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Western Star, Issue 4, 6 December 1873, Page 5

Dunedin itself, and, with the exception of Christchurch and Invercargill, more than double those of any other locality. This simple fact speaks more convincingly for the stable prosperity and prospects of the Western District than could the most brilliant eloquence or the finest writing. It tells that the settlers entertain the most implicit confidence in the future of the beautiful and fertile Western District; and that they are anxious to bring their relatives and friends to share in the success which has attended their pioneering efforts. Moreover, it tells that the Western District |§*|people are intelligently inclined to aid, II to the utmost of their power, the endeavours of the Government to promote |g|r.the welfare of the country. Other districta we could name would do well to 111 follow their example. H? As the people -of this district have | shown such willingness to use the ma- | chinery the Government has provided, | for the purpose of helping themselves, the authorities—both Provincial and General—most decidedly ought to mark their appreciation of such praiseworthy conduct in a tangible form—by pushing forward public works .necessary to the progress of the district, and by affording facilities for the transmission of immigrants from the port of debarkation to their destination. It is to this latter matter that wo at present intend to dram the attention of the Government. Nowhere is the labour famine prevalent in the colony more severely felt than in the Western District—labour, in fact, is not procurable at any price, and to nowhere has there been less immigration. This is attributable to tho great distance of the district from the places where immigrants are landed. The district is a large and important one, and is capable of absorbing a large quantity of labour for a long time to come. It is only common justice that a portion, commensurate to its requirements, of the stream of immigration directed to the shoras of New Zealand should be diverted , towards this locality. In only one way t can this be done, viz., by the establishment of an immigration dep6t, to which a fair proportion of the new arrivals should he drafted. At present the greater portion of thei mmigrants are snapped up in Dunedin or its vicinity, the moment they land, giving no chance whatever to the outlying districts. The establishment and maintenance of the depot we suggest would cost little, and would be of immense benefit to the settlers in this district. As they have shown a disposition to help the Government, the least the Government can do is to reciprocate and help them. We commend this suggestion to the “ powers that be,” in the hope that it will be carried into effect without unnecessary delay. A * somewhat sensational inquest has lately been held at Invercargill. From tho evidence it appears a man has eaten a rabbit-pie, and the unfortunate gourmand has died after it. The jury seem to have been satisfied with the fact of the but to have entertained reasonable doubts of its having resulted from rabbit-pie. We are certainly dissatisfied ourselves with so meagre a result from a judicial enquiry, and one that had the advantage of medical and scientific opinions. We object to being frightened out of eatjng what may yet become the staple article of produce and consumption in Southland. We also think that if there had not been such a tendency shown to bully the doctors, more light might have been thrown on the subject. Fish have been known to become poisonous when caught near the full of the moon. The Maoris will not use shell-fish at such times, from their experience of the result; and every butcher knows that meat exposed to the moonlight rapidly becomes tainted or unwholesome. Theyrabbits in question seem to have been is deceased’s possession sometime before they were it is more probable that they were hung outside in the moonlight than in the but. Again, no question seems to have arisen as to the possibility of poison being kept on a sheep run ; nor does it seem that the ordinary tests for arsenic, bluestone, or any other deleterious substance that may be used for footrot, has been applied to the stomach or its contents. Such, we understand, can readily be applied by any ordinary practitioner of medicine, or even by the nearest chemist or druggist. It is too

i common to see juries of inquests exhibit i a desire to blame some one ; and, in de- , fault of a better, to carp at the doctors, . We believe that a more courteous de--1 meanour—especially to scientific witi nesses, whose assistance and suggestions > they are really in want of—would bear a fruit to be appreciated by all. In the meantime, we shall be glad to hear of i more light being thrown on so alarming i a result from an apparently trivial cause. Mr. Winstanlby, the Chief Postmaster, visited Riverton, Flint’s Bush, and Waianiwa, on Wednesday last, with the view of making more satisfactory arrangements. We have not heard of the decision he has coma to, but we feel sure be will consult the public convenience in the new postal scheme. The most suitable place to leave the Flint’s Bush mail would be at M'Kenzie’s. It would be desirable that another mail should be left at the junction of the Wallactown and Limestone Plains roads. Were this suggestion adopted, the settlers at Flint’s Bush would enjoy the advantage of daily communication with Invercargill and Riverton. There ought to be a semi-weekly mail to the Limestone Plains, which would cost only a comparative trifle. The best place for a post-office at the Limestone Plains would be Mr. W. A. Lyon’s. I’ilrvEßTON leads the way in introducing immigrants to the colony. The number of nominations for immigrants sent home by last mail was 2,361, made up as follows:—Auckland, 181 ; Taranaki, 65 ; Napier, 172; Wellington, 276; Marlborough, 11 ; Nelson, 31; Greymouth, 28 ; Hokitika, .64; Christchurch, 207 , Timaru, 194; Oamaru, 41 ; Dunedin, 308; Invercargill, 280 ; and Riverton, 408. The nominations for October were'/ 1,025. Pressure on our space compels us to,hold over several communications, a number of interesting paragraphs, and to condense the report of the Total Abstinence Society’s Inaugural Soiree. A Owing to the small attendance at the meeting 'convened for the purpose of forming a Jockey Club, at the Commercial Hotel, on Saturday iriglit, no business - was transacted, beyond resolving to call another meeting on the 10th in-A stant. y>' Temperance is the order of the day in Riverton. A number of gentlemen approving of temperance, though not agreeing with the extreme views of Total Abstainers and Q-ood Templars, hav»formed a society, the members of which are pledged to abstain from drinking spirits. All other beverages are allowed, and members are required to sign an undertaking, to the effect that if they violate their pledge, they will contribute £5 to the Hospital by way of penalty. In our advertising columns will be found the prospectus of the Southland Steam Shipping Company. There is no doubt that, through the apathy of the residents, a large amount of money has been paid away in freight to foreign compapies, which might have been advantageously retained in the district, and every year a large portion of Southland’s capital is invested in undertakings which benefit solely places beyond its limits. A thoroughly local and payable venture is now offered, and we hope for the sake of the district that the public will respond liberally to the invitation of the directors.