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Western Star, Issue 20, 28 March 1874, Page 5

Should the weather continue fine harvesting operations in the 'Western district will be completed in a few days.

Quite a raid was made upon cattle straying in the streets of Riverton yesterday, by Constables Barry and Ede. About twenty head of cattle, some horses, and five goats, were caught trespassing, and the owners thereof will have an opportunity of contributing to the Municipal revenue on Monday.

The population of Riverton, according to the last census is 820. y

A meeting of the Committee of the Farmers’ Club was held in the Courthouse, Riverton, last night. Present —the president, Mr. Mackintosh, Messrs. Instone, Matthews, Daniel, Reid, Robertson, MTntosh, M'Clymont, and Gumming (secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. The Mayor of Riverton attended, and read a letter from bis Honor the Superintendent suggesting the formation of an immigration committee in the Western District. On the motion of Mr. Instone, seconded by Mr. Daniel, the members of the Committee present resolved themselves into an Immigration and Public Works Committee pro. tem., and decided to request the Mayor to convene a meeting of the electors of the Western district, to elect a permanent committee on the day of the Grain Show. The committee then proceeded to consider the Agricultural and Horticultural Show. It was resolved that the show bo held on the 29th April. Messrs. Reid, Robertson, Instoue, and Daniel, were appointed a subcommittee, to draw up a prize list, and make the necessary arrangements. The Riverton school will be closed for the Easter holidays till Monday, the 13th iust.

Monday, the anniversary of tho province, was observed "as a holiday by the Government offices, hanks, and the majority of business establishments in Riverton. Warden Wood arrived in Riverton on Monday afternoon, and on the following morning wont on his way to Orepuki, where he will be engaged about a week. Tho official returns show that the number of marriages in New Zealand, for the ten years ended 1872, was 18,963. The proportion to the respective years, beginning with 1863, was as follows 1485—1878—1908—2038 —2030—2085 —1931 appear to verify what statisticians have long asserted —that the marriage rate is influenced by national prosperity. From ’63 to ’6B there was a steady increase, and in ’69 and ’7O a falling off. In ’7l a slight improvement was perceptible, continued in 1872. If the theory holds good, the returns for 1873 should show a marked accession to the ranks of the Benedicts. The Zealand Gazelle of 19th March, notifies the appointment of the following gentlemen as licensing commissioners for the Southland district, under the “ Licensing Act, 1873.” —Mataura, South Mataura, Lothian, and Waimumu districts —:G. M. Bell, A. Dougins, and J. A. R. Menzics. For the Give Tree Point, Myross, Mabel, Now River, Winton, Wallaeetown, Waikiwi, Waihopai, Invercargill, Appleby, and Campbelltown districts Messrs. Lnmsden, Cuthbertson, and Wood. For the Taringatura, Wakatip, and Te Anau —Messrs. C. Cowan, A. M'Neill, and J. Rogers. For the Waiau, Mount Pleasant, Jacob’s River, Riverton, Waimatuku, Heddon Bush, Orepuki, and Longwoo I—Messrs. S. Hodgkinson, J. 11. Menzics, and W. 11. Nurse. For Stewart’s Island Messrs J. Lontit, J. M'S.ean, and C. Traill.

The tender of Mr. Trueby for the erection of Immigration Barracks at Riverton, has been accepted. The building is to be erected in Essex - place, and the work of construction is to bo pushed forward with all possible speedy y

Mr. A. P. Dawson is the successful tenderer for the construction of the Riverton jetty. The amount of his tender is PSSS. ; The census returns for Invercargill show a considerable increase in the population. The last enumeration showed the population to he I,SOO. The present shows it to be 2,810, an increase of 1,040.

The Right Rev. the Bishop of Dunedin will conduct the services in St. Mary’s Church on Good Friday.

The Rev. B. J. Westbrookc, founder of the order of Good Templars in New Zealand, being about to leave Southland, was entertained at a soiree which took place in the Exchange Hall, Invercargill, on Wednesday evening. Between 400 and 500 were present, among whom were a largo number of visitors from the Wallacetown and Riverton Good Templar Lodges. The chair was occupied by Bro. M'Dermid, W.C. of the Southern Cross Lodge. The Rev. Mr. Westbrookc was presented with a neatly engrossed address from the Southern Cross and Guiding Star Lodges of Invercargill, and it was intimated that the Wallacetown Lodge woidd shortly pi’eseut a more tangible expression of their feelings of regard. The rev. gentleman appropriately responded. One or two short addresses were given, and those assembled wore entertained during the evening with readings, recitations, and musical selections, given by members of the order.

We have received from the chairman of the Otago Minors’ Association, copies of three petitions, one of which is to be presented to the House of Representatives, praying for the abolition of the gold duty. The other two are to be presented to the Provincial Council and the House of Representatives, praying that Messrs. Howe and Co., be relieved from the responsibilities of the suit known as the Maerwhenua water pollution case. These petitions arc lying at our office where all who wish can have an opportunity of signing them. We have also received a subscription list which the Otago Mining Conference have circulated, with the request that all taking an interest in the continuation of gold-mining as an industry in this province, co-operate in raising funds to defray the costs of Howe and party, of Maerwhcnna, in their struggle to obtain their rights. Bv our advertising columns it will be seen that the time for receiving tenders for the construction of the light railways in the Western district, has been extended till Friday next, the 3rd April. • Mr. Rolleston has been re-elected Superintendent of Canterbury. The difficulty between the Wellington Provincial and General Governments has at length been settled in the Supreme Court. It was held that the warrant of the former auditor was rendered inoperative by the disallowance of the Appropriation Ordinance ; but upon its being shown in argument upon application for a mandamus to compel the auditor to certify to warrants, that the Provincial Government had more than a sufficient balance in the Bank to cover all pledged expenditure, the matter was virtually settled, and the auditor at once proceeded to certify.

Sir Francis Bell, the representative of Mataura in the General Assembly, addressed his constituents in tho Theatre Royal, Invercargill, on Monday evening. There was a large attendance. Mr. T. M. Macdonald occupied tho chair. Judging by tho reports in the Invercargill papers. Sir Francis said nothing new, but merely touched lightly upon the topics which caused such a vast amount of useless discussion during the last session of the House of Representatives. Sir Francis did not mention anything that lie had done for his constituents. At the conclusion of his address a vote of .thanks and confidence, moved by Mr. J. W. Mitchell and seconded byMr. A. Ross, was carried. Owing to severe indisposition, Sir Francis was unable to address a meeting at Woodlands as he intended. A correspondent writes as follows: —“ I see your contemporary —the Southern Mercury —is walking in strong on tho land question. A remnant of tho people’s estate may yet be saved by combined action, hut the upper hand has been so thoroughly secured by the capitalists that nothing short of a miracle can secure to the people anything more than a thousandth part of their rightful heritage. How God Almighty, who made these beautiful islands to receive and food the enormous surplus population of the old world, must frown upon the monopolist who fattens himself with wealth he cannot employ or use, and that at the expense of thousands of starving men, women, and children. I understand there is no Hell. Tho present phase of tho land question makes it almost a pity. I can’t make out what particular nidus will* bo found for Big Clarke, et hoc genus onine.” At a meeting of the wardens of tho Jacob’s River Hundred, hold in the house of J. W. Hamilton, Flint’s Bush, it was unanimously agreed that the bye-laws of last year he adopted, with an additional clause that no cattle be removed from the Hundred without giving notice to the nearest warden, and that a general meeting of all cattle on the Hundred be made after harvest, and all cattle unclaimed will be considered as trespassing. A proclamation appeal's in tho Provincial Government Gazette, under the hand of his Honor the Superintendent, appointing the months of April, May, June, and July as those in which “ native game shall be hunted, shot, taken, or killed within tho province of Otago.” This will be satisfactory to local sportsmen, and remove existing doubts as to when the shooting season commences.

Flies have been a most awful nuisance to the good folks of Riverton during the past week. For the last couple of months we have been comparatively free from their unwelcome presence,

but last Monday an immense array of them turned up from somewhere, and billeted theraselres upon the citizens. They appear, however, to be about played out, and probably this is their “ last and final appearance for the season.” The advent of these insects has caused everyone to fervently endorse Josh Billing’s famous remark, “ Darn a fli.”

The first pile of the Waimatukn bridge was driven on Friday, the 20th inst. The contractor, Mr. Eeid, is pushing the work forward with his accustomed energy. Tenders are invited in our advertising columns for certain works required on the Eiverton and Orepuki road. The work is between Colac’s Bay and Wakapntu, and comprises fascining, bridging, and corduroying. The banks in Eiverton will bo closed on Good Friday, and Easter Monday. The annual statement-of the financial affairs of the Eiverton Corporation appears in our advertising columns. On Easter Monday prizes to the amount of £2B will be competed for by the Eiverton Eifle Volunteers. The competitors will be divided into three classes, and the ranges are from 200 to GOO yards. The prize money is divided as follows : Ist class, £l3 ; 2nd do., £9; 3rd do., £G. Ecfreshments will, we believe, be provided, and the Volunteer Band will be on the ground. Should the weather be propitious, a large attendance of citizens and citizenesses is anticipated. The ball in the evening is, we understand, to be a grand affair. Invitations have been sent to the Invercargill andjOrepuki Corps, and to a large number of the people of the district. On the all-import-ant evening it is anticipated that "the Oddfellows’ Hall will present a scene of festivity and enjoyment rarelv to he witnessed.

“A Traveller” informs ns that he observes very considerable improvement in Riverton since his last visit—a few months ago —and imparts the following information regarding the roads between Riverton and Wallacetown. Several of the worst places have been gravelled in a manner which reflects great credit upon the contractors, and a considerable portion of the nngravcllcd line has been tussocked, which proves a great boon to the farmers and travelling public. The gravelling of the road from Mr. George Howell’s house to the foot of thchilloughtto be undertaken without delay, so that it may be finished before winter sols in. In about a week or two will be the time to get this work under way, as many of the farmers wiil then have finished their harvest, and labour will be available. “ Traveller ” calls special attention to that portion of the road (about four miles from Riverton) which is ditched on both sides. This, if not gravelled immediately, will be a frightful quagmire during the winter months, ns there is no possibility of getting off the lino of road. The dip from the metalled road at the brewery just at the turn, is not safe in a dark night, and ought t o be seen to by those who arc responsible for it. Great ci’edit is due, “ Traveller ” thinks to the Road Engineer and Ins subordinates, us well as to the contractors for the way the various works have and arc being performed.