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Southland Times, Issue 14815, 17 December 1900, Page 2

Gas Discotnt Dav. — Consumers are reminded tlnvt to-day is the last discount day this niontli. Southland Hosittai,. — During last week there were admitted, 4 males and 2 females ; discharged : 9 mail's and 1 female ; remaining -. 19 males and 8 females. Died: Peter MacKay, aged 70. The visiting Trustees for the present week are Messrs Jas. Walker and .1. McQueen. The Matron desires to thank Mr Sylvester, BlufV, for donation of tish. M.I7TTUN Goinc Xtuonc. — Those who have allowed their stocks of ewes to run low or desire to increase their flocks now have to pay for them. The N.M. and A. Co. at tlieir Otautau sale on Friday, sold 1 10 ewe hoggets, on account ol Mr A. Nelson, Drummond, at 19s per head to Mr R. Cupples, being tho top price obtained at auction for this class of sheep this year. Hospital Trust.— The first meeting of the Southland Hospital Trust as reconstituted was held on Friday evening, there being present Messrs J. E. Watson. J. A. Mitcholl, J. Stead, A. Bain, R. Allen and Jas. Walker. Mr Stead was elected chairman for the year uaul on taking office moved that the best thanks of the Trust be accorded to Mr J. E. Watson for the valuable services he had rendered to the hospital in the four years during which he had acted as chairman. In replying Mr Watson referred to the assistance given to tho institution by the retiring members, Messrs W. R. Riddell and Thos. Findlay, who had been connected with the Trust for many years. Bathi.ncj Fatality. — William Craig, aged 18, who had been working on Venlaw station, son of Mr Robert Craig, Wyndham Valley, was drowned yesterday in tho Mimihau whjle batlring in company with some others. The body has been recovered. Recognition. --The church officers of the Anglican Church, Otautau, desiro to thank Messrs Wesney Bros, for a valuable box of goods for the bazaar in aid of the building Fund, for a handsome silver watcli from Mr C. H. Butler, of Ryal Bush, and also all friends who helped. The Si-okts. — The Caledonian Society of Southland announce that entries for all events at their New Year gathering must bo in the hands of the secretary by the evening of 27th December. Colac. — The local officers of the Salvation Army held a junior demonstration and coffee supper in the hall on the 14th. There was a good attendance of young soldiers and their friends, and under the superintendence of Lieut. ()"Xeil the boys and girls rendered several musical items aud recitations, which were well received. — Own correspondent. Boy Drowned.— Robert, 13 years of age, son of Mr Oliver Kelly, Gummios Bush, was drowned in Jacob's River on Friday afternoon. He left home about half -past three to go to his father and, to reach the place, had to pass along the rivor at a point where the bank overhangs tho -vvator, which is very deep. His cap was picked up in the river at the place indicated about 7.30 p.m. and a search being made his feotly was found. KXASrKRATINti.— Mr Thomas Widdowson, of Invercargill, was walking along Princes street, Dunedin, last week, when he trod on a piece of orange peel, slipped, and fractured his right leg, both bonea being broken. Carelessness in dropping orange and banana skins on footpaths is not confined to children ; our country cousins are very careless in such matters, probably because, not being used to asphalted streets, they are not aware of the danger of tho practice of throwing the refuse of the fruit on a hard surface. Chan* ;kd Hands.— Tho N.Z. L. and M.A. Co. have sold Mr Robert Meek's Glenburn farm to Mr Alexander McKenzie, late of Mararoa Gorge. The " Army " in New Guise. — Tho Sydney Court haa refused to grant probate of the will of Elizabeth Jenkins, who loft a valuable estate of 900aerea at Manly to the Salvation Army, on condition that they paid her an annuity and carried out certain conditions. Her nephew contested the will and the Jndge, in refusing probate, said he was not satisfied that deceased knew and approved of the contents of the will, which was prepared by the Army officers nor that it was the will of a free and capable testatrix. This ia not the first will in Australia in favour of the Army that lia^ been disputed. Overcome By Foul An;.— On Friday afternoon two men had an experience which is quite unique iv the history of mining in Orepuki. Two miners named De Reya and Buchanan were sinking a shaft at a place called Potts' Gorge, and had reached a depth of 30 feet. They then procured an auger to bore for tho wash, but before doing so they invited Mr J. Forbes, who has considerable mining experience, to go down the shaft and give his opinion as to the formation. He consented to do ko, but on reaching tho bottom called out "Pull me up." He had been overcome with foul air. De Rtya was then lowered with a spare rope, which was fortunately available, but ho also had just time to call out " Pull me up." When he was got up he was unconscious and bleeding at the nose and mouth, but soon recovered. Forbes was then brought up and was found to be quite unconscious and frothing at the mouth. He was carried home under the care of Dr. Stock well, who was soon on tho scene. At latest hearing he was just able to speak, but is very ill, and liis breathing very much impaired, it will be some time before lie is himself again. A very simple precaution should at all times be taken in cases where foul air is suspected, and that is to lower a candle ami if it wont bum then tho place is not safe for life. In Sandy Creek some men* were engaged in drawing timber, a very dangerous business, when the ground gave way. They escaped with a few cuts and bruises, but the accident might very easily have had a fatal result. — Own correspondent. Gore. —On Wednesday afternoon tho Rifle corps' fourth competition for the Hallenstein cup was fired. The heat was very trying, ancf the shooting on the whole was not quite ao satisfactory previously. The conditions were 7 shots at 200 and 300 yards, and 2-2 competed. Tbo leading aggregates now are Priv. Frauce, 170; Priv. G. McKenzie, 167; Sergt. Shanks, 166. The leading aggregates for tho bronze medal, which is being fired for in couj unction with tho Cup, are Sergt. Shanks, 166; Priv. G. Me- j Kenzie, 163; Priv Ayson, 161.-- At the conclusion of the Government inspection Sergt, Shanks presented Sergt. Smith with a handsome album and cruet as a token of tho company's goodwill on the occasion of his marridge.—The Musical Society presented the cantata " Joan of Arc " to a small audience on Wednesday evening. Tho principal parts were taken by Mrs D. Blue, Mr S. Cooksou, and Mr E. R. Bowler, and they worthily upheld their reputation; tho singing of Mrs Blue being an pspeeial treat, tho lady having to submit to recall more than once. The duets, trios, and choruses were on tho satisfactory, but want of practice was evident. Credit is due to the conductor, Mr H. Mayo, and to the Orpheus orchestra, who played theaeconipanyrngmusie in a pleasing manner. At the conclusion of tho cantata Mrs Blue sang " Lochnagar," and, in response to an imperative recall, " The Better Land."— Tho Bowling Club's tourney \» progressing satisfactorily, and the handicaps are out for the third round.,— (O»'J4 cyrj-ospoudeut).

Estates. — Probate of the will of John Murdoch, late of Invercargill, deceased, has been granted to his widow; and letters of administration of tho estate of William Croabie, late of Edendale, deceased, to his widow, in each case on the application of Messrs Stout and Lillicrap, AX InVERCAKCSM, FOOTRAJLJ/ER AT THK Front. — The following paragraph from a Sydney paper will be read with interest here by many ; — News has been received from South Africa of Peter Ward, the wellknown Sydney and New Zealand footballer, who left New South Wales as a trooper in the Imperial Bushmen. The writer says that Ward has become a general favourite, and that General Methuen, who is in command, considers the erstwhile three-quarter as without doubt the best scout in his regiment. Ward, who was noted for his pranks, has secured a trophy in a camp that his company drove the Boers from. It is no less an article than De la Key's Sunday hat, and Ward never misses an opportunity of wearing it.