INVERCARGILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3357, 11 January 1879, Page 3

INVERCARGILL.

[bphoial.]

Jan. 10.

At- a meeting of the Education Board, tho following resolution was carried : — " That this Board desires to record its sorrow at the •death of Sir John Bicliurdson, and to express its deep sense of the untiring zeal and energy displayed by him in tho discharge of his duties as a member of the Board iv tho cause of education, and for tho many valuable services rendered by him in a long -career of usefulness as a public man." A plebiscitum was taken to-day to decide tho water question. By a largo majority the Town Council wa3 empowered to borrow £100,000 with which to bring the water from Dunsdale creek.

(From the Ou»i Correspondent of the Lytttlion Times.)

NAPIER, Jan. 10.

An inquest was held to-day, at Taradalo, •on the body of a man named James Cronn, ■one of the immigrants by the City of Auckland, who was killed yesterday afternoon. Deceased wavtaking :i maro out of a paddock when she bolted, and he fell. Ho had the tether rope twisted round his wrist, and was dragged along the ground and killed. Tho verdict was " Accidentally killed." Mr Hoskins and Miss Cjlville are drawing •very good houses. Both arc favourites here, •but it is a long time since they paid us a visit. They are placing "The School for Scandal" •to-night lo a large audience. At tho sale of leases of the educational reserve to-day, there was good competition for -sonic of tho lots of agricultural land. Mossrs Boyse, Stead and Co. and Mr R. H. Bhodes wore purchasers of some sections.

WELLINGTON, Jan. 10.

Tho Chronicle, in referring to rumours •which have been in circulation regarding tho stability of certain firms, says : — " The story was a base and wicked scandal, and that not only were the houses perfectly solvent, but that trade with them was in every way satisfactory, and the only thing that could have warranted tlie statemont that the firms wore in difficulties was the fact that in consequence of tho tightening of tho money market they had to call in some of their advances and to declino renowing bills — a very proper and business-liko proceeding in the face .of the action of the various banking institutions of the Colony in practically stopping for tho present much of tho discount and open credit accommodation. "While we think that tho banks, as his Honor the Chief Justice said yesterday in Court, .are probably tho best judgos of their own business, wo think that they are pursuing a most suioidal policy, and one -calculated to injure not only themselves but their customers. Wo have no hesitation in saying that at no period of its career, was Wellington ever moro prosperous than it is at present. Wholesale morcbants are full of .. orders, retail trades are fairly busy, while tho manufacturing and artizan classes hardly V~ know which way to turn themselves in conse- \ ... qtience of the large amount of work waiting

to be done, yet the banks are readjusting their accounts with a most remarkable celerity. Such a proceeding is usually the outcome of stagnation of trade and general depression, but this is very far -from the case with our community, and it is to be hoped that now the money market in London haa resumed its buoyancy, bankers will remember that a serious responsibility lies with them, and that it is when their customers aro somewhat pinched in their finances that thoir assistance is most valuable." -^

The Post in a leader says : — " It appears to' us, judging from the specimen of immigrants who arrived by the Fernglen, that judgmenl is not exercised in the selection, and that whoever aro charged with the passing of th< immigrants havo been very lax in thoij duty. A very large number of the immigrants by this ship can ouly bo designated as an inferior class — a class which, for the interests of the Colony, ought for the most part to have been rejected in London. Of course there are numerous exceptions, but many passengers, both male and female, aro stunted in figure aud weak in phyßique, and not over cleanly in their personal appearance. Some even had a look of squalour, while in general they presented a stolidity of appearance and a general lack of intelligence in their faces, as if they had com© from the most ignorant and half-starved quarters of the United Kingdom."

DUNEDIN, Ja*. 10. At the Supreme Court to-day, the long pending breach of promise case, Cryford v. Carruthers, came up on the argument for a rule «m to set aside the Judge's order, fixing the trial to take place at the January sittings of the Supreme Court in Dunedin. Judgment was reserved.

The directors of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, at their meeting to-day, resolved to recommend to the proprietors, at a meeting to bo held on Jan. 29, a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent per annum, and to add £6000 to the reserve fund, which will then amount to £42000.

An inquest on the body of Waldrean, who shot himself after attempting to murder his wifo, was commenced before Warden Simpson yesterday, and adjourned to enable Mrs Waldrean to appear. The Star says Jan. 16 has been definitely fixed aa the date for opening the Southern trunk line. Workmen are scarce throughout the Clutha district, and the contractors find it difficult to carry on operations. The Blueskin Show held to-day was one ot the best ever hold in the district. About 500 persons were present. The exhibits in cattle were— Shorthorns, 17 ; Ayrshires, 97 ; Provincial bred, 51. The special exhibits were — Best pair cows fit for dairy purposes, 12 entries; best cow bred by* the exhibitor, 17 entries; best pair of fat cattle, 3 entries ; best pair of heifers, 6 entries ; best dry cow, 15 entries. In horses there were exhibited 65 draughts, 19 thoroughbreds, and 21 hacks. The only entries in sheep, wore one long-woolled ram and one pen of fat sheep. In pigs there were four ontries, while dairy produce totted up 270 exhibits. The judges had much difficulty in deciding on butter, for which there were 53 entries for fresh butter, 54 for powdered, and 49 for salt. There were 19 samples of cheese shown. The

poultry was not well represented, the entries consisting of 1 for cock and hens (bantams), cock and hens (game). MrK. B.Ferguson was the largest prize-taker in shorthorns. Mr Peter Orr, of Oamaru, took tho Boy E. L. Stanford's cup, valued at £10 10s, for tho best Ayrshire cow on tho ground. Mrß. Coulborough's Bob the Banter was adjudged to be the best entire. The dairy produce was the largest ever seen in Otago. Mr Robin's cup for the highest winner was gained by Mrs Colin M'Donald, who carried off first honors for fresh, powdered, and ealt butter. Mrs Weatherston was first prize-taker for cheese and fresh butter of some days' standing.