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Western Star, Issue 944, 2 May 1885, Page 2

No nination of candidates for the office of Mayor, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Chapman, will bo received up till noon on Monday next. Further than that it is unde.stood that Cr Robertson will bo asked to pub himself in nomination, we have net heard of any other probable candidate for the office. /The excursion train for Orepuki on Tucsl day, in honor of tho opening of tho line, will leave Riverton at 10.35 a.m., leaving Orepuki on the return journey at 4 p.m., thus allowing visitors four hours to explore the attractions of the locality... j

The business places in town were pretty generally closed on Thursday, which was tho half-j" early Fast Day. Services were held morning and evening by tho Rev. Mr Ferguson ; also at Groper’s and Flint’s Bush in the afternoon. The sacrament will be administered in the country churches to-morrow and in the Riverton church on tho following Sunday, | '

Tho N. M, and A. Company report having sold sections "31 and 32, Aparima Hundred, containing 400 acres, on account of Mr I). W. Murray,To Alexander Pyper, at a very sa'isfactory figure.

Major Thomson has received n telegram

from Colonel Rentier to (ho effect that volunteer' corps me allowed by the amended regulations to recruit up to 100 strong, the ordinary regulation strength being 63. Arms and ammunition will be supplied to the excess numbers, but no capitation' will be allowed beyond the maximum at present laid down for garrison and country corps.

The agitation by Invercargill Chamber of Commerce for placing the Southland grain rates ( on the same footing as those prevailing in Canterbury has resulted satisfactorily The Cabinet has decided to make the reduction uniform throughout the colony, to come into force as soon as possible. The harvest thanksgiving services at St. Leonard’s, Thornbury, on Sunday las', which were conducted by the Rev. T. Hodgson, were well attended, especially in the evening, when the accommodation was taxed to the utmost. The building was tastefully and appropriately decorated. The offertories were in aid of the hospital, and represented in money and produce a sum of £9 10s,

Writing on Wednesday, our Orepnki correspondent remarks :—I have much pleasure in receiving your information in this day’s Stab of the opening of the Riverton and Orepuki railway on the sth prox. From the last remark in your paragraph, I wish to state that no preparations have been contemplated for any grand reception of visitors. The only demonstration intended to be made is that of the presentation of the testimonial to Mr Daniel. I learn with pleasure that Mr Macandrew, who was Superintendent of Otago at the time the lino was sanctioned, and who turned the first sod at tho commencement of the formation, has bean invited to be present to open it.

The farce of taking local option poll in the districts of North and South Riverton will be enacted on Monday and Tuesday next respectively. Probably, as has been the case in many other districts, some half dozen persons will record their votes, the affirmative or negative proposal being carried possibly by a majority of one and these numbers are legally accepted as indicating public opinion as to whether it is in favor or against the, increase. of licenses in the district !

The Defence Office are inviting applications from persons wishing to hold appo ntments as officers and non-commissioned officers in the New. Zealand Militia.

Although every effort has b'*en made to obtain a cine to the author of the attempt to burn clown Messrs Robertson Bros.’ premises nothing tangible enough has been ascertained to enable the crime to be sheeted home to the guilty person, despite the tempting reward offered, for the conviction of the offender. It may be mentioned, that of the £l5O offered, Messrs Robertson Bros, contribute £SO, the balance being offerred by the associated insurance companies.

'X'he heavy ruin Iliat continue,! to fall without interruption ffom an early hour on Tuesday morning till Thu sday, had the effect of greatly flooding the rivers, causing them to overflow iheir bunks and injure roads, culveits, tke. • The township of Otautau was pretty well covered with water on Thursday, making progress through the main street impossible on foot. The water was running throujb Seebof’s hotel and cellar and into Gardiner’s store. Fortunately no serious damage was done, and yesterday the river was falling : rapidly. A very heavy fall of snow took place up country, covering the mountains with their winter robes. There is still a considerable quantity of grain in stook, some of which 1193 been in that condition for weeks. Latterly the weather has been anything but favorable for completing harvest operations, and those who were unfortunate enough not to have had their crops secured before the weather broke, have now but little chance of reaping it in good condition.

Admirers of Mr Matthew Burnett, the ■temperance orator, will bo interested to learn that Mr Dougall, photographer, Invercargill, has been successful in taking excellent portraits of that gentleman, in carte de visite, cabinet, and larger sizes. The portraits, in various attitudes, are a striking resemblance of the original. Before the R.M. at Invercargill on Wednesday, the occupant of a section at Waimatuku and also of a run at Mavora Lake was fined £lO in each case, with £3 Os lOd and £3 9s costs, for breaches of the Rabbit Act, 1882, in failing to keep the rabbits in check after notice given. Mr A. Douglass, Rabbit Inspector, prosecuted. At the ordinary meeting of the Wallace Lodge, 1.0.0. F., A. 0., on Wednesday evening last, P.G. Bro. Broad (who is about to be removed to Orepuki, consequent on the changes necessary in the railway department through extension of the line to that township) was {presented by the members with two jewels'emblematical of Oddfellowship, as a slight recognition of the valuable services rendered by' him to the order and of the great' interest he had evinced in the working of the lodge since its institution. The N G., who made the presentation, referred to the assiduous and efficient manner in which Bro. Broad had fulfilled his duties in the various offices ho had occupied in the lodge during the time ho had been connected with it; having been only absent from one meeting since he became a member. The presiding officer concluded by wishing Bro. Broad long life and much prosperity in his new scone of labors.—ln returning thanks Bro. Broad stated that the performance of his duties in the lodge had been a source of great pleasure to him, and although now prevented from visiting the lodge frequently, ho would continue to take a warm interest in all matters connected with it and the order generally 9 and do what ho could to assist in the establishment of a lodge at Orepuki.

Tho case Eichardson v. Eichardson, in which the petitioner applied for a judicial separation, will not come before the Supreme Court, a settlement between tho parties having been effected.

\ Sections 10 and 11, block 5, Longwoocl, containing 250 acres eajh, are set apart under the perpetual leasing clauses of tins Land Act.

The operation of the Arms Act has been suspended in tho Middle Island, insofar as they relate to the sale or purchase by any person or persons of arms, amunition, gunpowder, lead, caps, or shot, for mining, sporting, or any useful or harmless purpose. We understand that the Kev. Father Kehoe, who has been in charge of the Eiverton parish during tho past three or four years, has resigned, and will shortly proceed to the T oVtl}.

1 At the nomination of members of the Aparima Hoad Board, the following gentlemen were delared elected, there being no opposition:—Hoddon Bush Subdivision, J Walker; Mt. Pleasant, S. Hodgkinson ; Wairaatuku, J. W, Hamilton For Jacob’s River subdivision, Messrs W. Stevens and J. Playfair were nominated. A poll will take place on Thursday, 7th inst„ at the house of Mr W. Jiopcroft, Gummio’s Bush. The attention of members of the Riverton Rifle Corps is drawn to a special meeting convened for Monday evening next. A match between the Riverton and Gore Football Clubs takes place at Invercargill to-day. The Gore Club is said to be a pretty strong one, although judging by the “ form ” of the local men, the latter should be hard to beat.

A meeting of the Education Beard was held yesterday. Tne following appointments were made Miss Grace Bryden, temporary mistress, Orepuki School; M ; ss Fullarton, fourth assistant, South School. —lt was decided to invite tenders for painting the school buildings ot Riverton.—A deputation, consisting of us many members of the Board as could conveniently attend, was requested to visit the district of Colac Buy, and report on the application for the establishment bt a school there.

At the Supreme Court, Invercargill, yeater day, His Honor Judge Williams delivered judgment on an application made in Dunedin for a mandamus to cause the R.M. at Riverton to grant a rehearing in the affiliation case Brosnan v. Stewart. The application was refused with costs £lO 10s. Mr Finn for plaintiff, Mr O’Reilly for defendant, The cable news received to-day is of anything but a reassuring character. Russia would appear to be bent on war, while the English Government, still parleying, has j despatched the Channel Fleet, under sealed orders, for some destination unknown. The Russians, it appears, have made a demand that Britain shall retire from a position she has taken in the Corea, failing which they threaten to advance on Herat. The remaining news all points to the probability of war. —“News,” May 1. The case of Wong Chung v. S. J. Stuck was heard at the Supreme Court, Invercargill yesterday. Plaintiff sought to recover £230 for alleged wrongful prosecution. The circumstances out of which this action arose occurred at Riverton in March last, when plaintiff was charged before the R. M. there with having stolen a whip valued at 12s 6d, Stuck having taken out a warrant for his arrest on which he was imprisoned. The case was dismissed by the R.M. After evidence had been taken similar to that already published by us, His Honor gave judgment for plaintiff for £25, with costs on the lower scale. Messrs O’Reilly and Harvey appeared for plaintiff and defendant respec; tively. The conscription has never been at all popular among communities of Englishmen (remarks the Timaru Herald), and it must have come with rather a disagreeable surprise to many New Zealanders to find that, in the Militia Act of 1870, the objectionable Continental power is completely vested in the hands of our own Government. That Act was originally framed at the time of grave trouble with the Maoris, when the hearths and homes of the colonists were in danger, and, of course, at that juncture every man gladly responded to the demand made upon his services. It should always bo borne in mind, however, that calling out the Militia is a step only justified by urgent necessity. The withdrawal of the power of the male population from industrial pursuits means great disorganisation of business, and serious public inconvenience. The Government that lightly revolves upon such a step will incur a serious responsibility. Mr Pratt (Tamati Parati), the Waikouaiti candidate for the Southern Maori electoral

listriet, rendered vacant by the elevation of

Mr Taiaroa to the Council, lias just concluded an exhaustive canvass of the whole district, Mr Pratt is a supporter of the present Government. According to the “ Palmerston Times,” he is likely to have opposition to his candidature.

Never before was there such a hopeless plethora of capital (writes the American correspondent of a contemporary) as we are nowin these hard times groaning over. The Government holds nearly 400,000,000d01. in its vaults; the banks have more than the legal reserve, and lend from day to day on call loans at 1 per cent, per annum, and it becomes harder and harder to find safe investment on bond and mortgage at per cent., even if one is willing to advance 75 per cent, on the security, and to agree not to call in the loan for 5 or 10 years. It is absolutely certain that Wall street will in a few years, deal ,in foreign securities, simply because we cannot find employment for our money at home.

Messrs Levin and Co., Wellington, have received instructions from the Admiralty to load the Coptic with 2000 tons of coal, and to retain the officers and crew and sufficient stewards to attend on about twenty saloon passengers.

Two members of the police force entered a suburban hotel last Sunday evening (says the Dunedin “ Star”) to ascertain how the provisions of the Licensing Act were being attended to. Imagine their surprise at finding the licensee and the barmaid engaged in reading the Family Bible. Their retreat from such a serene scene was as hasty and cautious as their approach.

E. C. Lawton announces that she has become leoseo of the Shamrock Hotel. M. Instone—Tenders tr imming hedges. William Todd—Auction sale shares in Orepuki Coal Company.

Dr Young 1 intimates that in future lie will visit Otautau on Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays.

The results ot nominations of candidates for Apai'ima Road Board are published. 11. R. V.—Special parade Monday. J. 11. Mills & Co. —Furniture sale. Aparima Licensing District—Local option poll.