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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 914, 11 January 1871, Page 2

Perhaps the most extraordinary argument in favor of railways was used by Captain Frazer. In discussing Mr Seymour's motion in favor of the Government establishing a woollen and rope manufactory, Captain Frazer stated, " If they had a railway from Picton to Dunedin, the hon. gentleman (Mr Seymour) would be able to wash every morning with soap which was manufactured in Dunedin." However necessary it may be that Mr Seymour should " wash every morning," we think the Colony cannot afford to have a railway from Dunedin to Picton for such, a, purpose,—Duneolia Echo,

FLOATING ISLANDS. The following is from a late number of the Gipps Land Times one of the Gipps Land Steam Navigation Company's steamers was crossing Lake Wellington, the man at the wheel suddenly observed land right in the track of the steamer, apparently only a short distance from the strSits, separating Lakes Wellington and Victoria. He called the captain's attention to the strange sight, and on coming up close, the land was discovered to be a small island, about thirty yards in length by twenty broad. It was covered with a rich coating of luxuriant grass; and small trees, tea tree, and bush shrubs appeared to be growing in profusion. The only occupants of this remarkable selection were a few pigs, feeding away contentedly, apparently enjoying their novel journey by water. A second island of the same description, but smaller, was noticed a little further on, but this had evidently detached itself from the larger piece of land, or most probably had been separated by the rooting depredations of the porkers. From what portion of the mainland this floating island came is of course matter of conjecture, but it is known that a portion of the soil at Marley Point, on the southern shore of Lake Wellington, became detached recently, and floated miles across the lake with some twenty or thirty head of pigs aboard. As long as the wind drove it in that direction, the island drifted towards M'Lenuan's Straits, but a three day's trip, within a mile of the spot from which it had broken away. We believe it is the opinion of Mr District Surveyor Dawson that the area of the Roseneath run, west of Lake Wellington, has been increased by some twenty or thirty acres, by the addition of drift islands.