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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 2, 14 July 1863, Page 2

The English. Opera Company, consisting of Mailame C'arandini, Messrs. Shcrwin, Small, and | T. White, whose arrival we have olrcady chronicled, ga^e ilieir first concert last irightto a monster house at the New Music Hall, Murdoch's Union Hotel. Tlic concert opened with an overture on the piano iorle by Mr White, which was well received. Then followed a selection from Donizette's Opera, " The Bride of Lain lnei moor," by Madame Carandini and the other members of the company. Madame Carandini was in excellent voice, and did justice to Donizetti's lovely music. Mr Sherwin next sang the patriotic cavatina " Land of my Birth.'' lie was enthusiastically encored* Madame Carandini succeeded him with a plaintive little ballad, "Why do I weep for tbce.'' She sang it with great expression, bringing out its pathos most sweetly. Mr Small next convulsed the audience with "The way to Make Love Like au Irishman." His fun, broad though it was, procured for him an unanimous encore. A P'Jka (on the pianoforte) by Mr White, the comic song, "Pats a^d Pratees," and a grand selection from old Trovafcorc concluded the first p.-irfc. In the second pnrr, the l'irate's chorus and solo from the Enchantress, was perhaps the most pleasing, excepting, however, the song so well known and ao loved amongst Scotch firesides, "Auld Robin Grey," | which was rendered with considerable naivete, and very accurate modulation, by Madame Carandini. Mr f mall's local song, " Invercargill and the Town Uoard," which was in (he form' of a rhythmic letter from ono Bnrney M'Gce to his friends at home, excited much laughter and ap-\ plauso. Mr Sherwin, who possesses a nice, mellow tenor vwiee, sang " I am a Simple Muleteer" very correctly and well- The National Anthem, by the whole company, brought the entertainment to a close. Tlio company advertise two more concerts, after which they propose visiting Wverton. ' Rain and storm have of late so flooded and cut up the country that, according to latest intelligence, the j'tmedin coach tor the Lakes has been two days st'irin stayed at tho Waimea StreamThe roads in that district are reported as almost impassable, md the rivers and streams so swollen that ordinary fords and Imifl marks have disap" peiued. The 'ast Southland mail for the Lakes bus boon from such cuusca detained ut tb< Mataura.

It has often, be. n the:; task; of "New* Zealand journalists to notice the absurd geographical misconceptions which are thejiot of the colonies in these seas. Another and amusing incident has hut very lately come to light. The London Morning Star of the 1 4th April, in discoursing upon the loss of PI. M.S. Orpheus, describes the scene of this calamity, Mauukau, New Zealand, as the entrance to the harbor of Auckland, a roadway travelled every day by the sailing ships and steamers that curry on intercourse with that flourishing, though useful capital of Tasmania. A meeting oftho Board of Education was held in Dunedin, ou Friday last, lor the purpose of considering the moans of providing for the loss oj tho licv Mr Campbell, as Principal of the High School. Nothing, however, was decided, and the meeting adjourned to Tuesday (this day). The weather last night, wild though it might be, was powerless to keep the dilettanti in music at home. Towards eight o'clock T.iy street was gleaming here and there fitfully with the wavering light of many passing lanterns, moving towards the hall where the Opera Company's Concert was advertised to take place. Depths of slush, heretofore unsounded, were probed by the long-booted, all for the sake of II bahn, or the mockery t>f Com c gentll la noito. Crossing-!, so far deemed impracticable, were last night encountered bravely ; and one individual, in his frantic pursuit of the muses, left behind him, erect in the highway, as v warning to enthusiasts, a tall and, to all appearances, most expensive boot. The open drains in Deveron -street, should bo lookoel tv, unless tho Town Board are desirous of being indicted fov manslaughter, or sued for damages by the maimed and crippled of the d veil ers in surrounding districts. On Saturday morning hist about ten o'clock, a horse in harness, but un - attached to any vehicle, was being walked quietl y along by tho proprietor, when coming .ulo ngside one of these uncovered ditches, the earth at the edge crumbled beneath its feet, and down int 0 the drain it went, turning somersaults like a circus clown or a performing piebald. For some time it was found impossible to extricate i t, in fact, it was only by digging down the embankment, that Lhe animal was rescued. In the procoß of extrication, a considerable quantity of earth found its way into the drain and incessant rain having fallen, the res ilt has been the inundation ofthe surrounding country. The 'Umgerous character of these open drnins is at once apparent. In the first place they liivo no business to bj dar.gorous; in tin 1 second, they have no business to be open. The T.iwn Board at tho present time have n:> doubt a deal upon their h mds ; but even so, consideration li>r the public safety should indue 1 ' them to adopt another self imposed task — that ol seeing to the drains — especially the open drains. By the arrival of the s.s. William Miskin, we havcDnnediu papers to the 1 lih instant ; and by the arrival of the s.s. Edina, Melbourne files to the 4th instant. It is rumored that a very shocking suicide has just taken pl.ice at the Police Station, Elbow. A num of wither inferior mind having al tempted j suicide, ho was arrested by the constable of the district, and taken to the pul'ce tent. The constable left him for a short time alone in tho tent. When he re! limed he found bis charge quite dead , and suspended to n peg by a ropo round his neck . Asphyxia appeared to h:ive been the immediate cause of death. The exuet details have not yet como to hand. The new rush to the TFogburn has created general excitement. Captain Anderson, one of the agents for Messrs. Cole, Hint, and Co., hns furnished the Daily Times with some descriptive particulars. The following extract from the impression of the 11th instant embodies them :— " On reaching the rush he found five gullies had already been opened, t.vo on either :-ido of the prospector's (Parker's) gully. The rush was extensive, and between the various gullies in the district, of whieb there are about a flozcn, were very promising looking •' made" hills, presenting auriferous indications. There were about 900 miners on the ground when our informant reached it on Monday, and everybody spoke hopefully. Captain Anderson himself tried two or three boles in each gully, and found the color very readily in every one. He described I lie existence of boulders, which, easily detached from the soil, are till more or less covered with specks of gold. The prospects average about from four to five grains to the tin dish. The country is well adapted for sluicing, but there is no water available, except by diverting tho stream of the Ewe Burn. The weather set in very severe during Captain Anderson's stay, snow falling plentifully, and on Tuesday night it was fully two feet thick on tho ground. There was very great scarcity of provisions. Plour, what little* tbero was, was rapidly bought up at from 13d to 16d per pound. Bread was quoted at Gs the four pound loaf. Firewood, there is none, and great discomfort, of course, is the rcsult-^in fact it would be hard to conceive more difficult conditions under which to prosecute mining operations. There were about 1200 men on the ground when Captain Anderson left, nnd others were constantly arriving. The diggings are on M'Master's station, nine miles from Mr M'Master's woolshed, and fourteen miles , from the Kyeburn." Tho Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court terminated yesterday. Of the sis cases tried threo wore dismissed. None were either importan or interesting, with the exception of two, — Henry Merino nnd Jamca Russell. In these the main interest was centred upon tho identification of things — money and gold in bullion. The latte r case was perhaps the most attractive, from it presenting at first sight an apparently completo chain of evidence. We understand that Mr Morton, who has done so much for the improvement of 1 reed and stock in this Province, has just imported a number of bullocks airret from the Clyde. They have arrived in good condition, are of very' superior breed, and yesterday formed of themselves an agricultural show. They were inspected by a large body of those interested in pastoral affairs. Amongst other visitors was his Honor Mr Justice Gresson. They ' were started for the couutry yesterday evening. Dce-sfreet is a nearly " new invention" in Ikvorcargill, and will doubtless be finally put t 0 some good use. Its rapid and mushroom like growth must not, however, be taken as a sign of j strong vitality. One store (we allude tothebuildi ing '.not the owners) has collapsed in a most ro_ markablo manner during the recent heavy weather, , A more perfect wreck has never been seen. The roof appears to have been paying its addresses to the foundation, and the scantling, etc, is in firs rate condition for manufacturing lucifer matches or corn brooms. We understand that the late i " decided touch of earthquake" had nothing to do with this casualty.