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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 45, 14 April 1863, Page 2

The following is from the trade report of the Press of April Ist : — "We mentioned a day or two ago that maize had made its appearance in the market, and that more was liKeiy to make its appearance. We think it right to mention that one parcel of exceedingly fine looking maize has turned out to be full of weevils, and there is cau.se to fear that ihe whole of the importations from Sydney will be move or less affected by this curse to the nniler. At all esents it may not be undesirable to caution purchasers, in order ii'possiible to [prevent the permanent establishment in this icolony of an insect which has been found to inflict such heavy loss to the millers and storers of grain in Australia." Mr Commissioner Pearson r.nd that astute body the Town Board of Invercargill have a nice little quarrel its hand, which, if properly husbanded, may he spun out for a considerable time. The Board wants to take gravel for the metalling of Tay-stieet from one of the Town Reserves, hut as the land has not been surveyed and handed over to ihe tender mercies of our civic authorities, and consequently is still under the control of the Waste Lands Commission, that officer objects to its being interfered with, — in short, to use a colonial phrase, lie "can't see it." The Board met last night for the purpose of diseussthe subject, and a deputation was appointed to wait on the Commissioner of "Waste Lands and ascertain his reasons, etc. No doubt they will get every satisfaction. Meanwhile the mud has it all its own way in the principal thoroughfare in the tow n. We are glad to learn that there are men amongst us who do not intend to let the grass grow under their feel in the matter of the West Coast. A party consisting of ten has been organised, and will probably start to-day on a lengthened prospecting expedition to the newly discovered districts. These men are, all of them, practised diggers, but iuclude amongst their number several mechanics, a sailmaker, shipbuilder, carpenter, &c. They have provisioned themselves for an eight months' trip. Should they see any inducment to settle permanently on the West Coast they will do so, and take with them all sorts of seeds in anticipation of their being required. The principal object of the expedition is the discovery of gold. Every care has been taken that their equipment shall include all that is necessary in an undertaking of the kind. The party have purchased for their trip the Nugget cutter, 16 tons register. She is a new boat, and is well adapted for the service to which she is to be put. An old "salt" from Stewart's Island is to have charge of the navigation department. A good sized dingy will be taken on board especially for the purpose of ascending rivers where practicable. We wish the adventurers every success in their arduous task. All the plant necessary for starting the Wahatip Mail will leave town to day. Besides taking with them sufficient for the newspaper, the proprietors have enough stock for an extended job printing business, and will, doubtless, avail themselves of any opportunities which may offer. Strange, that if the most accesible route to the Wakatip is from Dunedin, that a class of men who should know a little about the matter prefer starting from fnvercargilll We see from the colnmns of our contemporary that the Dunedin election ha s terminated in favor of Mr Reynolds, Mr Julius Vogel securing the second place, and Mr Cutteh managing a very bad third. In rejecting Mr Vogel, Dunedin has done Uself a great injury.

The postal communication with the Lake is, up to the present, very defective, more than half of the intelligence from the diggings coming by private hand. We shall be but too happy to have to chro. nicle a fresh order of things. The Canterbury Press, which is now a " daily," writes strongly against the Separation Movement. The Lyttelton Times is playing on a similar fiddle, though not exactly the same tune. We had purposed giving expression to our thankfulness for the great change that had taken place in the weather, but we had hardly taken pen in hand ere it rained again in torrents, and so continues, and appears to mean to do for some considerable period. We believe that, in this instance, the Town Board are not to blame.