The Western Star. (PUBLISHED WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1874.

Western Star, Issue 49, 17 October 1874, Page 4

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1874.

Pressure on our space compels us to hold over our leading article and other matters of local and general interest. Owing to the Tory unsettled state of the weather for some time past, the railway works in this district have net progressed in so rapid a manner as the contractors the moires would hare wished. We understand, however, that as apparently fine weather is now sotting in, every exertion will bo made to push matters ahead as speedily as possible, and that no ground will bo lost through the late drawback.

Attention is directed to an a Ivertisemcnt in another column, given under the hand of his Honor the Superintendent, which intimates to those interested that “On and after the 31st October, 1874, the Longwood Forest will bo open for applications for licenses under the Southland Timber .Regulations.” Wo observe that Smith’s Combination Troupe arrived at Invercargill from Dunedin, per Wahabi, on Thursday morning last, and on the same evening gave the first of their performances. The season in that town will, we have been informed, last for twelve nights, after which they will visit the “ city of the West,” where they will receive good support. The troupe are reported by our Dune, in contemporaries to be exceedingly clever. Mr. Gardner is the agent in advance. The Press of the sth instant says Smyfcho now reports that the moas have escaped ; and adds, “ That is just what wo expected to hear. R. K. M. SmytJio may find it very easy to catch moas near Browning’s Pass, but the difficulty is to bring them to Christchurch or to some inhabited region, and we feci pretty sure he will never succeed in accomplishing that.” On that point we feel pretty sure too. A meeting of the Western District Farmers’ Club is announced to be hold at the Schoolhouse, G-ummie’e Bush, on Friday evening next, at seven o’clock.

In answer Lo a letter siguci " An Elector,” in another column, we may state that wo thinly it is hardly the duty of a representative to deliver addresses all over his district, especially as the address is usually published, in the papers of the district. At the.game time, wo,, know that Mr M'Gillivfay trip-1 to raaj\o arrangements more than a week ago for addressing his constituents at both Flint’s Bush and Limestone Plains. The mulcting of an inebriate in the penalty of ss. constituted the whole business at tho Police Court- during the week. The amateur drama! ic performance at tho Oddfellows’ Hall lust evening was well attended, and tho different pieces appeared to bo enjoyed by the audience. At the close of tho second piece, MrHorrcame before the curtain, thanked those present for their attendance, and craved their Lind indulgence for any shortcomings, as several gentlemen who had promised their assistance had withdrawn at the last minute. He announced that the performance would he repeated this evening, and the proceeds devoted to some charitable purpose, tipace prevents us criticising the performance in this issue. We hear from Dunedin that the tender of Mr A. Dawson of this place for wharf extension for the sum of has been accepted by the Gowrnment. We trust that in Mr Dawson’s ban is this much needed work wifi- .-he carried on and completed with speed and satisfaction to all parties concerned-

Mr Warden Wood is at present on"his ordinary circuit, anil will visit Orepuki^ahortly. At the District Court, Invercargill, before His Honor Judge Ward, William Andersou,. w;ho, .it will be remonborod was committed for trial by the Bench at Riverton, for fraudontly obtaining ten casks of beer from Mr Port, brewer, was found not guilty after a very short deliberation by the jury, and discharged. The man named Adcock, who. was charged with having indecently assaulted Jane Sophia Cairol, near Kew, on the 9th of August last, was found guilty of that offence, and sentenced to. twelve months’ inv prisomnent. ; ' The tender of Mr George Howell, for the cooV. struction square bos drains for Palmerston and Havelock streets, at £ls 10s per chain has been accepted. The only other, tender sent in was Mr. D. Dunbridgo’s at £lB IPs' per chaip. The same gentlemen also tendered for the drains with "splay sides, according to frhe original specification, instead of being same width at top. and bottom— Mr Howell’s tender being £l7 10s, and Mr Dur* hridga’s £l9 19s. The Public Works Committee, however, decided on having the square drain?.# It will by advertisement be scon that a daily coach will shortly bo running between Bivorton and Otautau. Mr John Simon is to be the enterprising proprietor. - At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Monday last, an application was read from Mr George Proudfoot for permission to obtain ea?th for making embankment on the Ferry Reserve, adjoining the Oreti river, by carrying out the side cuttings to a distance of 6G feet on each side of the centre line. The District Engineer (Mr Bows), having reported favorably on this application, |it was resovod that permission be granted, all cutting to bo raa le parallel to the railway lino, and not to. come within five chains of the cross road down the river flat, Mr James Mackintosh’s application for 430 acres, Long woo I Forest, was refused, as the bush has been advertised by His Honor the Superintendent as being open for application on 31st inst. John M E wing’s application for 60t) acres in the same bush was refused for- the samereason.

In a speech recently delivered by him at Eagle* hawk, Victoria, his Excellency Sir George Bo won, our es-Goveruor, said; —Mr Mayor, Indies and gentlemen—l thaqk his Worship for the extremely kind terms in which he has just proposed my health and that of Lady Bowen, and I thank, you all for the manner in which you have responded to the toast. In New Zealand* whera. I spent five years, the toast of the Governor was always followed by the tune of “ The King of the Cannibal Islands”—(laughter)—alluding, I presume, to a craving which the Maoris had for a certain kind of flesh ; but for myself I would rather hear the tune, just played, “ For ho’a a jolly good fellow.” The Hon. Mr Fox is “nothing if not critical.’’In his report of the Hot Springs District of the North Island, ha says of one place, “this is the., scene of Mr Domett’s poem of ‘ Ranolf and.Amohia,’ in which, with a: warmth of sentiment and fervour of expression of quite 312 deg,, he has endeavorin' 1 to clothe savage life with charms, and dignity which it would be difficult (o recognise in the realities of any Maori pah«i the, si lores of Rotorua at the p-osent day, ant which probably never had any existence except, in the romantic day-dreams of the.poet. I am bound., .to express, however, my a I miration of the truthfulness ami splendour of the soonery, and tho thorough Naw Zealand atmosphere in which he has enveloped his, in many .parts, beautiful tale.” The summit of Mount Elen ( Vuoklaml), has. now been fenced and planted with tree*. Modesty is to be commended. Tints ran the maxim in our copybooks of old. Especially it modesty in a newspaper deserving of praise, and wo accord tho palm o f merit in this direction' to, the New Zealand Herald, —a journal which, wo may mention for the benefit of our readers, ia published in Auckland. This paper, is enshrined by its owner in a modest brown paper co er, whereupon is modestly printed, “The Leading Morning Newspaper.” That is- ally and it is enough.—Otago Guardian.

The Auckland Slav tolls the following storyae illustrative of what it terms the blessings of our. immigration system as at present conducted:— Per the Miltia.loa came a bricklayer with bis /rife and three children. Seldom perhaps has the building tra le been brisker, or would there hare been less difficulty in obtaining employment ia, this man’s handicraft. Yet when fh'd miUiadca sailed, be sailed too, for Melbourne, leaving his wife and children in the confident belief, no doubt, “ that they would not starve among the charities of Auckland.” They are utterly destitute, and are now applicants for rations and relief from, the. Provincial Government.

“ ’Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good.” A South Australian paper says caterpillars are be*, coming numerous at Broobro.wio, and locusts are. being seen, while a bard, voughTshollod species of beetle, peculiar to the place, ia affording abundai t food for pigs. The Adelaide Observer says;—A letter,sent 1 t« us from Booborowie says “ Our Balclry school-, master is of a roving disposition, and will not stay for the munifloient salary of £1 :pcr week, ‘ wstn a prospect of more.’ The, inhabitants ftte very indignant at such ingratitude.” •• A sad and fatal accident occurred at Stoney Creek, on Saturday last, to a waggoner named Andrew Bain,, residing at Four Afile Greek, near, Ealolutha, All that is . at present is, that the deceased, ~ accompanied bv his nephew, was travelling as Usual with a waggon load of goods-' consigned to Mcfsrs. Stewart & Oow, Balclutha. At, or about noon', the weather being wet, the boy took dinner by himself under the protection oCtbo waggon fill, and having finished the meal, got down to keep, an eye on the team and .aUow Bain, .to, dinner. The boy states that, suspecting! wrong, be walked alongside. the. horses , good distance before looking round, when "wwiung say something to deceased, ho Jopkod up, underthe waggon tilt and saw no'ohe£&art:sk onctfreafif'' him lying on the road aorte distance behind. Ho, at once gave the alarm, but. the unfortunate man appeared to have died before assistance,arrived..; r A North of Queensland journal, the A Cook*Towh Courier —the nearest to the Pul nier ajsdEndeavor Eiver Goldfields — ,the natives lately-; killed, cooked, and ate a, miner who was at wdrk'V in Gregory’s Gully. They afterward# auother at the Upper Camp. . The, latter,' native of New South Wales, but as ho was ndt'iu an eatable eon tition the.savages.cohtefl.ded.them.*. selves with mutilating.; the.,bo.dy-.'in ,a frightsfop manner. It is bad enough to risk the chaocejof. being starved op those .far away field® ,jrj|hnuj^,. being used to keep aboriginal’cannibkls from’, stapyju?. -ri-’r