SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 18 August 1864, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Since the departure of the last mail for, Europe, affairs generally have assumed a more favorable ' aspect. The pressure On all classes, consequent on the stoppage of tho railway works, on wliich large numbers of men had been employed, has been in some measure removed. The works aro again in progress, and it is fully expected that, should no further contretemps occur, about seven miles of our railway to the north will be open for traffic in the course of six weeks. The long spell of beautiful weather we havo experienced has likewise exercised its usual beneficial influence, rendering the roads and streets more passable, and thereby inducing business. Notwithstanding this, however, it would be idle to conceal the fact, that wo have yet ample cause to wish for better times. One of the most important items, of intelligence for the month is the projected Southland Savings' Bank, which is just on the eve of itarfcing into active existence. The consent of His Excellency the Governor has been obtained, and a sub-com-mittee has been appointed by the trustees to take all necessary step 6 for the speedy establishment of the institution, which is calculated, and is fully expected to prove of immense benefit to tho people of Invercargill, but more especially the working classes, for whom of course it has been principally originated. The - course of : -winter evening lectures we, referred to, in our last summary are being carried out with great spirit and success. The audiences on every occasion are numerous, and the lectures of a superior description. The la6t lecture was delivered by Alex. Bonar, senior, Esq., on " Savings' Banks," which came in very opportunely ; and the lecturer fully demonstrated, in a clear and happy manner, the great results which invariably follow in the train of sneh institutions. The attention of our merchants and colonists generally is being moreand more directed to the utilisation of our famous indigenous flax plant — the phormium tenax. Great efforts are being made to discover some mode of separating the fibre from the gummymatter, which would render the conversion of it into an article of commerce worthy the consideration of capitalists and merchants. We are aware of "several machines which have been uaed, and all varying considerably in their construction, and design, and action ; but it cannot be said" that any one of them fairly and fully answers the purpose. It is evident, however, that the obstacles to the native plant being turned into profitable account by the settlers in our New Zealand Colonie3 are fast disappearing at every attempt made, and we fully expect that ere long the commerce in flax will prove a large and important one. Our rifle volunteers are now in constant drill, and evince much spirit and enthusiasm in the exercise. They have been but seldom out on parade, not being as yet provided with their uniforms, but this objection will speedily be removed. The -want of the services of a brass band are much felt. The Provincial Bras 3 Band will not lend their assistance unless at an expenditure of money which quite precludes all idea of their being engaged. A number o£ minor- . topics 1225.-C- ~b& . Isrisiljskimmed oyer. The election of three members, to fill aa many vacant seats in the Town Board, took *place on Tuesday "last, when Messrs. Hay, Calder, and Lumsden were proposed, seconded, and elected in quite a formal manner. Civic honors have got into bad odor in Invercargill, and small wonder either, when it is known that the Besideht Magistrate'the other, day decided that the members of the Board were personally, liable for a debt owing by it to certain contractor* ! • It is. believed. thatone' at least of the newly elected members will not accept office. ' A new church for the Bey. Cooper S-earle was recently opened by him. in Invereargill, but— the Bishop of Christchurch has intimated to him hia intention of prohibiting him from preaching in any building here. Another chapel, for the ÜBe of the Boman Catholic body, is nearly out of the' contractor's hands, and is to be consecrated' by the Catholic Bishop of Wellington ,7the Eight ßev. TDrTYiard, assisted by-the P. P. of Brihed'in, the -Bey. D. Moreau.; in -the coinrse.of a fortnight. ' 'ii hew Masonic Hall is likewise hearcoihpletioh.' - - .

The .seventh. session of the Provincial Council of Southland ' virtually terminated on Tuesday, 2nd August, when the House was adjourned for aweek. This step was taken on the suggestion of Mr. Pearson, who acted as deputy-speaker, and who stated that it would be perhaps considered a mark of disrespect to His Honor the Superintendent if they appointed the following day for the purpose of allowing him to come down to prorogue it, and on doing so find, perhaps, two or three members only present. He, therefore, suggested that the House should be.adjourned for. a week, and in the hffcrim His Honor could prorogue it by proclamation. All the members present coincided in this course being adopted, and - accordingly adjourned the House till Tuesday, 2nd August. About eight p.m., r on the 2nd inst., at Port William, Stewart's Island, a serious affray took place between Captain M'Grath, of "Grecian" notoriety,. and Mr. Bracken, accommodation house keeper, at Port William. The disturbance arose relating to a whale-boat, the property of M'Grath. From what we can gather, there were eight or ten persons engaged in the fight, wliich was very nearly ending most seriously. Stones were freely used"; and M'Grath has been severely wounded on the head. One man narrowly escaped death from the discharge of a loaded gun. Information was lodged by M'Grath, at the Police Station, at the Bluff, and five of the offenders were arrested and brought before the Resident Magistrate, on 3rd Aug. Owing to M'Grath being unable to appear, on account of the injuries he had received, the case was remanded till the 6fch inst. , A licensing court was held on 3rd Aug., in the "Resident Magistrate's Court. Messrs. W. F. Tarlton, H. M'Culloch, W. H. Pearson, and Matthew Price, sat on the Bench. The following applications were granted; — Louis Cremer, Melbourne Hotel, 10 o'clock license ; and William Roebuck, Empire Hotel, Dee-street, 12 o'clock license. Theophilus Heale, Esq., late chief surveyor, took his departure for the North in the Wellington, s.s., on Tuesday 2nd Aug. We hear on all hands expressions of the deepest regret that the Province has thus become deprived of the valuable services of this gentleman. During his stay in Invercargill he has earned for liimself the esteem of all with whom he came hi contact ; and, independent of this, liis zeal and efficiency in the management of the survey department, of which he was the head, have been most manifest, and are now too well known and appreciated to require further comment, We cordially wish liim all success in his future career ; and should he ever have occasion to visit, or settle down in Southland again, we can assure liim of a warm welcome. The second of a course of Winter Evening Lectures was delivered by the Rev. C. Searle, of St. Paul's Church, on the evening of 2nd August, in the Scotch Church. Tay-street. The chair was occupied by J. S. Johnston, Esq., Registrar oJ Deeds, who introduced the reverend lecturer to the audience. There was a good attendance — nearly two hundred persons being present. The •übject chosen by Mr. Searle was " A Plea foi Rest," addressed to employers and employed. The remarks of the Rev. gentleman were chiefly with a view to strengthen the bond of union which should exist between employer and employed. It was necessary, he remarked, that they should, as classes, remain separate and disiiuct. but hke the hnks of a chain they could only be oi service, aud in harmonious working order, when they were closely linked together. He ther, dilated on the evils of the late hour system, on both mind and body, and instanced the factory system of England, before. Sir R. Peel stepped ir to advocate the cause of the over- worked and exhausted niillworkers, aud related the immense boon a change in that system had conferred on the manufacturing population. Tlie unnatural and inharmonious union existing in other places, he likewise instanced, such as serfdom in Russia, and slavery in America, and eulogised Wilberforce for the noble stand he made to eradicate the latter from the British dominions. The lecturer then proceeded to explain the relative positions of employers and employed as they ought to exist, and contended that it was unnatural, and of course unjust, for the one to look - upon the other as a mere beast of burden. He ' maintained that an employer should regard his servants as rational beings, not overtasking their boclily strength, or being indifferent to the cultivation of theh" mental faculties, but providing aliments whereby their minds might be improved. He then explained generally the advantages of rest, and of the Sabbath, as originally set apart for that purpose, and dwelt at considerable length on the benefit which would accrue to Soutliland generally if the condition of the employed were ameliorated, as regards the late hour system, and the supplying the facilities and opportunities for mental improvement which they do not at present possess. The lecturer was frequently applauded in the course of his remarks, and received a cordial vote of thanks at the conclusion. While the prisoners were at work, on 29th July, repairing the road at the bridge, over Puni Creek, Clyde-street, one of them attempted to make his escape, and bolted town the Bluff Road. The constable on guard gave immediate chase, and collared the runaway behind Mi". Hamilton's store. He was. taken to the lock-up. Charles Melbourne, the colored steward of the William Miskin, nnr.-owly escaped being stabbed at Duneclin, on the evening of the 7th inst. He was in company with another colored man named Geo. Beauford, when some dispute arose between them, and but for the interference of a constable, who took Beauford into custody, the end of the affray would have been serious, It appears that he became quite frantic, and attempted to stab both Melbourne and the constable. Two knives were found in his possession. The Rifle Volunteers met for drill on the night of Aug. 10, in C. N. Campbell and Co.'s store, the corner of Dee and Tay streets. After drill they marched to the Prince of Wales Hotel, where a meeting was held for the purpose of considering the uniform to be adopted by the company. Captain Harvey occupied the chair. Six or seven of the members appeared in uniforms of various kinds, hut after fully deliberating on the subject, it was decided that the uniform to be adopted should be that usually denominated as rifle green, with red cord edgings. A discussion then ensued as to the expense of the uniforms, and various suggestions on the score of economy was urged— -as, for instance, having the suits made in Melbourne or Dunedin, in place of Invercargill. At length, however, a Uniform Committee was appointed to take this matter in hands, and see it carried out to the best advantage. The committee consists of Messrs. M'Donald, Grigor, Hatch, Wade, Bull Rodd, and Paul. The subject of a brass band for the company was then mooted, and a letter from the Provincial Brass Band was read to the meetmg, 'stating the terms on which they were willing to lend their services. The conditions laid down by them were the following, viz. : — That the debt of £32, still standing on the price of the instruments, be paid by the company ; that they should be provided with full dress uniforms ; that their instruments should be entirely under their own control; that all new music shoidd be provided by the company ; that they should only attend on full dress parades ; and that the band-master should be recompensed by the company* for his services. These conditions the meeting unanimously set down as preposterous, and not to be entertained for a single instant. The question of a band, therefore, was shelved for the present. It was likewise stated that a full attendance at chill is particularly requested, and if the average attendance came up to sixty, they would be entitled to Government assistance in the matter of their uniforms. The Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands intimates that Blocks VI. and VIL, Winton District, will be open for apphcation on and .after the 25th inst. Also that, "On and after Thursday, tlie Ist day of September, Block XIX., Invercargill Hundred, will be open for apphcation. Persons having applications for unsurreyed land in the above block, must attend at the Land Office, personally, or by agent, on Wednesday, the 24th j instant^ at 12 o'clock, to have their clainiß settled, otherwise the 15th Clause of the Land Regulations will he enforced."

We have received a very flattering account of the extensive agricultural operations which are at present being carried on in the Oteramika district. On the estate belonging to : the Glasgow Company, and which is under the-, management of Mr. Hamilton/ 1000 acres have been turned over with the plough this season. .Upwards, of. 600 acres of this ground, have been tilled by the steam plough, and 300 by horses. Two hundred acres will be sown in oats, wheat, and barley, for -the use of the station,' and the remainder will be laid down in rape grass and clover seeds for feed for sheep. A better idea -of the extent of the operations wliich are beingcarried on, will be conveyed by the fact that there are one hundred hands employed on this estate alone, ; The system adopted, and the general management ' of the operations - arc, we are hi-. ; formed, all that could be , desired. Mr. Mitchell, the farm manager, is a man of great experience in agricultural matters, aud, under his own and '■ tho able direction of Mr. Hamilton,^Southland will ■ soon be able to show an estate second to none in New Zealand. Not only, however, on this estate ' are agricultural matters receiving such a large ' share of attention. On the next station, Mr. r Robert Hunter's, the steam plough is likewise in I operation, and also on the extensive station of i Messrs. Holmes and Co., Seaward Downs, m the i same district, is the same improved system of t tillage resorted to, and great areas of land arc 1 being converted from their natural state into , most valuable agricultural sol. * During the last sittings of the Provincial Coun- , cil of Otago, an interesting report was submitted from the Harbor Master's office, on the state and 3 capabilities of the harbors and rivers of the Province. The following figures are given in that roI port on the volumne"of water can-ied to the sea - by the river Molyneux, or Clutha. The waters ', had been carefully measured when at their loAvest, i and the following comparative statement of the ■* body of water emptied into the ocean by rivers in various parts of the world will be perused with lc interest : — , Cubic feet per minute. Moivueux river 1,690,401 * Tayj Scotland 274,000 f Bo'yne, Ireland 180,000 1 Thames, England 102,000 I Clyde, Scotland 48,000 * Forth „ 28,355 •* Rhine 3,960,000 c Ehonc 619,000 0 Tiber 618,231 v Soane 400,000 s Arno 266,800 !1 Nile 1,386,000 a Irrawaddy 4,500,000 Thus the Molyneux, when at its lowest, is larger ? than the Nile, six times the size of the Tay, nine * that of the Boyne, and sixteen times that of the ; > Thames. 3 His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman delivered a '* lecture in St. Pnid's Church, Leet-street, on Tues--0 day evening, 26th July, to inaugurate a course oi ~ winter evening lectures in Invercargill. Tlie c subject chosen by the learned gentleman was r the " Fallacies of the Law," and his eloquent *■• and instructive discourse was listened to with 7 evident pleasure and gratification by the crowded II assemblage present. Space forbids our giving even an outline of the lecture, the press of othci 7 matter preventing this. At tlie conclusion, a meet- : < ing was held, when the subject of the establish- * ment of a free library was discussed, and a coma mittee of gentlemen was appointed to arrange the 11 preliminary steps for this purpose. 1 At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on 26th July. V Morris Salek was placed hi the dock on tlie charge ;1 of conspiracy with intent to defraud the prosecutors * Messrs. Buttuer and Halleiistein, and Mr. IT. W. c Whitton, of the firm of Maning and Whitton " The depositions of the witnesses who appeared at the c trial of liis alleged accomplice, Joseph Silverberg } were read over in his presence, and he crossexamined them on several points, but little new oi ' important on the question at issue was elicited 3 The case was remanded for two days, for furthoi * evidence. Same day, the case of Patrick Rough, foi 3 embezzlement, came on for hearing. There were >' two distinct charges preferred against him. ; the first being a sum of £2 !• 155., in September, 1862. £ and the second one, of £18 9s. Sd'., in June, ISG3. * The evidence adduced left the Bench no alternative *■ but to commit the prisoner for trial at the next i sittings of the Supreme Court. I An incident, wliich might have been attended ■ with more serious consequences, occurred on 25th ' July while Mr. Ritterath was driving 'some cattle T through the streets of the town. It appears that > Mr. Bull (of the firm of Hare and Bull) was 1 passing along at the tune, when oue of the animals { broke away and rushed at him, wounding him severely in the arm and head. The drivers sue- ! ceecled in turning the beast ; but it had no sooner 1 clone one mischief than it attempted another by rushing three times at a man in Deveron-street, ; who only saved himself from the infuriated animal by leaping upon the dray he was driving. We hear that Mr. Bull intends suing the owner of the cattle for the injuries inflicted on him. Mr. A. W. Smith, revising officer, held a Court for the revision of the list of voters for the district of Wallace, on 20th July, in the Southland Club Hotel, Dee-street. Very few alterations were made, and some eases were reserved for the opinion of Mr. Justice Chapman. The Otago Provincial Government Gazette, of 3rd inst., contains statements of the revenue and expenditure of that Province for the quarter ending 30th June last. Under the head of revenue, we find that the customs' department contributed £19,218 15s. 2d. ; the gold export duty realised £17,729 6s. 9d. ; purchase and rent of crown lands, £35,260 17s, 9d. ; miners' rights, licenses, -611,008, 6s. Od. ; and the various other items of revenue swelled the aggregate income of the Province for the quarter to £105,572 10s. 7d. Under the head of expenditure, we find the disbursements in the following five departments to be as follows : — Superintendent and Executive, £582 10s. 2d. ; Provincial Council, £2,222 2s. lid. ; Provincial Secretary, £19,488 ss. Id. ; Provincial Treasurer, £15,364 Is. 3d. ; Secretary of Public Works, £22,942 13s. od., making a total expenditure for the quarter of £60,599 12s. scl. On a further analysis, this sum is found to comprise .- Salaries, £17,186 lis. 5d. ; contingencies, £13,079 2s. Bd. ; all other expenses, £30,333 18s. 4d. "A meeting of the trustees of the Southland Savings' Bank was held on the evening of Thursday last, in the Treasury Chamber. The following were present, viz. — His Honor the Superintendent, Messrs. Calder, Squires, J. M-Donald, D. D'Monald, Rout, Harnett, and Mueller. His Honor, Dr. Menzies, was called on to preside. The absence of Captain Ellea was apologised for. Dr. Menzies then opened the proceedings by reading fi-om the Savings' Bank Act the clauses referring to the appointment and functions of the trustees and the constitution of the directory, from wliich it appears the Governor of New Zealand, for the time being, acts as president of any Savings' Bank established within the colony. On the motion of Mr. Calder, seconded by Mr. Squires, Dr. Menzies was elected vice-president. His Honor now suggested that a committee should be appointed to draw up rules for the institution, wliich would be sabmitte 1 to another meeting of the trustees. Mr. Calder thought this was the proper course to take, and suggested further, that said co-ami) fee should be instructed to gather ah necessary information, and take steps to receive applications from gentlemen willing to accept the appointment of manager. Mr. D. M'Donald suggested, also, that the matter of sureties had as. well be mentioned to applicants ; and, after some discussion, the meeting were of opinion that the following would be sufficient - — The manager, himself in £150, and two sureties in £150 each. Mr. Calder then moved — "That a sub-committee -be appointed, consisting of Messrs. J. M'Donald, D. M'Donald, and the mover, to obtain ah the information attainable on the subject of the usual rules of Savings' Banks ; to ascertain whether convenient premises could be obtained in Invercargill; the services of an> eligible manager secured; to inquire into the matter of books;, and to report on <. all these points to the first meeting of the trustees, to be summoned to meet" by the sub-committee -when it thinks fit." Mr. Squires seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. There being no other business before them, the meeting then terminated*

The New Zealander, of 28th July, thus summarises the news from tho Otago journals, wliich had reached Auckland the previous day :—" In Otago news is at a premium. The task of writer has been by. no means an enviable one-:— he is, in fact, without -' visible lawful means of support.' Much home-made thunder, efforts at writing against space, merely to .'fill it_ up,' seems to pass current — but, by-thc-by, this is not confined to Dunedin." ...... \ We have been shown the plans of the handsome gateway and railing... about to be erected on that portion of Tay-street belonging to tho Union Bank of Australia, and wliich has been a great eyesore to the locality since the disastrous fire laid low the extensive block of buildings there. This state of matters will, in a great measure, soon be remedied, as the work of enclosing the ground is fast progressing. The gateway is of a very handsome ' design, and will be surmounted with an ornamental mounting of Iron. The contractor for \ the erection of : the gateway and railing is Mr. [ John Lamont, and .the. designs arc -by Mr. J. E. Clarke, architect, of this town.' The Provincial Government Gazette, of 9th n Aug., contains a proclamation by His Honor the j Superintendent, proroguing the Sittings of the * Provincial Council. . A scheme for a railway from Auckland to , Wellington, passing through Taranaki, is contemplated in the North. On the subject of railways, . the New Zealander says that — " A Mr. Hulke, - from Melbourne, has made an offer to the Go--1 vcrnment -to make a railroad from Taranaki to . Wanganui, so soon as the state of the country . will permit of it. It is to be a single line, capable t of carrying an engine of not less than 15 tons, 3 but the offer does not include stations or rolling stock — the line to be given up piece by piece as -> completed. The payment asked for is land, at j the rate of an acre and a half for each pound j sterling expended by them in making the railroad up to -6-1000 a mile — that is to say, that each mile of railroad may cost 6000 acres of land, but cannot cost more. It is proposed that the contractors should not take the whole of the land adjacent to the railway, but should take it in blocks alternately with tlie Government." We (Otago Daily Times) hear that the Assembly, after all, is not likely to meet till February, unless some pressing occasion should arise to alter the present determination of the Government. It will be convened to meet at Christchurch, unless the Commissioners appointed to 6elect the seat of Government give in then* decision in favor of Nelson or Wellington, before that time. At either of these places there are chambers erected, suitable for the Assembly to meet in ; so that in the '" event of the decision being made, the Government 0 will bo enabled to give it immediate effect. His 3 Excellency the Governor, who intends being a large contributor to the Exhibition, is coming v down to open it, after which he -will visit the " goldfields. The beginning of next year will be '*■ quite a gala time for the Middle Island ; besides 3 the Exhibition, there will be the Canterbury s Champion Paces. The hotel accommodation of * Dunedin and Christchurch is likely to be well 1 tested. ; 1 A complaint, at the instance of Mr. Alex. ? M'Leod, was preferred against Mr. D. Miller, r junior (a brother member of his in , the Dunedin " Town Board) in tho Magistrate's Court there on " the 4th inst., for having made use of abusive, " threatening, and insulting language, at a meeting c of the Board, contrary to the third section of the Vagrant Ordinance. The Magistrate found the > charges fully borne out by evidence, but was com--0 pellcd to dismiss tlie case, as tho Board room ;> could not be considered a public place witliin the meaning of the Ordinance. A sad and fatal affair has occurred at Waikoue aiti. A party of diggers encamped for the night '> near a large tree, at the foot of wliich they lit * their fire ; and on its being burnt through, it fell l * and killed two of the party. At an inquest which - was held, a verdict was returned of "Accidentally r killed by the falling of a tree." p The third of the course of evening lectures was 3 delivered on the evening of Tuesday Aug. 9, in St. 3 Paul's School-room, by Dr. J. Rutherford Ryley. > The subject chosen was "The Nervous System, a Vital Telegraph." At the hour appointed a nume--3 rous audience was present. Mr. Chas. B. Kingman k presided on* the occasion, and introduced tho lecturer. Dr. Ryley then proceeded to give a most ■ interesting discourse on the higher formation and 1 functions of the human frame. He accompanied - his remarks by a series of illustrations, which ; tended considerably to elucidate liis text. It is '< very gratifying to observe that the evening lectures 1 are accomplishing so completely the object for which they are desigued, i.e., the providing of a profitable means of spending the long hours of winter evenings with entertainments at once calculated to instruct and edify, as well as please, the mind. The large audiences show that the public of Invercargill fully appreciate the designs of the promoters, and are desirous of their being carried out to a successful issue.