The Southland Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 30, 9 August 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1864.

The debts and difficulties of Southland have of late occupied so large a share of attention, that we fear other matters also having a fair claim to our notice have been neglected. It was but natural that it should be so ; but whilst owning without hesitation to the " hard times" through which the Province is gradually forcing its way, and acknowledging that all classes of the community have felt, and are still feeling, the great depression which, from a variety of causes exists, we are of opinion that a little spare time and money might still be found to devote to other than mere business purposes. Some months have passed since the first steps were taken for representing Southland in a creditable manner at the New Zealand Exhibition of 1865. At the outset, some little interest appeared to be felt on the subject; but latterly, we have heard nothing which would lead us to suppose that the movement had not died a natural death. There are a certain class of "croakers" amongst us, who occupy their spare time in lamenting over the wretched future of this part of New Zealand. They point to the New Kiver, and say the harbor will be filled up in a year or two ; they allude to the railways, and curse each individual sleeper aa being part of a scheme to sink us in debt for the next fifty years ; they write doleful letters to their friends, every paragraph of which serves to remind one of the " Unfortunate Man;" in short, they make the worst of each circumstance, and would probably feel annoyed were things presently to assume a more favorable aspect. To such, and from our own experience they are to be met with oftener than is pleasant, we have nothing to say. The Province is, according to their creed, gone to *' irretrievable smash ;" and were their opinion asked as to the best method of representing Southland in the New Zealand Exhibition, they would probably suggest, with a grim smile, the propriety of forwarding a sample of the native " green-back," as manufactured within the precints of the Provincial Treasury. Numerous, however, as these birds of ill omeu are, they do not constitute tho influential part of our population — those who have made the place their home, with a full confidence that the future of the Province will fully realize the expectations which were formed of it at the first. It is to this class of our colonists that we address ourselves, with the hope that they will yet bestir themselves in order that Southland may make a creditable show at the Exhibition of ISGS. What has the local committee done up to the present time ? "We are assured, on good authority, that a meeting has not been held for two months, and, so far as our informant knew, no interest whatever was manifested in the matter, save in the case of one or two gentlemen, forming honorable eseceptions to the general rule. ISi"ow, this is a state of affairs we by no means were prepared for. If the thing cannot be done well — done in a manner to reflect credit on the Province — it were far better that it should not be done at all. The other Provinces are going actively to work, and if Southland is to be represented, only to show by comparison her vast inferiority to other more favored parts of the Colony, she had far better take no part in the business, but confine her attention to the " financial question, " with which she is unfortunately troubled. "We would suggest that another effort be made. Let a meeting be called, and the public informed as to what has been done, and what is requh'ed to be done. All classes should be systematically canvassed ; and it would be a great point gained if the various contributions could be exhibited in Invercargill prior to their transmission to the Exhibition Building in Dunedm. This plan was adopted with great success in many of the up-country towns in Victoria ; and, if a suitable room could be obtained for the purpose, we see no reason why their example should not be followed in Southland. But whether or not that is feasible, it is absolutely necessary that thecommitteeshould makefar greaterexertions than they have hitherto done, unless Southland is to appear ridiculous in the eyes of her neighbors. We have not alluded to those higher considerations which should influence our colonists in coming forward at tins moment, not so much for the glorification of a Province, bat in order that the New Zealand Exhibition may be a great national success, as showing the various productions and manufactures of the whole of the Colony. If we have no manufactures, we can, at all events, show raw material, and that is, perhaps, as much as can be reasonably expected of a settlement of such recent formation as Southland. . We would remind our, readers that the Exhibition opens on the first Tuesday in January, and that no contributions will be received later than the 12th of December next, so that the time for making preparations is getting Bhort. It is unfortunate that just at this juncture we have to regret the absence of Mr. Heame, who had undertaken to supply a collection of geological specimens, and whose assistance and counsels would have been invaluable in any department. We are not aware that any gentleman has yet been found willing to undertake Mr. Heajde's self-imposed labor; but geological specimens would, of necessity, form an important item in. our exhibits, and their collection and classification miißt, of

necessity, be the work of a scientific man. "We are given to" understand that" a large number of photographs of ISTew Zealand scenery will be exhibited in Dunedin, and although ill this respect Southland is far behind some of her" Northern neighbors, there are spots in the Province which would show to advantage side by side 1 with the landscapes of Otago, Welling^ ton, or Auckland. : JW~e know not whether the community ..__ would be prepared to go to the expense necessary to obtaining phonographs of those views, but a subscription Tor.^thafe purpose might be set on foot, and if sufficient funds were forthcoming, a competent artist could be found without difficulty. "We once more call upon the committee to bring this exhibition question prominently before the public. ¥e ■ cannot believe, that it will> be allowed to be a failure^. - Let those who took the ■ initiative go through with it. in a spirited ' manner; Let them do their and! then; should their efforts be unsuccessful, they will at least have discharged their duty, and no blame will attach to them ; if, on the contrary, they are content to let things take their course,- I^ -if they allow % the few intervening months to pass away in dreamy inaction, — our settlers will have reason to be dissatisfied with them for having inflicted a real and substantial injury to the prospects of Southland, by the non-appearance of her productions with those of the other parts of the Colony.