THE Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. Established 1868. PUBLISHED WEDNEDAY and SATURDAY. Vincit Amor Patriae. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1894.

Western Star, Issue 1968, 5 December 1894, Page 2

THE Western Star WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. Established 1868. PUBLISHED WEDNEDAY and SATURDAY. Vincit Amor Patriae. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1894.

Tns Show.—To-day the event of the year will bo held in the Show ground. The numbrr of entries of cattle, sheep, and horsea is very satisfactory, while the exhibition of machinery will be the largest ever seen locally. The prists for the dairy produce will be keenly contested. We might mention that there is a first and second prize for a table decoration, and as the entries are free and will bo received this morning at the yards, an opportunity «s thus offered our lads and lissies of showing their artistic ability in arranging floral decorations. Last night the weather looked tkroateni ng, but we have strong hopes that to-day will be, if not of the best, at least good enough to induce all the world and his wife to visit the Western District".- Association Exhibition. Should the weather turn out exceptionally fine a large gathering may be expected. The Rivertm Brass Band will play on the ground throughout the day. We must not omit to mention that catalogues of the exhibits may be obtained of the secretary, Mr Haytvood.

Bikchwood Hunt Club— We would remind members and those interested that a meeting take? place in the Wallace County Hotel this evening at 7.30 p.m. The business to be considered is of a most important nature and must be settled at once. We therefore trust that members will make an effort to be present.

Athol —Owing to the recent heavy rains, the crops in the Athol distriot have got a yellow tinge on most of them, and warm weather is greatly needed.

The Milking Machine.—The milking machine, which was going to revolutionise dairying in this district has not (says the Hawera Star) come up to expectations. The machines in use in two large dairies in this district hove been stopped, and hard labour affain resorted to. Perhaps machines mav yet be patented that will demonstrate beyond all doubt that hand labour can be improved upon in milking. But even the machines will have to be so simple in their working ns to be understood by everyone- The milking machine in question is stated to have done good work at the inventor's farm ; he would have a far greater advantage in using it than the average " bush moohantic," if we may be pardoned for using the term.

Recbption Meeting.— The new officers for Riverton Salvation Army are Capt. and Mrs Close, the first married officers sent to this station. They arrive to-morrow night (Thursday), and will be accorded a great reception meeting, in the hall.

Oue Legislatobs.— The Hon. John MoKenzie, Minister for Lands, and Mr Jas. Mackintosh, M.H.R.. will arrive in Riverton to day. Advantage is 1 to be taken of their visit to bring one or two matters of local interest under their notice.

Shows—For Gore A. and P. Show the splendid total of 728 entries is reached, against 670 for last year.—The Gate takings at the Otago A. and P. Show were £294 17a

Parliament Prorogued— Parliament has been further prorogued till 7th February. Otago Harbou. - ?.—As a result of the Otago Harbour Bonrd's operations high water at Dunedin has been, id is stated, accelerated by 10 minutes, and there is an increase of rise in the tide of four inches.

The Rage for Riches.—Though money is alleged to be scarcer than ever the amount pat through the toralisator at the D.J C, meeting was £17,686, compared with £14,768 in 1893.

Metropolitan Show.— The, time for receiving entries for this event, which will be held at Tnvercargill on 11th and 12t Inst., has beon extended until Thursday the 6th December.

The Small Boy.—lt is reported that on a ricent occasion the Tnspoctor of Schools visited a school not; a hundred ' miles from Taranaki and while there he put a few questions on the Government of the Colony to the scholars. The first qnestion was, " Who is the Governor of New Zealand ?" to which came the rather irreverent reply " " A man named Glasgow." " Lord Glasgow," reprovingly added the Inspector, and then he continued, " Who is the GovornorrV chief adviser ?" Yonng Taranaki rose equal to the occasion, and in a chorus they exclaimed, "EM Smith "—Herald.

Strange CViscidencc—The Australian papers notice a strange co-incidence. In Australia the same pipers which contained the news of the assassination of the Emperor Alexander T of Russia a'ao announced the lo a s of the Union Company's Tararua, with 112 Uvea. Thirteen years afterwards the same papers announcing the death of the Emperor Alexander II nlso had the news of the loss of the Union Company's Wairarapa, with 127 lives.

, Not RKCiir.RED.—"Mrs M. G. Bellamy, who was a candidate for the office of mayor of Tapanui, received only 10 votes, Mr W. Sinclair (the present mayor) being re-elected.

Land Fob Settlement.— The Blind River estate of 5151 acres, in the Clifford B'iv smvoy district, Marlborough County, which is tho lust propsrty bought by the Government under the Lani for Settlemsnts Act, is (according to a northern cantemporary) tobesubdiucled into "0 farms and offered for selection at Blonheiin on January 16 on lease in perpetuity. It is expected tbat there will be very keen competition for those farms, as the land is of excellent, quality, and i 3 situated only 25 miles out of Blenheim, on the main coaoh ro»d to Kaikoura. Tho propo> ty is bounded by Lake Grassnv re, by the St.arborout?h run, and by Mossis Clifford aDd Weld's Flaxbourae estate.

A Suggestion.—Writes a West Coast correspondent:—lt kas been reserved for Mr Dunoan Macfarlane, goldfielda warden administrating throughout South Westland, to invent the most seasonable attribute to the co-operative scheme on public works in ihegolrlfields. " Maki it a condition on your young sinide men that for rvorv period of co-operative woik in likely localities he roust do a certain amount of prospecting ; then well you may style co-operative road making a re-productive industry." The hon. the Minister for Public Works, I am told, took kindly enough to the suggestion, hut on r» presenting matters to Mr Henry AGordon that functionary '* put the set on it," and so it has been condemned to durance during the pleasure of the authorities.

A Shooting Affair. — About midnight on Saturday, Charles Henry Wagstaff, canvasser for the Lyttelton Times, who resides at Papanui, fouud a man named Charles Langiion prowling ahOufc his premises and attempting to get in at the servant girl's window. Wagstaff went outside, and as Langdon was running discharged his gun, Langdon receiving the charge in the hip and hand. Wagstaff informed the doctor and the police, and Longdon was removed to the hospital. Wagstaff was arrested and brought before the court on Monday morning and remanded on bail fora we r k. It is not known what Langdon's motive was in going to the house. He is sufferiug from the shock, and has not been able to give an explanation. He is a married man and also lives at Paoanni, working at the butchering trade. Wagstaff states that he did not fire with the intention of hitting the mau.

Bees and Drones.—The other day two men and a boy were seen working at a bridge less than 100 miles from Owaka, and there were also seen beside them four Govprnment officials oonsidoring and consulting as to whether a certain pile had or had not touched bottom. The result of their deliberations has not yet reached us.—Olutha Leader.. Government Purchase. — The Government have purchased under tho Land for Settlements Act, 600 a -res of land within four miles of Tiimrn. The exact locality has not yet been made known.

Temperance Convention.—lt is proposed, in connection with the Hobart Exhibition, to hold an Intercolonial Temperance Convention during the fourth week in January 1895, when the political, educational, and social aspect of the temperance movement will he dealt with by delegates and leading reformers from all the Australian colonies. The New Zealand Alliance have been asked to send two delegates and in other ways to help in making the gathering successful.

Ascent of Ml Cook. —After several very plucky attempts to climb Mount Cook the party from the New Zealand Alpine Club have returned, leaving the peak still unconquercd. Two partially successful attempts were made, and on .the last occasion the partv got within 200 ft of the actual summit on a fine clay.

" Golden Fleece." A correspondent writes to a London contemporary : "I have just heard in the city a mot which I think you might like to convey to the Antipodes : First Citv Man : ' What a shoal of shady companies this West Australian boom is bringing into the market.' SecoDd City Man : ' Yes ; they are destined to lend a new significance to Australia's title of the Lind of the Golden Fleece.'"

Earthquake.—A very severe shock of earthquake was felt in Riverton on Tuesday morning, stopping the post office clock at twenty minutes to Feven. Wooden homes swayed to and fro for several seconds with alarming rapidity, while a creaking noise gave one the feeling that a collapse was imminent. Happily, however, no damage was done.

Otautau Hack Races and Sports-—En - oouraged no doubt by the success which attended the hack raoes and sports held at Otautau last February, tho Committee are now bestirring themse'ves with a v'ew of having them agiin. In this issue there appears a notice convening a meeting of those interested for Saturday evening the 15th inst. in tho Otautau Town Ball at 7.30.

Freb Exchange of Products.—Ne* Zealand will not be represented at tho meeting of Premiers about to be held in Hobart to discuss the free exchange of Australian products.

Advances to Settlers The Public Trustee Office will be orepared to reoeive during the next week applications for loans under the Advances to Settlers Act. It is understood that £1,000,000 is already available. The Globo Estates Company i—Mr Watson, president of the Bank of New Zealand, gives a complete denial to the allegations of the Melbourne Age re the floating of debentnres in London on acaount of the Assets Company. On tho contrary, the bank is about to pay off £750,000 of the existing debentures. He further states that this 6um is not a part of the second million guaranteed by tho Government, as to which there is an undertaking to keep it in liquid securities. Mr Watson does not indicate bow or whence tho three-quarter million now raised has been derived.

Export of New Zealand Timber—The Government are calling for a hundred thousand feet each of rimu, rpd birch, matai, kauri and silver pine for shipment to England. They will make all the arrangement!", and Mr Freyburg will take charge in England, and conduct the sale there. As the object is to ascertain whether the trade can be made profitable the price must not he excessive. The Westland millers have agreed to find one hundred thousand feet. In a circular issued by the Government to timber traders they are given fourteen days for reply. The date on which timber is to be delivered must be stated. It is desired to take immediate advantage of the demand for paving timber. It is anticipated there may be some difficulty in the way of obtaining freight space, but it is hoped this may be overcome.

Ok.bpuki.--A. public meeting was held at the Railway Hotel on Saturday nigbfc laßt to consider tho advisability of erecting new saleyards. Mr McPherson being called to the chair, pointed out to those present th» very bad state of the yards used for holding cattle sales. He remarks! upon tho lapid atrido3 tho district was making a grazing locality, which iudicated tho likelihood of ', Orepuki becoming one of the largest cattle sale centres in Southland. He thought no time should be lost in trying to provide sufficient accommodation to meet the increased necessities of the place. Mr J. E. Mills spoke as to the inadequateneßS of the yards, and agreed with the chairman in record to each auctioneer using the yards taking up five shares, as it was a usual thing for them to do so. He moved—" That a company be formed, to bo called 'The Orepuki Saleyards Company,' consisting of 150 shaiei of £1 each— -oa to be pa id on application, 5s on allotment, and the balance cs required."—This was seconded by Mr D Ooikerv, and carriel.—lt was then moved by Mr Mills, seconded by Mr J P Young, and carried, that five provisional directors I a appointed, the following gentlemen boing appointed to ant j—Messrs A McPherson, W Armstrong, J P Toung, J Popham, and J H Young.— Mr Mills moved, seconded by Mr Ford, and carriel, that the provisional diroclors prepare plana and select tho most suitable site for the erection of the yards, and make (ho necessary arrangements for the formation of the company—their proposals to be submitted to a meeting to be called at an early date. The meeting was then canvassed to ascertain what support tho company would bo likely to recoive, when some fifty shares were promised to be taken up.

Minbus Association.—A meeting of the Rivorton Miners Association is callod for this evening in the Town Hall at 7.30. A lull attendance is necessary.

New Zealand Consols. —The Govorn. I menfc will after Ist DecemW be prtpirod to I receive applications for New Zealand consols, j The rate of interest for tlnse has btfl 1 6xed | at. three and per geoc. (j

Thu Criminal Cook.— At the Snpreme Court, Auckland, Judge Conolly sentenced George Murphy, Michael O'Brien, Robert Martin, James Thomp-ton and George Walters each to years' penal servitude for assault and robbery, stating that if such crimes continued he would bo compelled in future to pass even more severe sentences, as the law allows penal servitude for life anl three floggings. SURrßisa Weddings—The newest idea in American society is tho surprise wedding. Invitations are sent out for a dinner party and when the dinner is over the parson is introduced, in a few " well-chosen words," the bridegroom takes his guests into his confidence, the bride Mushingly takes her place, and the marriage is solemnise 1 without further ceremony. The guests return to the table, and having toastod the happy pair, proceed with the dessert. One of the latest surprise weddings was that of exGovernor Cornell, and the wedding se«ms to have been a genuine surprise, no one knew that he was engaged.

A Core—A correspondent writes to the Wanganui Chronicle pointing out what he con«i lors to be an infallible remedy for asthma. This is merely tea made from the flower of the gorse, which he says has to be taken at such inter vala as the particular case may require. Our our»es|jondent instances several cases that have come under his notice, and states that he himself has derived considerable benefit from this preparation.

Bushy Park—We (Palmerston Times) understand that Mr J. M. M'Kenzie, the eldest son of the Minister for Lands, has been appointed manager of Bushy Park estate, the property of the Globe Assets Company of the Bank of New Zealand.

The Coinage of Silver.—lt is interesting to know, on the authority of a London paper, that the five shilling piece is the coin out of which the Iniperiul Mint makes the largest profit. The crown—or" bull ".to give it its slang name—contains nearly au ounce of of silver ; and tho average price of silver par ounce during the past yeirs has beau 2-t 4£l. [fence the Mint has made a profit of 2s 7jd on every crown minted. The Impeiial Mint makes a profit of oearly 40 per cent, on its silver coinage, taking it in the bulk. This calcination takes into consideration the defasod and worn-out coins returned to be melted up again. A* Victoria makes no profit—but has hitherto sustainod a loss —on its gold coining, some at least of the profit on the silver we use ought to come into our Treasury. The profit osade by the Imperial Mint on bronze coinage is about 60J per cent. The bronse bars are worth £65 a ton, thereabouts; bub the broze coins are worth £448 a ton.

Fire-proof Experiment.—ln accordance with instructions from tho Hon. Mr Seddon, Colonel l°ox, military adviser to the Government, in conjunction with Mr Ilanna, of the Freezing: Company, conducted a test experiment at the freezing works, Wellington, as to the fire-resisting power of Mr J. C. Firth's prepared pumice. The test was made in a 4ft cube iron tank, inside which a 2;"t cube was placed, and between the two cubes, on tho tides, top and bottom, prepared pumice insulation 13 inches thick. Some 15 toni of wood and coal were burnt in the nrocess before tho experiment was completed. In the innor tank was placed some bank notes, some gunpowder and parchment, with wax seals. Colonel Fox, it ia understood, is satisfied with the experiment.

Ruinous Decline.—■ How the price of wheat has fallen in a short tima is startiogly recognisable in a comparison published by the London Times. For tho week ending October 7,1893, wheat was quoted at 27s lOd per quarter, while for the same period for 1894 it was only 18s 2d ! During the same periods barley had dropped from 29s to 23s 7d and oats from 17s lOd to 14s.

Fatal Accident.— A married woman named Margaret Lambert, 35 years of age, met her death last week in an extraordinary manner at her home, Surry Hills, near Sydney. She had gone out to the yard to chop wood, and being absent a long time her daughter went out after her, and found her lying insensible. A lew moments later the unfortnnate woman died. There was no wound visible, but a slight abrasion on the front of the nose. There was also a slight bleeding from the nose. From this circumstance, and the appearance of the body, it seems certain that the skull had been fractured, and it is supposed that Mrs Lambert, when she had the axe raised for a blow, caught a clothes lino which ran across the yard above her, with the result that the axe rebounded and struck her on the head, inflicting the fatal injury.

Riverton Rifles At a trial of the Martini Henri Rifl'S, issued to tho local volunteers, the following scores were made on Monday afternoon. Seeing that our marksmen aro strangers yet to the new weapon the scoring was high, and overaged 281 per man, or say 10 points above Snider scores. Following are the scores:

Dairy Industry Act. —It is said that matters are already in train for driving the proverbial coach-and-six through tho Dairy Industry Act, and that all the provisions in connection with the grading of butter for export will be rendered useless. The Taranaki News states that a shipper of butter in New Plymouth has received o tender from London to deface all the Government brands on the butter boxes when they arrive at Home for the moderate sum of 5s per 100 boxes. It is reckoned that a a man with a plane can very comfortably " shake off" the Government brands at a rate of 100 boxes per diem. So that one man, pai iat the rate of " five bob " a day, can undo in London all the work of the inspectors and graders who are paid salaries in the eolonv.

Sold His Wife.—A North Island paper (the Bush Advocate) is responsible for the following:—"A married oonpte lately resident in Danovirko have separated as the result agreed to by husband and wife. They were in poor circumstances, and the husband offered to sell his wife to a would-be purchaser for a stated sum, not a very large one. The offer was accepted and the purchase completed. When last hoard of, the wife seemed well satisfied with the result, as she was aupplied with money, a very different state of things from what had previously been the case." A Sheading Record.—The following shearing record took place on a New South Wales station t—ln 48 hours 14,454 sheep were shorn by 22 meo, being an average of 657 sheep per man for 48 hours, or 109£ sheep per man per day. One day 2763 were shorn, not one man out of 22 shearing less than 105 sheep. The " ringer " of the shed shore 215 on that day, the total number for the wcok being 1028. In the last three days of the shearing he shore 615.

200 300 500 Total yds yds yds Corp Cuff 23 20 19 62 Lieut Robinson 21 20 19 60 Liout Pattison 21 19 19 59 Corp Forsyth 20 18 17 55