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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 220, 23 February 1866, Page 2

It -will be seen from our advertising columns that Mr. Dillon Bell is not to hare a " walk-over " in the election for the General Assembly. Mr. James M'Clure is a candidate for the representation of the Mataura district. The prolificness of Southland soil i 3 not yet known. Since our notice of monster peas, we Have had brought under our inspection a variety of produce of surpassing growth— animal and vegetable. Our attention has been called to a fat pig, a surprisingly heavy sheep, and a splendid quarter of beef, all of which, as in duty bound, we have admired. The last specimen however, that has been forthcoming is a real curiosity — it is a hen egg of enormous dimensions. - It measures 6£ inches round the girth, and 8 inches longitudinally. Its. weight is 3£ oz. troy. It may be seen at the office. That it is a genuine hen egg we have positive evidence. We are in receipt of the first number of a new London Monthly Magazine, entitled the Argosy. It is a well got up publication, and evidently intended as a cheap rival of " London Society." The reading matter is varied and good, and the typographical work first-class. We hope the goldladen vessel may have a prosperous career, and keep constantly in mind, in selecting its cargo, that it is not all " gold that glitters." Mr. Kodgers, bookseller, Dee-street, is the agent. A meeting of the Bagged School Committee was held on Monday, the i9ch inst., in the schoolT>..«_ CT f_««t- rri.- J. J- --■ •--•■- -a. ■t.x.v.i, vis.y, average attendance was twenty-two, and that satisfactory progress was being made. The treasurer's report was not very encouraging the balance in hand was only one shilling. We think that the statement will be sufficient to call forth the liberality of the people of Invercargill. The institution is worthy of universal support, and it is to be hoped that it will be awarded. It is stated that a company for the purpose of prospecting the coast between Riverton and Jacksons Bay, is likely to be got up. The information lately received would lead to the conclusion that should the project be carried out, it would be the means of giving new life to the province. There can be but little question that the black sand on the coast line is similar to that found on the West Coast and at Taranaki. Should the projectors of the company come out with a matured scheme, we belijve it would be liberally supported. In another column will be found an extract from an English paper, which is more satisfactory than anything yet published, as to the value of New Zealand black sand. If a company should be started, say :— SOO shares of £5 each, £1 paid up for experimantal operations, and no farther calls made until payable ground is discovered and a lease of the same secured ; the company wisely constituted, carefully matured and registered under the "Limited Liabilities Act," there is little doubt but that the shares will be readily taken up. We are glad to sea (say 3 the Wellington Independent) that the reward of £1000 for the discovery of a payable goldfield has induced two more of the right class of men to try their luck, who, after receiving all the information they could gather in town, started on their tour on Thursday last. Of course their destination is unknown, but they assured us that whatever were the gold prospects offered on other diggings, they inteuded giving this Province a twelvemonth to endeavor to reveal the precious metal, which they appear to think from the formation of the hills, &c, abounds in large quantities. We heartily wish these plucky adventurers good luck, and it will be a source of great pleasure for us to announce on a future day chat the £1000 has been paid over to them. We take the following from the Gipps Land Times of the Bth inst. : — " Some interesting experiments, for the purpose of testing the efficacy of the antidote against snake- bites, prepared and used by Mr. Joseph Shires, were made on Saturday last, at the residence of Mr. W. Thomson, Airlie, in the presence of Mr, Foster, P.M., Mr. JtJarnard, P.M., Captain Slade, Messrs Dawson, Pettit, and W. Thomson. The experiments were carefully observed by the gentlemen, present, who have since borne testimony that they were in all respects fairly and honestly carried out, and gained their full ana complete confidence. The method ot" trial was as follows : — A swamp snake, measuring about three feet, was selected from four contained in a cage, the door of which waa locked, and they in the possession of Mr. William Thomson. The snake was captured in the bush by Mr. Mitchell, and placed in the box, the key of which was retained by Mr. Thomson until the present occasion. Tuo snakes could not, therefore, by any possibility have been deprived of their poisonfangs. bhiros permitted the swamp snake to bite hia lore-arm. The punctures made by the fangs, were iustantly viaitile, the blood flowing from each. Xhe exact time was taken, and tea ininuteb afterward* a few drops of the antidote were uj.paeti to twQ oi th§ few? punfifcuyeg, 8hj«8

indicated these as being the wounds made-bjr- 1&* poison-fangs. To the other" two, punctures none of the antidote vaa applied. In a few minutes afterwards, or about twenty minute 9 from the time Shires had been bitten, a full-grown cat and. a large dog, after being secured, were each bitten by the same snake upon the nose. The cat was bitten first, and the dog second. In each case the animal when bitten showed signs of great pain. After a few violent struggles they became, within thirty seconds, powerless, and, with the exception of weak respiration, motionless. In this state they remained where they lay until death." We presume," though the Times does not tell us, that Shires survived the experiment. Another, of the veteran politicians of Victoria has gone to hia grave. All who ' are acquainted with the history of the sister colony will grieve over the loss of one of her worthiest, if not brightest, legislators. The Hon. W. C. Haines is no more. He died at his residence, St. Hilda, on the sth instant. Mr. Haines was the first Chief Secretary for Victoria, under a responsible government, and continued up to his death to work for the good of the colony. Though con servative he was progressive, liberal but not democratic, and during nearly twenty years, which were cheerfully spent in official service, he earned the esteem of all as an honest and painstaking legislator. The following is taken from the Argus of ; the 12th inst : — " In reply to an application from the Commissioners of the Intercolonial Exhibition, the Commissioner of Trade and Customs has accorded the privilege of dutiable goods from the other colonies intended for exhibit passing through, free. To facilitate the arrangement, the Exhibition Building will be declared a " Bond," as was the case in that of London."