The Western Star. (PUBLISHED WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1878.

Western Star, Issue 281, 25 January 1879, Page 5

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1878.

Mails for the United Kingdom, via Sah Francisco, close at Riverton on Wednesday, 29th inst„ at 2 p.m. The valuer (Mr G. O. Cassels) for the Borough of Riverton, under the Land Tax Act, 1878, requests all who have not yet tided up their returns to do so vvituout delay. In our advertising columns tenders are invded by the Aparima road Board fora number of road works. Miss J. Ireland announces that she is prepared to take pupils for the piano and singing. At Temuka there are a large number of. children ill with dyptheria, and deaths from that cause have been very numerous of late. The Timaru ‘ Herald’ says that on Thursday three deaths occurred, and, unfortunately, yany more of the children are not expected to recover.

A settler at Wild" Bush, named Dugald M'Donald, was felling a tree on the afternoon of Wednesday last, when it lodged, and ho had to fall the other. In earning down one of them 'ell across his right leg, burying it in the ground. He dug his leg clear with his knife, but the tree canted and buried it again, burying nearly his body with it. Ho cut a stick to bring -ns axe within his reach and cut his way, and dug himself out again. He then crawled out'of the bush before he could obtain assistance. By the time a doctor was brought, his leg was so fearfully swollen that more pari ioulars could not be ascertained than the fact that the bones were broken, the soft parts discoloured, and the skin torn. He was removed on Thursday morning to the Wallace and Fiord Hospital. The same man had Ids leg broken 15 or 16 years ago on his arrival in this district, when he was attended by the same surgeon, and two years previous to the present date he had his collar-bone broken, obtaining relief from the same source. From information supplied yesterday we learn that MacDonald is progressing as favorably as can bo expected from the severe nature of bis injuries. There are at present five patients in the Wallace and Fiord Hospital—three male and two female. One patient has been discharged during the week. A lecture is announced to be delivered in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Sunday week, 2nd Feb., at 6 p.m., by Mr W. G. Macltay, of Invercargill. Subject“ The restitution of all things.” On Monday evening last the largest audience perhaps ever given to a performance of any kind in Riverton congregated to witness the entertainment at Burton’s Circus. There were over 600 people present in a large tent erected for the purpose opposite the Marine Hotel. No doubt the fact that there was only to be one performance was the means to some extent of inducing such a large audience, and as the pri< es of admission were 5s and 3s a handsome sum mast have been netted. The various performances gone througn by members of the troupe gave great satisfaction. The acrobatic and equestrian teats wore astounding, while the horses gave evidence of careful training. The company took their departure next morning and after giving two performances in Invercargill, sailed for Hobart Town, per Ringarooma, on Thursday. The annual meeting of householders in the Education district of Riverton will take place in the schoolroom on Monday evening at 7.30 o’clock, for the purpose of electing School Committee, &c., for the current year.

In the R.M.'s Court on Thursday, J. E. Mills made an application under 87th Section of the R.M.’s Act to be put in possession of a certain piece of land held under lease by Mrs Crowley or Clay. The application was granted. Yesterday the girls attending the Riverton School presented their late schoolmistress, Miss Smith, with a handsome work-box and album as a slight mark of affection and esteem for her as their teacher. Mr James Reid, Chairman School Committee, was appointed to make the presentitiou. In doing so he said it gave him great pleasure to be entrusted with so pleasing a duty. In the name of the girls he handed Miss Smith the present, wishing her every happiness and blessing. Miss Smith feelingly thanked, the children for their handsome present, and said she would prize it much, and would always look back with pleasure to her connection with the Eiverton S -hiol. Although she had left, it was not that she did not like the school or the place, but only because her home wasiu Invercargill, and if sp ired she would often come ti see them. Mr Reid, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Miss Smith for her kindness in coming back for a few days to assist at the opening of the school. He. also spoke a few words cf encouragement to the children, intimating that certificates and prizes wool I be given this year for good attendanee. Also, for proficiency in their lessons. He hoped they would make it a point to bo regular in their attendance. Although they had lost Miss Smith, he thought they had been fori uuate in securing Mrs Doar as her successor— a lady lie was sure they would all love and respect. In connection with the opening of the railway to Dunedin a correspondent has made a suggestion which the local coach proprietors would do well to avail themselves of, viz., to run an early morning coach to reach Invercargill in time to meet the express train to Dunedin, which starts at 9.40 a.m. The advantages of such an arrangement are patent, enabling travellers to reach Dunedin in one day, and few people would think it a hardship to start at say 7.30 a.m. in Summer.