The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885.

Western Star, Issue 997, 7 November 1885, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1885.

Monday next, being the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’ birthday, will be observed as a general holiday in town. Tho train arrangements for the day will be found in another column. It is to be regretted that the time table does not permit of residents on the Western lines visiting tho Winton races and returning on tho same day. Then again tho occasion has not been taken advantage of by the Railway Department to lay on a train to Riverton at excursion rates. Even at Saturday re. rn rates the fares are prohibitive, and will offer but little inducement to those who would otherwise avail themselves of the privilege, especially in tho face of the very moderate rates charged for a trip to Bluff or Winton. There will be no special attraction in,'town during the day. Two teams of the local rifles proceed to Invercargill to engage in a rifle contest with tho Invercargill Rifles and Artillery. A cricket match takes place at Orepuki between the local and Riverton Clubs, and in the evening a concert and ball will be held in Cotterell’s new hall, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to tho funds of the Brass Band. The post and telegraph offices will be closed, and mails usually made up on that day will close on Sunday evening. At the Police Court on Wednesday, Patrick Whelan, for being drunk and incapable on the previous day, was fined 10s.

The monthly meeting of the Eiverton Har bor Board, called for Thursday last, lapsed for want of a quorum. The only members who put in an appearance were Messrs Port and Geo. Eeid.

Mr Gordon, Government Mining Inspector, has been instructed to report upon the Merrivale rush.

At the Land Board meeting on Thursday, the following applications were granted : To capitalise: James Wood, section 201, Tariugatura. For deferred payment: Section 75, block 7, Jacob’s River Hundred. To complete purchase : Robert Sutherland, section 139, Wairio. —A large number of deferred payment selectors, who were in arrears, appeared before the Board in answer to the notice requiring them to decide whether they would forfeit their sections or take advantage of the clause in the new Land Act, which allowed them to capitalise after one year’s residence. The following elected to capitalise: JohnMcLonnian,Patrick O’Brien, James McEveloy, John Hodgkinson, Dwyer, Lawrence, Dominick Cavanagh, Peter Lang, Robert Aitkon, Edward Corbett, William Frisby, Peter Whitelaw, Francis Thomson, Donald Mcßao, Leopold Sweiss, John O’Donnell, Alex. Kelly, Thomas Kennan, and Donald Sinclair. —The transfer of a sawmill area at Wakapatu, from Martin and Perry to Charles Campbell was sanctioned. The annual meeting of the E.C.C. was held on Thursday evening last in the Secretary’s office, Mr Adams presiding. The report and balance-sheet, which was adopted, snowed that the club were on the debit side of the ledger this season. This is in some measure owing to the large amount of money that had to be spent on the club’s now ground. A piece of matting, coating £2 17s 6d, bad aLo to bo procured. It was decided to try and arrange for a practice ground in the Maori kaik. The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the ensuing season, viz.: —President, Dr Young; Yice-Prcsidents, Messrs McCallum, Galloway and Acbeson ; Secretary, Mr Booth ; Committee, Messrs Adams, Cogan, Lyle, Robertson and Hunter. • The old match committee was abolished, and it was decided that a quorum of three form a match committee. The subscription was fixed at 10s 6d for members over 18, 5s for juniors, and 2s 6d for schoolboys. Messrs Hunter and Booth were appointed to interview Mr Steel re practice ground in kaik. It was decided to play Orepuki as usual on 9th November. The Secretary was also instructed to try and arrange the following matches, viz.:—Wallace for the 14th Nov., at Riverton ; Wyndham, 21st Nov., at 1 iivercargill; Britannia, 28th Nov., at Eiverton; Wairio, Bth Dec. at Riverton ; Invercargill, 12th Dec., at Eiverton. The following players are requested to roll up to practice this afternoon in the kaik, when the eleven to play against Orepuki will be chosen : Messrs Adams, Robertson, Lyle, Cogan, Mills, Woodward, Hunter, Cross, Golding, Pattison, McKillop, Willett, Hunt, Fullarton (2), F. Mills, Weidner, MeNaughton, and Booth. The following players will represent Orepuki: —C. Griffiths, J. Wilson, N, McLean, H, Stewart, F. McLean, A. McLean, W. Hirst, W. Tuille, C. Forbes, J. Riddle, G. Hogg. Emergency : J. Barry, J. Guy. Mr Adams secured first place in batting during last season with an average of 15 6, Robertson being second with 10’4. I A crushing at the Rod Queen mine, Mokikinui, Westport, of 457 tons of quartz has produced 838eas. of gold—value) £3225, {

The Melbourne Cup, which was run on Tuesday, was won by Sheet Anchor, Grace Darling second, Trenton (one of Musket’s progeny) third. Nordenfolt, winner of the Derby, which belongs to the Aucklan Stud Co.’s stock, was the favorite in the bettingHe formed one of a trio who came in all in a bunch for fourth. Reuter’s cablegram states that the field got away to a splendid start, Liverpool, Brown and Rose, Arsenal and St. John being first on their legs. Prometheus, First Chester, Thunderbolt, and Trenton maintained the front rank ; Liverpool lying about seventh, and going very strongly. As the lot neared the bridge over Saltwater river at the back of the course, Liverpool went through his horses and led past the scraping sheds, followed by Nordenfelt, Trenton, Grace Darling and Sheet Anchor in the order named, but as they swept round the home turn into the straight Liverpool died away to nothing, and Sheet Anchor took command of the running, Trenton coming very fast on the outside and lying third. A magnificent race ensued from the distance between Trenton, Nordonfelt, Grace Darling, and Sheet Anchor, but the lastnamed held his own gamely to the finish, distancing Grace Darling by If length, the same interval separating the second and horses, Trenton coming very fast at ho finish. Then followed Nordonfelt, Liverpool, and Brown and Rose all in a bunch. The time—Smins 29fsec—was the fastest on record for the Cup by l^sec. The following tenders were dealt with by the Contract Committee of the Wallace County Council on Saturday : —Contract 239 (Yellow Bluff road)— D. McLeod, £37 19s (accepted to amount of vote) ; J. Dillon and Co., £39; R. Ronald, £39 12s 6d; T. Crow, £ll ss; A. McNaughton, £l6; FT'CorEln, £3117s 6d; R. Bailey, £62 ss; Roberts and Stone, £7O 10s; G. Howell, £7l. Contract 290 (works at Thornbury)—T. Wilson, £22 Is 9d (accepted to amount of vote) ; G. Howell, £23 5s 2d; Roberts and Stone, £2117s 6d; W. Hamlyn, £25. Contract 291 (metalling at Wairio) —Roberts and Stone, £331 17s 2d (accepted); T. Crow, £3ll 3s Id; A. McNaughton, £ll2 10s. Contract 483 (works at Otaitai Bush) —W. Calder. £ll (accepted); A. Frew, £l6 10s; G. Howell, £25. A poll was taken on Tuesday as to the advisability or otherwise of consolidating the Invercargill loans, and further borrowing to an extent that would bring the total.indebtedness of the town up t& £150,000, The voting was For the proposal, 810; against it, 92 ; and informal votes, 15. It will thus be seen that the proposal has been carried by an overwhelming majority. At the City Court, Dunedin, on Tuesday, Wong Tang was fined £IOO for smuggling opium, Mr Tang had a chest which the Customs Department managed to measure with too groat nicety for his profit, as it was found that the depth of the coffer was considerably greater outside than in. Of course there was an under bottom covering 31bs of opium. The duty payable on that quantity is £3, so that M.r Tang will smoko the pipe of peace —if he gets the opium—to a somewhat expensive air. The Napier Borough Council is no lover of the Salvation Army, judging from the following by-law which it has just passed regulating processions, &c.:—“ (1), Except as hereafter mentioned, no procession shall hereafter be allowed in any public or private street, or public place, within the Borough of Napier, unless the persons intending to form or take part in such procession shall have previously received permission (by resolution of the Borough Council) to form or take part in such procession; (2), No person shall be allowed—without such permission as aforesaid—to play any musical instrument, beat any drum, or sing any song, or carry for the purpose of display any flag, or torch, in any public or private street or public place in the said borough; (.3), This by-law shall not affect any drill, march, or parade of volunteers, or other troops under the command of any officer serving in Her Majesty’s volunteer or other forces, or any procession of school children under direction of their teachers, or any funeral procession, or any parade or drill of the members of the Napier and Spit Fire Brigades ; (4), Any person offending against the provisions of this bylaw shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding five pounds; (5), This by-law shall come into force on the Ist December, 1885.” Members of local bodies would do well to make themselves acquainted with the provisions of “Tho Local Bod'os Contractors Act, 1885.” The statute is framed with a view to restrain them entering into any contract for the supply of anything or the performance of any work with the local body of which they are members. A member “ who knowingly supplies anything whatever to such locsl body shall not be entitled to payment for the same, and any sum paid in respect of any such contract or supply shall be recovered, together with ten pounds in addition thereto, with full costa of suit by any person who shall sue for tho same inaCourt of competent jurisdiction.” Tho amount recovered shall bo handed to the local body and tho person seeing shall be entitled to ten pounds, and full cost of suit. Then section 4 enacts that “any member of any local body who knowingly gives or joins in giving authority for, or who is a party or consents to pay any such payments as aforesaid shall pay the sum of £2O with full costs of suit to any person who shall sue for tho same in a Court of competent jurisdiction.” In other words, members who vote knowingly moneys to another member are liable to be proceeded against and fined £2O with full costs; “Local Body” means Borough Council, County Council, Road Board, Town Board, Harbor Board, River Board, Drainage Board, Education Board, and District Boards, and Trustees appointed under the provisions of “ The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885.” On Monday afternoon two prisoners employed at tho Mount Cook gaol works, Wellington, managed to effect their escape from the hard labor gang, and got off in their prison clothes in the direction of Vogolton. The convicts wore Herbert Allendale, undergoing a sentence of four years for the jewel robbery at Jenness’, and Fred. Middleton, undergoing a seven years’ service for horsestealing. Middleton has served several sentences in tho Invercargill gaol, and was at one time a convert of tho Salvation Army there. They were ultimately captured by tho chief gaoler, by whom they were found concealed under tho floor of a small house. A sad accident occurred at tho head of Luke Wakatipu on Saturday last to Mr James Mcßride, a very much respected resident who, whilst crossing the lake from Ednloch to Glenorchy, in an open boat with a sail up, was drowned by the capsizing of the boat. No traces have been discovered of the body or boat since. He loaves a young family of six children. Deceased lost his wife about twelve months ago.

The “Otago Daily Times” has been shown a sample of wrapping paper made from whoatcu straw by Mr F. J. Noble, Timaru, with a model machine constructed by himself. The paper is a good sample of stout grey wrapping paper, and ihe manufacturer jis entitled to great credit for his ingenuity. The “Melbourne Herald” is informed that Seymour Luke Robinson, the young bank ! clerk who was recently sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for the Federal Bank robbery, has come in for a sum of nearly £3OOO by the death of a relative in England. Robinson is employed as clerk in the office of the Me’bourne Gaol. “Ada Mantua’s” Melbourne and Zealand Cups,iirawing has been decided, and we have now to acknowledge tho celerity with which resu t of same has reached us. The committee who were present have been selected with due regard to the interests of the shareholders in general, comprising as it did men of good commercial and professional standing in Dunedin associated with representatives of the leading newspapers. The fortunate parties to whom fell the principal prizes were as underlst, a railway lineman, Wanganui, amount net, £512 ; 2nd, wife of a railway laborer, Auckland, £153 10s 2d; 3rd, A.Z., P. 0., Wellington, £lO2 Bs. Tho New Zealand Shipping Co. make an important announcement in onv advertising columns, viz., that the cost of freight on frozen meat by mail steamers and sailing ships of this line has been reduced to three half-pence per pound. Tho Company have been induced to make this concession on account of the continued depression in prices of frozen meat in tho London market. This substantial concession should give an impetus to the frozen meat trade, and may also lead to a reduction in terminal charges. With a , better distributing system in the Home I country, which it is expected will obtain I under the London agency about to be estabI lished, an impulse should be given to the frozen meat trade that will prove a most important factor in tho removal of the extreme depression that has prevailed for some time past. A sad fatality is reported from Brisbane. A Mrs McLachlan, wbo had been staying at a j private boarding-house, was reading in bed, when the candle ignited the bed curtains. She and her child were burnt to death. Tho “North Otago Times ” states that tho 274 stoats and weasels imported by the Government per lonic are to be released in the Upper Waitaki district, in order to prevent the rabbits on the Otago side of the river from getting into Canterbury. $ J. Allison requires tenders for carting 2000 bags oats. The Railway Department announces special time table and fores for Monday. G. O. Cassels has .12 acres at South Riverton for sale or lease. T. West intimates that he has taken the Commercial Hotel, Thornbury. J. McKay, Gummie’s Bush, will not be responsible for debts without authority. The Banks in Riverton will be closed on Monday. 2000 acres land are offered on cropping terms. ) Carswell, White, and Co. —Stock sale, Thornbury; ' also, tenders ploughing. The New Zealand Shipping Co. notify a reduction in freight on frozen meat. The Maid of Otago will sail for Riverton on Thursday. J. R. Mills and Co.-Stock sale, Thornbury; also, properties in Riverton.