Untitled

Western Star, Issue 741, 16 May 1883, Page 2

On Monday evening the premises of Mr Beard, storekeeper, Nightcaps, were totally destroyed by fire. The fire was first discovered at midnight, and the utmost exertions of the crowd that soon gathered were directed towards preventing it spreading to the adjoining buildings, which, aided- by a favorable wind, were successful. The building, we understand, was insured, but Mr Beard will be a heavy loser on the stock, which was not insured. The origin of the fire is unknown.

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Roman Catholic Church, at Wrey’s Bush was performed on Sunday last, by the Rev. Father Kehoe, There was a large attendance, and the handsome sum of, £39 10s was collected’in aid of the building fund. It is expected that the building will be completed in September.

)XThe adjourned meeting of shareholders and intending shareholders of the Riverton Shipping Company was held on Monday evening, but on account of the absence of the acling secretary, and other meetings taking place at the same hour, it was deemed advisable to postpone the business until next meeting, the 21st inst. "'jt

The farmers and settlers in Otautau district are invited to meet at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 24th May, in the schoolhouse, to consider the best means of dealing with “ the gnib, small birds, rabbits, rats, Aparima Road Board and property tax also to take into consideration the advisability of forming a farmers’ club and holding a ploughing match this season.” Mr B. Keleher lias bought the Miners’ Rest Hotel, Nightcaps, where he intends in future to carry on business, changing the name of the hotel to the “Railway.” The promises in which he is at present carrying on business will be closed as a licensed house, and wc hoar tint Mr Quested will probably open it as a boarding house.

The excitement occasioned by the flro has now quite subsided, and the ordinary round of business lias once more been resumed. 13 ut the dismal gap created by the lire will not be easily overcome, and as far as is known at present, or until the prospects of the town assume a brighter aspect, a j 'grcat portion o

the ground will in all probability remain unoccupied for some time to come. The various insurance companies, interested, with commendable promptitude, have already settled the claims against them. The report of the affair in our last issue failed to acknowledge the effective services of a number of Chinaman, who worked with a will, their action on .this occasion being in strong contrast to that of some Europeans, vho calmly surveyed the wholesale destruction of property without making the' slightest exertion for its safety, and whcnjremonstrated with replied, “What s the use ? ■ it’s well insured;”-- With regard to 1 the re-ereetion of the buildings,' but little is at present definitely known. A proposal ■ made -by Mr Burwell, architect, of Invercargill, is. well worth consideration by holders of ground in the block. It is that a block of buildings of uniform design should be simultaneously erected in brick. By this plan the cost would be, much less than if each acted independently. -. The question of brick v. wood has been decided largely in favor of the former. The difference in cost is only some 25 per cent., and this is nearly compensated for by the small rates of insurance for brick buildings as compared with those built of wood. Then again the enhanced value acquired by property erected in brick in such a central position is a matter for consideration, leaving out of the calculation altogether the great improvement given to the appearance of the' town. However, these arc matters more for the owners of the property to deal’tviih, arid doubtless the question of £ s d will he an important factor in their determination. Mr Hayes has decided to ‘ re-erect the Caledonian in brick ; Mr Hancock has" nearly completed the erection of a temporary premises .in wood. r Messrs Pattison and McDonald have not yet decided as to what steps, they will take with regard to re-building. All U A social gathering to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the ship Sir William Eyre at Bluff Harbor was held in the Theatre Royal, Invercargill, on Friday evening, when upwards of 150 assembled, of whom some 25 or 30 were passengers by the ship., The vessel left Glasgow about the end of December, 1862, with 475 souls, rind had a long and pleasant passage, occupying over five months. The chair was occupied by Mr John McLeod; rand amongst the speakers were Messrs Gilchrist (Dunedin), Allison (Gladfield), Melvin, Joyce and Feld wick.

. John Goodwin was charged before Mr J. ,W. Chapman, J.P., on Saturday, with being drunk and disorderly in Palmerston street the previous evening. A fine of 20s was inflicted. He was further charged with using obscene language within hearing of persons passing on the street. The evidence disclosed that accused had been guilty of foul and disgusting language, and his conduct was otherwise reprehensible. A fine of £2 was inflicted for this offence.

'XMr J- Beer is the successful tenderer for, the erection of a new hotel at Fairfax for Mr J. Callaghan. The plans provide for a very handsome, and commodious building, which will provide a felt want in that district. A meeting of the Wallace County Council will be held on Friday next.

At a meeting of the Athenanim Committee on Monday evening, arrangements were all but completed i for leasing the old Town Council Chambers for the purposes of a library and a reading room, and a committee was appointed to transfer the library, &c., to that building,- and arrange for the necessary attendance. The Committee hope to be able to have the institution re-opened to the public in a day or two.

The circumstances connected with the fire which caused the destruction of a small stack of wheat at Mr A. Hall’s farm, near Thornburr, on Thursday evening, are somewhat suspicious, and it is feared that Mr Hall has been the victim of the incendiarism rage. The stack, which was situated near the road, was standing safe about 6 p.m., when the family sat down to their evening meal, and it was while thus engaged that the fire was discovered. Mr Hall has a considerable number of other stacks near the homestead; but. these,.were unharmed. Tho stack was uninsured, and was valued at £25.

Writing on Monday, our Orepuki correspondent says : —A public meeting was held in| the Courthouse on Saturday evening respecting;: the unsatisfactory state of the present mail service. There was a good attendance, and Mr Albert Cassels having been called to the cl’air, explained the cause of the meeting, viz., to reply to a communication received by Mrs Memphes from the Chief Postmaster, Invercargill, in which the Postmaster desi.ed to know if the new table was likely To suit the requirements of the district. Upon a discussion of the present service it transpired that Wednesday, May 2nd’s mail was not delivered in Eiverton until May 6th, to the inconvenience of several parties interested, and a general feeling of discontent was expressed at the mail having been left at Colac two days, on it’s way to Riverton. The present Monday’s service met with dissatisfaction on account of the short time (an hour and a half) allowed for reply. It was finally proposed by Mr John Crawford, seconded by Mr E. Griffith, and carried, that the'Postmaster be informed that a mail to Orepuki ion Saturday and back to Riverton on Monday," and the Wednesday’s service as at present, would meet the wishes of the meeting.'A-It ;i| "almost needless to say with how much regret we heard the news of the disastrous fire in Riverton last week, and everywhere sympathy and sorrow for the sufferers was expressed; for nearly all in Orepuki are more or less on intimate and long standing terms with the people of Riverton,

Dr Monckton, late Superintendent of the Totara Hospital, and formerly of Riverton, was presented with the following address by the Hospital Committee on resigning to take a position on the medical board of the Government Insurance Department:—“We the undersigned, President and members of the Totara District Hospital Committee, desire to express our regret at losing your valuable services through your resignation of the position of Surgeon-Superintendent, and we wish to place on record that during the time you have held office, since your appointment in November, 1881, there has not been one single ground of complaint in connection with the hospital, which we consider mainly due to the unceasing care, skill, and vigilance you have displayed in the performance of your duties. After your departure your memory will be perpetuated by the admirable contrivances you have adopted and invented for the relief of sufferers, by means of baths and accident bedsteads, which have obtained high commendation from all acquainted with them. With the warmest feelings for the future welfare of yourself and family, we subscribe ourselves.”

Steps are being taken to form a Social Club at Thornbury. A meeting of Yolunteer Ball Committee was held last Thursday night at Drillshed to open tenders for music and refreshments. The tender of Mr Hunter for music was accepted, to consist of the following musicians: —Mr Hunter (violin), Mrs Hunter (piano), Mr Haybittle (cornet). The tender of Mr Borne for refreshments was accepted. Sub-com-mittees were appointed to attend to separate departments in connection with the ball, and are progressing well with their work. The meeting adjourned until to-morrow night (Thursday IGtli inst.) The ’Frisco mail closes at Riverton at 7.15 a.tn. on Friday, 18th inst.

A correspondent from Fairfax says : Ibis place is now asuming the appearance of a township. In ad ditin to the present buildings, an hotel is about to be erected by Mr John Callaghan, of Riyerton, on the site of tormer one erected by Mr Price, which was burnt down. —We have now a daily mail to and from Invercargill and Riverton, which is a great boon to the district. A goods shed is also being erected at railway station, but the Government officials are, I think, very much to blame at the slow manner in which it is being put up. It is now nearly a year and a half since Government promised it, yet no steps -were taken until beginning of present harvest, when the settlers reminded them through their member, Mr Daniel. Tenders wore called and 8 weeks were allowed the contractor under a heavy penalty for non-com-pletion within the specified time. That time is up two weeks ago, and yet the roof is not on. There never has been more than two carpenters and a labourer at work; pan of the time only two altogether. One clause of the specification says that if engineer is not satisfied with number of hands employed, he may cause more to be put on ; yet an exteution of time was granted. It is very annoying to see the dilitary manner in which the contract is carried on, and yet see the quantity of grain lying on loading bank, some covered with waggon covers and others straw. The waggons obtainable here are very inadequate for the traffic. That the authorities, knowing this, did not push on the shed is simply I think not treating their patrons well. We have now a mid-day train three days a week Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, (not Saturdays, as one would expect) ; yet that is not able to cope with the traffic, as there has been for two Sabbaths a goods train. We think the railway ofiicials might manage to have a mid-day train every day. That would suit the convenience of the public and save the unnecessary necessity of a Sabbath train. The grain season has now fairly set in. The weather has been everything that could be desired for threshing, and unless a spurt is now made with the shed it will be of no use for this season.

Mr H. Feldwiclr, member for Invercargill, addressed ~his constituents at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening. There was beta small attendance. At the conclusion of the address, which lasted about two hours, Mr Feldwick was subjected to a severe crossexamination at the hands of Mr daggers on his views on the education question. A -vote of thanks and confidence was, proposed by Mr McLean, but an amendment thanking him for the address, but declining to accept his explanation of his views on the education question, was carried by a small majority. There is a strong probability that a match will bo arranged between Hearn, the Wellington champion sculler, and our local champion G. Harrington. Mr W. Boniface has such confidence in the powers of Harrington that he recently wrote to Wellihtgon asking the terms upon which Hearn would meet our local man, and suggesting a match at Riverton for a sum not exceeding £IOO. Although Mr Boniface has not yet received an official reply, a Wellington telegram of Monday’s date states that Hearn has sent a reply stating that he is willing to row Harrington, and will allow him £2O to come (o Wellington, or tike £2O to go to Riverton. There is every probability that the latter offer will be aecepted and we are informed that Harrington’s backers have already guaranteed £7o of the sum required. 1 The opening football match of the season was to have been played on the cricket ground on Saturday, between the local club and the first team of the Invercargill club. The Secretary of the local club, however, reedved a communication from Invercargill last evening stating that in consequence of the latter team having to proceed to Dunedin next week, they would not be able to fulfil their engagement at Riverton on Saturday. The match has therefore been postponed fill a future date.

A meeting of subscribers to Flint’s Bush Library will be held in the schoolhoiue, on Friday, 18th hast., at 7 p.m., to consider business of importance.

A quantity of frozen flounders, schntpper, and gurnet are to be shipped from Auckland by the Mataura for the London market.

A shipment of ostriches is expected at Auckland by the steamer Westmeath as the nucleus of an ostrich farm to be commenced at Bombay settlement, , near Drury. The Inangahua election resulted in the return of Mr Shaw by a majority of 46 over his opponent Mr Wakefield. The Wellington correspondent o± the “ Otago Daily Times ” writes regarding the New Pacific mail contract : —Considerable satisfaction is expressed here at the announcement that the Pacific Mail Company has consented to renew the mail contract on the terms proposed by the New South Wales Government. The Post to-night points out that the result, so far as this Colony is concerned, is sigularly gratifying. It says: “In the first place, instead of having to pay an increased subsidy, our contribution will be actually diininshecl by ,£1250 now. As the net cost of the service to the Colonies, after deducting recoveries from postage, <fcc., was barely £SOOO last year, and is steadily decreasing yearly, it plainly follow's that under the new arrangement we shall get it for £3750, even if there is no increase in the postage receipts ; but as we know there will and must be an increase, we may fairly calculate that the net expense of the San Prancisco mail service next year will not exceed £2500, and probably will be under £2OOO, and if the United States Government bears its share, as tbere is every reason to believe will bo the case, then we have the pleasing prospect before us in a year or two of positively deriving a direct income from this source, capable of being employed either in increment of other revenue, or in reduction of taxation. It is also pointed out that there are other advantages, such as the continuance of communication with

60,000,000 j of people in America, with whom a profitable trade is being steadily created, and the possession of a mail route not so likely to be interrupted by the chances of war as the Suez route”

An extraordinary probate suit has just been brought to close by the civil tribunal of Eheims. The will in dispute was that of the Yicomte de Brimont, chief partner in the well-known champagne firm of Euinart Pere et Pils. The Yicomte, some 30 years ago, married an English lady, but in 1867 a judicial separation took place. After a few years of unmarried existence the Yicomte conceived a strong desire to adopt a child, “ a little fair girl.” He accordingly sent a woman, one Mdme. Caroline Sebault, in search of a child which he succeeded in discovering in England. Mary Eiboldi, the “ little fair girl,” was educated by her adopted father, who on his death in 1881, left her a sum of nearly three millions of francs. M. dTnfreuille, a nephew of the deceased, attempted to upset the will. He sent emissaries to London to trace the origin of Mary Eiboldi, discovered several relatives of his uncle’s adopted child, caused a London solicitor to be appointed her guardian, and raised the plea that the Yicomte was mad. He also demanded an official inquiry into thecircumstances under which,the will was made, and attempted to obtain an indictment against Madame Sebault for abduction. The case tried at Eheims, turned principallv on the sanity of deceased, while the English solicitor endeavored to make good his claim to the guardianship of the child, and to obtain her release from the custody of the residuary legatee. The Court rejected the demand for an inquiry, and the will in favor of the little English orphan, now a young heiress of sixteen, and the possessor of some £120,000 sterling, was declared valid. An amusing story is told by a contemporary ; —“ It may not be prudent always to accept an embassey, and still less prudent to accept a Sovereign’s presents. General Wallace, the’ United States Ambassador at Constantinople, has had some experience of this. In speaking with the Sultan, who at once admired his free and independent manners, and began to hold him in much friendship, the General one day turned the conversation on Circassian ladies, and asked if they were as fascinatingly beautiful as reported. Ho answer was given by the Sultan to a question which may have sounded a little too familiar in his august ears. Next day, however, a Circassian slave of great beauty was sent to the American Minister’s residence, escorted by careful eunuchs from the palace, and acceptance of the fair present by General Wallace was requested. The General happened to be out, and who should appear in the vestibule to receive the lady but the dignified and somewhat plain-looking wife of the Minister ! She was informed that the Circassian was sent as a gift to her husband. ‘ For what ?’ she demanded with great emphasis ; ‘ what business has she here?’ An oilv old eunuch meekly replied ‘ She will serve coffee to the General.’ * Out of this with the baggage !’ exclaimed the infuriated lady, and she requested the dragoman who happened to be present to translate her idiomatic expression. When General Wallace returned he was much embarrassed, and expressed to his wife his great fears le»t the abrupt refusal of the present might promote serious diplomatic difficulties.” There is a custom prevailing among the inhabitants of the Andaman Islands which may throw light upon the civilised use of wedding cake. When a native girl whose exceptional beauty has brought her many suitors is knocked down and carried off by her accepted suitor, the wedded pair, within forty-eight horns of the wedding, send a cup of poison distilled from the halahula tree to each and everyone of the bride’s former admirers. If any recipient feels that he cannot become reconciled to the marriage, he drinks the poison and dies ;*but if he decides that he will survive the loss of his intended wife he throws away the poison, and feels bound in honour never to show the slightest sign of disappointment. By this admirable system the husband is spared the pangs of jealousy, and is able to live on friendly terms with the surviving admirers of his wife.

The following rules should be observed in the care of grindstones: First—Don’t waste the stone running it in water, nor allow it to stand in water when not in use, as this will cause a soft place, and consequent uneven wear. Second — W et the stone by dropping water on it from a pot suspended above the stone, and stop off the water when not in use Third —Do not allow the atone to get out of round, but true up with a piece of gaspipe or “ hacker.” Fourth—Do not leave the stone out of doors in the wind and weather, as this hardens it and makes it less effective. Fifth— Clean off all greasy tools before grinding, as grease or fat destroys the grit. Sixth—When you get a stone that suits your purpose, keep a sample of the grit to send to the dealer to select by, as in this way you can always secure one that suits.