SOCIAL AHD DOMESTIC

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 8, 18 June 1864, Page 3

SOCIAL AHD DOMESTIC

' The social arid domestic history of the Province during the past month has had its -wonted lu3tro sadly dimmed through the financial difficulties in which it is presently irrvolved. In consequence of an empty exchequer and the refusal of the banks to grant further overdrafts, the G-oTernment has been compelled to " stop payment," and the works which were being.carried on by it have been temporarily suspended. The natural result is that large numbers of men have been thrown out of employment, many preferring to seek for better times elsewhere, .while others remain in the hope ■of brighter days soon dawning upon us. That pur difficulties are only temporary, everyone is convinced, and with the resumption of the Government works, and an easier money market, we have no doubt whatever that, we shall have move cheering news to forward per our nest mail for Europe. To meet the 'times, one or two meetings have been held for the purpose of establishing a Benevolent Institution in! InvercargiUj for the relief of any persons who may, through , poverty or sick--ness be dtherwise'uhable to procure the necessary medical aid and 'bodily sustenance which their circumstances require. At the last meeting of the Committee,' which was held in the . Government .offices, there wer<3 present:— the Eev. Messrs. Tanner, Bethune, "Messrs, Heale, M-Culloch, Tarlton, . Mueller, Richardson, Bright, Harnett, I)rs. Murray and Deck. Mr. Heale in the chair. A lengthy conversation took place respecting the proper stejis to be takeii- in the matter ; but at last the course of action to be pursued by the was resolved to be the following, until the permanent rules:of tne Institution should be .framed,^and until 1 some experience is obtained, on which to construct said; rules :— (1) Dr. Murray's kia.d; offer: to receive articles of : stores, and appli-cations-for them, atiihe hospital, to be accepted, wj.th thanks.: (2) Applications for relief to be made at the hospital. (3) Two members of committee to be visitors for one week each in rotation. (4) Immediate relief in provisions may be made at once in apparently proper cases. (5) All cases

for continuous relief to be inquired into by visitors.- (6) Donations of suitable goods to bo received at the depot. (7) Committee to seek subscriptions and donations; (8) Donations of surplus provisions to be invited from hotel-keepers. ; (9) Visitors to have power to order ' to be supplied from shops any articles not in store. (10) Visitors, not later than the following day, to report to secretary any such expenses incurred. Dr. Murray was then elected honorary secretary, and Mr. Harnett honorary treasurer. It was resolved that a copy of the rules of the Benevolent Institution in Dunedin be procured. , It.is not apprehended that much poverty or sickness do really exist in this, place, but there is little doubt that a systematic course of investigation into the condition of the- inhabitants in evei'y district ofthe town, will prove ofthe greatest benefit. Should there be occasion for the. erection of premises for the accommodation of those who are destitute, it' is proposed to take immediate steps towards this end, and wo have no doubt the public will second the efforts of tho committee | in so noble an enterprise.. ' I A kindred institution in tho shape of a Savings' I Bank is about to be established in Invereargill, for I the benefit ofthe working classes of our community, and there cannot be a doubt that its influence on the habits and general character of tho population will produce most welcome and beneficial results. As it is necessary that the sanction of His iSxcellency the Governor should bo obtained ere the institution be started, a memorial is being got up for that purpose, and we hope in a few weeks to be able to report tho Southland Savings' Bank in full working order. In tho monthly statistical return of patients receiving in-door and out-door treatment at the Provincial. Hospital for the months of March and April last, we find that in March there were 29 out-door and -11 in-door patients entered on the books, and in April there were 27 out-door and 19 in-door patients so entered. On 2t)th February last, there were 19 patients remaining in Hospital, and on the 31st Mai-oli, 23, making a total of 158 persons who received treatment during these two months. In the same period there were five deaths, one from typhoid lover, one from remittent fever, one from phthysis, ono from softening of the brain, and ono from gastroenteritis. A melancholy caso of drowning occurred on tho Makarcwa River, at Wallacetown, on 12th inst. As a carrier named David Nicholson was engaged in washing his horse at tho lording place, ho happened to go too far into the stream, which bemg Hooded ut the present time, was running with a strong and swift current. The result was that both horse and rider were carried away by the groat force of the waters, and after a littlo distance the unfortunate man lost his hold of the horse and disappeared, to be seen no more. His horse, however, swam for a considerable distance further down the river, and eventually effected a safe landing. A constable loft town the following morning with tho proper appliances for dragging the river, with a view to the recovery of tho body, but it is much to bo feared that tho attempt wjll be unsuccessful, as in all probability tho deceased woidd be carried by tho current iar beyond tho spot where he wont down. Up to this timo the eiiorts to recover tho body have proved fruitless. The Local Committee for Southland, in connection with the Now Zealand Exhibition in Dunedin, in January, 1865, have as yet made but small progress towards tho furtherance of the objects in view. Several applications for space, however, have been sent in, ono of these being ior manufactured llax, from tho plant j»Ad>Wj/>« tenax, which abounds so luxuriantly in this Province. Samples left at this oJlico fully prove, beyond doubt, that its value as an article of commerce will ere long bo fully recognised, as it appears that the hitherto chief obstacle to utilising tho fibro has boon overcome, and that at a coniparativo trilling cost. We refer to the separation of the gum, or mucilaginous matter, from tho fibre. Mr. O'Brien, of Mokotua, and Mr. John Scott (late of Edinburgh) havo been tho most prominent in tho work. A company is, wo understand, being sot on foot for the purpose of entering upon the manufacture of tho iibro into various articles of commerce. In addition to ilax, the Province of Southland will doubtless be well ropresontcd in the New Zealand E xhibition in many other departments. Tho resources of tho Province are numerous and varied, audit required but combined action and energy in order that sho may make a creditable show beside her noighbors. We have to report tho formation of a Philharmonic Society m luvemirgiU, .which already numbers ujwards of 30 Indies and gentlemen amongst its members. The Society is being carried on with spirit, and it is purposed shortly to give a concert m aid of funds for tho purchase of an organ for tho English church. Tho first performance of tho Southland Amateur Dramatic Society took place on the evening of the loth inst., in Mi-. Macdonald'sSchoollioom,L>costreet, and was very well attended. The entertainments consisted of a/variety of short recitations, diaogues, scenes, songs, &c, which were well received, and afforded evident pleasure to those present. The per formanccs were concluded by a sketch of "London Dodging," which created much amusement, after which, the national nut hem was sung by tho company, and the meeting (which, for tho first, was considered a vory satisfactory one), terminated. Tho Theati'C Royal has been for some time past very thinly attended, but the plays put on the stage have been generally of a lirst-class character. It is expected that fuller houses will be drawn when the present depression shall have jjfiven way to better times, but m the meantime tho management arc to be complimented on their enterprise in maintaining a full company for such a nieagro return at the hands of tho public. A daring and successful burglary was perpetrated in Dee-street, at midnight of the 16th inst. The premises were those of Mr. Orr, general merchant, and access was effected by first breaking ono of the large panels of glass in the window, and then forcing an entrance. A 501b-bag of flour, which was stacked against the window insido, is the only article missing at present. Mr. Barry, who resides next door, states that about that time he heard some parties decamping in tho direction of Lcven-street. Constable Darey, who reported the burglary to head quarters, gave chase, but has hitherto been unable to discover anything of tho whereabouts of tho daring fellows or of their booty.