INVERCARGILL.

Western Star, Issue 347, 1 May 1880, Page 5

INVERCARGILL.

[rEOH OtTE OTO COEEE3PONMNT.]

In tot last, week’s letter I mentioned the .discovery of the body of an infant m the Pmu Creek, upon which on inquest has since bean held before Mr M'Culloch, and adjourned to the" 3rd proximo. Here again one may say; as far &s such enquiry goes, Cui iono, seeing that for all practical purposes subsequent proceedings are now relegated to the police authorities theinior*yen Lion of the Coroner haying, as far as the discovery of the guilty party is concerned, served no purpose. . ,' As a commercial highway, our broad estuary at prose it has many drawbracks, but its adaptability as a held for the display of our amateur acquntic athletes must be fully admitted, and of which our Rowing Club availed themselves on Saturday afternoon last, when our lengthy and spacious jetty —seldom, alas ! burthened in any other wav —was crowded with some hundreds of our citizens of both sexes evidently delighted with their point of vantage from which to view our boat races, which so successfully went off on the occasion. The sailing matches were not so exciting ns was the contention between our lusty oarsmen. Seeing that Zephyr us had it all to herself, I may add that this Club gave a bull and supper last week, which was well attended, and in every way a decided success, our well-known caterers, Messrs Kingsiand and Son, supplying the viands, which were both bounteous and recherche. Our good town and district ars determined, if possible, to add to the laurels gained by them at the Sydney Exhibition, and intend showing up even more "largely at the coming industrial meeting at Melbourne, for which purpose an influential Committee has been formed, and notice of such arrangement sent to surrounding Municipalities. Your .elves amongst the first-named which gave patriotic feelings, will no doubly lead you to use nil exertion to maintain. It is satisfactory to be able to report that onr educational institutions are keeping pace with our fast-increasing Municipalities, -North Invercargill having just been supplied with a handsome new schoolhouse, the opening of which was celebrated on Friday last by a musical entertainment, presided over by the Mayor (Mr Q-.irm.son), and attended by a number of citizens, including Mr Denniston, member of the Education Board, Mr Anderson, Mr De .leans, Mr Jones, &c., &c., when the gentleman first-named spoke, congratulating the township on its advancement and Mr Hardy, the head-master of the school, on his increasing and well-performed duties, to which the latter* duly responded, adding that he wished the struc* lure iiad been made larger, as ho had no doubt it would soon bo too sma'l for its purpose. This speaks well for both master and Municipality. Our brethren of the “mystic tie” have been, since T last wrote to you, keeping up the amenities, the bret hern of the 3.C. Lodge having paid a formal visit to their confreres of I he E.C., upon which occasion an interesting ceremonial was gone through in presence of both Lodges und a return visit promised at no distant clay. Our Hussar Corps progresses apace, an 1 met again on Saturday last, under command of Capt. Ileywood, by whom they were put through another drill. You may look, therefore, eut cro long for a friendly swoop down on your picturesque township by our gallant Hussars.

Amongst other items I mar mould m, the- appointment of Mr J. P. Heatly ta the agency of the Mataura Paper Mid Company, one of our local industries. It is to be- hoped that both the Company aud the individual named will progress pari passu. ■ Prom its position Invercargill receives the first attention of* all theatrical folk visiting our southern whether good, bad, or indifferent. And the Proliquos company which., has for some nights past bo.-u amusing our lieges do not seem to hare excited any hostile criticism,., while their role cannot lay claim by any means, to legitimate drama. I see on Saturday next;they will be succeeded by old friends in Air and! Mrs Hart, who on. that evening open at ourpopular place of ' amusement, Sloan’s prettytheatre. We too have onr Inspector of Weights and Measures, who has it is reported just completed an official visit to our bakers, ending it appears in a satisfactory report. I believe this duty ishere performed by the police-- staff, and consequently it may be visits of the sort I fearrather too partial and intermittent lo bo effectual. Similar, public officers in the old country are generally under the Corporation, and sospecially paid for their services, w.iich perhaps-, they should be. It is proposed to found a literary aud scientificinstitution here and a meeting for such purposeis to be held at the office of Mr J. Turnbull Thomson of which I hope in my next to.be abb to report satisfactory progress. Coroners’ juries arc of late certainly a local bats noire, and it seems the monster though scathed is not yet killed, and so our chivalrous Knight of the Sldre has once again donned his armour and entered the lists in another long letter to the “ Southland Times,” first couching his lance against the editor of that journal, and then tilting with pointed weapon against the .Coroner ami the prison officials, each and all of whom, he no doubt now considers he has put hors de com'mt. While in the same letter, in knightly language, amende to Dr Button, whoso shield Mr M'Ca.uglmi certainly touched with uo blunted lance in his former letter. Seeing that this rather dismal controversy has now been thoroughly ventilated, perhaps it would be as well to permit the ashes of poor Sergeant Major Wilson to rest in peace. (Treat efforts are miking to induce Messrs Money Wigram and Co., to make Bluff a port of call for their steamer about to visit New Zealand ports, which it is to be hoped will succeed. By a telegram to our member, Mr Bani, I-sea the service of our new cavalry corps are to cepted by Government. _ . Great changes in the direction of retVoiiehment are taking place in our railway -staff‘here, Messrs Martin and M'Kenna being junler orders to leave for out stations, and additional!.duties are being placed on the General Manager. - * 1