The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1888.

Western Star, Issue 1235, 10 March 1888, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1888.

The announcement of the death of Kaiset Wilhelm, Emperor of Germany, although expected, will cause a feeling of profound sorrow throughout the civilised worlo, he being recognised as one of the ablest and best rulers of modern times. The venerable monarch, had he lived, would have completed his 91st year on the 22nd Ma ch. During his reign many much needed reforms were initialed in the empire, and by the wholt Gorman nation the Emperor was regularly idolized. His two favorite counsellors Prince Bismarck and Count Von ivlolke—who along with the deceased Emperor,'formed the famous invincible trio—wore with him to the lust.

The County Council at the meeting on Thursday did a graceful act when they voted, n the most unanimous manner, the sum of £SO to the funds of the new hospital. Councillors spoke in the kindliest possible way of the many benefits that had been bestowed, and expressed sorrow that the Counoil was not in a position to vote a larger sum. Thr public wears sure, will take the same view as that taken by the members of the Council and will each and all give their quota to this moat deserving institution. The Secretary has asked us to remind collectors that listn aro to be returned to him by the 18th inst.

Parliament will meet about the first week in May, and Ministers are now engaged in drafting bills for introduction.

The sum of £1957 10s is the amount allocated to Southland for building grants under the Education Act.

Tha Wallace County Hotel bad a narrow escape from being burnt down yesterday. It appears a fire had been lit in tho morning in a comparatively unused room at the back of the house for the purpose of cooking some pig’s feed; the cook of the hotel afterwarde utilised the fire to do some baking, and ith surmised that some of the ashes placed on top of the camp-oven—in which the baking wan being done —fell through a crack in the floor, and after smouldering for some time ignited. Dr Nelson, when driving past the hotel about 3 p.tn., noticed the place on fire, and ha and his attendant, Fox, speedily raised the alarm. The Mayor and several others were soon on tho spot to give assistance, and the fire, aftei some little trouble, was got under. There is little doubt that but for the timely warnin' given by the Doctor, a serious fire would hav been the result; as it was but little damag< was done.

Tho following gentlemen were appointed to carry out the programme of tho Easter races;—Judge, Mr M, Instone; Starter, Mi Joseph Lyle; Clerk of the Course, Mr Join Wohlers; Clerk of tho Scales, Mr A. E Willett. Stewards—Messrs John Mclntyn, A. McPherson, Adam Anderson, W. MarriV, J. W. Bridge, L. F. Andrews, R. Foster, Joseph Clark, Samuel Taylor, Wm, Affleck, K, Fraser, J. Orerar and H. Hirst. Mcnr Ma-ion and Roberts are coming to work tho totalisator and everything promises well for a successful gathering. . ilntolligcnce is to hand of a disastrous butricano which has been experienced in Madagascar. The. gale was folt with extreme violence on the east coasc of tho island, and tho Town of Tamative, which is the chief commercial port of Madagascar, was laid in ruins. Eleven vessels wore wrecked in tho harbour or on the adjacent reefs The extent of the casualties is not vet known, but at Tamativo 20 persons were killed by falling debris.

Mr Pratt, M.H.R. for the Southern Maori District, has written down to say that the Government have agreed to survey th Native lands at Oolao, Wakapatu, and Roapuke. This will be pleasing nows to the Natives whom we are aware wish to have the lands subdivided and to know exactly their own sections. Mr Pratt is expected in River - ton very shortly. On Wednesday next the soiree to bid farewell to the Rev. T. J. Wallis come off in th--Wesleyan Church. Among all sections of the community Mr Wallis has made himself justly popular, and we are sure the church will bo crowded on the night of the soiree to Wish him God-speed. The Rotomahana, which left Bluff for Melbourne yesterday, was crowded with passengers. Over 100 booked from Dunedin. The unopposed applications of Thomas Dunn, of Wairio, and B. H. Brown, of WTey’« Bush, for the closing of bankruptcies wer. granted at a sitting of the District Court held in Invercargill on Wednesday.

The Hon. the Minister for Public Works (Mr Mitchelson) leaves Wellington for a visit to the south on Monday. He will include Southland in the tour, but will be unable to make a lengthened stay as he has to be in Gisborne on the 28th.

In the event of Sir Harry Atkinson going Home as Agent-general, Captain Russell of Hawkes Bay is mentioned as a likely candidate for t’us Prenjitribip.

The Otnutau Flour Mill, hitherto conducted by Mr William Saunders, will in future ba carried on by Messrs (Saunders Bros., who notify they are cash purchasers of all kinds of grain. The mill is well adapted for turning out the very best of flour, and we wish the now firm every success. The ‘ Southland Daily News ’ in giving an account of a soiree to bid farewell to tho Rev. W. Laycook, who is leaving Invercargill for Christchurch, informs its readers that, “ the following ladies were in charge of the tables, Messrs Sutton, Stewart, and others ably assisting. The italics are ours. The next English and European mail via Ran Francisco, will close at Riverton on Thursday, the 22nd March, at 7.20 a.m., and arrives at London on April 30.

A correspondent to the “ Dunedin Star,” in calling attention to the disgraceful practice indulged in by youths of sixteen bathing in the St Clair baths without a shred of clothing and in full view of crowds of women and young girls, says:—“ Has immorality reached such a pass in this fair city that such indecency is allowed to goon unchallenged in the full blaze of day ? Where are the members of the White Cross Society ? Surely this is work for them. Are the minds of our young girls here to be polluted by such sights until sin reaches the claraix it has in one of the Northern cities, where, I am told, acaordiag to recent satieties there are 500 girls under the age of fourteen years on the streets ? Who is to blame for this ? We want Mr Stead or a kindred spirit here to inquire into such matters. Some very successful experiments iu rabbit poisoning have been conducted by Mr M’Andrew, of Port Arlington, Victoria. He dug a long trench, and in this spread 70ib of apples out in sections, and treated with G jz of strychnine. This quantity, the experimenter says, was sufficient for a thousand acres of rabbits. In the morning a thousand dead rabbits were discovered in the open, and a ' similar number lying in the scrub. This occurred in the district from which the trappers had just departed on account of th-re sot being sufficient rabbits to make trapping pay. Mr M’Andrew lays a stress on the fact that to make the bait effective the apples should nob be handled.

Boniface yesterday received a telegram from Falamountain, Port Chalmers, stating he accepted the challenge te row at the Easter Regatta, stakes to be £SO a-aide, A meeting of the local man’s supporters is called for to-night, when we hope his friends will rally round him. A most interesting tussle may be looked forward to ; here it will be remembered Palamountain defeated Boniface, whereas at the Bluff, “Boni” turned the tables on bis opponent. Excursion trains leave Invercargill for Riverton, Golac Bay and Orepuki to-day. In addition to the ordinary leaving at 9.5 n.m, (which carries passengers at cheap fares) a special leaves at 2 p.m., which starts from Riverton on the return journey at 7 o’clock. It will be noticed that the annual general meeting of the Riverton Football Club takes place this evening; a full muster is requested. Mr Hudson, who was sent up by the Government to Rangitikei to investigate, states that nearly half the specimens of the Hessian fly he is keeping contain parasites. This of course means that nearly half the insects never roach maturity. He also states that he observed a large number of flies which are now proved beyond doubt to be the parasite of the Hessian fly, amongst the wheat in the infected paddocks at Marton. A communication from Wanganui stales that a telegram has besn received by the Wanganui Jockey Club from the Island Buy Club stating that If. Nathan (who recovered money invested on the totalisator), has apologised aud consented to make full amends to the latter club and pay all costs. The stewards have consequently removed his disqualification, un i recommended other clubs to follow their example. The Wanganui Jockey Club have decided to remove the disqualification as requested. Several cases of Typoid fever are reported in Christchurch, and Diphtheria is so rife in Rangiora that the public school has been closed fora week. Diphtheria is also making its appearance in Christchurch. At the meeting of the Equitable Insurance Association, held this week in Dunedin, it was stated that the net loss sustained by the Company last year was £15,000.