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Southland Times, Issue 15171, 15 February 1902, Page 2

Wesleyan Church.— The Rev. J. A. Luxford's subject to-morrow evening will be " Ruth : the idyllic picture of the Old Testament." Ixvercakgill Regatta. — The committee held its weekly meeting yesterday evening when the collectors reported satisfactory progress. The Railway Department intimated that the outgoing trains would be delayed on regatta day. The feeling of the meeting was, however, that competing crews should travel at excursion fares, and a motion to that effect was carried unanimously, and a deputation appointed to wait on the member for the town with the object of impressing their wishes on the notice of the Minister. The Butchers' Union wrote that in accordance with the desire of the Regatta Committee they had decided to postpone their pionic from regatta day till the Wednesday following. Well Deserved Compliment.— A meeting of representatives of musical and other societies was held in Mr Chas. Gray's rooms last night, for the purpose of making the initiative move to tangibly recognise the services of Mr and Mrs W. V. Siddall, who are about to leave Invercargill. Mr Siddall has been Lieut. -Bandmaster of the Garrison Band for a°long term of years,|andjhis connection with the band extends over a quarter of a century. He is now about to sever it to take up the duties of town clerk of WooK, aton, a suburb of Chriatchurch. For a like period Mrs Siddall has also been closely identified with all musical matters here. The meeting deciued that a benefit be tendered to Mr and Mrs Siddall, and that a deputation consisting of Messrs R. McKinnon, G. Churton, C. Gray, C. Andrews, and R. Jenkins wait upon the Mayor to ask him to call a public meeting for the purpose of arranging a complimentary benefi t. NoMh InvercargiUu — To the monthly meeting of the Borough Council last week eight ratepayers wrote asking for street repairs and construction of drains before winter, and it waa resolved that the work be done as far as the funds would allow. Ten ratepayers requisitioned to have parts of St. Andrew and Newcastle streets repaired before winter, as they were very bad. The matter was referred to the Works Committee for report. The valuer (Mr W. G. Mackay) submitted the valuation lists of the borongh for 1902, showing the total amount to be £4042, an increase of £83 10s over the previous year. The lists were ordered to be publicly notified as open for inspection.

Fekry Bridge. — Repairs having been effected, this bridge over the Now River is now open for traffic. Thk Southland Frozen Meat Co.— ln regard to the charges made Against the directors by Mr A. K. Hay at the annual meeting on Saturday last, Mr Hay called at this office to explain that instead of the plant at Wallacetown being overvalued £2000, he meant that the assets wore overvalued to that extent. He says that the assets are valued in the balance sheet as follows :— Buildings, £1957 ; slaughtering plant, £280; cask plant, £195; and boiling-down plant, £1430 -total, £3862 ; which Mr Hay considers is £2000 too high. The Floral Fete.— There was a large attendance in the Avenal Town Hall yesterday evening, the Rev. D. C. Bates presiding, to make final arran^em nts for the fete to be held on Wednesday, at which, it was stated, that Bishop Nevill would be present. It was decided to extend the time for receiving entries to Monday ; to increase the prize money in the tradesmen's decorated cart competition, and to write to the town school committees asking that the schools be closed at 2 p.m to *admit of the children attending the fete. A large number of entries have been receivod, and the committee are ai^ured of the function being a success. Small Birds. — This question has cropped up with unfailing regularity at nearly every meeting of the County Council for some years paafc. There is the widest diversity of opinion as to the value of laying poisoned grain to overcome the nuisance. Councillor Raymond is of opinion that ratepayers are tired of the heavy expense annually made in a futile and nonsensical attempt to cope with the pest. Nothing that had been tried had done the slightest good, and until they found an active specific they should stop the useless expenditure. On the other i hand, Councillor McQueen Baid that if the Council stopped poisoning there would be a mutiny. He and others had laid poison with satisfactory results, and they must make an effort to cope with an evil so widespread. The Council ultimately decided to wait for a month and experiment in manufacture themselves. Ministerial Visit. — The Minister of Lands (Hou. T. V. Duncan) was engaged yesterday forenoon transacting departmental business in Invercargill. In the afternoon he, in company with Messrs J, A. Hanan and M. Gilfedder, &l's.H.R., drove out the East Road to see the property of Thomson's trustees, which it has been proposed should be purchased for workmen's homes. Accompanied by the mayor and councillors of Invercargill Borough the party then drove to the abattoir and the Grasmero domain. They also inspected the North road, for which a vote was last year placed on the Estimates. Mr Duncan proceeds to Heddon Bush to-day to inspect Mr Tennant's estate, which the settlers have petitioned the Government to purchase. Ho will go on to Beaumont, where the selectors are asking for an adjustment of their rents. The Minister returns to town on Monday and proceeds to Central Otago. Tea. — There is no common article of diet in which the taste of the people is so exquisite as in tea. The average mortal may be indifferent to variations in the quality of mutton and beef and bread and vegetables, but the palate is sensitive to the taste of tea, and the average mortal, especially the average woman, drinks an inferior tea with an ill grace and no pleasure. A tea which is being brought prominently before consumers at present is Spring Blossom tea, for which the proprietors claim a high grade of excellence. The blend is prepared by a careful aeleotion of teas grown at high altitudes in the best gardens of Ceylon and India, and the proprietors assert that their experts are so skilful in the art of blending that Spring Blossom combines the greatest strength with the most delicate flavour. However, consumers are invited to test the tea themselves, and it may be bought from all grocers and shopkeepers. Musical Examinations. —It will be seen from a notice which appears among the advertisements in this issue that the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music will hold their annual examinations in Invercargill in June and November. The standing of the Associated Board of examiners, and the credit which their certificates carry, aro wellknown to teachers and students of music. The teat papers are arranged for pupils in various stages of musical training, from the elementary school examinations to the senior grade. For three years the examinations of the Associated Board have been held in Invercargill annually, and the number of students presenting themselves has increasad each year. But Invercargill has not yet sent up as many candidates as some other towns of about the same population. For instance, while, in 1901, 20 candidates presented themselves in Invercargill, there were 29 in Timaru, 74 in Wanganui, and -64 in Nelson. Invercargill is usually considered, by itself at least, to be musical, but it would appear as if young students are not prepared to undergo the course of preparation necessary to success at the examinations of the Associated Board. Those who profess themselves qualified to teach music sometimes point to their record at musical examinations in support of their profession, but it may be noted that, although the Associated Board sets apart a special examination for teachers, no applications have yet been received in Southland for teachers' certificates. These certificates are issued for violin and pianoforte playing, and for* the Theory of Music, and the possession of them is sufficient to establish the capacity of the possessor to teach. Full information with regard to the examina tions may be had from Dr Young, representative for this centre, who will be glad to answer all enquiries. In Bankruptcy. - A meeting of creditors in the estate of James White, miner, Orepuki, was held on Thursday before the Deputy Assignee, Mr C. Rout. The debtor's statement, showed liabilities, all unsecured, amounting to £88 16s 2d, and assets, consisting of a residence site and furniture, valued at £15. The debtor, for \yhom Mr W. Macalister appeared, said hip income lately had only averaged about 4s 6d a day, and with this he had to support a wife and family of seven. He had no offer to make and the meeting decided to recommend him for immediate discharge. Judgment Reversed. — At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, before his Honour Mr Justice Williams, argument was heard on Wednesday in the appeal against Mr S. E. McCarthy's decision in the action for damages brought by William Carnahan against the Borough of North Invercargill for injuries sustained through driving over a load of maintenance gravel which had been left unspread on ElTes Road. Mr McCarthy decided in favour of the borough. The appeal was argued by Mr Sim, Mr W. C. McGregor appearing for the respondents. His Honour reserved judgment, and yesterday a telegram was received that his Honour had upheld the appeal and remitted the case to the Magistrate to assess damages and fix costs. Mr R. H. Rattray for Carnahan and and Mr J. Macalister for the borough. Magistrate's Couet. — Mr S. E. McCarthy yesterday gave judgments for F. Gutzewitz v. J. Meadows for £3 17s 6d, costs 8a and Tothill, Watson and Co. v. Wm, McKenzie (Harringtons) for £41 6s 6d, costs £3 68. — Geo. T. Harris claimed £15 damages from Wm. Birss, contractor, through the defendant negligently placing certain bricks and other building material in Dee street, opposite Yarrow street, and leaving the same unlighted and unfenced at night, by reason whereof plaiatiff ran against the material on the night of 11th January, and sustained injuries to his person ana which prevented him from working. —Mr Stout for plaintiff, Mr W. Macalister for defendant. PlaintifFa ense was that the one light was insufficient and as this was burning dimly it did not give adequate light to prevent the accident. The defence was a denial that any carelessness was shown and a number of witnesses were called who stated that a single lamp was ample to comply with the borough bylaws. For the purpose of obtaining further evidence and for legal argument the case was adjourned till the 2lßt inst.