The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1883.

Western Star, Issue 797, 1 December 1883, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1883.

Owing to the usual steamer not sailing from Bluff yesterday, the Melbourne mail and English mail via Brindisi will be despatched per Rotomahana from Port Chalmers direct on Tuesday morning. Letters intended to be forwarded by that mail will require to be posted in Riverton not later than 7.15 a.m. on Monday. A portion of the bush near Round Hill railway crossing was maliciously set fire to on Wednesday, which threatened the destruction of a quantity of rails, firewood, tramway, &c. Now that there are so many saw mills and residences in that locality, the practice of firing the bush, except with precaution, is attended with great danger, and anyone found guilty of wilfully setting fire to the bush with the object of destroying property, merits severe punishment. We understand that the matter has been placed in the hands of the police. We understand that the plans for the platelaying and ballasting of tl ts Orepuki railway are completed and have been forwarded to Wellington. It may therefore be expected that tenders will be called for the work very shortly. As evidence of the intention to push on the work, it may be mentioned that the rails have commenced to arrive, six truck loads having reached Riverton last evening,

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Riverton Band of Hope was he'd in the schoolbouse last night. There was a meagre attendance owing, no doubt, to the bad weather. Addresses were given by Rev. J. Cameron ; and Rev. C. S. Ross, of Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin; a reading by Mr Akhurst; a song by Master P. Mcßain; and a recitation by Master Ales. Burns. Shaw Saville’s direct steamship Triumph, which left Auckland for the South on Thursday night, struck on r,he Shearer Rock, about a mile east of Tiritiri Lighthouse, at the entrance to Hauraki Gulf, twenty miles from Auckland. She is on the rocks at the foremast tight compartment, in which there is twelve feet of water. It is believe 1 she can be got off, and vessels have gone to her assistance. The Triumph is 179/ tons register, and was built in ISBO. Mr J. Pattison, the popular host of the Globe Hotel, informs us that he intends opening his new hotel on Thursday next, when he will be glad to see any of his friends at a reunion, which he intends giving on that date in honor of the occasion. Messrs J. R. Mills and Co. sold by auction yesterday the privileges in connection with the forthcoming cattle show, as follows; Booth, £3O, Mr J. Campbell; refreshment booth, £9, Gregg an-I Co., Invercargill; the g des were passed in at £33, the reserve not being reached. A cricket mutch will be played at the Otau. tau to-day between Wairio and our local learn. The following players will represent the latter:—Rev. Grime, Messrs Mills, Booth Howell, Lyle, Browning, J Pattison, C and E Stevens, and Collins. The home club are taking a very weak team, most of thar players not being able to go. The mayoral election at Invercargill resulted in the return of Mr W S Moir, by a large majority over his opponents Messrs Froggatt and McDonald, the polling being : Moir, 266; Frogatt, 194; McDonald, 157. Mr Manisty was returned for East Invercargill, beating the other candidate (Mr L E Reade) by three votes At the Dunedin election, Mr Street was returned by an overwhelming majority

A meeting of the directors of the Orepuki Coal and Shale Co. was held at Thornbury on Tuesday evening. It was decided to order railway plant from England through Messrs Whittingham Bros, and .Instone. A call of 3d per share was made. Amongst a number of other novelties in jewellery, watches, &c., recently imported direct by Messrs I. W° and Co., is a consignment of eight-day watches, the first of the kind introduced into Southland. Thev are handsome, well-finished time-keepers, and as they are quoted at a moderate price, they 'should meet with a ready sale. 'A list of additional prizes in connection witiJ the forthcoming cattle show is published in another column. Amongst them is a prize of fire guineas offered by Messrs W. Gilchrist and/Co., Dunedin, for the best pen of 10 fat shaep most s'uiiable for freezing purposes We are pleased to record that great interest i s Weing manifested throughout the district in the ''approaching exhibition, and present indications are that Ihe entries, local and from a distance, piomise to excel in number and excellence, those at any former show held under the auspices of the W. D. A. and P. Assoeidion. Intending exhibitors will please I rote that the entries close at 4 p.m. on Thursday next, 6th December, and may be made with the Secretary up till that date at Thornbury or at Riverton on Wednesday, stk inst., where the Secretary will be in attendance to receive entries on that date. The Annexation Conference commenced its sittings at Sydney on Wednesday. The proceedings are not open to the press. The lion A Stuart, Premier of New South Wales, was elected President. The discussion was confined to preliminary measures. The Conference decided to admit Mr Des Voeux, Governor of Fiji, as a representative of that Colony. His Excellency submitted a memo, in reference to Pacific annexation. The Hon Wm Gibiin, Premier of Tasmania, submitted a communication from Mr Dudley Coote, Hawaiian Consul at-llobcrt, protesting against the annexation of the Pacific Islands. At the following day’s silting of the Conference, a long discussion took place on the draft of a series of resolutions tabled by Mr Service, avowing the necessity for the annexation of New Guinea, New Hebrides, and other islands in the Pacific. The text of resolutions has been withheld from the press. Frederick Bell and Thomas Mayo were brought before H. Hirst and R. Mnkcinnon, Esq’s., J.P.V charged with being drunk, while in charge of a horse, and furious riding. After hearing evidence, the Bench considered I lie ease fully proved, and fined each of the defendants £4, with 17s costs. On Thursday, before J. W. Chapmen, J.P., Chung King and Peter McCabe were charged with feloniously and burglariously cmering the house of Chick Cong, in Havelock street, and stealing therefrom £7 ss, the money of Chick Cong.— Chung King only appeared, and pleaded not guilty. —Sergt. Rutledge applied for a remand till 4th Deo., which was granted, bail being accepted accused in £2OO and two sureties of £IOO each.

Cur Heddon-Bush correspondent writes : “A public meeting'was held in the school house on Monday evening last, to consider a report that reached us, that rather a smart trick was to be played us, in making our roads under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. It is something like this : A short lime ago a petition was brought round for signature, sanctioning the making of our main road, which gives us an outlet to Winton, under the Act. The petition set forth that the work was to commence ut the eastern end, leading through the thick of the settlers west towards Jacobs River; but if we are rightly informed, specifications are being sent to Wellington to make part of the road on the western end, and hare bulk of the settlers loft out in the cold without a road. As all their traffic goes east towards Winton, a great deal of just indignation was expressed at the meeting on Monday evening, and a requisition signed to be presented to the County Council on Wednesday, asking (if such is their intention) to have their names taken from the petition ratiier than submit to such injustice. A very strong feeling was expressed against our member for the County Council, Mr Mackintosh, at his utter neglect of this district for some time pist, and this little job in particular. If the rumour I have referred to is correct, it will seal his doom from ever again representing us in the County Council. It was propose I to get a petition signed asking him to resign, 'which I think after his neglect in not attending any meetings during the most of this last season, whould have been the proper thing to have done.

We direct Attention to Messrs W. Gruar and Co.’s advertisement appearing in another column, intimating that they have commenced business at Wairio as general storekeepers, &c. The firm comes well recommended from Oamaru, where they have been in business for some time, and were well known for their integrity. The residents of Wairio may now be congratulated on again having the convenience of a store in the township, controlled by an energetic anl experienced firm.

The Rev. C. S. Ross, of Anderson’s Bajj will conduct the services in Riverton Presbyterian Church to-morrow, raorniugandevening, and at Groper’s Bush at 3 p.m.

Yesterday was observed as a holiday bv the banks in (own, in honor of St. Andrew, Scotland’s tutelary saint.