The Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 199, 8 January 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 1866.

We are requested to contradict a statement that appeared in the SoutJiland News of last Saturday, having reference to the postponement of the time for opening the tenders for the completion of the Bluff and Invercargill Railway. There is not the slightest ground for such an assertion. The subject of the public meeting to be held at the Theatre Royal, on Wednesday evening, the 10th current, is one of such general importance that we feel assured our citizens will make it a duty to attend. Its objects, as stated elsewhere, are to " take into consideration the desirability of promoting emigration from Great Britain, the system under which it should be conducted, and to memorialise the Provincial Council thereon." j Our readers will recollect that in our issue of Friday last we mentioned an outrage alleged to have been committed on a girl at the Waikivi Bush Cutting by some person unknown. The police, with great promptitude, at once proceeded ', to inquire into the affair, with the result of find- j ing her story to be a complete tissue of contradictions. Not only were no footmarks to be found at the part of the bush she pointed out as where her assailant fled on the approach of a horseman, but she had previously shown a place, fully threequarters of a mile away, to a boy in the employment of Mr. Marten, of Waikivi. In answer to the boy, she distinctly said the man ran into the flax ; — to tbe police, she stated he went into the bush. Further, she first described the man as " tall, with a long moustache ;" and afterwards, to the police, as "not a very tall man, about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches, with small, dark moustache, and only sixteen or eighteen years of age." Every assistance was rendered the police by the settlers in the neighborhood, more particularly by Messrs. Marten and T. Royd. We learn that the handsome sum of £10, the proceeds of the late dramatic entertainment, has been handed over to the Ladies' Benevolent Society. i It will be perceived from our advertising columns that Divine Service will be celebrated at Riverton on Sunday next, by the Roman Catholic body. A sad case of death by alcoholic poisoning occurred on Friday afternoon, at the police station. The deceased, J. A. Wild, was lately employed as clerk by Mr. Binney, auctioneer, of Dee-street. From what had transpired, it would appear that Ithe unfortunate being drank an excessive quantity | of raw spirits, and was shortly afterwards found fin almost a comatose state. He was at once conveyed to the police station, and Mr. Monckton, the provincial surgeon, sent for. The most stringent and energetic remedies were at once applied to arouse the patient from the state of coma, but without success. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday, and a verdict returned of— " Died by alcoholic intoxication." A man named Michael Carrol was brought to the Hospital on the lst in3t., suffering from a simple fracture of the tibia, and fibula of the right leg. The injury was the result of an accident occurring while riding a plough horse along a sidling at the Mataura. A sudden stumble caused the animal to fall with its whole weight on the man. Assistance was fortunately at hand, and the sufferer was as soon as possible brought to town. On inquiry at the Hospital last evening we learned the patient was progressing rapidly towards recovery. Electioneering proceedings for the Superintendency, are being actively prosecuted in Canterbury. The following not very flattering reception was given to Mr. Lance at Arowhenua, as recorded by the Timaru Herald. On Saturday evening last, Mr. Lance met the electors of the Arowhenua district, at the Assembly Room, Crown Hotel, Timuka. Dr. Rayner occupied the chair during the early part of the proceedings ; and Mr. Acton took it alter being vacated by Dr. Rayner. Mr. Lance addressed the" meeting at some length, explaining liis views upon the various matter of pubhc interest. At the close of his address . several questions were put to Mr. Lance, and answered by that gentleman. Mr. A. Wilson then moved the following resolution, "That this meeting, whilst thanking Mr. Lance for explaining his views, considers that the state of pubhc affairs at the present time to be such as to require a gentleman of greater experience as a guide ; and for this and several other reasons is of opinion that Mr. Moorhouse is the most fit person to. become Superintendent of the Province.' An amendment was moved merely thanking Mr. Lance for explaining his views, and on being put to the meeting was carried bs a majority of one. A vote ' of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting." A melancholy boat accident, involving the loss of three lives, is reported by Caption Simpson, of the schooner Storm Bird, as having occurred at Paterson's Inlet, Stewart's Island, about a fortnight ago. Three persons — a settler named Carter, another named Thomas Wheeler, and a Maori boy, who was known by the name of "Barnacle "—left Price's ship building yard, at the head of tha Inlet, in a whaleboat under sail, intending to proceed to a locality some distance down the Inlet, named the Old Neck. The boat was without ballast at the time of starting, but

it is understood that the party beached the boat near Sir Bullock's new mill, on their way down the harbor, and there took in some ballast, the wind blowing strongly, and occasionally in violent squalls. The boat was never seen afterwards, but two oars and the hat of Mr. Carter were subsequently found ; and there is every reason to fear that, when caught in one of the squalls, the boat had capsized, and that all her intnates have been drowned. Both Mr. Carter and Wheeler were married to native or half-caste woman, and the former leaves a family. Another fatal accident is stated to have lately occurred in the same neighbourhood. A medical man whose name is not known, but who is understood to have come from Invercargill, was residing at Patterson's Inlet for the benefit of his health. He was out fishing one day, and, when so engaged, was seen by some persons standing on a detached rock, round which the tide was rapidly flowing. He was warned of his danger, but persisted in remaining ; and it is understood that, when the depth of water had become too great, he had endeavored to reach the shore, and was drowned in the attempt.