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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 24 April 1863, Page 2

The Sir William Eyre arrived at Bluff Harbor yesterday. This vessel left the Clyde on the 2lsfcDecembei last, and finding that she was running shoit of water, bore up for the Cape of Good Hgpe. She anchored there on the 10th of Maiclj and sailed from thence on the 18th of the sajie month. The passage from the Bluff was accomplished in 35 days, during vhich she experienced moderate breezes. She sighted the Solanders at 8 a.m. on the 22nd! inst. ; sighted the Aldinga 200 miles due; west of Solanders on Monday evening last.l There were 22 deaths viz : 5 adults and 17 children, and at present there are two cases 4 fever on board, but not considered dangerous. She shipped originally 409 passeigers; there were five births on the passag? and 22 deaths ; five left the vessel at Larriash Bay, leaving the total number of imHi|rants that arrived at Bluff Harbor, 387 \

The body of one of the men last at Riverton on Sunday lact, was found oil Wednesday. Dr. M'Ciure left town yesterday to hold an inquest upon the body. We have not learned which of the four victims it is whose remains have been found.

It was reported in town yesterday that two Maori women had been drowned in the New River. We have made every inquiry but cannot ascertain ■whether the rumour is correct or not. It is said that one of the men lost at Riverton, was a kinsman'of at the Kaike, on the New River, and hearing of the melancholy occurrence, three of his relatives, two women and a man, took a boat on Monday, with the intention of crossing the river, and proceeding to Kiverton. When near the opposite shore, 'a sudden squall caught the boat, and capsizing her, the occupants were thrown into the water, and the two women drowned. We trust the report is incorrect, but while '<there is nothing at present to confirm it, there is nothing to contradict it.

Accommodation for boarders and visitors lias lonp: been a pressing want in Invereargill. Old established houses have been extending their premises, and occasionally a new building has been, erected, but the cry still is for "more room." To meet it in some degree a handsome structure has been raised in Kelvin-street, by a couple of enterprising townsmen. They have christened their house the " Alhambra," and from their ■well known character, the place bids fair to deserve the name. In addition to all the good things of this life usually to be had in a well conduted hotel, the proprietors of the " Alhambra " purpose having a smoking room, and a library attached to the premises. With such inducements, backed by a goodly store of the best " creature comforts,"the '• Alhambra'' may reasonably bo expected to take a prominent position among our local hostelries.

The Clerk of the Town Board called a meeting of its members tor Wednesday, but at the hour appointed only two put in an appearance. About half an hour afterwards two more arrived. This made up the quorum, but in accordance with a judicious bye-law, "nb meeting " had been declared fifteen minutes previously. This is really disgraceful. At the very time when every member should feel it his particular duty to attend, the great majority shirk the labour, and now when their services are specially wanted, we have continually to report " no quorum." Is it because the route to the Board Room is impassible? Well, the gentlemen have themselves to thank, and if they were men of spirit, they would soon find ways and means of making a passible road.

The customs returns for the quarter ending 31st March last, for the Port of Invercargill, are as follows: — Gross value of imports, £124,866 ; exports, £31,169 18?. The amount of duty collected on the imports was £11,390 os. lid. This is cxclnsive of the duty collected on gold, which the officials here do not include, as the amount goes to the Otago Government.

I'or once, at all events, a policeman has been found exactly where he was wanted. About three o'clock yesterday morning, while Constable Downes was going his roands, he observed that the back portion of the house occupied by Mr. Cameron, tailor, Dee-street, was on fire. Promptly iaising an alarm, the constable roused the inmates, and vrith their assistance soon succeeded in extinguishing the flames, before they had gathered strength. On investigation it was found that the fire originated in the chimm y, which v.'as constructed of wood, faced with surface earth on the inside. The flames forced their way through this frail barrier to the wood-work, and had reached the end of the adjoining house, when Constable Downes discovered them, and fortunately arrested their further progress. In this case the damage done has been comparatively slight, but we cannot too strongly condemn these apologies for chimneys. They aze almost a direct incentive to creating an extensive fire, jf not a general conflagration. la the pre-

pont instance, nothing but the timely discovery prevented the latter, as, with the high wind then blowing, the whole block, at least' would have been consumed, had the fire only gained a little more strength.

The Monnt Alexander Mail gives the following description of the "Advantages of Crinoline" :— Much has been written against the use of crinoline, but it would not be difficult to bring arguments in its favor. The following occurrence will show that the much, abused ' hoops' ure sometimes extremely serviceable to the wearer. One clay last week, the wife of a well-known butcher near the Uellvuc, Fryer's Creek, had occasion to go into the yard of a neighboring resident. On the premises of the latter, was a very savage bull dog, which unfortunately happened to be loose. No sooner had the unsuspecting female entered, then the brute flow at her, and attempted to drag her down. His teeth, however, encountered the steel wires of the 'muslin distender,' and these kept him from reaching her person. In vain the fierce animal tugged at her dress, in his endeavors to seize his -victim. The steel f .-nee by which she wa3 surrounded proved an insurmountable barrier to his assaults, and she escaped further damage than the destruction of her apparel. Had it not b een for her crinoline, there is no doubt she would have been seriously hurt before sho could have been rescued from, the faugs of the

vicious dog."