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Western Star, Issue 931, 18 March 1885, Page 2

T!ip local option clause of the Licensing Act wa« somewhat roughly handled at "Friday’s meeting of the County Council. The Clerk cal lad intention to the fact that it would be necessary to take a poll of the ratepayers next month to ascertain whether they were in favor of an increase or decrease of licenses, and also that, returning officers would require to be appointed to take the poll; thereupon the Chairman characterised the system as a complete farce, and caused a useless waste of money, w : th which sentiments Mr MTntyro concurred. When the polling places cams to be appointed, Mr Williams said thought

one would be sufficient for Wairio district (which comprises the ridings of Mararoa j Waiau and Wairio), as he did not think a dozen people would take the trouble to record their vote on the subject.

Chinamen are proverbially slow to adopt the customs of the Western barbarian, but occasionally we have evidence that after a long course of acclimatisation they may relax thei r intense conservatism, and avail themselves of the rights of citizenship, even if they ignore the responsibilities appertaining thereto. A petition was presented to the County Council on Friday from Residents at Round Hid, the great bulk of the signatures appendei thereto being those of persons who hail from the Celestial empire. It is usual for the Clerk to read such documents to the Council, as well as the names of persons signing same, and although he is an adept at deciphering some extraordinary specimens of caligraphy, the Asiatic hieroglyphics fairly beat him. It appeared as if the failure to interpret the characters would be a bar to the reception of the petition. The Chairman looked severely at Mr McPherson (who, as member for the riding, presented the petition, and who, according to the rules of Ihe Council in such eases, is supposed to make himself conversant with the contents), but Mr McPherson vouchsafed no explanation on the part of Ids constituents. However, the difficulty was got over by the signatures being “taken as read.” When the petition was being taken round for signature a large number of Chinamen displayed considerable ’cutcm ss in declining to sign it. It is well known that many of them dispense with the formality of taking out a miner’s right, and when the petition was tendered to such they gave as a reason for refusing to sign the document that ‘'Beetle Grant see’um name, and him see me no habbe minds light. No fear, me no savvc litht-tee name there.”

Mr John Ayson, under whoso management the Monte Christo estate has become one of the finest properties in the Western District, has ceased connection with the company owning tlie property, and proceeds shortly to take the management of Lynwoo 1 stition, Te Anau. The proprietors of Monte Christo have divided the estate amongst themselves, hence Mr Ayson’s services are no longer required .

Thomas Hughes, of Otautau, met with rather a peculiar accident a fo a days ago ; from which he escaped with comparative immunity considering the serious posi'ion in which he was placed. Whi'e crossing the Apariraa with a load of grain, he lost his balance and fell into the River in front of (he wheel of his dray, which grazed his side and passed over his shoulder. On coming to the surface bis mite, who was following in another team, rescued him from further danger. He was taken to the Invercargill hospital, where it wjs found he had sustained a fracture of the collar bone and severe bruises.

The Gazette notifies the withdrawal oi sections 4,6, 8,11,15, 17, 19, 21, 29, 33, 35, 43, and 47, Hodgkinson, from the deferred payment system ; also the setting apart of sections in same township under the village settlement clauses of the Act.

In view of possible complications in Europe the Government have arranged to have the cable open all night, as well as the principal stationg ; n New Zea and, so that any important news may be circulated as speedily as possible.

~A meeting of Mr M'Lood’s Committee was hold in Foster’s Hall, Thornbury,on Saturday evening; Mr M. Instone, treasurer, reported having received to dato £2S9 7s $1 ; and telegrams promising amounts which would total to £330. The statement was received with applause.—Mr S. E. Feathorstono moved and Mr R. Gray seconded that letters bo written to the two educational journals of New Zealand asking them to publish the amount collected, and solicit support; also that time fir receiving subscriptions be extended to 31st May.—Mr Southern moved and Mr Havnlyn seconded that tho secretary correspond with tho managers Western Star, “ Southland Times,” “ Southland News,” with a view to have tho subscriptions acknowledged free if tho managers would be kind enough, if not to advertise. Carried.— The secretary and chairman wero instructed to confer with teachers with a view to getting a petition representing tho case to Government through the Education Board.—A committee consisting of Messrs W. Hamlyn J. W. Hamilton. M. Instone, Southern and S. E. Feathorstono, was appointed to select a piece of ground to be bought on behalf of Mr McLeod.

An information was laid yesterday by tbe officer in charge of tho local corps of the Salvation Army against some of tho members of tho Skeleton Army for throwing rotten eggs at tho Salvation Army while marching through the streets. Webb’s “Rival Marionettes performed in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings to onlymodento houses. A plethora of professional companies has visited Riverton since the New Year, and to this cause alone may be ascribe! the small amount of patronage bestowed on this really excellent and mirth-provoking entertainment. Probably never since it was built has the stage of tho Oddfellows’ Hall presented a gayer appearance than it did under the skilful and artis'ic bands of this company, whose proncesium and

drop aceno and fairy-lika scenery quite transformed the ordinary appearance of the stage. The extraordinary antics of the automatic figures evoked ringing applause, and the audience had difficulty in realising that the characters were not represented by ordinary animated mortals but by meehanical representations of the genus homo. The beauty of the concluding transformation scenes fairly entraneed the audience, who wore not slow to mark their approbation of the magnificient dssplay.

May Boy is not Hkdv to again run under Johnny Smi h’a colors, the owner having parted with him vest rd .y to Mr R. Guppies at a vei_\ n'i ! i>ftn-'orT price. Under Mr Smith’s training t lie Buy has improved wonderfully, and judges see in him a likely winner of the Invercargill Cup. s » f A couple of bout races came off yesterdays morning (hat cxciledagood deal of interest and drew together a crowd of between 300 and 400 people. The first event was a match between W. B rnifuce and John Eoderique, for £lO a-side, from the bridge round the rocks at the Narrows, a distance of about three miles and a half. Boniface pulled the Wild Wave and Eoderique the Surprise. The contest was a very keen one, but Eoderique failed to pluck from his opponent his title to the local championship, as the latter came in in easy winner by fully 200 yards. ? The other event was a contest in the same boats between Frank Eoderique and W. Watson, the former in the Surprise and the latter in the Wild Wave, for £1 a-side. The course was from the bridge twice round the magazine, a distance of about one mile and a-half. Eoderique had certainly the race in hand, but mistaking the course he lost a lot or ground, which enabled Watson to win with something to spare.

“ Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.” This was the burden of Prof. Baldwin’s apology for the vagaries of the spirit folks which were communicated with in the recent seances given by him and Mrs Baldwin. That they worked rightly yesterday might be seen from the rejoicing of several gentlemen who pinned their faith on Mrs Baldwin’s prophesy that Alay Boy would win the Wallace Cup, and slaked sundry sovs. in the totalise or, and otherwise on the strength of the spirituilistic tip. Should her other prediction be fulfilled, viz., that Hanlan wins tho champion sculling race, tho Ldy clairvoyant will considerably increase the number of believers in her powers of “ tho second sight.”

The Press Association telegraphs a sad item regarding the destruction by fire of tho Tamahera Hotel, Auckland, in which two boys, aged four and cloven years respectively, sons of the proprietor, were burnt to death early Thursday morning. It appears that Camp, the owner, was roused by two men who were riding past, and when awakened he at once made for tho staircase, but w heu half way down he was driven back by tho flames and smoke. Waking up his oldest son Hai iy> about sixteen, he told him to try and save his brothers. He then himself got out of a front window, clambered along the parapet, and let himself down by a lamp over tho door. He then got a ladder used for lighting the lamp, and put it to Airs Camp’s window. With, great trouble her newly born baby was got out of the window, also four little children. Aleanwhile Harry Camp got hold of ono of his brothers (Willie), and carried him to the escape sthiroaso, which runs up the back of tho house. Ho met a man who took the child from him. Harry then faced tho fire, and tried to go back and save his brothers —Edward, aged four years, and Albert, aged 11. The (lames and smoke beat him back, and, sweeping over him, forced him to jump through the flames by a window at the buck. He was severely burnt about the head and chest, and. ono of his arms is broken. He now lies at Air Armstrong’s house in a very precarious condition, and’ is attended by Dr Cushney. The two boys, Edward and Albert were boHi lost in the flames. Willie Camp was also severely burnt, but is in no danger. It is supposed tie fire was caused through ashes blowing under the hotel from an ashpit. Gamp has lost every penny, the insurance being in favor of the Building Society.

A firm of Sydney solicitors has informed the Government that Mrs Sessle, who was killed by the collision between the Iberia and Nemesis, on the occasion of the departure of Soudan contingent, was entitled to a legacy of £BOOO, which will now devolve on the children. The deceased came nut as a Queensland inning ant. A telegram lias bean received from Sessle, stating that he would leave Adelaide for Sydney as soon as possible. A serious affray took place between Italian fishermen at Taumutu, near Lake Ellesmere, on Monday afternoon. A house belonging to Rafael Portclli was occupied ty Nicholas Bassi, who refused to quit. Portslii and two other fishermen wane to obtain possession. Bussi fired at them with a gun and wounded a man nam'd A.nlonis Gurrar in the leg. He then clubbed the gun an 1 struck Andrea Nicholas on the head. Eventually the throe managed to overpower him and sent for the police.

The will of Mr Edward Constable Maxwell, Christchurch, lias been proved. He leaves the following charitable bequests: £10)0 to be livided amongst the Roman Catholic School ii Ganb-rmiry in su ill proportions as the ex emtor thinks fit; £IOOO to the Christchurch Hospital ;£SOO amongst the deserving Catholic poor of Duinf ies (Scotland); and £2OOO among such charitable institutions in Canterbury, and in such proportions, as the executor thinks fit.

J. McLeod’s subscription list. Enoch Jones—Tenders. John King—£l row ird. Notice—Meeting J, McLeod’s friends. W. Todd—Sides. Riverton Harbor Board —Tenders, Aparima Road Board—Notice.