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Western Star, Issue 1385, 31 August 1889, Page 2

The weather is again of that balmv and invigorating nature the like of which we have eiDerienood full measure dtirine 'he last few months. The rough 1 out was somewhat severely felt in tho upper parts of tho country where there was a heavy snowfall, but as lambing has not yet commenced on the stations no material bad effects bare been felt. Ploughing was slightly interfered with in the lower country, but has since been resumed with inoreased diligence and a very larre portion of the land intended to crop is now ready for the seed. In come localities large areas have already been sown, and in "avored spots where farmers aro enabled to get the ground ready before the bulk of their neighbors the new crop is to be seen above ground some few inches. Already a good number of lambs have made their appearance, but beine well sheltered have tot suffered to any great extent from the severity of the weather. Miner 3 who have of lato been kept on very short allowance of water eagerly welcomed tha abundant rainfall and ere cow in full swing,

To their credit be it said the Chinese residents of Bound Hill have, as usual, subscribed liberally to the funds of the Wallace and Fiord Hospital; this year a total sum of £36 19s having been donated by them. Of this amount Wong Chang and party collected £29 12s 6d, and Wye Kee £7 6s 6d. A very interesting debate on the question as to whether or not the colonial Governors should be elected, occupied the attention of the members of the Mutual Improvement Association on Wednesday evening. The Rev. Mr Neave, in a very effective speech, affirmed the desirability of the electivo system being introduced. He would be opposed to such a change, were it likely to in any way interfere with the bonds that bind the colonies to the mother country, but his contention was that such would not be the case; that the granting to colonists the privilege of allowing them to choose their governors would rather tend to still closer knit the unity of the Empire. They were a free peeplo with free institutions, and if colonists oould be trusted to make their own laws, it was not too much to soy they could, with equal safety, be permitted to elect their own governors. It was the granting of such concessions that cemented relationship. Mr Tarlton, who led off on the negative side, after replying to some of the arguments brought forward by Mr Neave, stated the grounds on which he based his objeotion to a departure from the present mode of appointment. His chief objection was that as the Queen's representative was the only link that bound the oolonies to Britain, they would be casting themselves adrift altogether if tho elective Bystem was adopted. A short discussion ensued, in which Messrs Young, Hewat and MoNaughton spoke in support of upholding the appointment of governors as at present, and Messrs McHutcheson and Hutchison favoring the elective system. The opener of the debato shortly replied, stating that one of the first axioms of political economy was that the people, who supplied the wherewithal to keep up a service or establishment, were the persons to have the say in the conduct of same. It was a very small matter, he knew, but if the English taxpayer had to find the salaries of tho governors, we should soon find they would cease to be appointed. Mr Haokworth, who occupied the chair, then put the question to the meeting, with the result that 16 voted for the elective system, and 33 against. Mr O'Reilly announces that he will attend at Otantau every Wednesday. At a meeting of the Pictorial Atlas of Australasia Defence Committoe held at Thornbury yesterday a secretary and treasurer were appointed and arrangements made to resist any attempt to force on subscribers those portions of tho work not ordered.

Our l-ambling correspondent, besides supplying some interesting and cbeen'ng items regarding work going on in the country, submits some problems which we commend to the consideration of our readers.

Efforts are being made in Kiverton to raise a sufficient sum to have a suitablo boat built in which a local crew may compete at the Exhibition regatta. Our Oraki correspondent writoa:—The weather has been very rough of late; an abundance of rain has fallen, the showers being mingled with hail.—T am afraid the spring, like last year, is going to ka a wet one; if so the number of settlers about Oraki will be greatly diminished, as owing to the land being low lying, it will he almost under water, and any little crop that may be got in will rot in the ground. It is hard to understand why tho Government won't survey the light scrubby land in blocks 17 and 18, at the back of tho settlement; wore this done it would enable the settlers to get a piece of dry ridpe land on which to grow a little corn, and if the unproductive land mentioned is not made available, there will bo very few homes hero in two or three years more. Some have lately left. When our member, Dr Hodgkinson, paid us a visit in June last, ho promised to inquire about the matter, hut so far I have heard nothing of any action being taken.—Thero are two sawmills, not 50 miles from Colac Boy, the differcnt proprietors of which are at pres nit having a nice littlo eamo of hide and spek over a few working bullocks that both lay claim to. One party will drive the bullocks away early in the morning to a distance of four mi'os, the other party following up in order to get tho servicps of the animals. It is very edifying to hoar the language used on the occasions of the altercations. " You touch tho bullocks and I will give you in oharge." " You can charge away, but I will have them," aud so on. I might say especially the ecetras. But fancy tho poor hungry cattlo being driven hither and thither eight or nine miles, and then expected to do a day's work. It is positive cruelty. I may have something to say about horse driving shortly. God gives us horses, but it would appear the devil supplies tho drivers. —Tho weather now seems to have taken a turn for the better.

Xwe are sorry to havo to record the doath, from inflammation, of Tuvio Porinick, which took place at Colac Bay on Saturday last. The deceased, who was a jockey of some promise, and was in tho employment of the late Mr .Tames Steel for several years, lie was a most civil and well-behaved lad, aud many will road with regret of tho early i dowse of the young native, J

Two slight shocks of earthquake were felt in Riverton at 12 minutes to 8 on Wednesday night. The steamer Bothwell Castle, which leaves New Zealand in a few days for Calcutta, takes two hundred and fifty horses from Wellington. News by the Whampoa from Noumea states that on the night of the 20th inst. three convicts escaped from the prison on the island in Noumea harbour. No trace could be found of thorn, and it is bcliovcd they seized a small craft aud set sail for the Queensland coast. " Civis" considers the qualifications of Mr Fergus for the Justice department seems to be about on a par with those of Sir Joseph Porter as " ruler of the Queen's navee." A cable message states that Mrs Maybrick is seriously ill and her condition is considered critical. Messrs William O'Brien and J. Gilhooly, M. P. for West Cork, have been sentouced to two months and six weeks' imprisonment respectively for inciting to non-payment of rents. On the completion of their sonfcence, they are to find sureties of good behaviour, or in default, undergo another two months' imprisonment.

It will be remembered that a short time ago the Agent-general sought and obtained permission to act as a trustee far tho Midland Railway Company. Replying to a question the other night, the Minister of Public Works stated the Government had received a very important telegram from Sir Francis Bell, in which he stated that he had declined to act as trustee for the Midland Company. There is evidently a hitch somewhere. The strange disappearancee of a young man named B. T. Bowden is reported f.iom Drury, Auckland. Bowden was iu partnership with W. Oarrick as proprietor of a farm at Karakara, about nine mil?s from Drury, and lived ou this properly, on which were running a number of cattle and sheep. It was his custom to ride into the township for supplies, and he did.so on the 18th of July last. Since that dale he has not been soen. News come from Sydney to the effect that there is another movement taking place to endeavor to get France to annex the New Hebrides group. A deputation of traders have presented a petition, signed by fortytwo Englishmen and fourteen persons of various nationalities, but not by any Frenchmen, to the Governor of New Caledonia asking him to convey their wishes to the French Government. And it is stated that M. Levat, director of the Nickel Company, while on a visit to the New Hebrides, informed the natives that France would shortly annex the group. The Big Beach Company have obtained 62 ounces of retorted gold for six days' work. The dead body of a man has been found at Hindon. It has not beon identified. It is supposed that the horse the man was riding collided with a fence, as the animal was found near the body. It is stated that Lord Onslow has leased "The Cliffs," Nelson,tho property of Mrs Andrew Richmond, up to tho end of October, and will resido there with family as soon as Lord Cranley can leave his present quarters. There is some talk of leasing, for his Excellency, a residence with a similar designation at Dunedin.

Thus writes "Puff" in the "Wellington Press:— called the Opposition the " rump of the Stout-Vogel Ministry ! Yes! And " the Chamoyce " got up and asked the Speaker if that was pro per language! Ha! ha i ha! The learned member for Mudfog seems to know »3 little of political as he does of natural history! So HodgTrinson suggested to him to road English history about the time when a min named Cromwell came to the front! And the Ohamoyce subsided, eh! Oh, no! "'E didn't want te know no 'isf.ory 'e knew wot) the back end of a bullock was cal'ed, 'e did, 'e worn't a goin' to be 'ad ovev no books no more " ! Ha! ha! Had enough of the " Tramp Abroad," eh ! Included in the cargo to bo takon by the steamer Whampoa to China, leaving Dunediu next week is 20 tons of flax shipped at Auckland. The Coptic from Plymouth arrived at Otago heads on Wednesday, but was placed in quarantine, a case of scarlatina having broken out since aho steamer left Ilobart. New Zealand mutton is now quoted in London at CM. Contracts have been made with the French Government for a largo supply. Patton. one of the victims of the Hunt Club accident, died at Cambridge on Wedday. Mr Joseph Stanton, Otnitni Bush, notifies that trespassers on his property will be prosecuted. Mrs Moffrit, Saott's Gap, wants .1 servant. It is notified that a charitable aid rate of Id in the £ wilt he struck on the 14*h September, for year commencing Ist April last. The Treasurer of the Hospital acknowledges the receipt of subscriptions.