Untitled

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 223, 2 March 1866, Page 2

We hare to acknowledge the receipt of £1 from Mr. Henry Philips as a subscription to the Jewish Relief Fund. From our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr. Heale has replied to the requisition forwarded to him requesting him to become a candidate for the Representation of the town of Invercargill t in the G-eneral Assembly. The Bazaar in aid of the funds of the Churcli of England opened last evening. It is being held in the large room at Henderson and Sonar's Buildings in Esk-street. The room was most appropriately and tastefully decorated with flag of all nations, choice New Zealand ferns and other evergreens. Everything was in excellent taste and the place presented a most pleasing appearance ; the company was large and all seemed agreeably surprised at the completeness of the arrangements. There are three stalls presided over by Mesdames Tanner, Brodrick, and Kingman, assisted by others whose names we have not obtained. Each stall is well supplied with every article usually found at such getherings. We particularly admired the Horticultural display at Mrs. Eongman's stall. The flowers were splendid and in good taste. The refreshment department, presided over by Mrs. J". Mitchell, was sufficiently well stocked, and showily arranged, as to lead you for the time to believe yourselves transported to one of the confectionery palaces of London. The " Post Office " was in full work, and the Chief Postmistress, (Mrs. Callow), kept her fair assistants constantly on the move ; we know that the postage was heavy, but not having received an epistle are not in a position to pass a verdict on the literary contents. We must not omit to mention the lively department—" My Old Aunt Sally"— which was under the direction of Mr. Callow, and afforded infinite amusement to the youthful, and was not without the patronage of those of older growth. The music was good. The lady who presided at the piano displayed great skill, she played with spirit, and more delicate fingering we have seldom seen. Th gentlemen — three. — performed upen their instruments in a masterly style. It was altogether a complete euccess, but the lafce hour at which we visited it, and the short time we remained prevents our giving more than this notice. Several ladies were taking an active part of whose names we are not acquainted, but shall endeavor to post ourselves up before our next issue. The greatest possible efforts have evidently been put forth to render the Bazaar attractive and worthy of support, and we hope it will be awarded. A correspondent at Riverton, under date 28 th February, writes : — " Yesterday|seven men arrived from the Pabi diggings for the purpose of getting proper cradles made of the character required for the working of this field, three of them (Brendtson and mates), have gone on to Invercargill j the others return to the diggings to-morrow, and a boat is also expected with twelve men going to try their fortune. All accounts agree that it is a payable gold-field, tha* men are earning from 15s. to £1 per. day, and others doing better." The presentation of the prizes won at the recent Rifle Match took place on Wednesday evening, the 28th February. The attendance waa numerous, and the large room in which the meeting i jvas held (Henderson a uj Bonar's store) being tastefully decorated foi the Bazaar, gave a lively aspect to the meeting. Capt. Harvey presided. The Chairman, in presenting the first prize — a valuable double-barrelled gun — to Private Laing, stated that he considered if he constantly practised, he would carry off the Champion Prize of .New Zealand next year, and that his success proved the advantage of constant attendance at drilL The second prize, a handsome gold Albert chain, was then handed to Private M'Kellar. The Secretary of the company presented the third prize — a gold ring — to Captain Harvey, who suitably acknowledged the same. Private Dunlop then received the fourth prize, a gold pin. In consequence of the members of the company not having re-tendered their services to the Q-eneral G-overnment, as required by Militia and Volunteer Act, on or before the Ist March, the corps will become extinct. This is much to be regretted. The annual soiree in connection with the Presbyterian Church, was held in the Mechanics' Institute, on Tuesday last, tke 27th February. The attendance was good, but not equal to previous gatherings. The tea was of the very first order, the provisions being abundant, and of excellent quality, and the arrangements complete. After tea had been concluded, a public meeting was held, when thft Rev. Mr. Stobo, gave a statement of the prosperity of the Church, and reviewed the proceedings of the Presbyterian Conference which was recently held in. Dunedin, and congratulated the congregation on the favorable report he was able to give of the position an* advancement of the denomination, and urged upon them the necessity of putting forward increased efforts to extinguish the debt on their own Church, and attain the position of helpers to others. The Treasurer, T, Watson, Esq., read the financial report, from December 1864, to February 1366, to the effect that the debt on the. church pro* perty, which was £lß3o&.tthe. fonnwcl»te, b*d, not

withstanding the unprecedent depression of the times been reduced, by proceeds of the bazaai (£360) and donations, to £665. ■ He said that there was no pressing claim now to be met, but he would have them bear in mind that the Bum of £250 must be raised b.y March ; 1867. He had made au estimate of their probable J income and expenditure for the next twelve months, on which there would be a surplus of over £100. On the motion of Mr. Toshack the report was adopted. The Rev. Mr. Shaw expressed the pleasure he felt at being present at the meeting and strongly urged the congregation to work -with renewed energy. The Rev. Mr. Bethune pointed out the necessity for the Sustentation Fund beingimore liberally supported ; that it was the source from which those ministers who were laboring in out districts could be sustained, and urgeduponthemeetingthenecessity of not only being liberal themselves but to organise asystem of monthly collections for this fund. Other gentlemen addressed the meeting, advocating the cause iv the advancement of which they should all feel a lively interest. During the evening the choir sang several psalms and anthems. The reports in several English papers on the T»lue of the copper from the Otea Company's mine at the Great Barrier Island (says the New Zealand Herald) have been very favorable. Mr. Philip Wright, one of the directors, is at present in Auckland, and it has been decided to carry on the works vigorously, bo as to be in a position to get the copper ore at the earliest possible moment. An expenditure of about £1000 per month is contemplated in connection with this mine for the next three or four months, at the end of which time it is expected the works will be in a state to commence active operations in obtaining and dressing ore for exportation. We are glad to hear that this mine if to be worked, and trust it will prove profitable both to the company and to the Province. We shall be glad to learn that efforts are being made to work other mines, both coal and copper, both at the Bay of Islands and in other parts of the Province. From the report given by a Victorian paper, it seems that Mr. Ireland owes his success at Bilmore to a rather skilful dodge employed by his committee, about two hours before the poll closed. Our contemporary Bays that certain supporters of Mr. Ireland posted all over the town a placard the wording of which was as follows : — " No Popery! Vote for Robinson, the friend of the Protestants." The Irish party were so incensed by this bill, that although many of them intended to vote for Mr. Robinson, they at once voted for Mr. Ireland, believing that this bill had been issued by Mr, Robinson to secure Protestant votes and to insult the Catholics. The time up to the closing of the poll was too short to enable Mr. Robinson's friends to checkmate this dodge of Mr. Ireland's friends, and the result was of course the defeat of Mr. Robinson. The TuapeTca Recorder, 23rd January, has an article upon the arrival of the Chinese in that district. It says; — "On the evening of Monday last a report reached town that a party of Chinamen bent upon trying their fortune atTaapeka was camped for the night near to Waitahuna. The report proved to be correct. Early the following morning four of their number put in an appearance at the Uamp, and presented a letter of introduction to the resident Warden, which is understood to have been penned by Mr. Vincent Pyke, Groldfields' Secretary. After a short parley with the Magistrate, " John " gave it to be understood that he was the bearer of another epistle, which was found to be directed to Mr. Duncan Campbell, a resident tolerably well known throughout this and the neighboring districts. No sooner had Mr. Campbell perused the document than he immediately took the "illustrious strangers" under his special protection and as their numbers had in the meantime been augmented by the arrival of the main body to the number of twelve, accompanied by an American waggon freighted with their equipments, a certain amount of plausibility was given to a report that immediately obtained currency, viz.> that Mr. Campbell had been appointed Chinese protector for this partiuclar district with a very handsome salary. After perambulating the town for an hour or two and supplementing their stocks by the purchase of a few articles of daily use, the band, headed by Mr. Campbell, and followed by the waggon, made for the ground along the ranges on the Wetherstone road, known as Slaughterhouse Chilly, where they camped for the night."