FRIDAY,MARCH 13,1863.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 13 March 1863, Page 2

FRIDAY,MARCH 13,1863.

The people of Australia are slowly but surely opening their eyes to the advantages Of the most southern province 1 in New Zealand. In spite of misrepresentation of covert or open enemies, iMid the almost criminal indifference of professional friends, our relatives " over the water " are at last finding out that few places just now offer greater inducements to the man of enterprise. The digger is discov- j eriug tlxat through Southland is the most natural and most direct route to \ perhaps the richest gold fields in ! the world*. The commercial man | sees iv our rapidly rising trade an opening for Investment which, to use an auctioneering phrase, " seldom occurs.'' The influx of so- many desirable immigrants, who are .daily arriving by hundreds, cannot fail to have a most beneficial effect on the welfare of the Province ; and their presence is both cheering and encouraging. If it is good for the " old identities," there is little fear of the "new chums " repenting the step taken, and a large number of them may be reckoned on as permanent settlers. The picture, thus far, is decidedly pleasant; but, unfortunately, there is a reverse side. In other words, among the good wheat we receive so readily with opeu arms , ( the tares are plentiful, and these are • the " dangerous class " — the gentlemen who have made the professional acquaintance of every j - magistrate in their own, and not a few of the other colonies, ; and who are photographed in the mental camera of police detectives. This is an importation we do not want, but at present there is no means of preventing it. An effort was made in ■ this direction by the Council last ; year, when a bill with very stringent > clauses was passed. This measure ' was vetoed by the General Government, the consequence being that the obnoxious gentry are free to come as ' they list, to " rifle, rob, and plunder." j At this moment quite a large gang of 1 them are in town, their persons and - presence are well known to our conx stabulary, but beyond keeping a wary x eye on their movements, nothing can 1 be done till an overt act is committed. \ Only yesterday two of these represens tatives of the bar sinister on Tasmania's \ shield were brought before the magistsate, when the one was sentenced to - two months' imprisonment, and the I other, who is charged with a daring ) robbery, will, in #ill likelihood, have - to be dealt with by the Supreme Court. c Both have been but a few days in this town ; their mates are said to be numerous, and the appearance thus publicly of the couple is sufficient to indicate the lawless character of a 9 portion of our population. It is clear \ that ia these circumstances something

ought to -be done to check, if not to eradicate the cvil 1 . Our police force is now %ugmentcd:in.:,strength and efficiency- hpt they are at present nearly powerless till crime has actually taken place. We have also an energetic Magis trate, who has publicly stated that he will banish the nuisance if he can, and possibly he would if he was not also impotent till the lawless hand had been stretched out. Now, neither need be in this fettered condition, if it were not for the laxity displayed by the Government. The Council, when it agreed to the criminal act which was disallowed, also passed a Vagrant Ordinance, which was duly forwarded to Auckland, received the Governor's assent, and was sent back again. Then it is lost sight of ; what has become of it no one seems to know, The next step after its return from Auckland, should have been to have it printed and a copy served on the Magistrates, who would then be entitled to act under it. This has not been done, and so far as we can learn, there is no chance of its being done scon, and while the signed copy lies in some forgotten nook, criminals of the worst class, the scum of Tasmania, are perforce permitted to mature their plans. Whereas, were that Ordinance only in force, it would at once be a weapon in the hands of the criminal executive, which they could wield most effectively. Byjits provisions " loafers," persons following no lawful employment and seeking for none, could be prosecuted and summarily dealt with. Such an act exactly meets what is just now required. The gentry whose company is so unwelcome, are not given to labor of any kind, vi- ry much preferring to lounge about taverns or skittle alleys, where they are ever ready to pounce upon the unwary. For those habits the Vagrant Ordinance is specially formed. It will be seen at once how much could be effected by the police force, were they in possession of such an instrument.. Prci vention is better than cure, and there can be no doubt that under its influence many serious crimes might be prevented. Let our Provincial Government, then, look to this at ouce. This is no matter involving the expenditure of many thousands, which requires months of deliberation, but an inexpensive one of duty, which ought to have been performed long ago. While on this subject, we would again urge the propriety of increasing the police force. With an able luspector who thoroughly understood his duty, and a good staff of rank and file, the present force cannot be fairly accused of inefficiency, but it is manifestly too small for the work before it. Some time ago we pointed out the necessity of an increase and liberal encouragement, and the fears then expressed have been sooner realised than we expected. The evil has not certainly spread far as yet, but it is daily widening, and unless ligorous steps be taken to meet it, there is a possibility that it may assume proportions too great to be successfully grappled with.

An accident, happily unattended with any serious consequences, occurred on L;ike Wjikatip on Monday last. A sloop, the Margaret Brown, had just hauled off from the jetty when n squall struck li2r, and slie capsized. There were seven diggers and the crew on board, who were all precipitated into the Lake. In consequence of the prompt assistance rendered by the watermen, no lives were lost, and the sloop has not sustained much damage. The Otago escort, which left the Lake on Monday, arrived at Long Ford on "Wednesday, bringing down about 10,000 o/s. There is at present any amount of boat accommodation on Lake Wakaiip. Four steamers and a perfect fleet of boats are constantly plying to and fro, and in consequence freight is down to between £% and £4 per j ton. Harry Houdin, at the request of a number of friends, intends giving two more entertainments before leaving Invercargill ; one this evening and another to-morrow evening. A vestry meeting was convened on Wednesday evening last, at St. John's Church | to appoint a church-warden for the current year iv the room of Mr Whitton resigned. Mr Fenton was unanimously elected. The balL at the Mechanics' Institute last night was attended by a not very numerous though select company, and dancing was kept up till a late hour. On Wednesday evening a performance in aid of the funds of the Mechanics' Institute, was given by Mr Harry Houdin, the well known Polynationalist. On this occasion, the entertainment was diversified in a very amusing way. Mr William Steel, " a gentleman amateur," appeared upon the stage accompanied by his dog, andobliviousof piano accompaniment, at once proceeded to enlighcen the audience with an interesting description of the " Life and Adventures of a Bellman." The audience, most of whom arc acquainted with " Wallie " in his official capacity, gave every encouragement to his vocal abilities, which, we must confess, are of the most original kind. It is said that this distinguished amateur purposes shortly giving an c ntertainment, entitled " A Nicht wi' Burns," and, judging from the applause his endeavors to please met with on this occasion, a crowded house may be expected. The house was well filled. How is it that the banks in Invercargill have no gold-buyers at the Lake Diggings ? Now that the Government has established an efficient escort, it seems strange that the banks should be so apathetic in advancing the interests of the Province. Popularity has its drawbacks as well as advantages. Of the former the town is now getting a share in the shape of new arrivals, ■who are well known to the police. Yesterday at, the Magistates's court, one of these characters, from Tasmania, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment for being drunk and assaulting a constable, and another from the same colony, who has been only two days here, will likely be fully committed to-day on a charge of stealing L2O, in a very daring manner. The first had also been only two days in town when he was sent to prison for being drunk, and now he goes back for a more lengthened period. A detective officer is much needed in Invcrcargiil to "look after" such gentry.

The West Coast Diggings are now attracting- considerable attention, aud us the supposed source of the gold is a subject of importance, the following, from the pen of Mr. Hough, will be read with interest. Writing to the Nelson Examiner, he says : — " And now, sir, after reaching the source of the Karamea, the next question is, What lies beyond ? For years I have been travelling about the country in all directions almost, in order to find, if possible, the locality of the real matrix of the goldfields of this province, and now I believe it to be found. Immediately behind the Mount Arthur Ranges, lies an immense watershed, extending northward behind Motueka towards the Takaka, on the eastern side ; and, on the opposite side, trending off in a north-westesly direction towards the head of the Aorere valley. Here, in this watershed, the Karamea river has its source, and also the Aorere and the Takaka (this watershed I should take to be ten or twelve miles wide). On the opposite side of this watershed, runs another line of ranges, (almost parallel with the Mount Arthur Rnnges), from about the head of the Aorcre, right across the country to the Buller. These ranges all trend down westward to the sea, and, through an opening in one of these, the Karamea runs down to the sea. Now, sir, I believe the matrix ot the gold will be found running through tliis watershed, and that it is from this source that all the gold has been carried down into the Aorere, the Takaka and the Karamea, towards the coast, and that it is from this also, that the gold has been carried down into the Buller and all the country below. It is towards this that all the diggers in the lower part of tho country are working their way, all working vipwards to the ranges, and it is only as they get upwards that they begin to find the gold more heavy and nugetty." By reference to our advertising columnsit will be seen that the Cutter Aquila will shortly be on the berth for the West Coast. ATI accident occurred to Mr Stafford's mare Ultima, on Friday, at the Dunedin Races which renders her a cripple for life. The Daily Times says :— ' : In the race for the Town Plate, Mr Stafford's beautiful more Ultima suddenly, without any apparent cau.se, broke down in her gallop, and on examination it was found that she had completely smashed up the pastern bones of one of her hind legs. Of course it was at once apparent that the injury was of such a nature as to preclude all hope of cure, and the general idea was that the marc would have to he destroyed. We heard, however, before leaving the course, that the mare had been convoyed to a stable, and that it was probable that an attempt would be made to ?nvo her life f . r stud purposes, although she must always be a cripple." Tay-street storekeepers, a few day9 ago, were contemplating with anything but satisfaction, the formidable cutting which threatened to front their buildings. "Form- ' ing " a street is all very good they thought, but not it it is going to bo a bar in the way of customers. It seems that a slight mistake was made in the levels, the result of which is, that the portion so quickly cut j away, is now being partially filled up again. A f tiling of relief lias followed, though a step or two will be necessary for a few buildings when the? street is completed. All Saints Church, Ryal Bush, was opened on Tuesday morning last by the Bishop of Christcluuch, who arrived on Monday evening from Riverton. Notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the weather and the unavoidable necessity of choosing a week day, a lavgc n.irnbcv of the neighboring settlers assembled. The prayers were read by the Key. W. F. Oldham, Mr C. R. Marten piesiding as organist. The Bishop delivered an impressive extempore address, especially dwelling on the duty and advantages of setting apart buildings exclusively for Divin € worship, and as constant memorials of the immortality of man. The collection was very liberal, and afterwards the Holy Communion was administered. His Lordship started next morning for Lake Wakatip, on a pastoral visit. The right reverend prelate intends returning by the Mataura to Dunedin, to consecrate the beautiful new churcli now drawing near completion at that place.