THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1897.

Western Star, Issue 2160, 27 November 1897, Page 2

THE Western Star AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1897.

Tbe Courts sit on Wednesday. Miners and those imerosted should note this.

Mr A R Hare, of Fairfax, was unanimously elected chairman of the Wallace County Council for the ensuing year at the statutory meeting held on Wednesday. A raid was made on Monday morning by the police on alleged sly grog-sellers at Tapanui and Kelso, with the result that a quantity of liquor was seized at McCann’s and Menvard’s (Tapanui), and Dunnelt’s (Kelso). The cases wili be heard at Tapanui on Friday. At Auckland Samuel Gordon, boss of the platelayers on the Paeroa railway Ime, died suddenly on Tuesday. Death was caused by English cholera, brought on by deceased drinking swamp water. The London fire destroyed an area of four and a-half acres. The losses of the insurance companies estimated at under a million. Those of the leading British offices are put down at 1330,000. American offices are heavy losers. Four thousand workpeople arc affVctcd.

At the annual meeting of the lleddou Bush Sports Club Mr 1) Clarke was appointed president. The annual gathering is to be held as usual.

“ Gentiemen of the jury,” said the counsel in an agricultural case, “ there were thirty-sis hogs in that lot—thirty-six, I want you to remember that number—thirty-sis hogs just three times the number that there arc in the jury bus.”

Mr A Carmichael, who was one of Southland’s delegates at the charitable aid conference at Wellington, returned last week, and occupied his usual place at the county council on Wednesday.

Evidently sparrows, like some uufeathered bipeds, arc not ashamed to eat the bread of idleness. The other day, during a matutinal walk, we espied a starling feeding its brood, which was located in a hole in a wall of a dwelling. Worm after worm was brought from a field and dropped into the capacious maws of the young starlings. Presently a pert little sparrow, perched on an adjacent tree, made a bee line for the nest during mater starling’s absence, and on her return be impudently opened his beak in imitation of the young starlings, and took the proffered worm, which he devoured with evident relish. Ihe operation was repeated several times, but how the affair ended, we cannot say. No doubt the sparrow had a warm time when the starling discovered the imposition that had been practiced, or probably the sparrow took time by the forelock, and made an extended tour into the country to see bow the crops were coming on.

An unusual outbreak of inebriety must hove taken place in Dunedin on Sunday, for no less than 13 men appeared on Monday morning at tbs Police Court to answer charges of drunkenness. Nine were first offenders, one a respeetable-looking youth and auother a man whose dress and appearance betokened that the wearer moved in a fair position in society.—Dunedin Star.

At some of the Marlborough stations shearing rates have been reduced to 15s por 100 sheep, while the rest retain the old rata of 16a Bd.

Hblrich Pohlbn, who is in custody on a charge of shooting Patrick Corcoran at Upper Waikato, is a Gorman, and came out to Melbourne in 1854. He came to Otago in the goldfields days, and worked for some time at the Dunstan rush. When volunteers were called for the Waikato war, with a promise of land, he was one of the men who joined in Otago. He joined Von Tempsky’s Forest Rangers when formed, and served through the Waikato war. His moat precious belongings, which on bis earnest solicitation he was allowed to take with him when arrested, were a prayer book, a rosary, and a veteran’s medal for war services in New Zealand under Von Tempsky.

A joke is going round the Taranaki district that at a recent show three samples of the same churning of butter were sent. One took first, the other second, whilst the unfortunate third was disqualified.

As an example of what can be done by poultry keeping, a Waikato fanner, who had placed bis poultry under the same conditions as his other stock, last year handed the birds over to bis daughter, and she, after paying the cost of the food consumed, made a profit of £SO.

The Hawera Post says that through drinking arsenic water from a sheep trough, Mr James Stevens lost a valuable horse and also a cow, besides which another horse is in a critical state and not expected lo recover. Before the discovery was made that the animals had quenched their thirst with poisonous sheep dip, the oow was milke l and some of the milk was consumed, with the result that two of Mr Stevens’ children weie slightly poisoned, but they have since recovered.

It does not fall to tho lot of every man to gain more than a local celebrity. At a meeting of a southland local body the other day, a representative was wanted for a (ortain institution. Someone suggested that the person who had previously acted in that capacity should be elected. “ Is he still alive?” queiied a member, amidst laughter, and on being assured that he was still in the land of the living, the member moved his appointment.

At the Emerson enquiry Captain Neale of the launch Snark said he'remembered tendering the s.B, Dingadee on 2nd May. There was a heavy roll in the bay. Inspector Emerson came on board, as far as he could remember, without assistance, and he notic- d nothing the matter with him. He had only the usual amount of assistance afforded to passengers in transhipping from the Snark to the Dingadee and on returning he walked up the stage himself,'which would have been impossible for a man helplessly drunk.

Mb Schby has given notice in the New South Wales Assembly to ask the Premier a question containing a singular innuendo. It is as follows “ Will he lay upon the table of this house a return showing the number of suio'des that have taken place in New South Wales since the present administration took office V *

Mb Pattolea, of Dunedin, made a decided hit (says the Manawatn Standard) in responding to the toast of “The Judges” at the Palmerston North show dinner, referring to the fact that two of the sheep he hai judged were named John McKenzie and Richard Seddon, he said that he could claim to hare “ pulled the leg” of the Right Hon. Richard Seddon and to have tweaked the nose of the Hon. John McKenzie—a unique record in tbo history of the colony.

On the petition of the Wallace County Council part of section 4, block 5, Jacob’s River Hundred, of an area of more than four aorcs has been gazetted as set apart for a road.

Mb Jeffrbt informs the Tuapoka Times that it coat him last week 8s 3d to rail two oases f om Dunedin to Lawrence, while tbo freight on the same goods from Melbourne to Dunedin was 6s 6d. Prodigious! At Wanganui last week E. W. Spooner, a suburban farmer, was committed for trial on charges of having failed to keep proper books of account, and having incurred a debt by false pretences. Wb take the following from the Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette of October 9th. Many Rivertonians will remember Mr Smith heiog here ou a visit a few years ago, when by his kindly nature he made many friends, who will sympathise with him and Mrs Pattison in their bereavement: —ln our obituary columns there is announced the death of Mrs Smith, wife of our respected townsman, Mr Robert Smith, clothier. She was a wo. man highly esteemed, and in her quiet, unobtrusive nay carried an influence which was very marked. She was buried on Thursday and all places of business along the route to the cemetery were closed as a mark of respect. No doubt Mr Smith’s kindness and benevolence drew forth the sympathy of the community for him and his family in their sad bereavement.

In asking that the sum of £2O be spent on a road leading to his property in the Waicolo estate, Mr Stephen James offered to give £lO in cash as a subsidy. This is a praiseworthy example of a self-helping settler, and certaiu'y the subsidy is a generous one.

The Cup match between Nightcaps and Riverton tabes place to-day on tho Highlands. Players are requested to be on the ground punctually at 10 o’tlook.

Eably on Wednesday morning Andrew Sinclair was admitted to_ the Wellington hospital suffering from injuries through placing a dynamite cap in his month. The roof of his mouth was blown out, and tho lower jaw shattered. There aro no hopes of his recovery.

Certainly the best medicine known is San • der & Sons Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effects in coughs, cold 3, influenza—the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents, be they wounds, burn 3, scaldings, bruises, sprains, is the safest remedy—no swelling no inilamation. Like surprising effects produced in croup diptheria bronchitua inilamation of tbo lungs, swelling, etc.; diarrhoea, dysentry, disease of the kidneys and urinal organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italv and crowned with medals and diplo i a at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Insist getting Sander & Son’ Eucalypti Extract or else you will be suplied with worthless oils.

While retimberiog an old drive in the Nightcaps coal mine on Monday a portion of the roof fell in and partly buried Mr Jas Mason, one of the under managers. Assistance, luckily, was at hand, and in about an hour be was liberaied and was found to be suffering from nothing more serious than vciy badly bruised legs. John Higginson, of New Caledonia, is at present in Sydney on his way to London with plans for the development of tho nickel industry in New Caledonia. He states that if his plans aic accepted ho contemplates the erection of smelting w«rks at Newcastle and Jnoumea.

A gknbeal strike of r.ilway workmen in Ireland is threatened in consequence of the principal Railway Oomparms having refused to regard the Amalgamated Society of Railway Engineers as representative of railway men.

On one occasion, after visiting one of the Scottish historic towns, an English lady entered the tra n, and having rather a long journey, she wanted something to read on the way so she called a newsboy. She asked him what books he had. After naming all his wares and none of them pleasing her, he lost his patience, and when she told him she wanted something soft, sweet, and solid, he turned away disgusted, remarking —“ Eh I awa’ wi’ ye 1 I think it’s a dumpling ye want.”

Mr Duncan McPherson has been appointed county engineer out of five applicants for the position. The Rev. James Blaokie, of Lumsdcn, whose cEath wc announced in last issue, obtained his training at tho Otago University and Theological Hall of the Presbyterian Church. Alter completing his course he was inducted to the charge of the Cromwell prrish, wher he labored for six years. On the Lumsden vacancy occurring, he received a unanimous call to that charge. He was an upiight man, and a zealous Christian worker. “ Several wo‘ks ago in London,” said an

English tourist, “I was standing beside an

American acquaintance, when I expresed a wish to know which point was the north. He pulled out his watch, looked at it, and at once pointed out the right direction. I asked him whether he bad a compass attached o his watch. “ All watches are compasses,” he replied. Then he exolained to me how this was. Point the hour hand to the son, and south is exactly half way between the hour and and the figure XII on the dial. For instance, suppose it is four o’clock. Point the hand indicating four to the sun, and II on the watch ia exactly south. Suppose again it is eight oolock. Point the hand indicating eight to the sun, and tho figure X on the dial is due south. My American friend seemed surprised that I did not know this, and not wanting to be left alone in my ignorance I asked Henry M. Stanley, whom I met the following day, whether he knew of this simple means of taking the points of the compass. My self-esteem rose when the famous traveller told me be bad never heard of it. So, perhaps, there may be plenty of folks in your country who still remain in my original state of ignorance. I don’t know what p'ace my American friend hails from, but somewhere in the great west.” Thb general opinion in Wellington is that the session of Parliament will close about the 20th or 22nd December, but some wellinformed members consider it will be a very tight squeeze to finish before Christmas. A woman was arrested at Kaiapoi on Tuesday on a charge of being concerned ia a robbery. Her husband, who was whitebaiting, was also arrested, but taking advantage of tbe opportunity allowed him to pick up his coat, jumped into the Waimakariri river, and swam to the opposite bank and made his way across country. The police started in pursuit, bat their search for him so far has proved fruitless. The body of Albert Hatch, the last of the four victims of the drowning accident in the New River, baa been recovered, and was interred in St John’s cemetery, Invercargill, yesterday.