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Western Star, Issue 1547, 25 March 1891, Page 2

/Three contracts were Jot on Monday by the Hound Bill Syndicate, tho lowest tender in each case being accepted:—Mr A. MeNnughton secured the work of cutting and excavating 10,000 cubic yards of the channel. Mr W. Ferry and Messrs Watson Bros, wore the successful tenderers for the supply of half-a-million foot of timber. Mr Jatno= Phillips has tho work of 27 chains bush clearing. The contracts, which involve a total expenditure of about £3OOO, wore signed yesterday, and are all to bo completed within six months. -■*> News was received in Riverton on Monday of the death, in Tasmania, of Mr George IBolhi'i, carpenter, late of South Riverton. Mr Belbin had boon employed in timbering one of the large tin mines in that colony, and had a fall while at work, causing internal in-

juries, which proved fatal. Mrs Belbin, who resides bore, w.ai about to proceed to her husband, and had placed her furniture in Mr Mills’ hands for sale by auction. The news of her husband’s death decided her to stop the sale and to remain in Riverton at present. Mr Belbiu was a hard-working industrious man, and was much respected bv those who know him here. Besides his wife, ho leaves two grown up sons to mourn his untimely demise, David Prondfooi, well-known in Riverten as contractor for the Western railways about sixteen years ago, die 1 in Sydney, N.SW., on Friday afternoon, while under chloroform, prior to undergoing an operation. y? The steamers Tekapo and Jubilee, which sailed from Wellington for Sydney on Thursday took over 500 passengers between them.

The privileges in connection with the Riverton Races wero sold by Messrs J. B. Mills and Co. on Monday, and realised as follows:—Publican’s booth to Mr Flint (f nvovoargill), £ll ; fruit stall, £l, Mrs S. Taylor; the cards fetching £1 7s. The Railway Department has, in compliance with a petition from settlors at Oraki reduced the freight on firewood from 10s 6d to 8s 9d per truck. Mr John Hunter has been successful in launching his cutter, the Mountain Deor, a description of which was given in a former issue- She looks a comfortable scaboat, and should prove a useful addition to tno Stewart Island oystering fleet, for which sorvico she has been built. In accordance with agreement entered into with the Corporation, the Railway Department is putting in a new concrete culvert at the crossing in Lucknow street, which will ho of groat advantage to that end of the town' The culvert has been lowered two and half feet, which will give sufficient fall to carry off all fcho stagnant water that used to lodge in that locality on account of the culvert being placed too high. Mr Fred Gray, who frequently assisted in the loading and discharging of the Kakanui, called upon us to examine the chopping board picked up by Mr D. Cameron at Ragged I sland. He states that he had occasion to use the Kakanui’s board several times and took particular notice of it, and that the board left at our office is not tho one belonging to her; this board boing Oregon pine, while the Kakanni’s was of New Zealand red pino, with a resinous split in it.

A young man named John Wilson, a Melbourne tramcar conductor, who murdered his sweetheart, Stella Leah Marks, was hanged on Monday. It is reported that Mrs O’Shea is disinclined to marry Mr Parnell. A notice interesting to members of the Riverton Choral Society will be found in our advertising columns. 0» dit that a brass band is to be started at Thornbury.

There was a good attendance at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night to witness the performance cf Abdul Ahumund, tho Indian Juggler, who went through most of the conjuring tricks and illusions which have gained him fame in other parts of the world ho has visited. Tho entertainment was well received, many of tho feats boing rapturously applauded.

All those engaged in the oystering business at the Bluff have (says the Times) decided to do their business through the Bluff and Poveaux Strait Pishing and Oystering Co. Up to the present there have been several firms engaged in this industry, with the result that no one has made much out of it, ns the competition was too keen to allow either the employers or employes to reap any benefit, prices being wretchedly low. Now however, that all interested havo decided to join hands and work together groat advantages will probably accrue. The company do not desire by this amalgamation to charge an exorbitant price for oysters ; they will simply ask a fair price, and obtaining this they will naturally bo enabled to pay their employes fair wages for obtaining them. The company will still be managed by Mr G. R. Waddsl, with Mr T. S. Mullay as secretary. In connection with the new arrangement Mr T. Urwin (late of Riverton), takos tho position of agent for the company in Melbourne, and loft by the Tarawora on Saturday to undertake his new duties. Tho steps taken is just the one to make the oyster fishery a most flourishing one and profitable to all concerned.

Tho University boat race between tho Oxford and Cambridge eights was rowed over the usual course on the Thames ou Saturday, and resulted in a victory for Oxford by a quarter of a length. A. Waiau correspondent writes : —A group of gentlemen, all full of life, passed up the Waiau a few days ago. They appeared to bo keen observers of tho wonderful works of nature, as well as of all other improved scenes. They wore oa their way to tho world’s great wonder—tho Sutherland Falls. Ijikely they will go as far as Milford Sound. It is to be hoped that their pleasures will not to marred by the sudden change in the weather. A great pity that the hnfista’ kindled delights are about to eM-inguiehcd ■ v tho late fad of prison 1-dvr on tuc road. Such like labor is supposed to r.-cmor-nso ex-

penses in the city only, where a seer-? ij not. .ikely to exist. Mere we bura no:- >- yet jorae to any such state of maturity. But it

a hermit did live in these secluded wilds ;qi

about a quarter of a man’s lifot-mc, anil ambitiously discovcro.i abuntlanco of. payable resources which wo have taken up in addition to our known unbounded wealth, how can wo honor him bettor than build a city to his name in some picturesque soot pointed out by the discoverer. “Givis” might not see lliis day but the widow may bo able in her latter days to give a brief,account of how this great city was founded. In these days, when thoi'O will bo a garrison at the head of Milford Sound, a guard of honor at Lake Ada, roads, canals and railways leading to the world s first wonder (call it what you liko), with a tunnel from it to Lake To Anau, tho discoverer has found out tho only imponotable stronghold in the world. Why not the chief city in this great Britain of tho south.

Plain dress ball in Drillshcd on race night. Southland Partners Co-operative Agency. — Stock salt', Wiurio. Pulton, Stanley and Co. notify a series of stock sales to bo hold by them. They also have a now business announcement. Cattle impounded at Otautau by manager of Bays water. The Invercargill loaves Dunedin for Tlivorton on 7th April. Two pigs strayed into Mr M. Hailes’ paddock, Wairio. ,T. K. Mills and Co.—Wairio sale on April Ist. Prof. Burton—Notice to members Bivcrtou Choral Society.