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Southland Times, Issue 19004, 25 March 1903, Page 2

Tlip poll for the olection of a Licensing Committee for the district of lnvcrcurgill will be taken to-day. We i iay again explain that Vhe poll is carried out on the electoral roll, and that all who voted at the lu-st general election or have since been enrolled are entitled to vgt»j

Fro iu. a letter written by the Key. D. ('. Bates to a friend, and dated from L»ynnholni • private hospitul, " I'onsonby. Auckland, we learn that the lev. gentleman has been in that place for seven weeks. His serious illness was consequent upon an operation undergone for a trouble that was aggravated ;n South Africa. JQr. Uat,es hoped to leave the hospitul last Saturday for a temporary hoiine in Upper Queen street. Auckland, where he wouljM>e an invalid for another month or six weeks. His many friends will be glad to hear of his convalescence.

Tho New Zealand. Illustrated Magazine for March is to hand, and is easily i equal to its predecessors. Tho usual budget of Bhort stories, poems and scientific papers is provided, anili can he road witn appreciation. The illustrations aro good, in fact show a considerable improvement on home previous issues. ! At the Police Court yesterday, before Mr li. C. Christophers. J.l'., a first offender was lined l"s, costs '2s, for drunkenness. Horse owners are reminded that nominations for all hanfllcaps in connection with the Itiverton races are ihio with the secretary to-day, Wednesday. The pretty little church of All Saints. Gladstone, was filled to its utmost capacity on Sunday with a reverent congregation to witness the "'laying on of hands" by the Bishop of the diocese Tho vicar, tho Rev. \Y. i4\vmburn, presented l'J candidates. The service was fully choral, a marked improvement being noticed, duo to the efforts of the new choir muster, Mr Norris. Before tho confirmation service commenced the Bishop addressed v few well chosen words to the confirmees, and afterwards preached a most suitable sermon, urging all to keep' to the Christian faith. The service concluded with the> singing of the "To Deum." 'p v

The swimming tournament to bo held in the baths . this afternoon makes a BU'Oug claim on tho patronage of the people of Invercargiil. The .newly-formed club is an institution which has already done much good, «»r>d when it oomes forward with a programme such as that prepared for to-day it should be supported with whole-hearted enthusiasm. Tho exhibition of swimming will bo a fine one, and many will go to see Greaghe, the young Otago champion who. at the Waihola regatta cm Monday, broke the Otago record for 50 yards. Other (Hugo swimmers will also compete, and the presence of these men should make iho tournament a source of instruction to thos« who have any taste for the fuscinating art The programme presents capital yariuty and an afternoon's good sport and enjoyment can be looked forward to.

On Monday, when returning from West Plains, the County Council's traction engine, drawing two empty waggons, got into the recently flllod-in ditch, when pulling to one side to allow the car to pass ou North road, near Wellesley. Driver l'ayne and staff, assisted by employes of the N.Z. Express Coy., with iv cart full of sleepors, lost .no time in commencing to jack tho engine out ; but it was past 11 o'c-loc^c before all was clear.

A telegram from Nelson to-day brielly narrates an episode that stirs the blood and makes one v proud of our race and our warnaakiud. Croixelles is a pot-like bay between the French Pass and Nelson. It is surrounded by high and steep ranges and looks as if it would be a treacherous place to blow. There is but littlp settlement in the vicinity. A Mrs Stewajrt, watphing tho progress of her husband and Jjttlo daughter in a boat across tho harbour, missed the craft, ran to tho beach, put oil in another boat, rowed three miles and was !n time to savo both her loved o»«s. Physically it was a deed that an atihlete might have talked about, and who can picture the hopes and dreads that distracted the gallant woman its she steadfastly laboured nt the oars and looked across the waters • to tho submerged boat ? Even tho joy of finding husband and child alive might have-un-nerved her ; but no : she brought back her ownr safe and no doubt that was ami Ib full reward and recognition for her bravery. If nothing -more a ia:rn should b.e raised on that beach and on it placed a tablet, that would commemorate a Ue^cl that a wan wight well be proud; of.

Weather permitting, the ' Oreti 'Rifles | will this afternoon fire the final stage

7 shots at 500 and 600 yards— to de;cide the holder lor the year of Messrs Thomsoh and BeatUe's handsome challenge cup. The previous stage 200 and 300 yards was fired some time ago, and the aggregate of all four ranges with handicaps decides the winner.

A good Illustration of the excellent communication between Australia and this port was given by one of the Mocraki's passengers. He left Sydney at noon on Wednesday by tho I. & O. steamer Australia, arrived at Hobart about three hours prior to the Moeraki's departure from that port. and readied the lllul/ at 4 p.m. yesterday, thus making the journey, usually taking sovon days, in a little over five. " Ye a' lino a deal tao say aboot mv cli-irtfcinV said a Scot with b. throat like a lime kiln, on a Sunday morning to his reproving minister. " but there's nane n" ye has aw ord to sac about ma drooth " ".thirst ). At a No-license meeting held o.\ Milton on Monday night (and advertised in a stylo to make a theatrical agent envious), it was resolved, on tho motion of (/he Rev. P. P. Fraser (the speaker) —

" That this meeting of electors of Flruce protests against Che voiding of the licensing election by the magistrate on unsubstantial and purely technical grounds, and resolves to petition Parliament at tire carliest_ opportunity to validate the poll, as ttie magistrate who conducted the recount, and held the enquiry has .ydainly and finally declared that the required majority of threefifths was unmistakably declared by the will of the electors of Bruce, and that the irregularities and technicalities did not nfTect the result, and this meeting pledges i'jself to resent every attempt to get behind the polls and to deuiantl a free poll for a (too. people."

The railway near (J:\leshend station was the scvne of a hero's <lcath early in .January. Thoinns Scott, engine-driver on Ihp North-Eastern railway, who in July, 19(10, lost both legs in trying to save ft dog from being run over, was hUuself knocked down and instantly kiliuii by a train when walking alontc the line on his wooden !e?s. The story of Scott's bmvery Ht the time of his accident was in everybody's mouth, and the late Queen contributed to a fund raised on his behalf, which realised more, than £1 ()<•<). The dog was strolling down »the line at Newcastle stption when tne .Scotch express ramo tearing up behind it, Scott, who was on his engine, jumped oIT and rescued the animal. In stepping oft the line, however, he was caught t>y the engine, urul horribly xnii--tTluterf. " I could not see the poor

thing crushed," was Scott's answer whan he was asked why he risked his life for the dog.

The kinematogruph oulertainniont given by Mr llobson in Ashley's I fall last evening was again well attended, and the pictures were much enjoyed.

At the annual meeting of tho Cambridge Football Club fifteen new mciuuers were elected. The oflice-bearors appointed were :■ — President, Mr l.v Me-

Farlane ; vice-president. Air A. Hull ; secretary and treasurer. .1. A. Crockett; captain, J. Knuckpy ; deputy. .1. Jli Iland ; match committee, captain, deputy, A. Derbies S. Fruser. H Irwin ; delegates to the S.U.i'Mi., ]). p. Varcoo unil J. Pedlar. II was decided to play seniors. Trophies were donated by Mr 1). McFarlaiK' and another member of the Club.

The Dairy Cbuunis.sioner has received iiifoi'nuition through the Chief Voterinurian tjiat a considerable outbreak of a contagious form of Inflammation of the utliler has been investigated in the South Island. Tht' disease has been demonstrated to he due to a variety of the streptococcus (tho microbe responsible for erysipelas, puerperal fever, sore throats, etc.. in the human subject). l>u.iryinen should be on the look out for such diseases, and any cow suffering from inllatmnation ol the udder should be isolated till expert opinion can bo obtained. Nothing delinite has been decided re sending a N.Z. team to Bisley. and the matter is still before tho Minister /or Defence, but the following have be<.»n asked to state if they can po if selected : — King (champion}. Hyde and Turnbull ,(Upaki). Shanks (Gore). Cox (Auckland), Mningay (I'iuko), A. Hallin- , ger (I'etjone), Handall and (• . Hawthorne (Karori). Turner (Wellington). Lester (Christchurch), McKcnzie (Ouroaru), W. Loveday (Woodville), Anderson 'Kaitangatu), Irvine (Wainica) and Idling (Nelson). Thorpe iWairoa) and Browne (Iluuraki) are also to bo communicated with. With the exception ot Hyde, all have expressed their willingness to join a team. In the S.AI. Court case W'ertheim v. ITylnti'd, judgment \ras for Wertheini on both claim and counter-claim, SL'2. 12s tsd costs on cluint. Last week an elderly man. George >Grahum, who lunl formerly been cook ot one of the Wellington police stations, gave himself up at the Central station. He was in j\ despondent, frame of mind, being without money. in poor health and unable to lind work He said he was afraid of himself, and might be tempted to take his life. Graham was brought before the Stipendiary' !Magistrate, charged as an idle and disorderly | person. It was stated that he did not

drink, and the sole trouble was want of work l and a home. Tho magistrate remanded him for a week, pending enquiries on His behalf.

"■'We hear v great deal about prosperous New Zealand, but the fact remains that owing to her advanced legislation she has just suffered a financial reverse in London. Mr Seddon has been warning the Knglish ' money-lenders ' to be Careful, but at the same time New 'Zealand is trying to iindi out if she can borrow in Australia. When f wo received Sir Jos?ph Ward, hospitably in our State, lie was trying to discover whether New land could raise any money hero. That was his mission." — "Mr .jMcCutcheon, M.L.A.. at the annual meeting of the St. Kilda (Melbourne) branch of tho Reform League. It is evident that Sir McCutcheon was not a guest at the banquets.

A terrible explosion took place- -at tbo nitro-glycerino works at Departure Buy, Vniu'ouvei", belonging to the Hauiiilton I'owder Company on 14t.1i January. The first explosion occurred in Hit' gun-cotton drying room, about a car lond going oIT with tremendous force. This was immediately followed l>y the explosion of some gelignite 400 ft. awa^y. Both buildings were wrecked us tho result of the explosion, and 112 men — two Kuropeaus and ten Chinese,. »were killed, tho bodies being rent into fragments almost too small fc»r identification. Tho scene in the neighbourhood of tho works bears terrible evidence of the force of tho explosion. An excavation Oft. deep marks tie spot where tho buildings stood. Tho railway track was torn up, and both rails twisted like corkscrews around the. trunks of trees. One large tree was cut oIT 15ft. above the ground. The concussion was felt as far as Ladysiuith, 50 miles away. The roar of the explosion had a terrifying effect all over the city. The glass in tho windows facing the north was crashed into fragments. The buildings shook and the poople rushed into the streets.

The annual report of the directors of the Wellington-Manawiitu Railway Company, which recommended a dividend' at the rate of (> per cent, per annum, and a bonus of 2s per share, shows the gross earnings of the railway to have been £111, 305, being £7000 greater than tho previous year. Land wold during the year ainiounted in value to £51,812 '; the revenue from traffic was £109,108 ;

and from land £54,498. These, with the balance from last yettr, and amounts received as deposits and interest, raise tho total receipts to £241,5)0 ■. total expenditure £232,1 «5 ; including £.10,361 ' for dividends, and canh balances n,inounling to £9424. The net profit on the railway account was £19,361, and on land account £4308. The amount now availablo /or dividend is set i!owu as follows :— Land account on 28th February. 1902. £55,370 ; not profit on v land sales for tho year ended February last, £80,9.12 ; total, £-80,282. Tho ass>eta amount to £i,GQ2,ISB,

The crops in the Masterton district are turning out well, as high as ninety bushels to the acre being obtained : the grain is also particularly clean.

A house at Mason's Hay, Stewart Islund, owned by Mr Thobisou, was burned v fow days ago. A party had just left the building, and on turning round a short time afterwards the place was seen in flames. The insurances ai© £250 on the building and £100 on the furniture in the National ofllce.

At the meeting of tho Methodist Conference in Melbourne, on a report being read in connection with tho bill to vnlidnto Methodist Union, Mr McCutcheon, ALL. A., said ho was going to risk giving some members of the Conference a painful shock by making a few remarks in praise of the Roman Catholic members of the Stale Parliament. He thought that they should record their appreciation ol' the courtesy and help which those gentlemen had given in connection with the bilk One Roman Catholic member of Parliament had told him (the speaker) that in assisting the passage of tho bill he had only done what he considered to be a Christian duty— (hear, hear)— whilst another had, when objections were made to some, of the clauses, taken up the cudgels on behalf of tho Methodists nml successfully combated tho.se objections. In these (lays, when they hoard so many statements of another character made against the Roman Catholics, it was their duty to recognise in a kindly way such nets fis these. (Hear, hear.)

To show— in a very slight manner— their appreciation of tho patronage received trom persons connected with tho sawmilling industry, A. Masters and Son have much pleasure in intimating that they will present a cheque for the sum of Two Guineas to the person who gucs<<(>s the nearest to the number of persons paying for admission to the Axemen's Carnival on Kuster Monday. This is an absolutely free <;ift of two puiiiPus. Th<- only r.m'lit ion is Hint the

fpipsst'S inn-*!, coiiio from persons connected uiiji tin 1 sawniillinß indusiry. A single man Ims one iiupss ; a married man u ml his wife and family have one guess for each member of tho fnmily. Competition closes .Saturday, 11th April, tit !> p.m., ut A. MASTERS & SON 1 , clothiers mid hatters, Deo street. JnveiTurgill. ltesult will be advertised us soon us ihc information is obtainable. Competitors will pleass enclose name and address.

The M'Cormick Harvester is tho only machine that is good enough for everyody.

For comlort a'hd easy riding invest in a " Daisy " routl cart ; price £11 10s. National Mortgage loca\ agents. Morrow, Hassctt and Co., sole importers.

The_Crst of the season shipments gave been ripened at Thomson and Beattie'a, and are now on view. To walk round the Exhibition and inspect the new goods is a pleasant afternoon's outing. Donjt fail to pay a visit during this week, if your engagomonts permit. Though at all time 3 there is much to bo seen it is only n special occasions that such an array f delicate high-class goods are exposed to view at one time.

To-day one nijilion live hundred thousand IMcCormick reaping and harvesting machines tire in use In all parts of the world. I'hey harvest grain on the steppes of Asia, on tho pampas of South America, the tablelands of South Africa, the plains of Kurope, and tho prairies of North America. From Manitobo to Argentina ; in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa one man seated "at ease does the work of 20 toilers. The McCormick harvests over one-third the grain and grass of tho world. You can buy a McCoraick Harvester for £35. Morrow, Bassett and Co., sole importers.