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Western Star, Issue 354, 2 June 1880, Page 2

A inoolii:ir of the Riverkrti ftohoo! Cornmil tee vas he-Id on Menday evening, Messrs Jas. Rtp.l (Chairman), Tall, Cassela. Woodward, and Daniel being present; Letters were read from the Secretary of the .Education Hoard anetit the request of the Committee to send down Mr Bio-well to- vrporfc on the state of the headmaster's residence. The i purport of these le'ters was that the Board j w..s' not at present in « pntition to. effect I' ri-pai-.'S on the building,, but asked the Com j mil Ice lo furnish an estimate of the cost. The Chairman remarked that if the Board ! would make a grunt of £l5O in addition to the old Inn'klings, he thought a very suitable new building, oould be erected.. Some conversation ensued upon the subject* and the 'necessity of something being done to the building was p tided out by the Chairman; ultimately a motion was carried that the B.ard be again communicated with, requesting, that Mr Burwell be instructed to report on the buil'iing, the Chairmai. to confer with the architect on his arrival. The Chairman repoiled that the chemical apparatus granted by the Board had arrived. The Secretary to the Board wrote, in reply to the Chairman, that the Board had not passed a resolution creating the Riverton School a District High School, and in consequence, the Minister of Education's consent to amended regulations bad not been asked for. The Secretary advised that the matter should again be brought before- the Board. It was resolved that the attention of the Secretary to the Board be called to his memorandum of 7th February, and a request made for toe establishment of a District High S'-hool at Rivertou. A circular was read from the Board, stating that it was proposed to'reduce the number of holidays from 40 to 33 by discontinuing the five days hiiherto given in mid-winter; but before sanctioning the change, the Board wished an expression of opinion on the subject from the School Committee. The preposal was unanimously condemned. The Chairman said lie had already published in the Press his opinions regarding the change •> lie considered the action of the Board in requesting an expression of opinion from committees an insult to committees after passing an absolute motion th-.t the holidays be curtailed. The following

motion by Me Tall was then unanimously carried :—That this Committee is unanimously of opinion tbat it is undesirable to reduce the number of holidays at present allowed to schools ; and are -further of opinion that the allocation of holidays should be left, to School Committee. The meeting idien adjourned.

Aw important meeting of the Wallace County Council took place yesterday. The members prudent were the Chairman, Messrs JBusstian, Johnston (Aparima), Johnston (Wairio), Mackintosh and Capt. Ifankinson. We hold over until Saturday's issue a detailed report of the proceedings. In the meantime the fallowing is an epitome of I lie principal business transacted :—Tne consent of tho Council whs given for the use of the lull for sil.ti igs ol the Distiiet; Court; the consideration of the payment of balance of Mr Burvvtdl's account for architect's fees in eonni'C ion with County Hall building was pos'poned li.l next nwetmg, va-mbara gonarally being averse to the piymoi;t of any additional sum on account of the unsatisfactory siate in which (lie building had been completed; the application of Apariuu Road Board to have roa I lea ting from county roa I to Pourakino Bridge deolarod a county road, was referred to the Engineer to report upon ; the applica.ion of the same Board for a sul'sidy of £35 to form and metal road lead. ing from Wallacetown road to Waiuiatuku railway station was adjourned till next meet ing ; it was resolved, in answer to deputation (represented by Mr Allison) re Waimatuku Irjat tramway, that the Council was desirous of rendering all the assistance in its powtr in furtherance of the object, and a com nit tee was appointed to confer with the Coirmittce of the Southland County Council as to the best means to be adopted towards that end;

a petition was prosentod- by Mr Johnston.' from a largo number of settlors in Groper's Bush district, requesting the Council to expond the sum voted at a former meeting lor road to Groper's Bush railway station, with out reference to the Road Board, and the matter was referred to the Engineer to report upon ; £IOO was voted as a donation to tne funds of the Wallace and Fiord Hospital j £IOO was also voled to open up the Longwood by cutting trades; in the absence of Mr Culhbertson, a number of notices of motion standing in his name lapsed; £3O was voted to cut a bush track to Fort's line of reef, Longwood; in answer to Mr Mackintosh, the Chairman stated that the vote of ratepayer* in Otautau and Wairio ridinj was in favor of the erection of a bridge over Jacob's* River at Double Cabbage Tree, but.'the Chairman recommended delay in the matter, to winch Mr Mackintosh after demur agreed; £IOO was voted for approaches to Otautau railway station ; £lO to supplement vote of Oreti Road Board on opening up road between Mr Kean's and Mr Buskins, and L2OO for Riverton and Orepuki road. The Inspector was instructed to inspect the Aparima bridge near Gummie's Bash, and report ou repairs required. The Coun.nl decided to give notice to strike a rate of Is in the £. Leave of absence was granted to the Chairman for (he present session of Pailiai ment, when the Cuuiiei' a.ljoiirse.l sine die.

A meeting of the Grain Show Committee will be held at the Great Western llotcl i>n Friday afternoon, when prize-takers will receive tke amount* of their prizes. We understand that a protest has been lodged against Messrs Haaletl Bros, receiving the cup awarded them at the grain show, on the ground that some of the exhibits for which they received a prize were not their lonafid-e property. Consideration of the protest will form part of the business to be transacted at the meeting on Friday.

The elect ioi of o member of tlie 4 pari ma Road Board for Wtiimatuku subdivision, on Monday, resulted in the return of Mr F. Boyd. The former member, Mr W. Boyd, was also proposed and seconded, but it wa.3 discovered that that gentlemau's name was not on the roll ol the district. Mr J. W. Hamilton acted a 3 returning officer. After the election, a memorial was presented to Mr J. W. Hamilton, requesting, him to cinvene a meeting to protest against the property tax. TSie feeling in the district is unanimou s against the tax. The memorial is in course of reieiving further signatures, and the date of holding the meeting has been left to Mr Hamilton to fix upon— probably the end of next week, at Thorn bury.

We have beera requested to chronicle a very handsome presentation to the LimesVone Plains Church by Mr J. Macrae, teacher of the school there.. The gift is in the f orm of a set of communion vessels, comprising communion cups, salvers,, and flagon. The congregation being but a young one, did not posses* these very neces«ary vessels, and inconvenience in consequence has resulted wb.311 the sacrament was dispensed. Thanks to MiMacrae's generosity, this lias now been obviated. The manse for the accommodation of the pastor (Rev. Mr Ew.en) of tho congregation is no.v all but completed- It is a commodious and handsome building, standing upon a commanding position. The structure is creditable to Ilia congregation, and as an evidence of tlie esteem in which Mr Fwen'ia held by his flock, it must be gratifying to that geuileman.

The thanks of the settlers on Oreti Plains are due to Mr Henry Hirst, M.H.14. for Wallace,, for his action in connection wit'i tke establishment of a p-jst oili.ee at Gladfield for their convenience. In "a letter to that gentleman the Postmaster-General intimates that on and after Ist inst. an otßoe will be opened at Gla ifield under the charge of Mr A. Mackintosh, and that the mad service will commence on that date-.

"* The members of the R.R.V. Band are requested to meet at the Band Room this evening at 8 o'clock, when all instruments, books, ami other band property will be required to be handed in. <——»»— ■■ «y A meeting of gentlemen favorable to the formation of a Draught Club will be hel.i at the Aihenasupi on Thursday evening, 3rd June, at 8 p.m. Mr H. Hirst, Chairman of the Wtllace County Council, and tho County Engineer, proceed to the Waiau this morning, to make enquiries respecting the proposal by property owners there to construct a tramway from the Otautau Nightcap line to the Waiau, on similar conditions to those in connection with tho proposod Waimaf uku tramway.

The monthly Government inspection of Volunteers was held on Monday evening. There were present: —1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants,, and 46 rank and file ; 1 band leader, 2 band sergeants, and 10 bandsmen. After parage the company held their annual meeting.. The balance-sheet was read, and sho »ed £474 receipts against £386 expenses, the new uniforms which, the company lately received from England being a heavy item on the latter side. In consideration of tho work which had been so satisfactorily p:r formed by Lieutenant Acheson, the Secretary for the Company > Volunteer J. Hancock proposed that they shoul I purchase something to the amount of £5 and present him with it as a souvenir. Tlie motion was carried by acclamation. The subject of building a drill slu-d was discussed, aud Captain Hirst promised to use his best endeavors with the Government to further that project. Ho also promised to try and obtain more rifles for the company. The election of a Finance Committee resulted in the following members being elected : Col-Sergt. Pankhurst, Sersft. M'Kiy, Sergt. M'Kenzie, Sergt. Irwin, Vol. J. lteid, Vol. J. Hancock, and Vol. Richard ■*. Mr M. A. Jon<B announces that he wi'l arrive in Riverton to-day, remaining until Saturday, during which time he will be prepnre I to tune pianas, organ-, and harmoniums. Orders to be left in care of American Diorama Co., or at Commercial Hotel, or at office of this paper.

The Her. S. J. Q-ritne will hoi I divine service on Sunday next, us follows :--At Otautun, 11 a.m. j at Gumuiie's Bush, 3 p.m.; St. Mao's, Rivertou, nt 7 p.m. The monthly meeting of the Board of Management of the Wallace and Fiord Hospital took place yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs Pctchell (Chairman), Port, M'lnnes, Daniel, Casselt, and Dr Young. The minutes were read and approved of. The inward correspondence included letter from theMative Department, stating 'hat the subsidy per quarter ended 31st March last had been passed far payment, and intimating that in future the expenditure could not be continued, as the general subsidy to Hospitals must cover assistance given to the natives as well as the Europeans. A lotter was also received from

the Treasury, intimating that a voucher for £36 5s had been passed for payment, being aaiount duo on subsidy account for the past quhrter. Accounts as follows were passed for payment:—K.jErazer, L 7 1slld; Moffet and Co. L 7 lis 2d ; Petchell Bros., LI •!* 61. Mr Port brought under the notice of the Board the advisability of the Hospital being protected from the admission of patients suffering from apparent abuse of alcoholic driuks> and tabled a notice of motion to tho following effect, that at next meeting he would move that no patient of such a character be ad milted unless the sum of J,lO be paid down prior to admission,, foi extra attendance, &e.

The "Timaru Herald" of Wednesday says : —an extraordinary exodus of the unemployed has taken place from Timaru within the past fortnight or three weeks. As all instance of the lessened number of swsiggers making- for and departing from this town, we may mention that the average number of callers per day at the Meat Preserving Works at the Washdyke has decreased within the last three weeks from sixty to under twenty. Where the wandering portion of the community has gone to we are at a loss to say. That they have, to use an American phrase, male themselves scarce, is plainly evident from the comparatively deserted appearance which our streets present at nights. Their movements are almost as great a mystery as those of comets. What influence acts on them and directs their motions is a question to be solved. They are not yet leaving the colony in any numbers, and yet, like passenger pigeons, they are here to-day and gone to-morrow. The Claimant Ims -just received another visit from Mr Guil'lSbrd Onslow and Mr Q.uartermaine East. His hair and beard are no longer kept cropped, and ;is this is always the case some n.onth or so before a convict's discharge, it is looked upon by his friends as a furoruble sign. He expressed much sorrow on hearing of the death of Lord Rivers, from whom he expected a legacy of £IOO a year. An understanding was arrived at that should the Claimant be released he would at once commence divorce proceedings. Since the birth of the last ebi-id he has frequently expressed a desire lo hear no more of his wife, and is also anxious that his children should bo removed from under her care.

In the Grain Show prize list published Inst issue, two errors crept in, which wo now desire to correct. Mrs It. Miller, of Groper's Bush, should have been credited with having taken first prize for the best 21b of fresh butter, instead of Mrs Learniont; and Mr P. Learmonfc took second prize for tlie best sample of earlj potatoes. Thompson's Confederate Diorama of the American War Company will opon at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday. We have already referred to the excellence of this entertainment, and fejl sure that a treat is in store for visitors. In addition to tho entertainment, a 1 eature if attraction is the large nuu.ber of valuable gifts givt-n away at each performance. The prize promised by the management to the Grain Show will be presented on Friday evening. Wo understand that Miss Hall is the fortunate winner of this gift, she having taken the greatest number of prizes for butter. An afternoon performaice for the convenience of schools an I families will be given on Satuvdly.

"le-Mr K. Biddoll, of Orepuki, is the successful tenderer for the erection of a Native school and teaohoi's residence at Colao Bay. Tlie swords and accoutrements of the locnj contingent of the Southland Hussars have arrived, and are in course of distribution. Member* will receive same on application to Mr D. Murehie. Members are requested to bo measured for uniforms without delay, as thewmlor will be desp itched by the outgoing ma 1 for Jiurope. Great interest is now being manifested in the result of the crushing at Prmtz's claim at the Pioneer Bjittery, Longwood. CJp to last evening over fifty tonß of stone had been reduced, and judging from the plates it is estimated that there are about 700 ounces of amalgam, which is expected to yield over one-third pure gold. It io the intention, we understand, of the pro prietors to keep the mill going until 10th inst., when a wash-up will take place. The maximum crushing speed has not been attained during the past week, on account of occasional stoppages, but upon the whole the engine and battery have been working well. In consequence of the prospects visible as the crushing proceeds, shareholders in this and other favorite claims are very hopeful, and show no inclination to part with interests unless at what would a week or two ago have been considered satisfautory prices; while tlie work of prospecting has received a stimulant. We have been shown a very handsome prospect from a small leader in Daniels No. 1. The Great Extended have fairly staited to work. It is reported that good alluvial gold has been found in this grouad, and that the outcrop of a reef has also been struck.