The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 8,1891.

Western Star, Issue 1577, 8 July 1891, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JULY 8,1891.

Wn arc gla-1 to learn that Mr Miller, availinn himself of the beautifully calm weothar •which has prevailed since he bfgan his survey of the new harbour, has nearly completed the sra-going part of his work. The soundings, in all cases (and there are some 700 of them) verify those taken by Capr. Stokes imnv years since, in fact in most cases they show a slightly greater depth than those given in the Admiralty chart. This, we learn, arises from the system med by naval surveyors, who make what is called a wave allowance. AVo await Mr Miller’s report with uncalled for impatience. A report of the discussion which took place at the last meeting of the Education Board respecting the appointment of Teachers will be given in our next issue. The many friends of Rev. S. B. Fellows will be g!a 1 to learn by a letter received from him yesterday published in another column that ho arrived safely in New Guinea.

Wc have to acknowledge receipt from the Government Printer of a valuable budget of Parliamentary papers, comprising the report of the Public Trust Commission, which conlain-, all the evidence taken hy the Commissioners inid flic-simile specimens of pages of the rough cash books of the Public Trust Office ; No. ‘.i of Hansard ; report of tr.e Comma- ■ appointed to enquire into the BUb-jeol be Native Land Laws ; and Index to the endices to the Journals of the Legist* Council and House of Representatives from 1804 to 1890.

In Hayhow v. Trotter, as Invercargill case, I his Honor Mr Justice Williams yesterday gave j judgment at Dunedin for the plaintiff for £IOOO, and interest at 8 per cent on £9OO from December 31at, 1888, to May 25tb, 1889, and on £IOOO from May 25th 1889conditional on the plaintiff giving up, for the benefit of testator, the late Thomas Trumblu’s estate, her life interest in £IOOO under his will.

The Riverton Choral Association’s second term commences next Monday. New members ran now enter for the same. All speak most enthusiastically of the Society, as could bo seen by the attendance at the mealing held on Monday last. We would earnestly advise those who like part-singing to join either this or the sight-siuging, which, according to Prof. Burton’s statement, is progressing most admirably. As will be seen by tbo advertisement an examination is to bo held shortly open to all comers, teachers and pupils alike. This is not only a lest as to the pupils’ ability, but also advances the favors of those imparting instruction in this town.

Mr John Wilkinson returned to Riverton on Monday evening from the Zeehan silver mines, after about throe mouths’ sojourn there. He reports that there is no scarcity of employment at good wages for men willto work on that field, but thinks there is 100 much speculation and too little lona fide raining going on for the present state of things to last. He says the cost of living is verv high at Zeehan, and iho climate is extremely wet, two fine days in tbo week being about tbo average.

Tbo programme for this evening’s meeting of the ‘ Mutual” will comprise the following papers :—“ How I floated tho Syndicate,” Mr Evans; “ Stray Thoughts,” Miss F. McNaughton ; and “ From Dorchester to Dunedin,” Miss Ella Neuve. Wa would remind members that tho syllabus for the session is now ready, and copies con bo bad from the Secretary.

Fred Hart, in company with Wm. Lee, of South Riverton, sailed for Centro Island on Monday in a small dingey of his own building wbioh bo has sold to one of tho lighthouse keepers. Considering the distance and the size of the boat it appears a somewhat adventurous undertaking, but we have no doubt that the lads arrived safely at their destination.

Mr VV. Todd, auctioneer, Invercargill, has received the following telegram from tho member for Wallace regarding the Te Anau 1-oad :—“Matter under consideration. In a few days I trust to be in a position to inform vou that tho Government have agreed to expend a large sum on tho road.— James Mackintosh.

A shocking tragedy occurred at Ashburton hel wcooo nine and ton o’clock yesterday morning. Albert Edward Moss, the wellknown Christchurch cricketer, now a clerk, nsse.ulted bis wife with a tomahawk, fracturing her skull and lacerating .her face an 1 hands. He then cut bis own throat with a razor. It is thought there is a possibility of both recovering, though their injuries nro frightful. It is supposed that Moss’ mind was deranged through monetary troubles. Moss is the eldest son of Edward Mo;s» of Coalville, Leicestershire, and married on Juneß, Mary Emma, second daughter of the late Joseph Hall, of Andlem, Cheshire.

The first number of the Free Press, a •voeklv newspaper published at B.dclulho, has just come to hand. In a modest leader there is set forth the policy that it intends to pursue, and should the lines laid down bo itherod to, the Free Press may be congratulated as a fair exponent of the views of the Moderate party. We are quite with most oj the statements made in the leader we refer to, and gladly welcome this last addition to our ranks.

In a letter to a friend in Riverton Baron VVaohtmeister, who was hero last summer, states that the proposed Nordenskiold’s Autartic Expedition will start from the Macquarrio Islands about September next, going straight for the South Pole. The Baron states that it has been very difficult to raise sufficient funds for the Expedition, and that it is only through the liberality of Sir Thomas Elder of Adelaide, who bus given £SOOO, tin the affair has been satisfactorily arranged. He says that nil the Australian Governments have been stingy, and that New Zealand, who will thrive most benefit from the Expedition bus not contributed a single penny. In our fast issue wo reported that at the mooting of the Western District A. and P. Association the reconsideration of the question of the ploughing match was prevented by want of a quorum caused by M r Foster leaving the meeting. Wo by- no means in•rndc'l to imply that. Mr Foster left in order to stop discussion of the question; indeed wo are aware that he had to attend to his duties tit the station, and wo regret that anyone should take an erroneous view of the matter. Wo have no doubt that, it is very deaiioble the motion that no ploughing match should bo hold this year bo rescinded, as wo think it a blunder to let any of the annual fixtures of the Association fall through, and all hough agreeing with those who have no sympathy with ‘‘fane/ ploughing” in its many and varied ph-.scs, we hold that much benefit is derived from competition amongst the fair and honest exponents of the art.

The Hon. tho Postmastor-Geueral does not allow his ministerial duties to interfere with his private business. Having secured the services of Mr John Sinclair (late with Messrs Carswell and Co.) Mr Ward will now conduct land and stock solos throughout the Southland district. The success of the New Zealand Cooperative Association should cause us to wonder again at the abject failure made of the one started in Invercargill some few years since. The Association mentioned above has at its tenth annual meeting shown a profit for the year of £12,194, has declared a dividend of 7 per cent., and a bonus of 4 per cent, on the paid up capital, 4 per cen. bonus on purchases, 25 per cent, on commist sions, 4 per cent, on wages, conveyed £ISOO to the reserve fund, and carried forward a balance of £2310. It is proposed by this Association to purchase a steamer in conjunction with the South Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association for their joint trade with Australia and Calcutta,

The Southland Champion Ploughing Match Association hold their annual meeting on Saturday last in the Prince of Wales Hotel, Invercargill. Mr James Fleming was elected President; Mr Wm. Rouald Vice-President, and Mr J. A. Mitchell Secretary and Treasurer. It was resolved to add a second doublo-furrow class, open to all save first prize ploughman; also that tho digger ploughs should work at a depth of eight inches—width at ploughman’s option. A sub-committee was appointed to inspect and report on the fields offered for the match.

At Friday’s molting of the Education Board Dr Hodgkinaon gave notice of his intention to move the following resolution : Resolved, with reference to a resolution passed by the Clifton School Committee on June Ist at the instigation of Mr J. W # Kelly, M.H.R., secretary to the Southland Trades and Labour Union, for the purpose of boycotting Messrs Whitoombo and Tombs’ school books and drawing cards, as reported in tho Sothland Daily News of June 9tb, and also with reference to a similar resolution passed by the Invercargill South School Committee on Juno 11th, and reported in the Daily News of June 13th that the Board do inform these two school committees that in passing such resolution they have excceJcd their powers, inasmuch as tho law provides that the books and school requisites to be used in tbo public schools shall be such as are authorised by the Goveruor-in-Oonncil and selected by the Education Board—not by the school committee. That whereas the public school committees were constituted for the purpose of co-operating in tho patriotic and beneficent work of training up tho youth of the colony to become intelligent, industrious, and law abiding citizens, the Board inuoh regrets that auy public school committee should have heeu so unfaithful to the trust committed to it, as to have endeavored to abuse its powers with the illegal and immoral intent of boycotting tho goods of any citizen carrying on his business in accordance with, and under the protection o r , the law. That the Iwad teachers of the two above-mentioned schools be informed that as regards books and school'requisites to be used they are to act upon instructions given by the Education Board, not by tho school committee.

A prosecution for perjury has been instituted against the well-known Metcalfe of “ Picturesque Atlas ” fame. It comes on for hearing to day in Dunedin. The result of the trial will be anxiously awaited.

Mrs Aston, dressmaker, inserts business card Mrs Bridge request* that all accounts against Mr Bridge bo sunt to her as soon as possible. Riverton Athenamm—Annual meeting of subscribers on Monday evening. It is requested that claims against Port and Park be sent in by 21st Inst, The United Farmers’ Agency Co. bavea new business announcement.

Riverton Choral Association—Notice re second se-. skin. All claims against the estate of tho late Samuel Tuy lor to be rendered before Ititii inst.