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Western Star, Issue 280, 18 January 1879, Page 5

A lamentable and fatal accident happened at O aitai Bush on Tuesday, (o an old and respected settler in the district named John Hayes. Deceased, with his son-in-law Mr It Frew, had returned home with a load of firewood. The dray had been drawn up outside the fence near the house, and Mr Frew went on top of dray for the purpose of throwing the firewood over the fence. Deceased thinking it would be dangerous to leave the leader untended, caught hold of the near rein, which pulled the horse round to him. Mr Frew called out to deceased when he found the dray moving to pull the off rein to straighten the horse, but in the excitement of the moment he pulled harder on the near rein. Deceased then fell and a wheel of the dray passed over his chest, breaking two of his ribs. After being assisted into his house, he gradually sunk and died hi the evening. An inquest was held before J. N. Wood Esq., on Tuesday, when a verdict in accordance with the evidence was given. The following is a list of the trades, &c., of the immigrants per Western Monarch, now due at the Bluff : —Men—Farm labourers, 172 ; rough carpenters, 1 ; general labourers, 7, gardeners, 2 ; carpenters, 1; painters, 1, shepherds,“2—lß6. Women—General servants, 38 ; dairymaids, 4 ; housemaids, 5 ; cooks, 3 j nurses. 2 ; nursemaids, 1—53. Total, 239.

The Education Board invite oenders for the erection of school buildings at Eiverton. On Monday next the Eiverton Main District School will re-open after five weeks holiday. The committee have been fortunate in securing the serviees of a competent mistress and assistant master, and the school will be opened with a teaching staff of a very high order. Mr Mahoney, the assistant master, is a certificated teacher from Victoria. Drawing and vocal music will now form part of the ordinary school course, free of charge, and under the superintendence of Mrs Doar, who has certificates from the School of Art. It is to be hoped that parents will now mere largely avail themselves of the educe t onal advantages of the Main School, by insisting upon their children attending more regularly than heretofore.

Says the Invercargill Times . —“ The reference department of the Athenaeum has received a valuable contribution from Theopbilus Daniel, Esq., of Eiverton, in the shape of a lithographed facsimile of the “Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitavga, 1840,” accompanied by a history of the proceedings in connection therewith. The signs manual of the respective chieftains, parties to th e treaty, are fully given, and the facsimile having been taken by the Government is a guarantee of its fidelity. Mr Daniel has also presented to the Athenseum a lithograph map of the North Island, colored by authority, showing the land tenure up to a recent date(3oth June, 1878), classifying the lands according to ownership by the Crown or Natives, together with the reserves and lands under negotiation. The value of the contributions by Sir Daniel is really so great as to entitle him to the special thanks of the members at their first annual meeting.” Exception has been taken to Mr Daniel forgetting his old love in overlooking the claims of the local Athenamm ; but we are authorised to state in explanation that ho made a suggestion to the Government which has been promised favorable consideration, viz. that a copy of the work should be presented to every Athenamm in the colony. Mr Daniel purposes forwarding to the Smithsonian ■ Institute in America the only other copy of the work in his possession.

A public meeting is announced to be held at Foster’s Thornbury Junction Hotel at 5 p.m. on Thursday next, 23rd inst, tourge upon the Comity Council the necessity of at once erecting bridges across Jacob’s river. This is one of the most important questions to residents in the Aparima riding. At the last County Council election, the question was what may be termed a burning one, and canditates were closely inerrogated as to their views upon the most eligible site for the erection of a bridge. The object of the meeting we feel sure only requires to bo known to secure a large attendance. Wo have been furnished with a lithograph plan of t lie township of Thornbury, situate at the Junction cf the Riverton, Invercargill, and Otautnu railway—a distance of about six miles from Riverton. The township comprises 69 acres of well situated country, divided into IG7 sections of about a quarter acre each. The property will shortly be sold by auction. The situation is eminently adapted as the site of rising township. On Monday next the inhabitants of Riverton and West o n District generally will hare an opportunity of witnessing a performance on a scale of magnitude never before attempted to be produced here. We refer to Burton’s Circus. The company have been performing in Invercargill during the week, with great success. The tent' will be pitched near the pound, almost opposite the Marine Hotel, for one night only, A mischievous rumour somehow or other was current in town during the week that the Circus had decided not to visit Riverton ou account of the great expense necessarily incurred in such a (rip ,• hut we yesterday received a telegram from Mr Burton intimating that he would positively visit Riverton on Monday.

Tenders are invited for the erection of station buildings on the Riverton-Invcrcargill railway. Over 300 oza of gold from Orepuki have been sold lo the banks in Riverton daring the week. That quantity does not represent anything like the total product of lire Christmas washing-up, as during the last three weeks heavy parcels Lave been disposed of. We have to acknowledge receipt of Allan and Co.’s, of Melbourne, Catalogue of Yooal and Instrumental Music. The work is one of considerable magnitude for a colonial firm to undertake, comprising as it does over 200 pages. Copies may be seen on application at the office of this journal. An adjourned meeting of gentlemen favorable, to the formation of a Mutual Improvement Society was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Tuesday evening. The attendance was satisfactory. Mr Webb presided. A code of rules were drawn up and approved of. Mi Q-. Reid was elected President, Mr S. Q-. Instono Vice-president, Mr Q-. Foathei'stoae Secretary and Treasurer, and a committee as follows ; —Messrs J. Ireland, Galloway, Simon, A. Belaud, and Burns. It was resolved to hold meetings of the Seciety every alternate Thursday. An entrance fee of 2s 6d was agreed upsn, but as an inducement for young men under eighteen to join, it was decided to exempt all under that age from payment of entrance fee. The President elect in returning thanks for being elected, hoped that each member would endeavor to make the Society as great a success as possible. One of the chief causes of the collapse of similar Societies) which formerly existed in Riverton, was the fact that the membership was not sufficiently strong to provide a variety of talent. He therefore urged upon those present to secure as large a membership as possible. Mr Instone proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Webb, the promoter of the Society. In acknowledging the compliment Mr Webb said he was sorry his connection with the Society would bo so short, as within the last few days he had decided to leave the district. He hoped, however, to succeed in starting a similar Association in the place he was going to (Otautau). The meeting adjourned till 30tli inst. A Committee meeting will be held on Saturday eveniag, at 8.30, to make arrangements for the first meeting of Society. At the election on Wednesday; for a member of the House of Representatives for Mataura in room of Mr Wood, resigned, Mr Shanks was returned by a majority of 59 votes over his opponent Kinross. The numbers polled were—Shanks, 309; Mr Kinross, 250. By the election of Mr Shanks the so-called “ Southern phalanx” may be said to have collapsed. Mr Kinross stood on the “ Grey ticket.”

The race between M. Lyon and J. Macqname for £5 a side came oif on the Bridge last eveding. The distance was 200 yards, and Lyon pulled off the stakes with three or four yards to spare. General Stirling, who rose from the established himself, on his retirement from the army, in his native town of Musselburgh, Scotland. At a public dinner the toast of his health was proposed by one of his old acquaintances. “ I remember the general,” said the speaker, 11 when he was hurling a barrow IV of turnips.” “ If I had possessed your brains,” interrupted the general, who disliked such personal allusions to his early life, “ I would have been hurling turnips jet.”