INVERCARGILL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 141, 3 September 1864, Page 3

INVERCARGILL.

(from a correspondent.) August 30. Owing to the general depression of business just now there is very little to write about. Even the all-absorbing theme of politics has at last subsided, the two political exponents of this town having lately devoted their columns to the discussion of the equally important, but more remote question of legislative interest to the colonies.

The most important enterprise lately has been the raising of the Scotia, the ultimate success of which used to be sanguinely looked forward to. As yet, lam sorry to say, all attempts have been unsuccessful. They succeeded in partly raising her a few feet, but not sufficiently high to float her clear of the rock which has penetrated her bottom. The failure was attributed to an insufficiency of floating power —coated canvas bags —or a foultiness in their construction. The prevailing opinion now is ten to one against the success of the scheme, as the usual winds at this time of year will prevent all further operations if not got off immediately. A short time ago our dramatic corps was so numerous as to require two houses; but the establishment of the second was more the result of private pique than for the requirements of the public. The 'Bulletin' (now gone dead) in noticing our theatres in its last summary for Europe, stated they were both filled nightly, humorously adding—" with smoke." Nothing now but a Benevolent Benefit will entice an audience, a couple of which the public is regaled with weekly. The old cry—dulness of trade—which everyone has heard, and I suppose will hear " from the cradle to the grave," is not silent in Invercargill; although people wear tolerably cheerful countenances, which perhaps, is but the reflection of the late glorious and uninterrupted spell of fine weather experienced lately. It has certainly been a daily bath of sunshine. If auction sales are at all significant of the vitality of a town we ought to have been sold off long ago. Levanting from bail and escapades of all sorts ha> been so common lately as almost to suggest the idea thot an insolvent court would be a good speculation, Dunedin now reaping any advantage derivable from defaulters. Morris Salek, late of the Royal Hotel, who was brought back from Melbourne on a charge of conspiracy, with Silberberg, and others, at the suit of Buttner and Hallenstein, has again disappeared, and as yet has eluded the officers sent after him. Since his return from Melbourne he was disappointed in a similar attempt by being captured at the Bluff.

The accounts from Lower Butcher's Point are first-rate, and several claims are paying well, especially the Frenchman's, Jerry Fitzgerald's, and the old Hit-or Miss Company's ground. At Sutherland's Beach the yield still continues good. • We are informed that a large number of tenders have been lodged for making the road to Moke and Moonlight Creeks.