THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2673, 11 September 1871, Page 2

THE COUNTRY.

TOKOJUIRIRO, The Tokomairiro school committee con. sidcred tlie Education Bill at a recent meeting. Most of the members prssent approved in a general way of the Bill. A commence? meat was made to go over the Bill clause by clause, but owing to some of the members leaving, only a small portion of it was thoroughly examined. In so far as it was examined, the committee agreed to alf the clauses with the following exceptions :—They objected to the Superintendent having the sole power of appointing the first Education Board, believing that the Board, ought to remain as it is at present, or in the Superintendent with the advice of Ifis Executive, They disapproved of the chairman of com. mittoes having a deliberate as well as a casting vote. The chairman was requested to telegraph the views of the committee to Mr W. A. Murray, the member for Bruce.— We understand that every preparation has been made by the contractors, Messrs M’Leod and Co,, for the immediate commencement of the work of constructing the Balclutha

portion of the Clutha Railway. Throughout the length of the part contracted for, they intend to let it out in sub-contract, and from the large number of idle people at present we fancy the works will be highly competed for, and the prices will he consequently j OWi _Some people arc really hard to convince that numbers of men are at present sore pushed to get work. Tenders were a few days ago invited for filling up a few nits in the streets of Milton, when there were no less than seven applicants, at prices varying from LI 18s to L 3 Coombe’s party, Manuka Creek, on washing up on the Bth inst. had a most satisfactory return of gold. It is also rumo"ed that ground tit for sluicing and with payable prospects is about to lie worked in the distrLt of Mount Misery.- The steamer Pretty Jane arrived at Kaitangata safely on Thursday evening, the 30th ult , and on Friday took in a quantity of flax and produce. It is believed that she and others of equal size will visit Kaitangata and the settlers higher up the river occasionally, finding now that the river is navigable and safe for vessels of large tonnage. This will prove a valuable acquisition to the interests of settlers generally in the district. A large storehouse here for produce might also be formed convenient for steamers coming here. — Standard. THE LAKES. The escort took down from Queenstown 2109 ounces of gold ; and from the Arrow--1331 ounces ; making a total of 3,440 ounces. Not so bad considering the weather —Up to the middle of June last the weather in the Homo country had resembled that of bleak March. It has come to us to experience a similar turn of keen and cold winds. Yesterday was perhaps one of the most miserably cold and wet days we have had during the. season ; and as daylight faded the whole country was covered with snow. We arc informed by Mr Worthington, who lias eharge of the Observatory, that the thermometer ont-doors went down as low as 25 degrees last night. To-day, again, the weather has been beautiful and spring-like. No wonder, with such a var able season, sickness is so prevalent.—That the Shotover should be walked over a little more than ankle deep, from side to side, may seem strange to many. Yet such was the fact on Monday last when it could be so crossed for a few hours. The causes were gigantic laud slips, at or near Sutherland's Beach, which effectually dammed back the waters of this rapid river. The extent of the slips may therefore be fairly estimated by those who know the river. In modern days they are probably the largest that have taken place, and it is said that some enormous rocks have been deposited in the bed of the river which will materially affect the river’s level at the site, and above it .--Mail, 6th inst. OAMARU. Captain Baldwin, the agent for the Government Assurance Department, has again visited Oamaru, and we learn that he has been successful in obtaining applications from numerous persons, who now understand the advantages offered by the Government, as to those of other companies.—Many will have watched with interest the progress of Ihe Harbor Works up to the pnseut time ; and although of late that progress has been slow, sufficient has been done to confirm, in a large measure the opinion of competent judges ms to the perfectly feasible character of the scheme. Unexpectedly, a large qua ry of excellent stone was opened out on the spot where it was required, and the contractor found his work greatly faeilitated by- the discovery. A large piece of land has been reclaimed, partly from the cliffs and partly from the sea, and at the same rate of progi ess a fortnight would suffice to complete the reclamation as far as the line of the standing poriion of the Jetty. The tramway has been partly tabled out, and a few weeks’ work would have enabled the engineer to mark onf the curves, and to give the proper levels for its final completion, prior to laying doiyn sleepers and rails. It is therefore with freat regret that we find the contractors ave given notice to suspend the works, because they cannot get payment from the Government of the certificates issued by the engineers, amounting to some L 1750. We can scarcely blame them, for they can hardly be expected to go on with work, and pay out large sums of money, without at least some payment on account. The Government, in reply to repeated applications, have only offered to pay 8 per cent, interest, without giving any promise as to when the principal will be paid. The Dock Trust endeavored partly to meet the matter, by releasing on reasonable conditions the LSOO deposit paid by the contractors on signing the contract, and they are powerless to do more. The Government have but one answer to make—“We have not the money, and we do not know when we shall have it.” Is this state of things to go on? Surely it is time Provincialism was brought to an end, and that some such scheme as Mr Macandrcw’s for uniting the Middle Island under one Government was carried out. Meantime, our only appeal is to the Assembly, and we would earnestly recommend that a public meeting should at once be convened, to strengthen the hands of our representatives, by petition or resolution, in seeking redress before it is too late. Unless we can get assistance out of the General Government loans, to be charged against tbe Province, it seems hopeless to expect any satisfactorytermination of our persistent efforts for the improvement of our harbor.— Oamaru Times. SOUTHLAND. From the Mataura Plains, we learn that the lambing season has just commenced under circumstances which give fair promise of a food yield. One choice draft of part bred jeicesters, belonging to the Edendalc station, numbering 26 head, produced no fewer than 40 lambs. At Benmore and Lowthor, the season commenced a couple of weeks ago. We are also informed that many doublefurrow ploughs have lately made their appearance in and around Mataura. The Colonial Engineer-in-Chief, Mr Carrutlu rs, accompanied by Messrs Dees and Bluir, engineers for the Clutha line, visited Invercargill by the Rangitoto on Tuesday evening. The following day they went to Winton, from whence they proceeded cn route to Kingston, with tbc view of examining the route of the projected railway. They also propose before leaving the district to make a similar examination of the Mataura line from Invercargill to the Longford, The constable at the Bluff reports that on the Bth instant, a carpenter named Chaa. Price, residing at Caiiipbelltown, had a narrow escape from being poisoned. He partook of a dose of sulphate of zinc instead of Epsom salts. The mistake was at once discovered, and an antidote applied, which prevented any serious results from ensuing. During last month, Southland exported 4401 cases of preserved meats, and 135 casks tallow, making together a gross weight of

75 tons, for the c arriagc of which the Bluff railway was paid L 59. The quantity of pawn timber exported during themonthwas2B9,ls7 ft., which yielded LB4 19s lOd as carriage. Another item of export was 148 bales of flax Early on the morning of Tuesday last, a number of stacks belonging to Mr Robert Grieve, Branxholme, New River, were found on fire. Singular to say, the party by whom the fire was first discovered neglected to give an alarm, and the result was that before steps could be taken to arrest the flames, five stacks of wheat and one of barley were consumed. The stacks were Inst seen about 10.30 the previous evening, at which time they were all right. The loss is estimated at L4OO, no portion of which is covered by insurance. The police have instituted a searching enquiry into the matter, and it is expected an inquest will be held shortly. —Times, Bth inst.