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Evening Star, Issue 3248, 18 July 1873, Page 2

There are two foundries in active operation in Invercargill, and a third is to be established shortly. Labor, both skilled and unskilled, is exceedingly scarce in Southland—in fact, artisans, or laborers, can scarcely be obtained at present for money, love, or any other consideration. The traffic between Invercargill and the Western District is largely on the increase. Two lines of coaches run between Invercargill and Riverton, and a third line is to commence immediately. In view of.the construction of the Winton and Kingston Railway, Mr Webster, of Beamore, is making preparations for entering into agriculture on a large scale. Large nuildings are to be erected, and machinery obtained at once for this purpose. When fully commenced; abpul; sixty men will be employed.

The drama of “ Man and Wife,” which has had a lengthened run at the Princess’s Theatre, will be played for the last time this evening. Those who have not yet seen this really clever production should avail themselves' of this opportunity. To-morrow, the highly moral and sensational drama of “ The Bottle” will be produced. An inquest was held on the 10th instant at the West Taieri, before Mr Fuiton, Coroner, on the body of Andrew Bradshaw, who had been browned while crossing the river in a small boat the previous Sunday Deceased was a native of Heighglenlin, Wigtonshiro, Scotland, where it is supposed he has a widow sister residing, and was thirty years of age. A verdict of ‘ ‘ Accidentally Drowned” was returned. The lecture on “ Woman’s Influence,” by the Rev. A. Reid, delivered at Mornington last night, was a success, the school room being two-thirds full. A cordial vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer was moved by Mr Morris, a member, and conveyed by Mr Geo. Watson, who occupied the chair, as President of the Society—The Mornington Union Sunday School. The treasurer, Mr A. Law, acknowledged receipt of LI 9s, the amount collected at the above meeting. The foot-race between Fox and Drake, for LSO a s'de, will come off on the Northern Recreation Ground to-morrow, provided it does not rain at the time of starting. The distances to be gone over are 150, 200, and 100 yards, and the last will be the only flat spin. For the first-mentioued distance, which will will be run at 3 p.m., Drake will have inside running : and for the 200 yards race, which will be run balf-an-hour afterwards, Fox will have that advantage. During the afternoon, Auld and Muirhead will have a vaulting match, the latter being allowed four or five inches.

A meeting of the Masonic Hall Company, Limited, was held last evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best means by which to meet the calls upon the Company, and especially the demand which had been sent in by the mortgagee, for an immediate settlement of the amount of interest due. The amount due for interest was stated by the chairman to be L2OO, besides small amounts aggregating LS3, The total assets were stated to be Ll9B. After considerable discussion, it was resolved that the directors be instructed to call by advertisement for tenders for the use of the hall, the upper hall being reserved for Masonic purposes; the tenders to be laid before a general meeting of the shareholders to be called for that purpose.

** Delicate Ground,” in which Mis Colville appeared as Pauline, Mr Steele as Citizen Sangfroid, and Mr Booth as Alphonse, was spiritedly played at the Queen’s Theatre last evening. The performance concluded with the ever-welcome comedy “The Love Chase,” Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins as Constance and Wildrake respectively, enacting their parts in such a manner as completely to carry the audience with them. Great credit is due to the indefatigable stage manager, Mr Hydes, for the smoothness with which the various pieces are played nightly, and there can be no doubt a great deal depends upon the gentleman who occupies this responsible position in a theatre. The amusing trifle, “ A Morning Call,” to conclude with “The Serious Family,” is the programme announced for this evening.

The timber trade of Southland is assuming gigantic proportions. Two years ago there were only two or three works in the vicinity of Invercargill, employing altogether about forty men ; now there are fifteen in full operation, employing in the aggregate about 300 hands, and the establishment of other mills is contemplated. The amount of timber cut weekly averages 250,000 feet, and it is shipped principally to Dunedin, the Northern Provinces, and Melbourne. Considerable difficulty is experienced in supplying the demand, and freight is not easily procurable. At the present rate the timber trade of Southland cannot fall far short in value of L 500.000 per annum. Most of the mills are in the vicinity of the railway, and every facility is afforded for conveying the timber to the place of shipment. The price charged f.-.r carrying timber from Invercargill to the Bluff is 6d per 100 feet. JChere is only one mill at present in the Western district, but three additional ones are in process of establishment, One of these, says the Bruce Herald , is owned by a Dunedin firm, and is to be on a very extensive scale. Brogden and Co. have gone into the saw milling business, their establishment being in the Seaward Bush.

Considerable progress was made with the Estimates last night, and up to the time progress was reported, a little after ten o’clock, no alteration had been made in the items, though a reduction was attempted in two or three instances. First of all, Mr Stout moved the Superintendent’s salary should stand at LBOO, as it did last year, but the proposition was negatived by fourteen against twenty-three. Then the item, “Secretary for Goldfields and Works, L 600” was opposed by members who wanted the salary to remain at L4OO, but they were outvoted by a majority of seven. The proposition to have two non-official members of the Executive was opposed by Mr M'Kenzie, because certain members of the existing Government had opposed Mr Reid having more than four members in his Executive, and by Mr Gillies, because there was no necessity for having two non-official members : officials whom, from his own experience, he regarded as more ornamental than useful—an unlucky remark for the member for Milton, because Mr M'Lean, amid laughter, reminded the Council that it did not follow that because such a good-look-ing gentlemen as the member for Milton could not be got to take office as a nonofficial member, one even more useful was not obtainable; while Mr Turnbull expressed regret to hear that that hon. member found himself of such little use in the capacity referred. The vote was carried by seventeen to nine. There was a short but meaningless debate (in which Mr M'Dermid attempted to say something witty) over the honorarium, which of course passed. On the police estimates, Mr Fish and some other members argued that the force should receive the same pay as gaol warders, but the latter found champions in Mr Stout and Mr Lumsden, and the vote passed as printed. The items under the head of Education were passed, and progress reported.

Mr Keith Ramsay announces himself for reelection as a Councillor for High Ward.