The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 227, 8 June 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1866.

We are requested to direct attention to the sale of Household Furniture, Library, &c, at the residence of the late Mrs. Hoguo. " The sale -will commence at 12 o'clock, this day. Mr John ?«lunro ia the Auctioneer. Winter appearß to have fairly set in, the past week having been bitter cold, .wet, and stormy. Whatever may have been the shortcomings of the members of the Town Board, they have left records of usefulness that will long be remebered. The wooden pathways are undoubtedly of infinite value, notwithstanding that from the neglect which has latterly been Bhown to repairs which are much needed. Is the Town Board dead or only sleeping ? If dead the Government are in duty bound to do something to keep these footpaths in repair. A few pounds now speat may save hundreds hereafter. A few loads of well selected loads of well selected gravel spread over tho " gridirous " at the present time would render the foot-ways good for tho winter. We would remind the authorities, who have the control of the streets, whoever they may be, of the old adage, " that a stitch in time saves nine." It is satisfactory to find that the Q-overnment have made an attempt to reader prison labor useful. For the last few weeks a gang of prisoners have been employed in levelling and gravelling the Government reservo, and a great improvement has been effected. At the commencement of the week the gang was occupied in improving the crossing on the east side of Dee and Esk-streets. As far as hor3o tragic is concerned a great improvement has been made, but foot travellers have no reason to rejoice over the change, considering that two heaps of mud have I been left which renders it extremely dangerous to parties passing that way. Last evening, an unprotected female narrowly escaped smothering. Fortunately a gentleman from this office went to the rescue and prevented fatal results. The following is the state of H. M. Gaol for the week ending Tuesday, the sth current: — Sentenced to penal servitude, 6 males ; sentenced to hard labor, S males and 1 female ; lunatics, 5 males and 1 female ; debtors, 1 male ; Total, 20 males and 2 female ; received during the week, 6 males and 1 female ; discharged during the week, 5 males ; increase for the week, 1 male. The Secretarry to the Jerusalem Relief Fund (B. L. Fargeon, Esq., of Dunedin), bogs to acknowledge the receipt per C. H. Reynolds, Esq., at Invercargill, of the following donations in aid of the above charity : — C. B. Kingman, Esq., £1 Is ; Messrs Hyams Bros., £2 2s ; Mrs Gundry, 10s ; Mr Phillips, £1 ; Mr Kerr, £1 ; Messrs P. Moiller and Co., £2 2s ,- Total, '£7 15s The London Correspondent of the Wellington Independent says that the Weymoutfc, with tho Cook's [Straits cable on board, all safe and tested, was fixed to leave Gravesend on the 24-th March. Just before the cable was completed, two faults were found in it, and had to be cut out. This was owing to some malicious person driving a 6tif needle or fine spike into the core of the cable. The Government have called for tenders for one or more steamers for twenty days, or for the time necessary for submerging the cable, the steamers to be available within twenty-one days after tho arrival of the Weymouth. A proposal has emanated from a gentleman to colonise and render profitable the confiscated lands in the North Island is thus spoken of by the Wellington Independent. "We heard of tins scheme some three months ago, bat as it was only a private proposal made to the Government, did not think the affair should be discussed at that stage. Nor need we say much now, because the ingenious speculation of Mr Vofel has been knocked on the head. At first the Government, deemed the plan feasible, if materially modified, but those interested soon discovered from the doings of the Land Court, that it could nor. be adopted. The fact became apparent that when the claims of friendly natives were satisfied, the amount of confiscated land left would be very small — much too small at all events for a trial of the lottery colonization scheme. The project has, therefore, been definitely abandoned." The Wellington Advertiser, after re-counting the financial news brought by last mail, goes on to say : — " Another and perhaps still more satisfactory piece of information, which has reached tho Government also, is that the Imperial Government have agreed to Mr Stafford's proposal to have a re-investigation of the claims on the Colony, and the counter-claims on the Home Government, by persons appointed for that purpose by both Governments. Tin's will no doubt lead to a considerable reduction of the present enormous demand made by England against this Colony, and even should it be otherwise, our funds will be in a better state t o meet pressing claims when the investigation is completed than they are at present. Not being possessed of the items of these claims, we cannot vouch for what will be the results, but we can safely predict that the colony will be found to have incurred many expenses that should properly have been chargeable to the Imperial Government, and as no fairer way of adjusting matters could have been devised than submitting them to an arbitration, the result will, no doubt, be satisfactory to both sides." Chief Justice Arney and Mr Justice Johnston have, under powers given by the Intestate Estates Act, 1865, published in the Gazette the following rule, to take effect on the Ist Juno:— "The general rules of practice and procedure of the Supreme Court of New Zealand now in force, so far as the same are consistent with the provisions of the Intestate Estates Act, 1865, shall apply, so far as they are applicable, to applications made to the Court under the said Act, and the conduct and despatch of wl business matters and things to be done in relation thereto."

A ceremony of interest took place on Sunday, remarks th.3 Bendigo Advertiser, at Ss. Luke's Church, White Hills — the baptism of a Chinese convert named A' Ying. The sponsors were the Key. Mr Hayward, Mr Sanders, and' Mrs L'Oste, while the officiating clergyman waa the Rev. Mr Stevens. A'Ying is the same man who gave the Benevolent Asylum the proceeds of the benefit" of the Chinese circus, which he hired for the night for the purpose. The conversion of a man of A'Ying's importance amongst the Chinese will be likely to exercise much effect upon them, and affords an opportunity of furthering the interests of Christianity.