The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885.

Western Star, Issue 950, 23 May 1885, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1885.

Monday will bo observed as u general holiday, in honor of the Queen’s birthday. The local Volunteer Company have organised a rifle match, open to volunteers and civilians, when a large and varied number of prizes will be competed for. The quarterly inspection of the corps will take place at 7 p.m,, and at 9 the annual ball will bo opened. The preparations for the event are on the same complete scale that has earned for the Volunteer ball the distinction of being the most enjoyable gathering of the kind held in the district. —An excursion train will be laid on between Invercargill and Orepuki, and will leave Riverton at 10.35. a.ra. The fares from Invercargill are 4s Gd and 3s 6.1, from Riverton 3s and 2s 31 for first and second class respectively. The apportionment of the fares is not by any means an equitable one, and in fulure excursions the management would do well to revise them. The passengers from Invercargill pay only Is 6d and I? H wore

than those from Riverton, although the former are carried a distance of 96 miles as against 38. Another want in these excursion trains is the absence of a different tariff for i a sengers who wish to go to Riverton on : y Under the present arrangement passenger* who wish to proceed no further than Riverton have to pay the same price as those win complete the trip to Orepuki. In this eon nection we would also remind the management that while the excursion sysem has been extended many times and oft to different places, Riverton has been entirely overlooked. We feel certain that had the same facilities been offered to visit Riverton that have been extended to the citizens of Invercarg 11 to visit Bluff and other places, a considerable increase of revenue would have accrued to the department, while a “ trip to the sea si ie ’’ would have been brought within the means of the most moderate purse. The post office will be closed on Monday. Mails closing that day will be made up this evening. Mails will bo put in boxes on Monday evening, but there will bo no delivery,. -, ■ The nomination of two auditors for the borough takes place at noon on Monday next. James Eullarton is appointed clerk to the Licensing Committees of 'Aparima, Otautau, \ and Wairio. The following tenders have been received for the Winton Court House contract :—Accepted : John Campbell (Invercargill), £659 ; declined: H;;-"W. Potter and- Co., £693; McLeod and Shaw, £713 ; Win. Birss, £735 , Robert Riddell (Orepuki), £754; Alex. Monzies, £845; Erasmus Paterson and Co.i £B5l. ; . ’ f■ : A meeting of the Otautau Town Board was held on Wednesday evening last. Members present: Chairman (Mr Gardiner), Messrs Quin', Dean, and Walker. The action of the Chairman in letting the contract for the erection of a shed to the pound, to J. Swap, for the sum of £6 10s, was endorsed. —The Chairman and Clerk, on the motion of Mr Dean, were instructed to draw up a petition to the County Council, pointing out the necessity of banking off the river into its . natural course at the double Cabbage tree, an i that the Chairman and Mr Walker be appointed to represent the Board at the presentation of, petition. —After some discussion it was decided that the Board should meet on Monday next at 2 p.m. for the purpose of examining Mr Moffalt’s dam —The Clerk was instructed to write to the Railway Engineer drawing his attention to the fact of the w.iter ban k s overflowing in King Street, thereby | causing it to be impassable. The ferocity of ferrets, in a wild state at : any rate, has been frequently demonstrated, : although admirers of these animals are slow : to admit the fact. An incident, related on very igood authority, occurred during the survey of Drummond township, shows their combative nature, and gives color to the assertion that in large bodies they would prove themselves dangerous and aggressive pests. On the survey party returning to one of the tents after an absence of a few days they found that half a dozen ferrets had taken possession. The intruders refused to be evicted and' showed determined fight, and it was not until two or three of their number had been despatched that the balance beat a retreat. This incident was related by a farmer who is a strong opponent: of; the restriction imposed against killing ferrets, and who attended a meeting of the Farmers’ Association at Thornbury on Wednesday to consider-the question, but the business of which was not proceeded- with on account of a quorum not being present. . .. ■ i

On Monday, at 9 a.m. sharp, tho return match between the Riverton apd Orepuki youths is to bo played on the local ground. The Riverton team will comprise:—Robertson (captain), Pullarton (2), Clark (3), Mills, Howell, Willett, Burns, Frew, Mitchell Winton, Merrilees and Clare.

Subscribers to the Jockey Club are reminded of an important meeting to be held tbis evening in the Great' Western Hotel, at 8.30 o’clock, when reports from committees appointed for the purpose will be submitted relative to instituting a Derby and securing a permanent racecourse. \\Mr Beer has been unfortunate in not being hole to get the Western Star away. She has been detained during the week at the mouth of the river on account of unfavorable winds preventing her getting out to sea. She has a cargo of close upon 90,000 feet of timber on board for a Northern port. Tbe writ for the election of a member’ to represent the Southern Maori Elector 1 District in the House of Representatives has been issued. Nominations are to bo made at Kaiapoi on 3rd of June, and the polling is to u»ke place at. the several polling places on June 10th. The writ is returnable by the 19th June, Following are the polling places in Southland : —CampbelltownOourthouse, Riverton school t house, and Oraka schoolhouse. Isaac Newton Watt is gazetted Returning Officer. Mr Prat l , one of the candidates for the vacant seat visited Riverton and Colac in the early part of this week, on his canvassing mission. Unfortunately meet of the natives were absent at the Mutton Bird islands. He has, however, appointed an agent to look after his interests, Mr Pratt’s chances of success are said to be good. He is a supporter of the present Government .

We notice that on effort is being made to institute a systematic prospect.of that extensive tract of country generally designate ! '• beyond the Waiau.” A meeting was to have been held at Invercargill yesterday evening ot gentlemen willing to assist the work of posp-cting the country. AMr Keneally, who has been working in that part of the country for some time rast,is the promoter of t he movement. The superficial prospecting that the country bordering on the Waiau has undergone shows that there is goxl gold to be obtained, and that with a decent supply of water there might be a large prosperous mining community settled at different points along the route of that noble river.

The residents of Bluff appear to be in earnest with regard to the scheme of connecting Fortroso and Awarua Bay by a canal. A public meeting was held on Wednesday evening, when Mr Conyers submitted the results of inquiries he had made into the subject. A canal 18ft wide at bottom, and four feet three inches deep would cost £17,336. It was decided to urge the Government to make an official survey of the proposed route with a view to the construction of the channel. It was also resolved that the Land Board bo requested to withhold from sale all waste lands in the vicinity of the proposed canal. A strong committee was formed to promote the interests of the scheme.

Our Otautau correspondent writes :—Mr Todd’s sale of J. Alloy’s property on Monday was not well attended. The lease of the lignite pit was knocked down to Mr J. Gardiner, and the laud and houses were sold privately to Mr A. Beau,—A numerously

iignod petition loft here on Tuesday morning ;o the traffic manager at Invercargill praying lim to continue the present railway time ■ Die, as the 6.45 train suits all purposes and s a great advantage to the travelling public, especially those who have a distance to travel after the train arrives at its destination.—The librarian of the Athenaeum wishes no to acknowledge with thanks the gift of line vols of books from Mr Wylie, our local schoolmaster.—The township is very quiet iust now, and sickness is prevalent. I am glad to say, however, that we have got over the floods for the present.—The Wairaki mail has changed hands, Mr 11. P. Anderson having bought the service from Mr J. Smith. —A reqmsi i m has boon presented to the Chairman -if the T.nvu Board signed by nearly all tile business p-mplo requesting .him to declare Monday next a holt lay in honor of the Queen’s Birthdiy. The request has been complied with.—Oa Thursday night Mr Matthew Burnett addressed a large meeting in the soboolliousc, and at the close 50 names were enrolled under the blue Ribbon Banner, now making a total membership of 83. A branch of the army was formed, with Mr Moffatt as President, Mr Walker Yice-Presidenl, and Mr Bailey Secretary. Allotment No. 8, section 35, containing 9a. 3r. 35p. ! ,iHodgkinson village settlement, has been withdrawn from sale as a d.p. section, and has been declared open for,sale for cash at £2 10s per acre. The excursion to Dunedin, notwithstanding the low fares charged, is not likely to be taken advantage of to any great extent by residents of the Western district, now the through service has been discontinued, entailing a night’s stoppage at Invercargill on the return jonrney, and in addition the whole of next day to passengers north of Thornbury. Tho National Bank intends to invite tenders shortly for the erection of new brick premises at the corner of Napier and Palmerston streets. Mr Matthew Burnett’s tour of tho Western District has been a great success. Judging by the numbers he is inducing to give in their adhesion to Blue Ribbon principles, those of the community who do not belong to tho Army will ’ soon be in the minority. We have not yet hoard the results of his meetings at Limestone Plains and Nightcaps, but if they are in proportion to those attained at Thornbury, Orepuki and Otautau, ho will have no reason to complain. At Thornbury on Tuesday evening 30 additional names were registered under the Blue Banner, while at Otautau the ranks were swelled by 50 new members and a local branch of the Army was formed. Mr and Mrs Washington Norton and company, “ The Famous Merrymakers,” open at tho Oddfellows’ Hall here on Tuesday next, for a season of two nights, in their attractive drawingroom entertainment. The company’s performance is highly spoken of by the Northern press. Messrs J. R. Mills & Co.’s and Mr J. 0. McArdell’s stock sale at Thornbury announced forWedneslay next, 27th inst., have been postponed to a date of which due notice will bo given. When Mr Matthew Burnett arrived at the Bluff, application was made to tho Premier by the temperance organisations in Invercargill for a free pass over the railways to the famous lecturer. Considering that that courtesy had been extended to other gentlemen who have made a lecturing tour ostensibly in the interests of the moral, physical, or intellectual welfare of the inhabitants of the colony, it is difficult to arrive at the grounds of refusal in tho case under- notice. Whatever difference of opinion exists on the temperance question, there is none as to the fact that the consumption of alcoholic drinks throughout tho colony is excessive. Surely therefore a gentleman like Mr Burnett, who gratuitously gives his time and talents towards suppressing our national vice, is entitled to the small concession of being allowed to travel free from one part of the colony to another in the prosecution of such a praiseworthy task.' It is but a few months since Mr Massey, the freethought lecturer, —a man doubtless after the Premier’s own heart—was conceded the privilege of a free pass oyer .the railways, on what grounds has never been clearly explained. There may be nothing in the suspicion, but the Premier has no reason to complain if his action with regard to this matter raises a doubt in the minds even of his political admirers as to whether Robert Stout does not after all possess the failings of average humanity in being just a" little lob-sided where his own private feelings are concerned.

Colonel Whitmore has just concluded a contract on behalf of the Government with Captain Whitney, for the manufacture at ■Auckland of half a million rounds of Muntz metal Snider ball -ammunition. The price is but a (light advance on the imported article. Captajri Whitney bus men in his employ acquainted with the manufacture of cartridges. It is understood the powder is to be obtained from Dunedin.

The Oamaru Parliamentary election on Wednesday was very quietly conducted. Mr Hislop was returned as member by a majority of 61 over Lord Reidliaven, the figures being—■ Hislop, 439 ; Reidliaven, 378.

The thirty-sixth annual report of the Australian Mutual Provident Society (of which Mr T. Booth is the local agent), shows that this Society Continues to make wonderful progress, and proves its claim to bo considered the premier lifo assurance society in the Australian Colonies. During the twelve months ended 31st December, 1884, there have been received 12,548 proposals for sums amounting to £4,357,890, of which 3,853 were declined, withdrawn, or not completed amounting to £1,450,750, leaving 8,695 proposals accepted and completed, assuring £2,907,140; add for completions in respect proposals received prior to Ist January, 1884, 171 policies assuring £55,262, making the total now business for the year 8,866 policies for £2,962,402. The magnitude of the Society’s operations may bo gathered ‘from the fact that the number of existing policies at the end of 1884 was 61,298, assuring £22,162,449. The annual income from premiums amounts to £738,999 2s 4d; from interest 335,952 Is Id ; making the total annual revenue of the Society £1,074,952 Is Id.

A very melancholy accident occurred at Barrytown about 3 a.m. on 15th inst. (says the “ Grey River Argus.”) John Collins, a miner, while asleep in his tent, was killed by a tree falling across it. It was very stormy at the time, as all will recollect who happened to bo awake at that hour, and this tree, which was growing close to Collins’ tent, was up. rooted and fell across deceased, who, from all wo can learn was killed instantaneously. Ho was well and widely known as a miner, and respected by all who knew him, A curioqs fact in connection with this satj

event was that on the fatal night, while the deceased was conversing in a neighbor’s residence, the conversation turned upon the danger of the tree which fell, and Collins’ friends asked him to come and sleep with them if he thought there was any danger. This ho appeared to agree to, and he parted on the understanding that ho would come back and pass the night with them. The tempestuous nature of the night kept them restless, and as they were awake when the tree fell, they naturai'y thought of Collins, who ha* not come back according to promise. They accordingly went out armed with lanterns, and found their worst fears realised. There lay the poor fellow as he had turned into his bunk, with the trunk of the tree lying across his body, the only part visible being his legs, which were uncovered. There was no doubt that death had been instantaneous.

R.R. V. —All-comers rifle match. County Council—Roads to be stopped. Mr and Mrs Washington Norton—Entertainment. J. R. Mills and Co. —Postponement of Thornbury stock sale.

Otautau Town Board —Public pound opened. In compliance-with a requisition the Chairman of Town Board declares a holiday at Otautau on Monday. ' Railway Department—Excursion to Orepuki. J. Parry—Tenders purchase store. The banks in Riverton will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Land Board —Application to transfer d.p. section. J. 0. MeArdell Postponement stock sale at Thornbury.

Jockey Club—Meeting. Aparima Licensing District-Result of local option poll.