SOCIAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 17 April 1863, Page 2

SOCIAL.

Under (his head the principle item we have to record is the very large additions which have been made to the buildings in the town. It is not one or two stores which have recently put in an appearance, but many, and the same may he said of private houses, which seem to spring up in all directions with a kind of mushroom growth. Nor can we think that " the thing will be overdone," at all events, for some time to come. House accommodation is still very deficient, and lhe hotels are, as a rule, crammed — in aome of them persons arejglad to take up

theiT quarters for the night on tables and chairs, and hot unfrequently on the floor. We may mention, whilot speaking of buildings, that there is no such thing as a fire-engine belonging to the town, although there has been from time to time much talk about the propriety of establishing a fire-brigade, and the necessary accompaniments. We may, therefore, expect before long to have to report some rather extensive conflagrations, which will have the effect of bringing our townsfolk to their senses It is quite the usual thing in a new colonial town to wait the bursting forth of the flames before taking precautions for extinguishing them, and the people of InvercargiU will furnish no exception to the rule. On Tuesday night, an isolated cottage in Deveron-street, in the occupation of Mr. Carrick, the reporter of the Southland News, was totally destroyed by fire. About 100 pounds worth of property was lost, besides the building which was, we believe, not insured. The additions to the Church of England, which were becoming absolutely necessary, are being carried forward with spirit, service in the meantime being held at the Mechanics' Institute, The Scotch Church is also approaching completion. The contractors for the Union Bank in Tay-street are getting on well with thebuilding, which, when finished, will be an ornament to the town, as well as a great boon to the customers, the preseni building being altogether too small, and quite unsuited to the requirements oi' the establishment. An attempt has been made to establish an Arcade similar to the one in Dunedin, but on a more extended scale. A considerable number of the building sites have already been taken, and operations will be commenced without delay. In all probability the whole ofthe lots will be taken up very shortly. The prices realised were not so large as was anticipated, but the speculation Avill prove a remunerative one for the owner.. As a rule, the price of lots in Invercargill is very high, more especially for business sites abutting on ihe main thoroughfares. In Tay street five and six pounds per foot frontage per annnm, with the addition of a very considerable bonus on taking possession, is not unfrequently asked and obtained ; so that it is evident that great hopes are enter (aincd that when spring makes its appearance a very important business will be done in connection with the goldfields. There is generally a great dearth ofamusements in Invercargill, although both concerts and dramatic entertainments seem to obta na very fairshareof patrooage, whenever any one is found to venture on this means of divesting people of their spare cash. Harry Houdin, the comedian, and Miss Harriet Gordonand Mr. Hyde, have, during the past month, been giving entertainments of a vocal and dramatic character. The bad weather has heen a great drawback to the success of the lady, and the gentleman who accompanies her. Talking of tlie weather naturally leads us to speak of the fearful state the streets are reduced to hy the recent rains, which have for some days been heavy and continuous. The Town Board, with that perspicuity for whicli these bodies are generally famous, have chosen the very worst time (the fall of the year) for reducing Tay-street to its proper level. They accordingly have destroyed a road which would have answered all purposes thoroughly well during the winter months, and have substituted another, the execrable state of which it is an exceedingly ditlicult matter to describe. The street at its present level, and greatly increased width, will, eventually, be without exception the finest in the Island ; but in the meanwhile, until a lengthened terra of fine weather has allowed the fresh earth to settle down and dry, the passage of Taystreet by heavily laden waggons is almost an impossibility. The back streets are also in a deplorable state. It would be unfair, however, to wish everything done at once, and doubtless the Town Board will give them a turn by-and-bye, whether for good or evil remains to be proved. InvercargiU possesses all the great essentials for the site of a large city. It is nearly level, but stands on a terrace, so that an efficient system of drainage can be established. It is well supplied with water, and fuel is obtainable at an easy distance; and, moreover, by the exercise of a moderate share of engineering skill, and the expenditure of a few thousands, in making a tramway from the jetty, goods might be brought close to the town without the trouble and expense of carting, which exist at the present time. The recent expeditions undertaken by Drs. H>ctor and H^ast for the purpose of exploring the West Coast of the Middle Island, having proved that there is a good deal of country in that direction which might be colonised to advantage, a very general interest has been excited on the subject. We have no doubt that in the spring a good many parties will take smell vessels from the port of Invercargill, and venture round to spy out the land. Already one party, consisting of ten, has been organised for a lengthened prospecting expedition to the newly-discovered districts. Thesa men are, all of them, practised diggers, but include amongst their number several mechanics, a sailmaker, shipbuilder, carpenter, &c. They have provisioned themselves for an eight months' trip. Should they see any induce ment to settle permanently on the West Coast they will do so, and take with them all sort of seeds in anticipation of their being required Tbe 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 parly 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 has charge of the nauigaiion department. A good sized dingy is taken, especially fjr the purpose of ascending rivers where practicable. We wish the adventurers every success in their arduous task.

On Tuesday the proprietors of the new paper for the Lake District (the fVakalip Mail) left town, taking with them all the necessary plant. Besides sufficient for the newspaper, they have enough stock for an extended job printing business, and will, doubtless, avail themselves of any opporunities which may offer. Strange, if the more accessible route to the Wakatip is from Dunedin, that a class of men who should know a little ahout the matter prefer starting from Invercargill 1 The Southland Government Gazette, of March 30, contains a proclamation authorising the inspector to grant certificates to jand, in the Province of Southland, cattle

coming from Tasmania,' proyided that they arefreefrompleuro-pneumonia;andthatthe owner or person in charge shall give the inspector satisfactory proof that the cattle were eiiher bred in Tasmania/or were depastured there for six consecutive month prior to their embarkation The proclamation has given .general satisfaction. The Government Gazette, of the 17th March, is wholly filled with the results of the census of this province, taken on the 26th December, 1862. We make the following extracts : — '« The great and evident progress of this, the youngest of the provinces of New Zealand, induced the provincial Government to cause a census to be taken at the close of the past year, to supplement the census of this province in the general statistics of New Zealand for the year 1861, which show resources and a development very inferior to those of the present time." . ...»•• *' The centesimal increase of the whole population is 90 per cent., but the increase of the population of the age of 21 and under 40 was, of males 146 per cent , and of female. 98 per cent.; the numbers in the year 1861 being— males, 497; and females 258 (as shown by the returns laid before the General Assembly; ; and in the year 1862— males 1224, and females 51 1 ; thus exhibiting amuch larger proportionate increase of those in the prime of life than that of the whole population. It is also estimated that there are not Jess than 200 settlers belonging to this province temporarily employed at the gold diggings beyond the border of the province, and as cariers on the road, who are not included in the census ; and if this number be added to the result of the census, it will be s*en that the population of and belonging to Southland has more than doubled in the short space of twelve months." "The territorial revenue has increased 104 per cent., the increase being iri a greater ratio than that of the population* The greatest advances have been made in the Customs revenue and the imports and exports ; hut it is to be regretted that no account is taken by the Customs of the value and quantity of the duty paid and free goods imported coastwise, because the returns of the Customs' revenue and imports show a very deficient account of the value and quantity of the goods absolutely imported into the province, and because if such an account were kept^ the Customs' revenue might be more equitably apportioned to the several Provinces, than it is under the present arrangement." It appears that Southland must suffer consi- j derably in this respect, as during the year 1362, 235 vessels, of 12,758 tons in the aggregate, were entered coastwise. " These vessels bring large quantities of goods to this Province, the duties on which are paid in other New Zealand ports, Southland suffering thereby not only in revenue, but in relative importance." The total number of the population in the Province in December 1862 was— Males, 2,270; females, 1,329. Grand total, 3. 599 (including 75 half-castes ) The total number of acres fenced was 9,572 ; under crop, 1,943, of which 72 were cultivated by Maoris. Of live stock there were 1,244 horses ; mules and asses, 9 ; horned cattle, 11,670; sheep, 110,231; goats, 86; pigs, 1,134-; and poultry, 7,606. Tlie following tables show the numbers of the population, acres of land improved, stook, revenue, imports and exports, ln the years 16GI and 18t>2, with the centesimal increase in the year 1562 : — ■

Assault, 4; breach. of Police Ordinance, | < damaging property, 1 ; ~ larceny, 1 <}•- cq \ straying, 7 ; breach of Licensing Ordinal \ 1 ; desertion from ship, 5 ; breach of Q [ tomV Act, 1 ; breach of Sheep Ordinan r 2. Total, 63. • ™ '; We annex the.GaolßetuTns.fpr thenjoi ;'* ending April 15th:— Prisoners in H.M. (M '< on March 15th, 1863: — Felony, 8V di»2f dienceof orders, 1 • assault, 1. TotaljW' Admitted from March 15th to April/ I*^ 1863J: — Drunk and disorderly, 15; assaJtjklk felony, 5 ; disobedience of orders, 4; deseiw." from ship, 2; debt, 1. Total, 28. M v charged from March Isth to April i 3; 1863 : — Sent to Dunedin fortrial, 5 ; esca pM' , 2; discharged, 24. Total, 3l. Confinedf gaol April 15th, 1863: — Felony, 2; co, * nutted for trial, 1 ; desertion from ship assault, 2. Total, 9. I* will be * " that two men hare effected tk "■ escape. The first of them was urn} ■- going a 'punishment of 12 months. . It ( '/, pears that the prisoner made a number • holes in the floor of his cell with a gimlet >£. had secreted, and afterwards pulled up », boards, which enabled him, by displacSsome earth, to crawl under the joists tiljS\ reached the doorstep, which- haring ' "*, mvoed, thera was nothing further to g| T him. The second man escaped last Frid *" by climbing over the railings ef the yard. The return of births, deaths r arid in \ : J riages recorded for the month is- very sun fl a circumstance attributable to the fact thai ; large number under each head have not b« J. registered. The figures are- as- follows; deaths, *; births, 7; marriages, 8. The Southland Agricultural Society hi , their second Annual Show of Stock i ,_ Implements, on Wednesday Bth inst. 1 .;* ground selected is about seven mi from town, on the Dunedin road, a -/ the space occupied about four acres. 1 .; show went off remarkably well, the anim ■■* exhibited being really first-class. 1 ' arrangements made by the committee a Secretary for conducting the business of t !' day gave satisfaction to all interest) .' The Judges were: — For sheep, Messrs Pi • kerton and Harvey ; cattle, Messrs Pinker! ; and Johnston ; and for horses, Messrs Robe . son and M'Lean. The following is the pr list:— CLASS lA-CATTLE. SHOET HOBSED *PLLB, Sesfcion 1. Ist prize — Mr Morton of Seam Downs, £8 ; 2nd do, Mr M'Lean of Benmore, $ 3rd do, Mr Grieve of Brauxholme, commended, BHOBT HOEW COWS. Section 3. Ist prize — Mr Morton of Sea*! . Downs, £6|-, 2nd do, Mr Grieve of Branxhok £3 ; 3rd do^.Mr M'Lean of Benmore, oommendi • " SHOET HOKS HEIJESS. Section 4. Ist prize — Mr Morton of Se»wi Downs, £3. ATESHIEB COWS. Section 5. Ist prize — Mr Morton of Seawi Downa, £8 ; 2nd do, do do, £4 ; 3rd do, do i commended. EXTRA STOCK. BEST PAIR O? BTTM.OCKS. Section 8. Ist prize — Mr Dawaon of Hogra Bush, £6 ; 2nd do, Mr M'Lean of Benmore, £ 3rd do, Mr Cabin of Reaby, commended, cows. Section 9. Ist prize— Mr M'Lean of Bamao! £6 ; 2nd do, do do, commended. CLASS lI.— HORSES. I DEATTGHT ESTIBBB. | No competition. I THOEOXr&HBEKD ETTTIBBB. Section 1. Ist prize — Mr Richardson of Oa land, £8; 2nd do, Mr CameroD, Albion Hot £4; 3rd do, Mr Cabin of Reaby, commenif DEATTGHT MAEES. Section 3. Ist prize — Mr Wilson of Etham, £ 2nd do, Mr Morton oi Seaward Downs, £4; 3 do, Mra Hogue of Woodford, commended. | DBAUGHT FIIXIES. | Section 4. Ist prize— Mrs Hogue of Woodfonj £4. 1 CLASS lII.— SHEEP. MEBINO TPPB, ABOTE TWO TOOTH. " <| Section 1. Ist prize — Mr Hill of Croydon, £! 2nd do, Campbell Brothers of Maimabaka, £4; 3; do, Mr Hill of Croydon, commended. MBEINO lUPS, KOT MOEB THAU TWO TOOTH. Section 2. Ist prize — Campbell Brothers Maimahaka, £9 ; 2nd do, Mr Hill of Crodon, £i 3rd do, Campbell Brothers of Maimahaka, con mended. SXIBA STOCK. No competition. One pair of aged tups (Mr M'Lean of Bei more) . very superior, and well and closely woolle forage. Judges recommended a prize, £6. Ti pens°of young Leicester ewes, specially recon mended as very superior, Mr Morton of Soawai Downs. CLASS IV.— SWINE. BOAB. Section 1. Ist prize — Mr Morton of Seawai Downs, £4 ; 2nd do, Mr Cameron, Albion Hote £2. sow. Section' 2. Ist prizs— Mr Cameron, Albii Hotel, £i; 2nd do, Mr Grieve of Branxholm £2. There was a dinner in the evening 1 , in tl large new store of Messrs W. Miller and C( Dee-street, at which about 100 were presen The harvest as a whole was good. Th crop of wheat and oats was very superioi \ and harvested in first-rate condition. ( barley there was also an excellent crop < good malting quality. Although the pot; toes were less in quantity than last year, i quality they were superior. Turnips a vei heavy crop— from 25 to 35 tons per aci where properly handled. There was througl out fine harvesting -weather, and no difficult was experienced in securing crops. Comparative Return of Letters and News papers received at, and despatched froan, th Post-office, Invercargill, during the quartei ending 31st March, 1862, and 31st Marc) 1863, respectively :— Letters and newspapei received during quarter ending 31st Marc) 1862:-— From beyond the colony: Letter 1,086 ; newspapers, 1,437. From places i New Zealand: Letters, 2,956; newspaper 4 514. Letters and newspapers . receive during the quarter ending 31st March, 1863 From beyond colony : Letters, 5,443 newspapers, 8,290. From places in. Nei Zealand: Letters, 5,500; newspapers, 5,002 registered letters, 112. Total number < letters and newspapers received at.thePos office, Invercargill, during the quarter endio 31st March, 1862 :— Letters, 4,042; new papers, 0,951. For the corresponding perio of 1863 :— Letters, 12,055 ; newspaper 13,292. Letters and newspapers despatcbe during the quarter ending 31st March, 1862 — To places beyond colony: Letters, 1,668 newspapers, 978. To places in New Zealand Letters, 1,676; newspapers, 979; register* letters, 104. Letters and newspapers o^ patched during thequarter ending 3tst Marc 1863 : — To places beyond colony : Lett** 7,259; newspapers, 4,416. .To places i New Zealand: Letters, 6,168; newspap^j 2,895 ; registered letters, 355. Total numb* letters and newspapers despatched fromftl Post-office, Invercargill, during the quag* ending 31st March, 1862;— Letters, 3,: si newspapers, 1^57. For the correiponaii period of 1863 s — Letters, 13,782 ; new«paj|» 7,3 U. y

MINING. t Ther* are, strictly speaking, no goldp^ belonging to -this Province, biit as theThei and shortest route, to the diggings in tl southern part of Otago— -namely, those i the Lake ■eountry-r-runs through Southlani she is reaping a good harvest by- supplyii

the mining population with a considerab portion of the goods they consume. Badi our roads will be during the winter, we belie 1

I tin {his respect we shall he infinitely I ter off tha^Qtago, as far as regards the I ,to Lake Wakatip, and that cdmmunicaI between InvercargiU and the goldfields' I Aihipa will he easily kept open till spring | «are happy to have it in our power to i_t 'rthat great eSertionßaae being made to li plete the woris on the great North Koad. ci fig than a month it will be finished as far River, on M 'Lean's run ; from ■"^ce by the Dipton Plain there is a good 'Ilral gravel road) on which there is only muddy creek, now in course of being jigged. The nevrroad passing helow Bama |lj woolshed to the. Oreti above the Elbow, ia|Les the Oreti above the junction of the ul ing, \vhere att accommodation house is 'ot j built; then crossee the Irthing below ioi anction of the fite rivers, and continues n, t iof the Irthing. This new piece of 'Pf (about four miles) is now being made, \ r the management of Mr Finlayson. "♦2 ftntinuation through Dome Pass is comJj? 1, attd in excellent condition, to Rogers' ; Jt gt aen in ali are employed on this road, the should be sorry to be understood to say lay this Province relies entirely for its perer ef mt prosperity on goldfields, situated te <l aver they may be, but there is no de*tf -the fact, that the great influx of popuira" iand the rapid increase of trade which er^ recently taken place, is owing to the _ to quantities of gold found in the vicinity ibis ike Wakatip, and we should, therefore, by glecting our duty as journalists, were I by i omit all mention of how things are fo » essing in that locality. We may here P ro " that the postal arrangements between 1 c cargill and the Lake are Very defective, •x ' ■ c believe it is in contemplation to make rge's alterations before long. A corresponth« friting from Queenstown oh the 13th mile a gentleman in every way qualified to n opinion on the subject)) states it as m conviction, that many years mu=t ?P ' before what is commonly known as ! SHa ~ ike Distiict will cease to attract large lan 5' ts of miners, and judgmg from the ■ X IJ returns, and from the/comparatively untl l quantity Of ground/Which has been lt J °* lup to the presejvtrElme, we think that 6land ' lone-JchiclHS probably correct. On cora " Afield, which ottr knowledge extends to, tintry j,. m i ners appeared more satisfied with 3 P 08 " neral results of their labors than on uc . k " the latest discovered of the New nm }.- il Diggings. It was thought by many estige { t h e season the district would : r ?^° mt deserted, as the snow would effectueve . n it a stop to active operations, but judged in m t^ e preparations made, it would what- t},,^ t k e ma j 01 ity of the diggers will s than on t j, e B p ot . nor do the older residents jtacles district give such accounts of the y. V ve ~ y winter season as should deter men xier itL ma ining, if they will only take the jction | t0 secur e themselves as much as pos* • fc P re tfni the inclemency of the weather, d * n< **|e miners appear to be doing. A. digger fond a ivedin Dunedin from the Shotover on ession. li uit., gives the following account of h capi- sp ec t s 0 f the Lake Country to the '« aols > )aily Times :— are no aT S e number of miners, especially i invest 10 na<^ obtained good prospects, were dlv he- : °* "woofi? packed with sods, arante9f che<i " nrith lon £ g 1 " 383 * and laying in at any I 0 * provisions and firewood for the and h(sl Man V ha< * left, owing to the warnExcept 'hshed by government, hut others ted the ™ n S daily, determined to remain. it with ' nee t0 t^ ie Molyneux, he snys it has bought* [i littl e » an^ i s not expected to be they al- f° r s * x weeks or two months. He q % iat in the meantime any one who aonv of ° OT^ w 'ii be ahleto make ' tucker.' nd wa c u PP er an<^ lower townships the xempli- Pe rs "" rere laymff in lar g e supplies, in \vhosiJiP n °* a b" B^ trade during the c South, l ouipara- ls at present any amount of boat , money dation on Lake Wakatip. Your •ed ; but and a perfect fleet of boats are conany one lying to and fro, and in consequence lg what j down. i'akatip steamer bids fair to " take , a large " out of all her rivals on the Lake, ich de- t vessel has a length of keel of 60 cby the 13 feet beam. Her engines can ty -which o 1 8-horse power. Her tonnage is however 1 30, and she can also accommodate may be, 050 passengers. She can do her look for ts comfortably, and draws very : for it in i. She is the property of Colin N. aeen con- & Co. we catch accidents have occurred during the ligence— 1. The Nugget, steamer, got ashore : George go was greatly damaged. She has n break- got off. Two boats, one the Mabeen capsized in a squall, but forj^smmmsmm i neither case was there any loss of " op, the Margaret Brown, had just ENCE. from the jetty when a squall , and she capsized. There were spoNsifiLfi -rs and the crew on hoard, who i by ova cipitated into the Lake. In conthe prompt assistance rendered rmen, no lives were lost, and the rr.. . > )t sustained much damage. limes.) b >ur valuable ' ver an d Arrow Rrivers still conntion to the P in a large degree to make up if the streets i forwarded to Dunedin by escort, wn, includ- on these streams are, as a rule, . It is al- and the continual occurrence of g in either ifferent " bends" which generally :ir ho cS in ,]y auriferous, furnish an ample life is worth h arri valq tQ try their j uck The ■c fast grow- rom tne Wakatip was published broken Hmb s P ecial correspondent's letter, on er the labors 5 w e reprint some of the more ? Is it tha items. The Wakatip, steamer, ? Whoever ssengers on board, was overtaken 3 ur valuable n her way to Queenstown and their duty, iek again to St. John's. Her »ly taken to jg to be increased. The rush fy much fear ma i (mentioned by us a short c a sinecure a pp ears to be dying a natural leans fail, we ;he d ;„ gerß j^ returning to the e^elecllon,^ des "ted. The prospecting ulace) and t° Austin, Chamberlain and 1 be done to °ut three ounces to the bucket Dm of a circular shaft four feet ace in your The ground is very wet. Four ties of twenty men have had to im below the prospectors, as it jctfully, possible tokeep thewaterdown. Swisimwo h as fc een flooded. Parties aTe a race to turn the course ofthe DIRECTIof the hones of the Moa bird tovered in a cave on the Dart GINGrS. /Us held by the Resident Maitfrour's Point, on the body of a w ARRiVit:?J IHGS Rogers, -who was killed lin of the earth in a paddock forking ; verdict, *■■* Accidental ts going to f-J| m ber of sudden deaths which About _h ""altely in thisdistrict render the a the left, "Wtta coroner quite necessary, '18 miles) Jp YesV es i Q Dnnedin have been .» the SurM <th on the subject. rJa^ wade its first appearance on miles J j frff? & ng the town# ; to the Eii^ifH \ this routc,i 30 f g/»ld purchased by the Banks \reti is Aw//^ < '? ,^ New South Wales in *S ~P Y - \ the month, 2,1530z5. ; f ldwt. 15grs. The sc at Wa4 ace j^vae> iving a return of gold ill ■ another ofltheir^ .a'ranch. The total '//.,*. «/ tht^ by the Southland another at oozs.Bo that a considerable at Rogers, 7*^ its way into town by pri>ot of the Lake, y aye was written, we have r letter from our special -~ ; ' y ' the Lake, which gives five { GOLD. A Irom that district:—

Queenstown, April 11, 1863. Since my last communication the district has not distinguished itself particularly in any way. ' We are sutfering a reaction after the Nokomai rush, and consequently are slower than usual. Business is steady ; diggers in the outlying gullies are laying in stores of winter provisions, thereby giving new impetus to trade ; and the high rates of cartage are likely to keep up the price of all heavy goods, unless competition does its usual work of equalising matters. The escort, which left St. John's yesterday morning, took from seven to eight thousand ounces, but a great deal of uninsured gold still remains in the receiver's hands. A party of twelve men have started for the Nokomai, having obtained from the- Warden protection for extended claims, in order to prospect and work Wet sinkings on that field. Easter Monday was celebrated at Frankton by sports, consisting of horse and foot racing, &c. The money subscribed was considerable, and the attendance, considering the unpropitious state of the weather, very good. The long talked of government buildings are to be commenced there immediately, and it is believed will be completed in nine weeks. Those at the Arrow are also to be finished in that time. Mr Butheun, the warden for that place, having arrived, the district is separated from this one and given in charge to him. The police there have been making a raid upon the sly grog-sellers : two enterprising but misguided individuals -were brought up before Mr Wood on Friday j and fined L2O each. The " city*' of J Queenstown is daily improving ; iron and wooden buildings taking the place ofthe hitherto universal canvas fabrications, which, however ingeniously devised and well put together, are not the kind of habitations necessary for such weather as is rapidly approaching. Mr Mear, better known perhaps as the " Wonder of the World, '* has brought his colonial experience and great resources to bear Upon Lake Wakatip, and is erecting a most imposing structure, wherein will be displayed such a variety of fashionable finery, as shall cause every digger blessed with a " better half to tremble for the safety of his hardly earned nuggets. Thatcher still continues his harmonious and edifying entertainments, and the number of his fai thf nl and admiring supporters does not appear to diminish. On Thursday we were visited by another severe gale from the Northwest, which lulled a little towards the evening. Several boats taking advantage of the change in the weather, left the foot ofthe Lake, but about 10 o'clock the southerly wind came, as it usually does, like a fierce and wily foe, without a moment's warning, and in a fury that must be felt to be understood. The Expert, steamer, was obliged to run into Half-way Bay, and remained there till the morning. The Silistria, a boat belonging to Taylor and Co., went ashore under the Stair-case, but as yet I have heard of no loss of life. Yesterday was a calm, delicious day, without one angry gust, but to day the tempest is again exerting its might, and the fierce " Nor' Wester '' is lord of the Lake. The polling for the election of Superintendent for the Province of Otago took place on Thursday, at the "- Arrow Township," Mr Beetham acting as Returning Offier. The demonstration of public feeling consisted of two votes ! number of indignant, disfranchised miners tendered their votes, but were refused. Our postal arrangements are in a transition state, but whether from bad to worse, or bad to better, is at present a doubtful question. The letters from Dunedin take from seven to ten days on the road, and even when they arrive safely as far as St. John's it is only occasionally, when the weather is agreeable, that the Expert, which is the contract boat, can bring them on here.

3?| 8*i S^ffUi??il'3ii?!i;fii TWeigUh.. Gross. S I SI S lj! ? 3 fllilil —————— ±3s:!i=l7 ll 8 " l^lftt&ls I^SlSSfljisil 9 sSTdIcSSI?) 20,160 Ull 1,275 12 7 3,40113 6 65,242 0 0 6,1310 0g g Horned cattle. 2 |s Femaleß ' E 18. •Vr ffl gs > s o i^^BSgSa^fi^S -^ v! 11^^ I 54,7101s 0 4,411 en n,763 11 9 169,00015 0 10,47114 0 &_S2 I*k -ill! lit si-slfll'Pli 1 *! ' 8 I Hl** —^ "J.