RECOVERY OF THE LOST LIGHTER AND CREW.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 46, 15 September 1864, Page 2

RECOVERY OF THE LOST LIGHTER AND CREW.

By the Aldinga we have the welcomo intelligence that the lighter which left Invercargili jetty some weeks since to assist at the raising of the Scotia, was picked up by the ship Electric, on its passage from the Bluff to Sydney. The ciew were landed there, and the Aldinga has brought them back safely to the Bluff.

. i , _ ■ ; :i ;:"."..■; .. We are compelled, owing to the pressure" of other, .matter ori our columns, to hold over several; items of local interest till a! future issue. We rep üblish^ this -morning- the -English news as received, pgrv ttrcu.Jt^f t S.^ i Ald;ng», and published yesterday afternoon m a SOI7THI.4.WD TIKKS ExraioaDtyiEY.

; A meeting of tlxo Election Committee "will be heldfiia. Colyor'o Princess' Hotel, Dee-street, tomorrow evening. A full attendance of members is requested. We have received later files from the Northern Provinces, biit beyond: the surrender of forty -five, additional Taurariga natives, the intelligence is unimportant, v ■ '- : • [' '•■■•".;; X'~\.:'.:t i: -'-. On Thursday last Captain Sharp, president of " tho r Mariii<3 'Board, -J'lr.'Balfourr* the Marine Engineer, and Mr. Garside," contractor, visited the works of the projected new lighthouse on Dog Island. A full and efficient statf of men are employe d, and the works;: 'are proceeding with great despatch. At present the tower is not more than 40 feet high, or 90 feet from high water, yet it is already very conspicuous^' and when the full height of 100 feet has been attained, will be. visible at a great distance, and will be the^mosk useful structure of the kind on the New Zealand coast. The works have now bo far progressed that there is every reason to expect that they will be completed, and; in; operation by the end of the year. A most interesting lecture was delivered on the evening of Tuesday last, under the auspices of the Winter Evening Lecture Committee, in the Mechanics' Institute, by C. E. Button, Esq., soli--citor. On this occasion the hall was densely crowded, many being feveii-deuied standing room, bo fully was the whole house packed. Mr. , Samuel Beaven was voted to the chair, and having briefly introduced the lecturer, Mr. Button, who chose as a subject " Voltaic Electricity," proceeded to deliver one or the most interesting and entertaining lectures which has been heard in Invercargill for a very long time, In commencing he remarked that the subject of electricity was one of the most interesting which could be taken up, as all the research and investigation which had yet been brought to bear on it had failed to show what electricity really was. It still remains a mystery unravelled, and to the primary question of "What is electricity ? " no satisfactory cause or origin has been assigned. Innumerable theories have been propounded, but like those respect.ng the origin or cause of heat, light, and gravitation, they had never yet been reduced to practice. In iact, the world possessed no knowledge of these f our — i lea t ) light, gravitation and electricity. Of the latter it was yet undiscovered of what it really consisted. It was customary to talk of it as a fluid, but that was a palpable misnomer, as a fluid in the ordinary acceptation of the term, was something very different from what could be applied c^o electricity. Instead of a fluid current passing through the electric wire, for example, it was known that the wire itself became polarised, all its particles undergoing an instantaneous change. It had been formerly held that there were two kinds of electricity, but the opinion of Benjamin Franklin was the one generally recieved, viz., that there was only one kind of electricity, and which pervaded more or less all bodies. It has been further maintained that heat, light, electricity, and gravitation, were merely modifications of and the same thing. The lecturer here took occasion to remark on the boundless scope for investigation which yet lay in store for the march of intellect and science to pursue, and of the important discoveries and results which might flow therefrom. He then proceeded to relate the history of the discovery and progress of the science from its primitive state amongst the early Egyptians to the present time. He remarked, however, that electricity might properly date from two hundred years ago, when Dr. Gilbert of Colchester published a book on the subject, but to show the incredulity of the world, at even so recent a period, he mentioned that Lord Bacon himself had poured ridicule upon it. The book contained nothing beyond the fact of tke existence of electricity. The nest step in the science was the discovery that all bodies were not similarly influenced by electricity; some substances beingfound to be conductors, while others were discovered to be non-conductors of the current, or, it may be, diiferiug in degree. The electric machine was the next discovery, but in place of the perfect instruments of the present day, the first invented was but a very primitive and rude construction. After relating the discovery of the Leyden jar, and making reference to the interesting experiments of Franklin with his electric kite, the learned lecturer proceeded to the discovery of (xalvanisin, so called after G-alviuii, an Italian, ill 17y0, and amused the audience with the anecdote oi" the electrified frogs, which were the immediate cause of the discovery. Then came the discovery of the Voltaic pile, by Volter, and he remarked on the erroneous custom of using the term Galvanism for Voltaic ekctrieity, which obtained even in the present day. Mr. Button next described the different kinds of batteries, and reviewed the discoveries of Daniels, Smee, and Groves. Passing from this, he came to the discovery of electrotype, or electrometallurgy, the honor of which was equally shared by Jacobi" a Russian, and Spencer, an Englishman, who made known the discovery about the same time. Several experiments of an interesting nature were now shown to the audience, who manifested the delight they felt by frequent and hearty bursts of applause. The experiments with the magnet, as illustrative of electro-magnetism, were next tried, and proved very successful. Then followed an exposition of the spirit-rapping delusion, with the aid of the telegraph ; and, with the assistance of .an operator from the Telegraph Office, the working of that instrument was explained, messages being transmitted by means of magnetic wires from the gallery of the hall to the stage. This portion of the lecture created much mevmmcnt amongst the audience, from the droll character of some of the messages sent. As practically illustrating the electro-magnetic principle, the lecturer then gathered round him a number of juveniles, who, in their attempts to snatch a com from a basin of water, were subjected to shocks from the battery. The youngsters appeared to enjoy the sport amazingly, and their amusing efforts to secure the coins had afforded much merriment to all present. The lecturer frequently apologised for the imperfect quality of the instruments at his command, which in some degree detracted from the success of one or two of the experiments ; but on the whole, all the illustrations were very successful, and the loud and frequent applause of the assemblage fully testified to the delight they felt. On the motion of Mr. Beaven, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Button, to which he briefly responded, at same time returning thanks to His Honor the Superintendent for granting the use of one of the telegraph instruments, and also to the operator in connection with that office for the assistance ho rendered. We beg to remind our l-eadcrs that to-morrow night is fixed for Miss Fleming's concert in aid of the Ladies Benevolent Society. We publish the amended programme in another column, and it certainly presents a bill of fare which should tempt the most fastidious. Besides several charming ballads by Miss Fleming, we are promised a variety of songs by members of those indefatigable brotherhoods the dramatic clubs ; also, two readings by Miss Juno, one of them, Burns' " Cotter's Saturday night" and the other, selections from Allan Ramsay's "Gentle Shepherd." The Provincial Brass Band have also kindly volunteered their services, so that altogether those who are present at the Theatre on Friday may expect a very pleasant evening. Both out of compliment to the lady who has initiated this concert and also for sake of the society to which the proceeds will be devoted, we trust to see the house well filled. The West Coast Exploration party left yesterday, at noon, in the cutter Nugget. The party consists of nine, amongst whom is Mr. Barrington, who lias acquired some degree of notoriety fromhis recent prospecting tour. They have twelve months' provisions on board, and are well pro- ■ vided in evexy respect with all the implements, and appliances which . may be liable at any time to be called into requisition. These comprise joiners' tools, "'-"blacksmiths' tools, ammunition, medicines, &c.,&c. The party likewise take four, dogs with tlienvto ;-sliare theirs fortunes, one of i them being that same animal which was so nearly; [ being made food J ofby"Mn Harrington ind'. his party, ere they reached the Lake Wakatipu, oritkoir return journey, & fc> w months ago. We heartily wish, them cvory success in tho'vr adreuhvxfCL% enterprise.

A meeting of the ,Town Board was held iksfc ' night in the Board room, ,Tay-street. Present—^ - -. Messrs. Livesey .'(in- the chair), Smith," 'Jlay/ ,;- Lumsden, Jaggers, Moffatt, , and Broad. Th£"" minutes of former meetings being read and confirmed, the clerk read to the meeting several communications addressed to the Board. These, however, were of no public, interest. As regard* , the flighting of Tay-Btreet, 'Messrs. Hale, -and. Robertson intimated by letter that they had given' up' their contract. 'Mr. Lum9den then moved that the lighting of Tay-street^be^ discontinued for the present. He did not. see how the Board' could. in its present position go fan 1 keeping up the lighting of* this - street, if the rates were not forthcomings and, he t * did: not think it would be a great hardship if -it ,- v ere discontinued for the present. - Mr. Smith seconded the motion, which was carried without further , discussion. The Clerk, -submitted theu "Opinions of Mr. South on several -points cpnnectedW with the payment" of the A^aessmetLte-ry^A;^ discussion on-these-opinipn3"arO3e F -bujb^a4^.lactibn^':;j f on them was' r eiV;b the finance Committee. Mr/ Jabez Hay gave notice-that he •■ would move at j next meeting that the Board appoint a committee I to frame some bye-laws '-* for- the Board; .It was | moved, and seconded that consideration of Messrs. t Campbell and 1 Robertson's claim 'againstp 't&e'-ri" j Board, as awarded by arbitration, be deferred tfllX'i next meeting. , This -was carried, and;tliere being '....., | no other business before the Board, the proceed"' '*' ings terminated. ' • : v . - . J./J A man named Charles Newsome, who was returning homewards on the, Bluff Road, on the 11th inst., was waylaid at Archer's Bay, andhad^ his pockets rifled of £16 in notesl The ; perpe- i _ trators of the violence came up behind:Newsome, r ' and struck him a severe blow on the back of th©head, depriving him of sensibility for a time. . It is within the range of probability (flays »"' recent number of the Argus) that the next mail steamer from Gralle will place us in possession of news from London not more than twenty- two days old. Ceylon is in telegraphic communication with India, and the advice by the last received; mail informed us that not merely had the Persian cable been successfully laid acrosß the Arabian sea from Kurrachee, but that the land line, with, the exception of a couple of hundred miles between Bussorah and Bagdad, had been completed through ths valley of the Euphrates to Constantinople, where it was connected with lines leading to all parts of Europe. The submarine cable p was not only laid, but the necessary stations had been .established, and the party to whom ■• the work of forming the line was entrusted" had returned to India on their way to England. Colonel Patrick Stewart proposed to fill up the gap between the ends of the line by the employment, for the time being, of mounted messengers, and by their assistance, as we have already intimated, it is very possible that very late English news may reach the colonies, by the steamship which brings the English June mail. The ~~ Euphrates Valley line of telegraph is not only shorter than that by Malta and the Red Sea, but it is mainly a land line, and may, therefore, be expected to be comparatively free from interruption such as the Meditteranean lines are exposed to, and which made the Red' Sea cable, while it existed, of so little use. Very shortly, therefore, we not shall not only have Ceylon within a few hours distance from London, in point of time but shall bo able to rely "on the wires for the regular transmission of news. A meeting of the Trustees of the Southland Savings' Bank was held in the Provincial Treasury Offices on the afternoon of Tuesday last. The folio vring were present :— His Honor the Superintendent, Vice-president; Messrs. W. H. Calder, H. M'Culloch, M'Donald, Watson, Harnett, Henderson, and Mueller. The Vice-present occupied the chair. The minutes of previous-, meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr John M'Donald on behalf of the Sub-committee appointed to draw up rules and .regulations for the Institution, laid before the meeting' a draft of the proposed rules prepared by them. He stated that the Sub-coiinnittee in drawing up those rules had consulted the Rules and Regulations of the Savings Banks in Auckland, Melbourne, and Hobart Town in conjunction with the Savings' Bank Act "itself. They had madespme necessary though minor alterations to suit their own case, and it would be for thetrustees to adopt or to amend the Tules as now prepared. As regards books for the bank he hal been in communication with Mr. Livingston bookseller, Dunedin for the purpose of having samples of the books used in the Puriedin Saving* Bank, which has just been "established, sent, but up to the present he had not been successful in procuring them. The Sub-committee had likewise to report that suitable premises were offered to them adjoining the Bank of New Zealand, and which they would recommend to be taken. They had also as regards the" appointment of manager to state that two gentlemen .had offered their services. These were Mr. A. Bonar^ sen., £ and Mr. Brodrick, both of whom volunteered to transact tho business of the bank, and leave the question, of emolument to be decided by the amount of business done. Of the two candidates, the committee were disposed to recommend Mr. Bonar a3 manager. Mr M'Donald having thus reported on behalf of the Sub-committee, the Chairman recommended that the meeting should proceed to the . consideration of the proposed rules. The rules having been read over seriatim, were all endorsed, with the exception of No. 23, a difference of opinion having arisen 1 as to the responsibility attaching to the possession of the strong box of the bank. It .was | carried by a majority of 5 to 2 that the Vicepresident, because he kept one of the two keys, wa* to be held responsible for the contents of the box, jointly with the manager. The passing of tho rule, , however, was not pressed on the meeting, so that the matter should be fully considered, and it was deferred till a subsequent meeting. ""> On the motion of Air Harnett, seconded by Mr. Watson, Mr A. j Bonar, Senior, was appointed manager of the bank. j Mr Henderson then moved that the, premises offered by Mr Nutter, near tho Bank of New Zealand be taken as the place where tho business of the bank should be carried on; the rent to b« ! paid for the use of than being at the rate of £25 -pet atinum. This terminated the business of the meeting, which stands adjourned till Monday next, at half-past seven o'clock. The Sydney Morning Herald has the following with respect to the projected new telegraphic line to Adeliade ; — " We are informed that; the Government huve decided to call for tenders immepiately, 1 fot the extension of the telegraphic wire.direct to Adeliade. The line will .run. down .the Murray from Eeniliquin, via Moulamien, Balranald, Euston , and Wenaworth, and from the latter place to the frontier, at which point it will .be taken in hand by tee South Australian Government. In the Estimates of 1861, a vote of £25,000 (on loan) was taken for this Bervice; but delays arose, only recent.y terminated, as' to the proportions in which the revenue from the line was to be diveded between the the two Governments. These difficulties being happily overcome, the work will be commenced without delay, at a jcost, it is supposed, of little more than *£15,000. The importance of this extension cannot be overestimated, < as we shall have a second as well as a direct and independent line for the transmtssion of the English news from Adoliade, and will be saved the occosiodalinteruptions between this and Adeliade, vi a Melbourne. The establishment of the new line will also, it is obvious, be of great importance in connexion with the collection of the border customs. "

Ben Hail and Dunxbavt have been wound&d, if they dave not been caught. If their wouuds la_J them for a time it w jll be some relief to the district tmd may perhapß facilitate theu capture. It i* getting puifce time that the gang was broken up. Mob&an still keeps successfully hidden in those almost impenetrable scaubs which have so long sheltered him. — Sybney Mail. A Good Hater.— Parson Brownlow, a cordial hater of the South, says in his paper, the Knoxville Whig and Eebel Ventilator t— "Had we our wist, -we would throw hell^de open, and plac» ;all such.Vbe<M^^e'\officc^' h fuid' >: ia'iH^' : vupoa an m * olined planed at an angle'of %5 depees, grease the planks with hog's lard six inches thick, with * wicket at the bottom, and send; them, as ana blwmuji of tsaitorg, robbers, and awasfuw, mto«» l»o«©«t pavt*of th» infernal regiom,"