INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 16, 7 August 1885, Page 13

INVERCARGILL.

(From an Occasional Correspondent.)

THE weather we are experiencing here for some time back is excellent, more especially for this period of the year. Daring the nights we have slight but occasional frosts, and nothing intercepts our view of the sun throughout the day. I have received information from several of our local pioneer gentlemen to the effect, that a more favourable winter to their knowledge (with the exception of one) has not been witnessed in Southland. Should the weather still continue we shall have an exceptionally early spring. Ihere is every indication to believe that from the numerous and healthy buds appearing on the different fruit trees', there will be abundance of fruit this year. Early potatoes were planted fully a month ago, by several parties throughout the district, together with several culinary vegetables. The cockatoos, whom it is always so hard to please, are taking advantage of the fiao weather in turning up the soil to be pulverised by the frosts. They are concocting new schemes in increasing the value of their properties by further breaking-up, in view of the long and continual goodness of the weather.

I always feel gratified at being able to write favourably of any person, place, or thing ; but it sometimes becomes absolutely necessary to write the plain, unbiassed, t»na unvarnished truth, which although very unpalatable to those whom it concerns, is equally as necessary as chastisement is to an ungovernable child. Some six months back Mr. J. J. Counor, of Dunedin, visited this town, with the view of establishing a branch of the Irish National League, for the purpose of having our Irishmen here to co-operate with their colonial fellow-country men in raising a fund sufficientto pay one Irish member in the British House of Commons. The first meeting being a preliminary one, was attended by Mr. Connor, whodeliveied a short address on matters concerning the object of the meeting to about hilf a dozen of what I would term good patriotic Irishmen. At this meeting it was unanimously resolved to convene a general meeting for further consideration, which was accordingly done ; and, I regrat to say, scarcely a dozen gentlemen put in an appearance. Nothing definite was arrived at, further than that the Secretary was requested to prepare and forward subscription lists to several gentlemen throughout Invercargill and the country districts,— the lists to be returned in three months from date of issue. To make this matter short, only two lists were returned : one from Woodlands, and the other from a lady resident near this town, to whom is due much credit for her indefatigable efforts produced ia raising funds for such an important and laudable object. In conclusion, lam informed on good authority that the ladies of the town are intended to organise a branch, and have no doubt from the subscribers' names of this district appearing in one of your recent issues, the majority of which were those ol ladies, but they will make it a brilliant success. At a meeting of the Catholic Literary Society held on Tuesday evening, July 21— the president, Mr. P. Reid, in the chair — one candidate was ballotted for and duly initiated, and one was proposed for membership. Aiter the u&ual routine buoineas wag transacted, the election of officers for the ensuing term of six months was proceeded with, and resulted in favour of the following gentlemen : —President, Mr. T. McGrath ; vice-presideat, Mr. P. Reid ; secretary, Mr. F. Buckley; treasurer, Mr. J. Cusack ; librarian, Mr. M. O'rsrien; Messrs. T. Crow ley, D. R. Lawlor and J. Ueid, together with the officers, were appointed the standing committee ; Messrs. P. RdM and E. Cameron were elected auditors ; Rev, Father McEnroe and Mr. O'Brien were re-elected trustees. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring officers on the motion of Mr. D. Bradley. The first of the programmes— entitled " Is Tobacco-smoking Beneficial or Deleterious?" — as arranged by the standing committee, is to be debated to-morrow evening, Messrs. J. Cuaack and M. O'Brien being selected " openers " for the affirmative and negative respectively. The local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society hold their meetings the first Mouday in each momh, which are fairly attended, [n commenting on this society from a financial point of view it may he said to compare favourably with any similar society in New Zealand. But I regret to say the same cannot be said of it numerically, which is principally due, I believe, to the high charges for initiation. It is to be hoped that the District Board will see to this matter, and also that the contributions for junior will not be so high as for senior members.

Another Christy minstrel entertainment, in aid of the Convent Building Fund, is to be given by the members of our local Amateur Dramatic Club on the 2lstinsb. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying, from the appearance of the elaborately prepared programme, but that the high anticipations of the performers' efforts will be fully realised. As for the dramatis persona, it is unnecessary to make any special mention, their abilities as performers on the stage being already well known to an Invercargill audience. The Southland Irish Rifle corps assemble in the Garrison Hall every Saturday evening, and are put through several squad movements by Staff -sergeant Blackmore and Color-sergeant Coleman ; and it may be slated that in view of the short time since the corps started the members are exceedingly quick in learning their drill. The commissioned officers of the company are, Mr. W. G. Fore, captain ; Mr. G. M. Starkey. first lieutenant ; Mr. D. R. Lawlor, sublieutenant. These gentlemen are proving themselves to be highly interested in the progress of the corps from the number of recruits they get sworn in every drill night. The number on the roll is sixty -six.

A collection was made on the two previous Sundays to meet the interest on the debt on the Convent. The amount required was fully realised. In view of the debt being so great, and the interest so high, it is to be hoped some means will be devised for its farther liquidation. Another bazaar would wipe off the whole amount, and, I atn happy to say, through information received from several ladies, that one is to be held next Easter, or thereabout. There are several other important matters which I shall chronicle in my next.