The Invercargill Times. TUEDAY, MARCH 10, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 35, 10 March 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUEDAY, MARCH 10, 1863.

After sitting twelve days, the Provincial Council of Southland was prorogued by the Superintendent on Friday last. During the brief session not a few bills of importance have been passed, and now await the Governor's assent. The principal one — that, in fact, fe>T wliich the Council was convened — did not meet withthe reception which was generally expected The Bluff Railway Bill was considered so popular, that Government, it was expected, had only to take it up to insure its success. The opposition, however, to this Bill was so strong that a compromise was effected, whether wisely or not we need scarcely inquire. There is little room to doubt but that Government could have carried out the whole plan if they chose to have risked a small majority, but since they have yielded so far, we would ask now what they intend to do with the Bluff? Is it their intention to supply some means of landing easily at that port, and also some method of ready communication between it and Invercargill ? Admitting, for the sake of argument, that a railway would be a losing speculation with our present traffic, and that steam locomotion could not pay for many years to come, that can bo no reason why tlio port should be effectually closed to strangers who might wish to land there*; or that its resident population should have only the most primitive contrivances for transacting business with tlie chief town of the Province. The advocates of a locomotive lino to the Mokomoko only, did not deny the claims of the Bluff; they simply said, " These are not strong enough to justify the expenditure just yet ;" but j that the Bluff and its communications should remain in statu quo was never for a moment upheld by them. A better means of transit between the two places than what there is now, is imperatively required. There appears on the face of it something ridiculous, that between the chief to-,vn and leading port of our Province there should be such slender opportuuitics for intercourse. True, there is the ever-flowing river; but, unfortunately, boats are not always ready, the wind is not continually favorable, and, if by chance both should be so, the passage is a trifle dangerous, and nervous people object to that. Besides this, the route is so far from being direct, that few can afford th.e necessary time, if their journey be on business. The best plan, then, is to make a passable road — a substantial article on the Macadam, Cairns and Mackenzie, or auy other plan — if it can be done ; but since that apparently may not be, a track that will enable man or beast to traverse the distance in safety at all hours. This, we apprehend, would not require much expenditure of time, labor, or mone}', and, with the railway to the Mokomoko, might suffice for a little, till our economists saw their way more -dearly. Apart altogether from the necessities of ordinary business, there is another consideration which should have no little weight in the qnestion. After a vast amount of talk and vigorous pushing from without, a regularly equipped gold escort has been established ; and-, -so far as one can judge from its performances, it seems likely to give satisfaction. But it is rather vexatious that all our efforts in tliis direction have only resulted in the good folks of Dunedin taunting us with the assertion that we must still send to their town the gold escorted by Southland troopers. The statement can be easily explained, though, unfortunately, perhaps not till the harm intended will be done. AVe need not gointo the simple facts, which are well known here, but would suggest, as a complete check on this groundless jeering for the future, tbe propriety of having tlie precious metal duly escorted right on to the Bluff, and there shipped direct to Melbourne- They laugh best who laugh last, and we feel confident the merriment would not be on the other side. We understand the police arrangements are such that this proposal could easily be carried out, always provided that there is a road by which the escort can travel at any time. This caunot be done at present ; a passage to the Bluff by land being very much like that by water, dependent on wind and tide. To remedy this, to make the road passable during winter, at all times, Government ought at once to set to work. As a fairly planned solid highway would be infinitely preferable, still, as that seems out of the question for some time to come, something of more humble pretensions would be accepted as an instalment. If for no other purpose than the convenience of the escort, a fair path, over whicli a horseman could always travel, would be well worth the trouble and outlay. The mail steamers, we believe, are now going to call regularly at the Bluff, so that, the gold once there, no difficulty would be experienced in having it transmitted to Melbourne. Landed at that place, it would tend materially to advance the interests of this Province. Victorian diggers Would then have tangible proof that there was such a place as Southland, and that its seaport was the direct highroad to the gold fields on its borders. To accommodate the numbers who would then pay usa visit, some necessary improvements would require to be made al Bluff Harbor. Meantime, we commend the road to the attention of Government, and hope they will set about making it nt once,

Subscription lists 'have been opened in Auckland for the relief of the sufferers by the wreck of the Orpheus, and already a large amount has been subscribed, but not sufficient to meet the exigencies of the caseSouthland is not generally behind in such, matters, and we hope to see a subscription set on foot here for thi same purpose. The sum of £10 3s 6d has been collected in our office, and we shall be happy to receive any further sums previous to the departure of the next mail. A list will be published of all subscriptions received. It will be seen fromour advertising columns that Mr White, the pianist at Mr. Houdin's entertainments, has been induced to give a public ball on Thursday night. The Mechanics' Hall is well adapted for fhe purpose, and tho affair ought to bo a success. The opportunity of tripping it gaily over the floor is not often given us here, and when any one is public spirited enough to offer the chance, it should not be rejected. The music for the occ ision requies no commendation, Mr White's talents in that line being well known. On Sunday a lad was driving a gig along Tay-street, and when near the Commercial Hotel, from some cause unknown the vehicle was thrown over the embankment, and both of the wheels came off. The lad was pitched oat, and the horse, freed from control, dashed off with the body of the gig across tlio road into the bush, where he was brought to a stand still. It was found on picking up the boy that ha had sustained some injuries in the legs, but they were not serious. Harrj r Houdin, interrupted for a time in his vocation of giving the people a side-ache, by "the opposit on performances of the Council," as it was somewhat irreverently . remarked, resumed on Saturday night. An excellent house rewarded his exertions, and last night, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a fair turn out. From our advertising columns it will be observed that "he makes his farewell bow for a season to-night, when we trust he will liave a bumper house. The outline cf his programme has already appeared in our columns, and we need not repeat it. Suffice it to say the performance is one which the most fastidious cannot object to, and of its excellence as a whole none can entertain a daunt. It is really a welcome relief from our sort of humdrum existence to drop in to one of his " seances" and enjoy a heartylaugh. We hope soon to have another visit from Harry 'Houdin, with his accomplished pianist, Mr White. "Operations on Tay-street have been commenced in earnest. During the course of yesterday, and for a- ft ay cr two last week, the contractor, Mr Campbell, and thenewly appointed town Engineer, Mr Marehant, could be seen in close consultation, while they 'brandished curious bits \.of wood and mysterious looking instruments. Under their directions, trenches and deep holes— whicli would form first-rate contrivances for breaking a leghave been dug, and sturdy navvies are plying pick and spade removing superfluor.3 earth. The work promises to proceed rapidly, and we hope will, in due time, be finished without accident to any one. The church .of All Saints, Ryal Busb, is to be opened to-day, by the Lord Bishcp of Christchurcli, with morning service, at eleven o'clock. From private letters Ave learn that when the Airedale left Ma-iuk-iu tin English mail by the Claude Hamilton had not arrived in Auckland. His Lxcellency Sir George Grey is still unwell, but, notwithstanding, had expressed an intention -shortly to visit Taranaki, on his way to the southern provinces, in H. M. S. Harrier. He will be accompanied by General Cameron, MrDomett and Mr Bell. Should he favor Southland with a visit, preparations ought to be made to receive her Majesty's representative in a suitable manner. We understood from p'acards plentifully distributed about town that the s.s. Omeo was to have called at the Bluff on Saturday, to convey passengers, &c, to Melbourne. On the faith of this report numbers proceeded to Bluff Harbor, but, unfortunately, the captain of the Omeo, from some unexplained cause, did not keep his engagement, contenting himself with merely transferring the mails to the pilot boat, which happened to be in attendance. Perhaps the agents tvill enlighten the public as to the cause of the Omeo not calling at the Bluff.