liascony, by English Tim Whiffler. The colt was bred by Mr A. S. Chirnside, and cost but 90 guineas at the Newminster Park sale of yearlings. J. Scobie, of Ballarat, trained Clean Sweep and also Maltster, who ran second, thus repeatForrester's coup of three years ago. The victory of Clean Sweep adds a new name to the list of winning owners of previous Melbourne Cups. Zalinski, as a sire, will for the first time have his name inscribed on the roll. — Hobart Mercury.