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Western Star, Issue 1374, 24 July 1889, Page 2

The San Francisco mail will probably be delivered bore this evening. On Wednesday, 7th August, the Southland Champion Ploughing match is to bo held ou Mr 0. Fuirweather’s farm, East road, when in addition to the usual prizes Mr L. Fraser, President of the Society, gives a silver cap for the most points gained by a ploughman in any class. Entries close on Saturday, the 3rd ult., and it is to be hoped that the Western District will be suitably represented. At present there is unfortunately a great deal of mild sickness prevailing in the town and district which is seriousiy interfering with school attendance! While we would on no account urge parents to soud ailing ohil ilron to school, wo would like to impress upon them the desirability of not keeping any away from instruction who can possibly go; it is of the utmost importance that the attendance should bo kept up to {its best average. It would bo a calamity to the local school were the attendance to again fall below' tho average required to retain a second assistant.

As before announced the first “ social ” ir connection with the present session of tin Mutual Improvement Asscc'ation takes place in the Oddfellows’ Hall this evening, and promises to bo quite a; successful as previous entertainment. l arranged by the Society. Most of thcovening will uecessari'y be occupied with the deliberations in the Mimic Parliament, but prior to the meeting of the time-being legislators there is some attractive vocal and instrumental rautic set down on the prorgamme. Among the questions to be put to the occupants of the ministerial benches are the following:—“la the Round Hill tramway to hr run by electricity or steam?’’ “Is it trm that the Company propose to carry Celestial beings in an open truck?” “Whether the Government, in the interests of economy, will sell the Hinomoa and Stella, and utilise the lifeboat now lying in Riverton Harbor as a despatch boat ?” “Wh ;thor it is true that the Royal Mail steamer Tainui bumped when crossing Riverton bar ; and if so whether the Government will place a sura on the estimates sufficient to enable the now 7000 tor P. and 0. boats to enter tho harbor safely ?” It is requested that members of both th' “outs” and “ins” moot at 7.30, as the ministerial pa>ty wish to confer with the opposition as to tho order of business. AVe have received from the Government Printer a number of copies of tho paraphlc l containing Professor Long’s report on th Dairy Produce of New Zealand, and will b g’ad to supply a copy on application at onoffice.

The evidence in tho charge against the Chinaman, Joe Suic, for rapo on Elizabeth Shiug lling, a half-caste Chinese child, wn heard with closed doors at tho local courthouse yesterday, and occupied tho best part of tho clay. The justices occupying the bend, were Messrs Guo. Robertson and J. W. Hamilton. Messrs O’Reilly and Anderson appeared as counsel for accused. The prosecution was conducted by Serge. Rutledge, and the following witnesses were examined ; Tho child herself, a very pnreocious youngstc said to have only reached her sixth yoarii February last; Dr Nelson; Mrs Sarah Adame, mother of the child; Elizabeth Phillips, living atR und Hill; William Shine Ding, father of the child; and Oonstabh' Keaney. The accused in answer to the charge said ho Ii id nothing to say, and counsel intimated that ho reserved the do fence. Tho prisoner was formally committo ! to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supremo Court, holden at Invercargill, on tho 13th August. Bail was allowed accused in £SO and two sureties in £25 oaoh which being obtained the prisoner was released from custody.

A rumour is afloat that that Sir J. Hall will join the Ministry after the present session, when a readjustment of portfolios will bo ,waclo 7

' At a meeting of the Acclimatisation Society held on Saturday evening, Mr D. McGregor moved the following resolution : —“ That as in Tasmania opossums were being exterminated until the Government proclaimed a close season there for three years, this Society request the Governor to extend the same protection in New Zealand, and further, that they should only be taken during the months of May, June, July, and August. As this industry is a source of £160,000 revenue to Tasmania aud about £220,000 to Victoria, per year, it is anticipated, as the samples of skins already procured from the Riverton Bush eclipse in quality those of Victoria or Tasmania, that these animals will therefore be a source of increased revenue to New Zealand; and that a pair be sent to every bush in Southland.” —After some discussion it was resolved to ask the Governor to bring opossums under the Animals Protection Act.

The House of Representatives met on Monday evening and debated at some length a question of privilege involved in the publi cation of the correspondence between the Hon. Messrs Hislop and Fergus and Judge Ward in connection with the Christie case.

Our Otautau correspondent writes:—The Salvation Army meeting was well attended on the 21st., although there were not many actuatl members of the Army present; Messrs Allison and Quested were the chief attractions. —At Mr Mills’ last sale hero, thewhole of the scats in the Town Hall wore sold to the “ Fairfax Dancing School” Company. —The Draught Club play the Limestone Plains Club on Friday, Bth August.—l am glad to see another move has been made in reference to a bridge over the Apnrima at Yellow Bluff. When the river is at all high residents on either side have to go all the way to Fairfax—a distance of 12 miles—to cross.

Regarding the Waipapa Dredging Company the Otago Daily Times says:—“This company has now been at work sufficiently long to enable an opinion to bo formed as to tho payable character of the sea beaches in the South. Now that tho Waipapa dredge has got away from tho old wrought ground and at work on virgin ground, and by no means tho host believed to exist, it will bo interesting and instructive to know actual results. Since the old ground was loft behind 3334 tons of sand and gravel have beon lifted by the dredge and yielded 350 z of gold, or a fraction over sgr per ton. The quantity dealt with averaged 20 tons an hour, and but for several stoppages, caused by want of steam through bad firewood, the quantity would have averaged 30 tons an hour. In basing a calculation, therefore, only 20 tons an hour, there is a large margin for contingencies. The total working expenses, including everything required for carrying on operations, amounts to £6O 13s 6d per week, working three shifts daily. Taking the small quantity of 20 tons per hour of material dredged, this gives 2880 tons per week, yielding sgr to the ton, 30oz of gold, which at £3 15s equals £ll3 10?, leaving a weekly profit of £5117s 6.1. These are not imaginary figures, but actual results now being obtained, and show a return equal to 54 per cent, per annum on tho capital of the Waipapa Company. With such results got from what is believed to be about the poorest of the ground, and dealing with such a comparatively small quantity as 30 tons an hour (the dredge being capable of dealing with 50 tons), what may be expected when ground is wroughtknown to contain from Idwt to 2-dwt to the ton ? The results mentioned being now made public, probably no time will be lost in oommenoing work in other beach claims and inland flats of similar character and known to be as rich and easily wrought as the company’s ground at Waipapa.—'lt is satisfactory to note that two companies have in applications for special claims at the mouth of the Waian, tho intention being to carry on operations in the same manner as at Waipapa Point.’

At tho half-yearly installation of officers of the Wallace Lodge 1.0.0. P. which took place last week, the following brethren were duly installed for tho current term :—N.G., Bro. Perry ; V.G., Bro. For bos; Secretary Bro. Forsyth; Treasurer, Bro. Galloway. Appointed officers: Warden, Bro. T. McCarthy;Conductor, Bro. Moore; R.S.N.G , Bro F. Russell; R.S.V.G., Bro. Cunningham. Tho remaining offices will bo filled at some future mooting.

A meeting of tho Riverton School Committee was hold on Monday evening, when all tho members were present. Tho retiring members of the staff, Mr Golding and Mis F. Robinson, worn granted testimonials.' The Secretary was authorised to have some necessary repairs, mentioned in the Headmaster’s report, affected. It was resolved to release Mias Robinson from hor duties at the end of tho mouth, and to hold a mooting on Friday to fill tho vacancy. Mr John Fetched was elected to fill tho vacancy on the committee caused by the resignation of Mr Instone. For the first assistant vacancy tho Education Board forwarded five applications: Messrs 11. Mclntyre, James B. Hutchinson, M. Gilfoldor, J. McDonald and G. E. Robertson; the last named was unanimously recom mended for the appointment. Accounts for £2 14s 8d were passed for payment.

It will be soon by our advertising columns that the Vivian Dramatic Company will appeal in Riverton on Monday and Tuesdav next Seeing how seldom our town is favored with tho presence of a genuine theatrical troupe, wo are sure they will bo liberally patronised Talking of one of tho Company’s performances in Auckland a writer to a contemporary says -.—The play of East Lynne, by the Vivian Dramatic Company, at tho Opera House, was accorded a crowded house Whenever did Mrs Henry Woods sensational novel, in dramatised form, fail to draw? It has been my lot, during tho limited span of my “natural life,” to witness many impersonations of the ill-fated heroine, Lady Isabel Carlyle, both on the English and colonial stage. I hare never witnessed n better oonooption of the role than that given by Miss Helen Vivian. Her acting throughout is natural; her despair and repentance unraan-od by any symptom of ranting; her loathing of her temptor real in its intensity • her grief true to womanly nature. I was charmed with tho pourtrayal of a character which calls into play all the latent power of an actress In the scene with Lord Mount Severn, Miss Vivian’s acting was perfect. Her costuming, too, was good. In tho first act, as the young bride of Archibald Carlyle, she wore black, with gold relief. Her even-* ing toilette, in the second act, was a pretty mingling of pink and white liberty silk. In the third act she wore a charming neglige en trains of soft white material, with an artistic head-dress of whito lace. As Madame Vine she appeared in black, with a whito lace widow’s cap. Her French accent in this role was very natural, as was also the anguish occasioned by tho death of little Willie, and her own death scene. Mr Vivian made a most villainous villian. I f e p tempted to hiss Sir Francis Levison with right good will. In tho fourth act Barbara Haro wore a lovely dross, combining rose, pink and grey silk, Aa for Sir Awhibapi PavJyle ho ffaa splendid,

It; cannot be too widely known amongst mining companies and mine managers that from and after the Ist of January, 1890, under the Mining Act, 1886, all mine managers must bo certificated. Messrs IT. Gruar and Co., Otautau and 'Wairio, advertise flour for sale at 21s per bag. G. J. A. Richardson makes application for a special claim. Messrs H. Carswell and Co. notify having a full supply of farmers’ seeds for sale, also manure. Impounded—A bay hack. The Acclimatisation Society announce they will pay Is per head for shags shot anywhere in the estuary and Pourapourakino stream, and for all shot above the Aparima bridge 2s as heretofore. The Commissioner of Crown Lands advertise* several runs as open to lease on and after the 12th August.