From Gisborne to Melbourne.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1111, 1 August 1882, Page 4

From Gisborne to Melbourne.

[Written for the Poverty Bay Standard.]

No. XII. INVERCARGILL. I promised in my last to give you such a description of the most southerly town of New Zealand, as my short visit to it would allow. I was fortunate (after the most unsatisfactory breakfast before alluded to) in the loqua-1 ciousness of the tram-driver, to find some of the principal items of which I was in search. A new light had shone itself over my ideas, and I received a fresh incentive, which, in turn, begat a more lively interest in my proceedings. I felt that I had not come in vain, and I resolved to improve the occasion in strict accordance with the north country proverb of the old world. The tram car, in which I took my seat, was of the same class as those I had seen in Wellington and Dunedin, that is, they are all made of wood, and none furnished with a view to augmenting the personal comfort of the sitter. The seats are uncushioned, but fashioned on a bevel, the object of which one can understand on board a steamer, but not in a tram car. They are similar, too, in that they rattle, and make the most horrible din, especially when empty, from weak axles, and looselyhung windows. There is no matting for the feet, consequently, owing to the great care taken for sufficient ventilation, one’s lower extremities get — what an old gentleman on the morning in question, termed—infernally cold. However, they all take you a good long ride for threepence, so, I suppose, one musn't grumble. During my journey there and back (by “ there " I mean as far as the tram goes, about a mile and a-half) I took notes of the following, ana supplemented them aince from other sources. There are few persons, possibly, in the Colony, who do not know that Invercargill is the principal town in Southland County, the whole forming a portion of the original Province of Otago, and from which it is distant about 160 miles — that is according to our run in the steamer. The population of the town proper, as per the last general census of 1881, is put down at 4502, but, including the outskirts, at 6000. From what cause I know not, nor could I see, but Invercargill is reported to be "one of the most rising townships in the South Island.” Of course this is saying big big words, but I can only suppose that the recorder had a proper warrant for the statement. Ana I take it as in its liberal, and ordinarily—understood sense, to mean commercially, socially, politically, and otherwisely—barring earthquakes, for if they are included, I beg leave to differ, and would back, for mere rising proclivities, any other town trending towards Wellington, giving the Empire City a heavy bonus to win against all comers and at any odds. Judging from my own point of observation,! should say that, to those who are not enervated by residence in warmer climates. Invercargill is a pleasant place to live ; but, Christchurch and Nelson, it is too flat to be picturesgue. The streets, especially the two principal ones, are of extraordinary width —the latter at least two chains—and the pathways are good and well kept. The public buildings are amongst the handsomest and most commodious in the Colony. Of course the Banks stand conspicuous : that of the New Zealand Company is built of Oreti bluestone ; and the Union Bank of Australia of Oamaru sandstone. That there are four other banking institutions there, viz., the New South Wales, National, Colonial, and Bank of Australia, will, perhaps, speak more favorably for the business capacity of the place, than I can. There are two daily newspapers there, a morning and an evening, both of which issue weeklies as well; they, too, indicate the existence of something above the average. I forget how many Churches, and other places of worship there are in and around Invercargill, but I remember that all denominations are well represented. The Presbyterians possess both a First and a Second Church ; the Episcopalian body two, besides those of the Catholics, Wesleyans, &c. The Supreme Court sits there, and besides inferior Courts there are what are called “ Halls of Justice.” I suppose they are really law offices, but the justice meted out may be quite as uncertain as elsewhere. Invercargill is justly proud of its Hospital, Athenteutn, two Theatres, two Masonic Lodges, besides Lodges of different Orders and Societies. New Government Buildings were in course of erection at the time of my visit, and, from what I saw of them, and heard from others, they are amongst the finest of the kind in the Colony. I was told (indeed my informant counted the units on his finger ends) that there were no less than ten leading hotels in the town, besides the usual number of smaller shanties, all of which are included under the generic term. Education appears to be well provided for, if we we may take the number of buildings, both public and private, set apart for that purpose. These include the ordinary Government or Stato Schools, a Grammar School, and a Girls' High School. The Borough is presided over by a Mayor and Aidermen, and comprises over 1000 buildings of all descriptions, the total rateable value of which is about £50,000. The town is well lighted by gas, and pre sents a rather unusually clean, aud well-ordered apppearanee, acceptable alike to the visitor, and to the indweller. Besides the public buildings,

which generally attract a visitor’s attention first, Invercargill boasts of its social belongings in this respect. I had not time to make a tour of the whole of the town, but during my peregrinations I saw abundant evidence of the comfort-loving tendencies of its well-to-do inhabitants. There are, proportionally, more villa residences observable than usual in some other town; but Ido not think there are many merchants there, although that name now-a-days, is usurped to such an unpardonable degree, that the antiquated nomenclature of commerce loses much of its significance, dignity and importance. In these latter days nearly all shopkeepers are merchants, even as most grog retailers are hotelkeepers. Why, therefore, should not the Invercargillists strut before the world in borrowed plumes as doeth their neighbors ? The district has long been noted for its growth and export of grain, timber, unhewn woods, and wool is coming to the front at a noticeably progressive rate. Ergo, there are grain merchants, and wool —no not merchants, for, doubtless, the weakness of human vanity is as great down South as up North, where every owner of a flock of scabby sheep is dubbed a lord!