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Western Star, Issue 6, 20 December 1873, Page 5

A serious accident happened to a settler named Foster, who resides near the Upper Ford, Jacob’s River, on Friday. While at work bn the road between the Upper Ford and Riverton, carting gravel, his horses took fright and bolted. By some means the unfortunate man fell in front of the dray, which passed over him, fracturing his right thigh and his loft leg just above the ankle. Immediately on the accident occurring a messenger was sent to Riverton for medical assistance, and Drs. Monckton and Densham proceeded to the scene of disaster. Foster was conveyed to his residence where the broken limbs ware set. He is progressing, towards recovery as as can be expected. ” Mr. Hislop, the Inspector of Schools, intends to visit Riverton on Monday, the 32n d instant,, when he will examine the pupils attending the school. Parents an d friends are invited to attend. The examination will commence at 10 a.ra. We may mention that a fresh supply of school books anid a large globe has been granted by the Education Board. ■%lFTTunreiics’ Rush correspondent, the major potion of whose interesting letter we are compelled to Lot 1 over, writes ;—“ Mr. Hislop. the Inspector, is to he here on Tuesday, the 23rd instant, to examine Mr, Tuson’s two schools. I trust the parents will pay the respect due to the worthy Inspector by attending on the occasion. The first examination will be at G-ummie’s Busb in the morning, and Birch Bush school will be examined la the afternoon.”

We direct special attention to the alteration in the date of Messrs. Driver, Stewart and Co.’s important sales of properties in Southland, at the Club Hotel. Invercargill. The sale will take place on the’22nd January, instead of the 9th January, as previously advertised. No further alteration will be made; the sales will positively beheld on 22nd January, 1874, at 11 o’clock. The Riverton Annual Regatta, to be held on Hst and 2nd January, 1874, promises to be a greater success than any that have hitherto been held. A greater number of boats are like|y to contest both pulling and sailing races, and the prizes are considerably larger than at any time before. The four-oar gig race and the first-class sailing race will be the principal events. We observe on the water a new four-oar boat, recently

purchased by Mr. Murchie for Messrs. Simpson and Co., which will, in all likelihood, give the Oxford crew of the Trent a close run. The pretty little centre-board, The Swallow, a Dunedin prize-

taker, will make a good third if the other two arc fortunate enough to pass her. The Swallow is also picked upon as a favourite for the scullers and pair-oar race. For the first-class sailing race the old Tormentor, Foam, Star, Breeze, and Firefly are

all going into racing trim. The Firefly has undergone extensive alterations, and will not be amongst the last. We are pleased to learn that the energetic Secretary has collected a sum much in excess of that hitherto contributed. Given fine weather,

we may confidently anticipate two capital days’ sport. * Walking the polo and tub-racing will be concluding events of each day. g A hut. situated at Far Bush, the property of Mr. Roderick Murchison, was destroyed by fire on Sunday, the 14th inst. The hut. it appears, was in the occupation of William Despard and his two mates. On the day in question, Sunday, the three men left the hut about 3 o’clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of catching a horse depasturing about half a mile distant, leaving a fire burning. They were away about half-an-hour, and ca their return flames were bursting from the building, which fell in immediately they reached it. There was a strong wind blowing at the time, and it is supposed sparks from the fire ignited the woodwork of the fire-place. Attempts to recover any of the content of the hut proved unavailing. The fire destroyed all the men’s wearing apparel, except what they stood in, a quantity of bedding, some valuable documents belonging to Despard, £l7 in notes, some silver, and three watches.

Letters from “ Excelsior *’ and our Dunedin and Gummie’s Bush correspondents are crowded out. Lieutenant-Colonel Cargill has notified through Capt. Daniel, of the Riverton Rifles, that he has approved of the appointments in . the Orepuki Rifle Volunteers, as under Acting - Captain Henry Hirst, Acting-Lieutenant James Watson, and Sub-Lieutenant J. Andrews. A meeting of toe Riverton School Committee 'was held on the evening of Friday, the 12th instant. Present: Messrs. Reid (chairman), Young, Petchell, J. Wilson, Murchie, Stuck, Robinson, and E, Wilson (secretary), The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. For repairs to schoolmaster’s residence, two tenders were received —Mr. Roberts, £139 ; Gunn and Beer, £155. The former was accepted. The application of Mr. Webb for the use of the schoolroom once a week for the Band of Hope was granted. The Committee then adjourned. The Murihiku Minstrels, who describe themselves as world-renowned, announce their intention of giving an extraordinarily grand entertainment in the Oddfellows’ Hail on Christmas

Eve. The programme is a very attractive one, comprising farces, songs, dances, and the orthodox nigger business. The gentlemen comprising the troupe have appeared before the Eivertouiaus once, on which occasion they succeeded in delighting their audience. On Christmas Eve we doubt not that they will have a crowded house, and that those who may witness their various performances will enjoy a real treat. We direct attention to the sale by auction of fancy goods, works, &c., announced by Mr. I). Macrorie to take place in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday, the 23rd instant, commencing at half-past 6 p.m. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. f' The usual fortnightly meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday evening. Present: the Mayor, and Councillors Frew, Reid, Murchie, and Mills. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The account of The Western Star for advertising— £6 15s. 9d/ —was passed for payment. Mr. Calder’s letter, asking payment of the balance of bis account, £lO 12s. 4d., was considered. It appeared that

there was a dispute as to the correctness of this account, and that in July last the Public TV orks Committee were empowered to settle the matter.

The Public Works Committee had, however, not done so. The matter was referred to the Mayor

and Cr. Instonc to dispose of. It was resolved to advertise certain Municipal reserves for sale. On the motion of Cr. Mills, seconded by Cr. Murchie, the Mayor was requested to communicate with his Excellency the Governor, asking if Tie intended to visit Riverton, and if so, on what

date. The meeting then adjourned. Advocates of women’s rights will he gratified to learn that the two highest offices in the Riverton Lodge of Good Templars are filled by ladies. Miss E. Daniel is W.C.T., and Miss A. Daniel is the W.V.T. These are the first instances of ladies holding such offices in Good Templar Lodges in New Zealand. The manner in which the fair officers fulfil their arduous duties of directing the business of the Lodge excites the admiration of the brothers—especially the unmarried ones —and fills the hearts ot the worthy sisters with —well, wo shall say emulation.

A row has occurred at Horowhenua, in the province of Wellington, between two Maori tribes-. It is likely to end in an immense consumption of wliiskcy, potatoes, and pork, at the expense of the Government.

Several of the stations in the vicinity of Eastern Bush and the Waiau have finished shearing, and the carting of wool to the port of shipment has fairly commenced. The clip is reported to have been a very good and profitable one. The Riverton Caledonian G-ames, which are to take place on Boxing Bay, promise to be an unequivocal success. The amount of money offered in prizes is very liberal, and ought to attract athletes from all parts of the district; while there is sufficient variety in the sports to please everybody. A large influx of visitors is anticipated, and there is no doubt but that the various events will be keenly contested. The Maoris adhere tenaciously to the customs of their forefather’s. One of those customs is to bury a man in the cemetery of his tribe.

Some months ago, a native named Henry Paramatta, one of a sealing crew, was drowned off the West Coast, and interred temporarily at Twothumb Bay. On the return of the expedition

his comrades and relatives procured a coffin at an expense of £6, and proceeded therewith in two boats to the place where deceased was buried, exhumed the body, and placed it in the coffin, winch was then conveyed to the burial place of

the hapu—on the shores of Wakapatu —where it was finally deposited. This expedition was away six weeks. Maoris from all the Araiks, in large numbers, assembled at Wakapatu, and took part in the funeral ceremonies, which were celebrated in

ancient Maori fashion. The burial service was performed by Solomon Paitu, the native pastor, r A fierce nor-wester aroused the good folks of this district from their peaceful slumbers on I Tuesday morning. It raged with tremendous j violence till 11 o’clock, raising clouds of dust and gravel, when it veered to the west, and rain fell. During tho remainder of the day violent squalls from the west and south-west, accompanied with rain, prevailed. On Wednesday several heavy showers fell, and at midday there I was a hailstorm. The nor’-wester played sad i havoc among the gardens, destroying in many nearly all the fruit the parroquets had left. Many fences and trees were blown down, great deal of miscellaneous damage inflicted. % Volunteers, while shooting, cannot be too care-'-ful of the safety of the markers. Onthel2thinstant, a youth had a very narrow escape from being shot, through the thoughtlessness of one of a shooting tean. On the day named a number of volunteers had been practising for tho representative firing. They had completed the number of shots

agreed upon, and were standing in a group totting up the scores. One of the men taking a notion to have another shot from the 600 yards range, laid down and fired, as he imagined, at the bull’s-eye. The marker, however, under the impression that the firing had been completed, had come out and was painting out the bullet marks from the target, standing with his back to the ranges, and when the volunteer in question fired, was right in front of the bull’s-eye—entirely covering it. A lad, who was acting as assistant, seeing the smoke from the rifle, sang out to the marker, “ They’re firing,” and ran in behind the target. The marker, not having time to run clear, made a haphazard jump to one side, fortunately getting clear of the shot. Had he remained in his original position he would inevitably have been wounded, as the shot was in good line with the target, though rather low. How the shooter mistook the iad for the bull’s-eye can only bo accounted for by the supposition that he had defective eyesight. This narrow escape ought to act as a salutary warning to those fond of firing stray shots. The crops in the Waimatuku district are looking very well, promising a fair harvest. The late rains have had a most beneficial effect.

The annual statutory meetings for the purpose of electing new school committees, and transacting other business specified by the Ordinance, take place at the respective school-houses on Monday 12th January, at 7 p.m. Rabbits are forsaking their old haunts on the Riverton beach in large numbers, the feed having become exhausted. The farmers inland will probably have the pleasure of supporting them for some time to come. John Aloysius Potts, of Riverton, contractor, has filed a declaration of insolvency. The first goods train on the Mataura line was run on Tuesday, the freight being moat from the Preserving Company’s works at Woodlands. At the meeting of the Oropuki Medical Guarantee Society, held to consider tenders from medical gentlemen to undertake to attend on members when required, it was resolved not to accept the only tender sent—it being considered too high. It was further resolved to make arrangements to telegraph from Riverton to Mr. Hatch, Invercargill, to despatch ,a medical man when his services were required.;