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Western Star, Issue 899, 22 November 1884, Page 2

Mr J. W. Chapman was returned unopposed for the office of Mayor on Wednesday. His nominators were Messrs P. W. Borne and J. Parry. This is the third occasion that M r Chapman has been returned—a circumstance that speaks well for the ability with which he has discharged the duties of the office. The proceedings at the nomination were entirely formal, although about a score of ratepayers were present, evidently expecting to hear the Mayor-elect " speak a piece ” —bub they were disappointed. ' “In prosperity remember the poor.” An opportunity is given those so desirous of carrying that precept into practice. A number of ladies have kindly undertaken to get up a bazaar in aid of the funds of that institution the welfare of which should commend itself to all classes of the community—the Wallace and Fiord Hospital. The date has been fixed lor Wednesday, 3rd December (the day of the cattle show), when doubtless there will be a large number of country visitors, who will then have an apportunity of patronising an exhibition where they will obtain good value for their money and at the same time give timely assistance to an institution deserving their support. Contributions in aid of the bazaar may bo left with the Misses Robinson;

Attention is directed to the advertisement announcing a Blue Ribbon Meeting at Thornbury next Thursday. The Rev. Mr Dutton from Invercargill will be present and give ono, ( of hie excellent addresses. I

The notifications of the annual meetings of the Caledonian Society and the Regatta Club remind ua of the approach of the Christmas and New Tear holidays. The Caledonians meet in the Commercial Hotel at 8 o’clock this evening, and the Regatta Club on Monday evening, in the Globe Hotel, in each case to receive annual report, elect office-bearers, and make arrangements for the forthcoming sports.

At the Land Board meeting on Thursday, the following applications wore granted : Mary Egan and M. Egan, sections 16 and 18, Wairio (to capitalise).—lt was agreed to fix the upset price of section 8, block 3, Centre Hill district, withdrawn from the d.p. system and made a cash section, at £1 per acre, the land being inferior,—ln accordance with a recommendation from the High Schools Board of Governors, the Board agreed to postpone dealing with the matter of sections 37 and 38, Wairio, pending a reply to a communication from the Government re a proposal to purchase.—The holders of d.p. section 280, Taringatura, complained that the County Council had not spent the money available, which they stated was £4O. —The Chairman intimated that he found that only £lO was available, and it was not thought advisable by the Council to do anything until more money had accrued.

The Invercargill Hospital Committee have decided to offer the appointment of hospital surgeon to Dr Low, of Kaitangata.

The date fixed for payment of the property tax amounting to sums under £250 and the first moiety of sums over that amount, is the second of December. The second moiety of the larger sums is due on second of February. Ten per cent, will bo added to all of the tax due in December and unpaid on January sth, Mr Booth, the founder of the Blue Ribbon Army, contemplates making a three months’ tonr in New Zealand, commencing at Auckland, in January next. \The following is an extract from a private letter received by the last San Francisco mail, by a resident of Riverton from his friends in England, relative to New Zealand frozen mutton:—“A few words about tho New Zealand mutton. A largo quantity has arrived in Coventry during tho last few weeks, and it is very much liked ; no one finds any fault with it, except those butchers who cannot get any of it. They, however, know that it is ‘ right.’ Some of them say it is painted, because it looks so clean. I never saw foreign meat come into tho market in such a nice clean condition before. Tho American meat depot is the only shop where it is obtainable, and the place is completely besieged by hundreds on arrival of a supply ; it is gone immediately. Tho best joints are selling at 8d per lb, such splendid joints too> compared to tho local supply. Wo mean to use it all wo can.” —The above speaks for itself. There is no doubt that our Now Zealand mutton is slowly, but surely finding its way to the various manufacturing centres in England, to our ultimate advantage.

Eatepayers in the Wairio riding interested in the closing of certain roads (as specified in advertisement appearing in another column) are informed that a public meeting will be held at the Schoolhouae, Nightcaps, on Monday, Bth December, to ascertain whether or not they approve of closing said roads.

Mr Inspector Grammell commences the standards examination of the District High School on Monday. It may be mentioned that the attendance at the school has been very satisfactory lately, the average for last week being 290 out of 310 on the roll. The attendance has averaged for the quarter considerably over tbe number entitling the school to another pupil teacher.

The date of Messrs Wilson, Taine & Co.’s sale at Otautau has been altered from the 4th to the 18th December next. We notice that the surfacemen are now engaged on a much needed work—that of cleaning the water tables of the streets. It would certainly add much to the appearance of the town if the superabundant growth of grass were cleared away from the bottom of fences along footpaths.

The contractor for sinking working shaft in the Orepuki Coal Co.'s ground has completed the work, bottoming on coal and shale at a depth of 155 ft. The formation for tramway is nearly completed, and a contract for platelaying has been let. Tho railway department has just completed a gravitation water supply for tho use of the engines and station work generally. The present process of pumping water into tanks on the main line a short distance from the station has, besides being expensive, not been satisfactory, and has, wo understand, been always looked upon merely as a temporary scheme. The water is lifted from the creek above tho quarry in South Riverton, and from thence conveyed in pipes to its destination —a distance of fully a mile. The supply is a never-failing one, and although the first cost is somewhat heavy, it will be more economical in the end.

Mr McCulloch, R.M., gave judgment yesterday in the case of Gardner v. Bellenger, a claim for £SO for damages to sheep by defendant’s dog. Verdict was given for £lO, costs, £l4 12s.

The Defence Department will not sanction the Easter Review at the Lakes on account of the costly transport of me.i and material.

Mr John Hyde Harris has shown the editor of the “ Star ” his diary, in which occurs on entry that on March 15,1850, whlie he was coming out in the barque Poiotiers they twice spoke a vessel called the Osprey.

Tho Wellington correspondent of the “Otago Daily Times” writes;—“l understand that tho War Office offered to sell a battery of nine-pounder breechloaders to tho New Zealand Government for £9OO, including ammunition, This, of course, is a low figure compared with tho original cost, but Mr Ballanco is of opinion that it is false economy to have any but the best weapons, and accordingly, leforo accepting tho offer, decided to make inquiries into the merits of the new Swedish gun, of which I gave a few particulars the other day, and which it appears is strongly recommended by General Stewart, an eminent authority on artillery. Tho new am, it appears, is only a threo-poundor, but carries a shell as well as ball, and appears to bo exceedingly handy and destructive weapon. Tho groat merit claimed for it is that, unlike ordinary’- field-guns, it can be used in the face of infantry fire.”

The County’ Elections are now over, still it nay bo ts well to mention that a doubt (vhich has received reliable verification) has arisen in some quarters as to tho power of a returning officer to refuse to allow a ratejayer to veto even althoug his rates wore not tt tho timapaid. Regarding tho matter wo quote tjtttfoil owing from tho “Mount Ida Chroni<^R—“ Considerable doubt has pro- \ vailed as to whether tho last section | of ciauSE of the Counties Act Ai^ieudaio^t

Act, 1883—which provides that no elector shall bo entitled to vote at any County election unless he shall have previously paid all rates due by him—could bo legally enforced during tho late election. To settle the vexed question, tho County Clerk (Mr Hugh Wilson) telegraphed to Messrs Haggitt Bros, and Brent, solicitors, Dunedin, for an opinion as follows : —‘ Counties Act Amendment Act.— Last paragraph of section 10 states that no elector shall bo entitled to vote unless all rates due by him shall have been paid. Can a returning-offioer in booth ask an elector if he has or has not paid rates, and, if answer refused or in negative, can officer refuse to give him a voting paper ?’ Messrs Haggitt Bros, and Brent replied ‘ Do not think Returning-offioer entitled to ask questions mentioned, and if voter’s name on roll he should receive vote.”’ We are not aware whether any ratepayer was refused a voting paper at the recent Wallace County election on the ground that his rates were not paid, or whether in all cases defaulters merely abstained from voting; but the fact remains that in some cases the elections would have resulted differently had the manifesto not been published debarring such defaulters from voting. The intention of the Amendment Act of 1883 is quite apparent, but as is frequently the case, the providing machinery forgiving force to that intention has been over looked.

A horrible occurrence happened at Currie’s farm, Swinburn, about three miles from Lower Kyeburn, on Tuesday morning about ten o’clock. William Currie and his father, who were working about a mile from Neil Currie’s house, noticed smoke rising, and they at once rushed towards it. On arriving they found that the homo was enveloped in flames. They then noticed that two daughters of Neil Currie, aged seven and two years, were mining, and when the fire bad burnt itself out, their remains were found in ttie aihei. Previous to the fire only the two children bad been in the house, the father and mather being absent, William Currie and his father were about the place fencing, and cannot account for the occurrence. Neil Currie, at the lime the fire happened, was away at Maerewhenua.

"Wallace County Council—Meeting, roads to be stopped and tenders Orepuki Coal Co.—Call Town Council—Election of Mayor Caledonian Society—Annual meeting Regatta Club—Annual meeting Stinson and Co., Portland, Maine, U.S.A., hare an announcement Blue Ribbon Union—Meeting at Thornbury Ringway estate—Wanted ditchers Carswell, White and Co.—Sale at Thornbury J. O. McArdcll—Sale at Btal Creek Application for lease—Riverton Coal and Shale Company Rev. Father Kehoc—Mass at Orepuki

T. Booth—Reward J. It. Mills and Co.—Additions to Thornbury sale; sale of boat; hurdles, gates, &c. ; sale of spirits, wines, &c. under distress warrant. Railway Department—Excursion furea to Dunedin Band Board—Application to transfer d. p. section Public Works Department—Tenders go odi shed at Waieola.