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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 107, 28 October 1863, Page 2

A deputation of the Southland Cricket Club yesterday waited on the Superintendent, in order fco ascertain the nature of the original grant of land to the -old Invercargill Club. The deputation, which was received very courteously, consisted of Messrs Whitton, Roberfcson, Reese, Colyer, (Treasurer), and Helmsley, (Secretary.) Hi 3 Honor explained to the deputation, that before he could make any arrangements for the Southland Cricket Club' getting possession of the land referred to, it would be necessary for him to ascertain whether the Invercargill Cricket Club waa in a position fco carry out their original intentions. He would therefore communicate with thi Secretary of the Club on fche subject. There would be no objection however, to the members of the Southland Club using thc ground in tho mean* time fov practice every afternoon. His Honor expressed hi3 approbation of the intention of the Southland Club to establish a good body of Cricketers here. We cordially participate in his H mor's wishes for the pvogvess of the club and hope they will energetically practice now the season has commenced. Ifc will be some thvee ov four months befove the All England Eleven visit the neighboring Province, and should we have a club capable of " making any show'' against such redoubtable cricketers, there is no saying bufc tho public may encourage a movetnen for them visiting Invercargill. At all events , tb c existence of a goo 1 cricket club here is a thing desirable by all admirers of out door sports. "Yesterday some of tho most influential merchants in the town took preliminary steps for the purpose of fovming a provisional committee to collect subscriptions to cavvy out a system of thoroughly pvospecting fche Province. A number of them readily placed their names on the list ; but in one or t\ o cases, the fastidiousness of some persons, who were scrupulous about associating themselves wifch good company, induced them to withhold their support to the movement. Ifc is to be hoped that those who have initiated the movement, will nofc allow anything to thvow a damper on their exertions fjr the advantage of the Province. An inquest was held yesterday at tne Court House, before M. Price, Esq., R.M., in the absence of the Coronor , on tho body of a man named Thomas Gillighan, whieh had been discovered >in fche previous day lying in fche Puui Creek, at that part of it behind the Union Hotel. Tlie body was found by some little boys who were fishing iu the creek. The principal evidence was given by a witness named William Hoggart, barman atthe Commevcial Hotel, at which place the deceased had been residing. He stated that yesferday three weeks tho deceased left the hotel, saying he would only be absent a few minutes, hut he had never seen him alive since. Deceased had been living therefor some time previously, and had been drinking rather heavily. For some time previous to his leaving the hotel, ho was nofc quite right in his head, a result which was cameo by excessive drinking, although afc fche time he left the houso he was sober, and appeared to be rational. The landlord of thc hotel also gave evidenco that for some time previously to the deceased leaving the house he had been suffering from delirium tremens Aftov hearing other evidence as to the sudden dis. appearance ot the deceased, and also in reference to the inquiries and search which had been made for him, both by his friends and the police, the jury returned a vevdiet to the effect th-it the deceased came by his death by drowning, und from the evidence, they were of opinion that he was suffering fvom delirium, tremens afc the time. We understand that the deceased, who some time ago was possessed of considerable property in farm land, aud had been engaged in carting to and from tho diggings, has, within the last few months, spent iu dissipation nearly a thousand pounds. Wo are informed that a petition to the General Government is being extensively signed throughout the Lake district, praying for the withdrawal of the powers delegated to the Saporinten. dent of Otago, and that the Govevnor and House of Repvesontatives take into their own hands the immediate control of the goldfields. The petition also set3 forth, that tho inhabitants have no confidence in the Provincial Couucil, for, that they have provod themselves " utterly incapable of managing the goldfields. The following extract from an English paper will be interesting to lady-readers and turfites : — " A curious affair lately ' came off' at Rome. Miss Hosmer, the American sculptress, had challenged Mr Spires, an English gentleman, and the master of the hounds, to ride a steeplechase match. The event came off in the presence ofa pretty numerous field of British, American, and sporting Roman spectators. Miss Hosraer rode well, and took all her leaps — stone walls, rails, and hurdles— very pluckily, and Ld until near the winning-post, when Mr Spire's jockeyship overcoming his gallantry, he called on his horse, and came in a winner-'' A monster kangaroo was recently shot in the Goulburn District, weighing 1121b, and 8 feet in height. The Border Post gives us the following specimen of "polite literature," speaking of a new journal recently started afc Beechworth : — " The new 'rag,' facetiously called the Dyring Courier made its appearance here this morning. Ifc has caused no little merriment ; the assumed air of authority in such a bantling — one day old." His Excellency Sir C- F. Bowen has prohibited the importation of sheep into the colony of Queensland, either by sea or laid, from any of the colonies of Australia, Tasmania, or Hew Zealand j under penalty of immediate seizure and destruction. In regard to the Torrens' Lind Act, which will probably be introduced into Southland, we observe that afc Adelaide the receipts as fees, in Torrens' office, for the month of September, amount to £351 on 303 transactions. Afc Paramatta, New South Wales, a man named Kater, employed on the Railway works, was struck dead by lightning the other day, while in fche act of pulling on his coafc. The electric fluid Btruck him on the right temple. We regret that several typographical errors appeared in a letter signed " W P Tanner," published in our issue of the 19fch inst, The Daily Times of the 26th inst., says that " a number of cheques are said to have been placed in circulation in Canterbury lately ; two of which are in fche possession of the police. The forgers appear to bave had little difficulty in negotiating the r fraudulent docunients, as the cheques in question has been cashed without even the precautionary • condition of an endorsement."

Information was received in townon Monday:that an extensive robbery had been curimitted atthe house of a.; small farmer named George William-" son, residing near the Oteramika Bush. Yesterday morning, it appears, he .was oat on his land, ett-, gaged with the only man employed on the farm, having left the house unoccupied. On returning to ifc, Mr Williamson found that the door had been | burst open, two boxes opened- and turned oven and notes to the amount of £100 abstracted. Mr Williamson -communicated hia loss to the police department, but with the bare information connected with the circumstances, and -the = almost^ impossibility of identifying; the notes, it is doubtful if the robbery will be .traced to the guilty par ties. We would direct, attention to a C.qngregatiqnal Soiree, to he held in . connection with;tbe Presbyterian Church of InvercargilL on tho evening of Wednesday, the 2nd September.; /Tea will be served at seven o'clock instead M>f six as announced in the tickets. y Tho power of the Press is truly wonderful— the very elements yield to it. The waves would riot obey Canute, but they obey the Illustrated iMid^ bourne Post. The Gothenburg left Melbourne on the 21sfc inst, and she brings us the Post of tbe 24th. How did that lovely number, so beautifully adorned with sketches of Waikato warfare, drawn in Melbourne, overtake the steamer,? Was it skimmed along tho water as we used to skirg the flat stones of infancy ? Was it puffed through a pneumatic tube, constructed for the occasion? Or was it shot from a Lancaster gun, invented to throw Melbourne papers five, hundred miles in a direct line against the wind ? Henceforth, who dare lift his voice against that mighty engine — the Press?