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Western Star, Issue 351, 22 May 1880, Page 2

A meeting of set tiers and others interested in the formation of a tramway up the WaimaUiku Valley to Jacob’s River will bo held at Mr John Brown’s residence, Upper Waiina* luku, on Thursday next, 27th inst. Tho object is one that should strongly commend itself to those settlers immediately interested. There are few districts in the colony where settlors labor under such great disadvantages in respect to roads, and wo hope Ihe tgitation now begun will e*‘d in success. The settlers, we understand, are prepared to guarantee the interest on (ho sum necessary to construct, the lino, and the request which will most probably be made to Governmcni to advance the required amount is a must reasonable one. Mr M'Cuughan at. Lis meeting on Wednesday expressed himself as strongly in favor of the proposal, and if he evinces a similar amount of energy in pressing this work on tho attention of Government as ho did in connection with the Forest Hill tramway there can be but little doubt as to bis success.

A mooting of gentlemen favorable to forming a contingent of the Southland II ussars was held at the Commercial Hotel on Wednesday evening. Captain MCattghan, Lieutenant Burwell, Troopers Lcesmith and Tapper, of the Invercargill troop, were present to swear members in and give any information that w.-.s required by intending members. Tliis having been done, 13 members were sworn in. Captain M'Gauglmn then stated that twenty swords and accoutrements' would be Forwarded to Riverton on Monday, and Troopers R. Robertson, Burns, and Murchie were appointed a committee to take charge of same until local officers were elected. Arrangements were made for taking the measurements of members, so that no time A'ould ho lost in sen .ling iiomo'for uniforms, and for that reason those who intend joining the company should g»-t sworn in at once. Ills expected that the Tiverton contingent will shortly muster from twenty-five to thirty sabres. The election of local officers is postponed until the next meeting of the contingent. The Rer. T. E. Ash, late incumbent of St. Man’s Church, Riverton, has announced that lie will deliver a lecture in the Oddfellows’ Hull to-morrow (Sunday 23rd inst.,) afternoon at three o’clock, the subject being; “IVe Immediate Second Coining of Christ, 1881.” The rev. gentleman lias consented, we understand to lecture on Tuesday evening in aid of the Good Templar Hall building fund. Mr E. Willett inserts an intimation in this issue that he has commenced business as butcher in bis now promises, opposite the railway station. Mr Willett wishes us to state that be intends to carry on the business permanently, and that the prices elsewhere quoted are for cash only.

The defered payment settlers on the Oreti Plains, have advanced another stage in the formation of a school there. Messrs Crockett, C. Coster, J. Deegan, Grey, Evans, Flanagban, and C. F. Coster have been appointed a committee to look after the educational interests of the newly formed district. At the weekly meeting of the Land Board on Thursday, the application of Mr 1). M‘Farlane, to lease a gravel reserve on section 156, Oreli Hundred, was referred to the Aparima Rond Board. —William Musselwhito, a defeired payment selector in the Taringatura district, asked for a lease of section 221. Referred to the ranger to report. Six licensees of runs having neglected to pay their rents, it was resolved that they bo informed that they must within a fortnight show cause why the 58*h clause of the Land Act of 1865, declaring tho runs abandoned, should not bo put in force. W. Johnston, of Annandale, through Messrs Murray. Dalgleish, and Co., applied for leave to construct a tramway front tho present terminus of tho Otautau-Nigbt-caps railway to section 17, Wairio district. Referred to the Chief Surveyor, with an intimation that if there is no objection on public grounds to a 2-chain road being laid off, the Board is of opinion the application should be granted. A meeting of the St. George Q.M. Co. was held in Mr M‘l)onald’s shop on Thursday forenoon. Present—Messrs Crockett, Cassels (Le*al Manager), Woolf, Tuson, Patterson, Joseph Hunter, John Hunter, Steel, and Galloway (in the chair). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, a draft deed of association was read seriatim , and with several flight amendments adopted. Messrs M‘Leod, Burns, Petchell, Woolf, and Crockett were appointed directors, and Messrs George Robertson and Leonard Pi-tchell auditors The draft application to register tho Company was submitted to the meeting by the Manager, and it was agreed that, it be advertised in accordance with tho Act immediately. Tenders am invited in another column by (he County Engineer for cutting a track from Orepuki to Wuiau, a distance of seven miles and a-lmlf. The number of entries received for the Eiverton races on Monday next indicate that a capital day’s sport will he provided. There are five nominations for tho Hurdle Kace, six for (lie Maiden Plate, six for the Riverton Handicap, and four for the Wallace Handicap. The weights for the Riverton Handicap uvo published elsewhere. The course, which is close to tho Caledonian grounds, is in very fair order, although tho recent heavy rains has not improved it. A meeting of the Committee will be held this evening, at the Wallace County Hotel, at 8.30 p.m., to make final arrangements. An excursion train will leave Invercargill for Eiverton on Monday at 9.50 a.m., returning at 6.10 p.m. Sir George Grey arrived in Invercargill on Thursday, and in tho evening addresse 1 a large meeting at the Drill Hall. The “ Southland News’ ” report of the speech extends over seven columns and a half of closely printed matter. The report, appearing as it docs in the issue after the delivery of the speech, is most creditable to the staff of tho journal named.

■y Thi? extremely boisterous weather of the past week continued to greatly retard operalions at the Pioneer Battery, Longw'ood, and in consequence up to Thursday a start bad not been made with crushing. It was expected that a commencement would be made yesterday, although we have no information on the subject. d. The Riverton Rifle Volunteer ball on Thin'sday evening came off with great eclat. Notwithstanding the very boisterous weather the hull accommodation wa« none too much for the comfort of the \isilors. The dingy walls of the hull were tastefully decorated with flags, evergreens, arms, &e., which, combined with the handsome dresses of the ladies and the scarlet uniforms of the sterner sex, presented a most attractive scene. The music was alternately supplied by the Volunteer Band and a quadrille band of three instruments — piano, vioiin. and cornet. Mr Boivin entered for the supply of the refreshmentsi and gave the utmost satisfaction. The elite rlainmcnt throughout was a most, pleasant one, and ovciyone present, expressed themselves as having enjoyed it thoroughly. The Carandini Operatic and Ballad Company gave a perform a wee in the Oddfellows Hall last evening to a good house. The applause which greeted (hose old and favourite artists Madame Carandini and Mr Shcrwin, showed that, they have lost none of their well deserved popularity. The other members of the enupanv (new to a Riverton audience, arc Miss Mane Carandini, Miss Josephine Deakin, and Mr Henry Gordon Gooch (basso), (and the ability of tbese members is such (but the reputation of the company is still maintained. Of the entertainment we have not space to say more than that it is one of the most, charming that could be listened to, an 1 all lovers of really first class music should not, lose the opportunity of being present this evening at, the final performance. In (lie favourite Scotch ballad “Jessie the Flower o’ Dumblane.” Madame Carandini showed that years had dealt kindly with her voi.c, which still retains that wonderful compass and sweetness for which it has always been remarkable.

According to advertisement of this day’s issue, the above company have postponed their visit to Eivcrton until Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 3rd, 4th, and sth. The reason for their so doing is in consequence of their great success in Invercargill. Mr Whittington, the business agent of the company, was busy at work yesterday duly advertising the approach of this mammoth troupe, who will positively appear on the dates advertised. One of the principal attractions of this show is the enormous distribution of valuable presents made every evening. The gifts are not of a small character, hut consist of gold and silver watches, tea and coffee services, silverware, clocks, and a splendid assortment of valuable and useful articles. We see by nolice in our Invercargill contemporary, the “Times,” that the company have been drawing crowded bouses in that city, numbers being unable to obtain admission. Now that the public have due notice of the arrival of this far-famed company, wo feel sure they will do their utmost to pay them a visit. We understand that it is tUie intention of the management of the above diorama to present on the first night of the entertainment a valuable present to the prize laker of a special class in the Grain Show. The name of class will appear in our next issue. This itself ought to be a sufficient inducement to attract tv number of our country visitors.