Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 687, 8 June 1859, Page 3

Colonial.

OTAGO.

We have papers by the Lord Worsley and Queen to the 3rd instant.

The census returns for the province taken last December^ are published in the ' Witness'of the 14th May. The population of Otago is shown to have been 6944; horses 1680; cattle 20,971; sheep 223,589.; number of acres fenced 19,065; houses 1227. . •. ■■ ■■ '■ ■ -.. : ~ .-- ■:■- .■■

The f Witness' takes the opportunity to comment upon the sighs of prosperity in the province to the following effect:—

The financial state of the province is- decidedly sound. Notwithstanding the burden of an additional share of the New Zealand Company's Debt, the interest of the debts contracted for immigration and local improvements, and the refusal of the General Government to sanction the further borrowing of £25,000, and although the estimated expenditure: exceeds the estimated revenue by £17,902, there! now appears, at this advanced period,of the finan-i cial year, every probability of the Loca).' Govern-: ment being able to meet the liabilities of the last' appropriation without the necessity of borrowing the £25,000. This state of; financial 'prosperity is attributable to the rapid increase of the Customs i revenue, and the still more rapid accumulation of the land funds. By comparison with the year ending December 1857, the Customs revenue of 1858 shows an increase of £2957, being more^than 30 per cent., and the first quarter of the present is at a rate which will raise our Customs to between £17,000 and £18,000. The increase of the land fund is yet much greater. By the subjoined table it will be seen that the gross revenue for the past year was ', £34,910, whilst that for the preceding year was but £14,401; The first quarter of this year, £12,189, indicates a progressive increase equally satisfactory. The Provincial Government has received, during the first half of the current financial year, from all sources of revenue, £41,046 11s. The surest indications of the soundness of the finances of the pro-, vince are to be found in the rising premiums paid for Otago debentures, and the constant enquiry for them as an investment, when a year since the immigration contractors declined to take them at less than 2£ per cent, discount. The commerce of the province has been vastly extended, but its chief characteristics are the same. The export of agricultural produce to Australia— chiefly Melbourne—still continues, though it has materially fallen off from what it was a few years since during the high prices. The. wool trade is, '< however, much extended, as is proportionately on; the increase. The Gloucester will depart in a few days, with a cargo of about 1800 bales, valued at £40,000; and very considerable quantities,have been forwarded to Melbourne for sale or transhipment. The trading part of the community are doing well; and although profits are not so large as they were, prices of all consumable articles are still high. The introduction of steam has produced a great change .in the aspect of Dunedin, the chief town of the settlement. Besides the bi-monthly steamers of the General Government, we have the Pirate—a vessel of 500 tons—constantly trading and keeping up a direct communication with Melbourne; the Geelong trading on the coast;—each of these steamers receiving a bonus from the Provincial Government; — and we have the Queen, —a steamer of 132 tons, —a private speculation on the line between Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington. A small steamer—the New Era, —has just been started on the harbour. All these vessels are owned in the province, and have been introduced during the past year. Their effect on the comfort and convenience of the Otago public is very great. The increase of trade generally will be seen by a reference to the tables of imports and exports, which exceed those of the previous year, 18.57 —the former by £31,219, the latter by £24,15]. As an illustration of the extension of traffic, we may state that during the last week we counted twenty drays, laden with agricultural produce, at the stores of Messrs. J. Macnndrew & Co. The population has increased to 6944, being an addition of 2313,—chiefly immigrants from the Old Country; but the Pirate has brought amongst us many wealthy Australians, who have settled down as stockowners. Some progress has been made in the construction of roads; about six miles have been metalled in and around Dunedin,' and some three or four miles at Invercargill. The' Mataura has been bridged, at which place an accommodation house'has been established; and con-j siderable improvements have been effected on; the. whole main line of communication with the south; Koaa* making is, however, a slow process, and thej demand for labour by the .settlers generally is such: as to materially interfere with the maintenance of efficient labour on the roa.ds.

A temporary reduction in the rate of wages tobic place during the influx of immigrants, but the price of labour has fully attained its old rate. Mechanics receive from 10s. to 12s. a-day. General farm servants obtain from £40 to £50 per annum and their rations; in some instances £60 is paid. The general rate for day labourers is 7s. per day (during harvest it was from Bs. to 9s. per diem). There seems to be no prospect of any material reduction of these rates, there being still a growing demand for labour on the up-country stations as well as in the agricultural districts. On the whole the progress made by the province during the past year is most satisfactory, and exceeds anything we have witnessed during the whole eleven years of our experience in Otago. All.classes are doing well, and we trust that when the period for publishing the statistics of the province again comes round, we shall be enabled to congratulate our fellow settlers on a. yet greater increase of • their social and material prosperity.

From the file of papers received we take the following paragraphs:—

Education.—We learn that measures are in progress for declaring reserves of land tor educational purposes, in terms of the unanimous resolution of the Provincial Council.— Colonist.

■ The first session of the District Court will, we bslieve, really be held on Tuesday next. It is to be hoped the Judge will not find himself in the position of the boy and the wolf in the fable.— lbid.

Port Chalmers.—Tuesday, May 24, being her Majesty's Birthday, a number of the inhabitants of Dunedin took advantage of the opportunity offered them of a trip to Port Chalmers by the New Era steamer; and, although the weather was rather unfavourable, they appeared resolved to enjoy themselves if possible. One party left Dunedin jetty at 9 o'clock, a.m., and arrived at Port Chalmers at halfpast 10, where some landed, arid others went on to Portobello Bay; While awaiting at the Port the steamer's return from Portobello, Captain Bridie of the Tamora, with his usual "hospitality, invited all on board, and the invitation was unhesitatingly accepted. The Port Chalmers people, to show their loyalty, commenced to fire a royal salute, under the •superintendence of Mr. Monson, of her Majesty's Customs, to which Captain Bridie fired a return. Captain Cork of the Comet, arid Captain Dickie of the Melbourne, kindly brought their boats ashore for the accommodation of the party, who got on, board the Tamora amidst the roar of cannon and cheers of the crew, and found a most ample dejeuner awaiting them. Mr. W. Logic having be6n unanimously voted to the chair, many loyal and appropriate toasts were drunk, and responded to, which, together with some excellent songs, occupied the company till about 3 o'clock, when it was proposed to adjourn to the Port Chalmers Hotel and invite Captains Bridie, Dickie, and Cork to dinner, which invitation they accepted. After partaking of a substantial repast at the hotel, the same conviviality was kept up till about 5 o'clock, when some anxiety began to be felt for the return of the steamer on her second trip. She made her appearance about ah hour afterwards, with a fresh lot of pleasure seekers, who had just time to step ashore arid go on board again before her departure for Dunedin. After a rather dreary and comfortless passage, all were landed safely on Dunedin jetty, just in time to be too late for Miss Redmayne's concert.— lbid.

The "New Era."—We regret to learn that the damage referred to in our last, which has caused the temporary stoppage of this smart little steamer, is much more serious than was anticipated, and that, from the want of the necessary appliances, there will be the greater delay in putting the vessel to rights than: was at first supposed. It is very unfortunate both for the public and the'owner Jhafc such a mishap should liave occurred ; and the more so, as the machinery and boiler were of the very best .description and perfectly sound, so much so that the vessel would have run we believe, for years ■with ordinary attention. The accident, w.e have reason to believe, was the result of culpabje negligence on the part of the engine driver. We hope to see the little'craft shortly under weigh again, and trust this may be a lesson to those concerned, which will effectually prevent the recurrence of such a breakdown for the future.— lbid.

■ The harbour steadier Victoria left the jetty on Wednesday last, on her first trip, with a party of excursionists, owing to whose impatience to get away< 'the steam was not got up until she reached ■Mr, Coxhead's, from whence she was only one hour and a quarter in reaching Port Chalmers, against a strong north-easter and flood tide. On her return to Dunedin she had only to contend with the ebb tide, and taking into consideration the darkness of the night, arid consequently the difficulty of navigating through the channels, the passage being! only one hour and three-quarters was highly creditable. The excursionists enjoyed themselves exceedingly well, and Mr. Douglas did everything in his power to render the trip a pleasant one, nothwithstanding the bad state of the weather.— lbid.