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Western Star, Issue 1389, 14 September 1889, Page 2

The election for Councillor for North Ward resulted in the return of Mr Samuel Taylor, who polled 23 votes to 18 recorded for Mr H. H. Port. Both candidates were present when the poll was declared, and briefly thanked the electors, a number of whom were present.

Our Oraki correspondent writes:—The weather still continues flue. It is redly splendid spring weather, and the grass is now getting pretty plentiful.—Our post office keeper has received notice from the head office of the dephrtmerit, that the registration of letters in future would be 3d instead of 6d, as hitherto, and also that all letters, open or not, will be charged 2d. It seems to us hard that the same postage is required in sending a letter to Riverton as to, say, Queensland I must say our postmaster, Mr Donaldson, is giving every satisfaction, being both civil and obliging. There was not a vary largo attendance at tin meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association on Wednesday evening; but the subject for discussion “ Should Juries be abolished,” was taken up and debated with a good deal of vigor. Mr T. R. Haokworth occupied the chair, and called upon Mr A. E, Willett to lead the attack on the present jury system, Mr Akhurst, on the negative side, replied to the arguments brought forwardNearly all the members present took part in the debate, the majority supporting the affirmative. Mr James McDonald made an effective speech, and gave it as his opinion that the grand jury, as at present constituted, was merely set up to find out whether the committing magistrate was a fool or not. On a ballot being taken, fourteen votes were recorded each way, and the chairman, not having given his deliberative vote, gave his for the affirmative.

The application of George A. Wohlmann for a new temporary license for tho Railway Hotel, Otautau, was heard by tho Otautau Town District Licensing Committee on Tuesday list. Mr Anderson (Riverton) appeared in support of tho granting of the license, which was refused on the ground that the Bench had no power under the Act to grant a new license until the next annual meeting.—Tno only application before the North Riverton Licensing Committee was one for transfer of license of Wallace County Hotel from Frank Russell to John McNickol, which was granted. A petition was presented by John McNiokol, signed by all the publicans in North Riverton excepting Stephen Burgess, asking permission to put out tho lights in front of their houses at 10 p.tn. The Bench granted permission to have the lights extinguished at 11 o’clock. Twelve hours and three quarters is the time now taken for the journey by the express train from Aberdeen to London, a distance of 540 miles. This includes stoppages. At this rate tho distance between Riverton and Invercargill would bo accomplished in less than 37 minutes. We wish tho Railway Commissioners would take notice of this fact. Tho public do not want to be taken along at such, whirlwind speed, and would be satisfied if the journey could bo compassed in twice 37 minutes; but life is rather short to have to waste 2 hours and 10 minutes in getting 26 miles.

A goodly number of the local volunteers were on parade last evening. Major Hannah, who was to have been present, found it impossible to get away, but will be present at next parade to bo hold on the 26th hist. Sevgt. Blackraore, however, was clown and together with Captain Bridge and Lieut. Robinson put the men through soma of the movements in the execution of which the men wore not altogether Al. Capt. Bridge at the close of the parade intimated that class-firing would commence on Friday, 11th October, at 5 o’clock a.m„ and impressed noon the men the necessity of doing their beat on that occasion as some very good prizes, ranging from £6O down to £3O, were to be won, and as the Riverton Rifles had always hold a good place in the ranks of good shots, and he hoped to see them occupy a good place on the forthcoming competition. This Company views with regret the action of Government in the manner adopted for tho issuing oiJ&rtijri-Heari rifle* lo rolupteersi

as it will bo tho moans of prevjnting many from attending the Rifle Association meeting to be held in Dunedin during the Exhibition. Fourteen shootists from this company will' be deterred from competing owing to extra cost, and we are of opinion that a system similar to the one adopted for the distribution of the Remmington Lee rifles would prove a better method. A scratch match will take place this afternoon, commencing at 3.30 p.m. The following are tho teams:—Cuff, Stewart, G. Pratt, Smith, Malloy (2), McWilliams, McKay, D. Clark, Murphy, Cassels, Murchison and Robertson v. M. McKay, Woods, T. Malloy, Murchison, Oalder, Mills (2), G. Clark, Pankhnrst, Cassels, Marshall, Murchison and D. Pratt. All players are requested to turn out sharp as the return match with the Invercargill Pirates takes place next Wednesday on the local ground. Tho team will be chosen after practice.

Tho Ballarat Courier had a most extraordinary experience recently. All editors of newspapers know the aspect of the individual who comes, stern of visage and desperate of resolve, to tho office with that morning’s paper in his hand; and one such meandered in recently. He had, as it proved, just cause of complaint, but happily it could bo easily rectified. He began : “ See here, mister, this is no way to run a paper. Whore were your reporters ?” “ What’s tho matter ?” demanded tho editor. “Look here, I was on a regular old-fashionecl| tear-up the day before yesterday, got drunk and was locked up. Yesterday morning tho beaks fined me five bob, and—and—” (here he grew stern and reproachful)—“there’s not a word about it in your paper. They won’t believe mo when I go back to the station that I had any kind of a time ac all.” The editor confessed that it was disheartening, and mollified him with a promise of more attention on his next occasion. Our readers will perhaps remember we had recently a similar experience to that recorded above. In reporting the Court proceedings it was mentioned-that a first offender was fined. Tho first offender was incensed at being thus curtly mentioned and wrote us a letter to Ijt the public know who it was that found the Government in the 5s penalty Inflicted. At the Police Court yesterday Mary Llewellyn, a fair but frail one from Round Hill, was charged with using obscene language on the 31st August last. Mr O’Reilly appeared for the accused, and asked for an adjournment which, after some argument, was granted till the 20th inst. The evidence of one witness for the prosecution, John Wyatt, who is leaving the district, was taken. Messrs Robertson and Petchell were the presiding magistrates. Last Tuesday Mr A. Valli, Wairio, sustained a great loss by the destruction by fire of a threshing mill, together with a stack of grass seed. The mill was insured for £IOO, but the amount does not nearly cover the loss.

Mr Hislop addressed the Oamaru electors on Wednesday and received a vote of confidence. ( The inquest at Sydney on the cook of the Centennial who was drowned when the vessel sank, lasted eight days—the result being a verdict of manslaughter against Captain Lessing, who was committed for trial. Admiral Fairfax has been urged to intercede for the establishment of a branch of the Royal Navy Reserve in Sydney. It is stated that there are 12,000 men in the colonies who are willing to join. The Admiral has promised to bring the matter under the notice of the Admiralty.

Taking coals to New Zealand should almost be synonymous to what has become an aphorism in regard ,to talcing the same necessary adjunct of civilisation to Newcastle, yet we learn that the first shipment of Queensland coal was sent to this colony on Tuesday last. It is expected if the experiment is suecessful the collieries will afford a good opportunity of getting direct supplies of New Zealand produce. In all conscience wa have coal enough of our own, and the best obtainable at that, but still if the sending of a few cargoes of coal will foster trade, let us have them by all menus. The Duke of Portland’s Donovan on Wednesday added the St. Loger to his long list of wins. As the noble owner of the colt has expressed his intention of devoting his winnings on the turf to the amelioration of the snff wing it is to be hoped the valuable stake he has just secured will be given to assist the London strikers in their present sore trial. The cry is still they go. The arrivals in the colony during August were 940, and departures 1248. Of the latter, 787 went to New South Wales, 273 to Victoria. New South. Wales is also credited with 340 of the arrivals, and Victoria with 170. Attho Dunedin Hunt Club Races yesterday Garryowen won the Maiden Steeplechase after an exciting race with the Southland representative Maxwollton, who was defeated on tho post by a nose. St. Malo won the Kensington Plat Handicap. The mooting, convened in Dunedin for Tuesday last to express sympathy with the workmen on strike in London, was postponed on'account of tho sparcity in the attendance. The Mayor made a great bungle in choping and changing the day of meeting. He first of all fixed it for Tuesday, then put it off till Thursday,' afterwards altering it back to Tuesday.

Monday’s gale was felfc with especial severity at Ashburton, where a number of buildings wore wrecked, others unroofed, while some paddocks oE late sown wheat were destroyed.' The latest quotation for frozen mutton in London is 5Jd. <>. ’Messrs W firuar and Co, Otautau and "Wairio, have a new announcement. Shareholders in the Fairfax Hall, and any willing to take up shares in same are invited to attend the raae L ing on the 20th Sept. The programme for the Otautau entertainment to take place on Thursday next is inserted in this issue. Full particulars of the extensive sale of the pronorty of the late Mr It Hazl»tt to he held by Mr Mills on Friday next, is published.