SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Southland Times, Issue 544, 20 August 1866, Page 6

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Sinoo writing cmr mining RrtWe, which ap« ; ] p'H-rs in tho s^Wiith pikre. fff \cnm that riW'VjUo ■ 'e'f^ram has he n receive-! from th-» Ag<>nt. «»*' t.U»* ft<-t>Misli!p ?'.«<»«* at th* MW: ".imr -iatin^ Owt ' fi!>.'. pa-senders ha-.i pn-»fcrHl th-^r nmoi^v \oh> :li<e : !it'B at KivTf-'n f f t T 'i« -t---t. •*«*■ I* • • ■••ivi>t. i? aonw* ' > bi v "hp firsS: [•.• 'i. aik'ii ■>.*" •• ru.sh of differ* t<> th«.» • >>e;>nlci | A tru'ettnsr »»f tboe? itTf ivrt^rl i:' th>* Te • p*ra'iae i cause, was hnll on Tupvfov. fch<* 1 Ub A v >ust. at the School rTotie, TV •?- street, Mr. Oouoh wa* m!1o'1 to tho cha\« The Chairman stated the nhievt of the merlin? was to consider the desirahilitv of formmsr an auxiliary to the "New Zealand Tjoasrne, for the yurpose of winning the Government to brine in an enactment for the prohibition of the liquor traffic. There were present the "Roys. Ptobo and Shaw, and oth n r promoters of the cause. The meetin? having been opened in the usual way, Mr Stobo a^dress^d the meeting, pointing out. the obligation devolving upon every Christian, by example, to abstain from all that would cause a brother to offend, and urged that legislative enactments as well as personal influence was necessary to stem the tide- of .drunkenness that overspread the land. Mr. Bethune, in a telling address, spoke of the value of the adoption of the Total Abstinence principles, and pointed out the good that had resulted to parties that had come under his personal knowledge, from the adoption of the Total Abstinence creed. The Rev. Mr. Shaw powerfully advocated the desirability of Legislative interference in the traffic in intoxicating liquors, and alluded to the good that had been done by the operations of the United Kingdom Alliance in Great Britain. Other gentlemen also addressed the meeting. During the evening, the members of the Band of Hope sang several temperance songs with udmirable precision. The meeting terminated to the satisfaction of all, and twelve names were added to the list of total abstainers. From a telegram published in the " Daily Times " Bth August, we learn that a destructive fire took place in Webon that morning, in Tipper Bridge street. Three hotels — the "Nelson, Royal, and Mitre — were burnt, as well as the Temperance Hall, the Young Men's Christian Association "Rooms, a large store, and twelve buildings. The fire broke out in a bed-room at the ISTelson Hotel, and spread with frightful rapidity, the wind blowing strongly from the - south-west. The loss w estimated at £10,000 to £12,000. The prooorty is principally insured. This is the first great fire that has occurred in Nelson." The " Tasmania Morning Herald," 16th July, says '• — " Mr J. M. Stanley has informed us that there exists a senm bf the mineral, similar to the Hartley mineral of New South Wales, from which | the kerosene oil is extracted. The locale is on a tributary of the Dorwent. The seam crops out in places showing a seam of eight feet in thickness ; specimens of the rock has been roughly tested by igoitiou, and found to contain a, large proportion of mineral oil. Mr Stanley states he is quite willing to point out the spot where the discovery has been made to Lieut-Colonel Chesney, if that gentleman should deaire it. §|The " Southland " steamer, it is pmbable, will soon be profitably employed. From an official report that has been furnished to tho Government as to the probable success of the next effort to lay the Cook's Straits Telegraph OaVe, this vessel is recommended as being well qulified for the work. The report says : — "We are, however, of opinion that it would be w**ll to have & more powerful steamer than the Stuart, which latter vessel would be of better service if free, as she could make fast to either the towing or the checking steamer if required — could carry messages — assist to land the other shore-end — and be available for any unforeseen contingencies. If the Southland can be borrowed for the time from the Provincial Government of Southland, we know of no other vessel in this colony which so well possesses the necessary requirements, by combining considerable power and a comparatively Bmall weight." We learn that the Invercargill Horticultural and Florioultural Society, intend having two exhibitions this season ; the spriag one to be held about the Jhd of December, and the autumn one sometime in March. The prize list will shortly be printed, so that intending competitors will know what to grow for competition. The Invercargill Chess Club met at tho Club Hotel on the evening of Saturday the 4th inst., when it was resolved that the former rules should be adhered to, but that the subscription for the future should be 63 per quarter or 2s and 6d per month payable in advance. We clip the following from the " Weekly Age " : — " The Cape mail brings intelligence that the Rev. Mr Fredoux, a missionary, son-in-law of the Rev. Mr Moffat, son., had met with a tragic death in the far interior. A trader, named Nelson, had committed a crima for which he was a fugitive from justice, and followed the track of Mr Fredoux, who was on a pastoral journey to Morokwain. Mr Fredoux had instructions sent him to arrest Nelson, and compel bis return to Motito to receive judgment for his crime. When called upon to surrender, Nelson at first tried the . effect, of an apology ; but, finding that of no avail, he shut himself up in his waggon, threatening to BhooE anyone who should come near him. Mr Fredoux approached tie waggon to remonstrate with him and point out the hopelessness of resistance, when waggon and byatauders were blown into the air, and six blacks aed corpses, including those of Mr Fredoux and Nelson, were stretched on the ground. There were 175 lb of gunpowder in Nelson's waggon, and this he had fired." The " Hokitika Chronicle," of the 28th ultimo, says : — " A wise step has been taken toward* encouraging the exploration of the Westland auriferous districts, a» yet scarce trodden by the gold- ; seeker. At the late visit of his Honor the Super- ; intendent, an application was made on behalf of 1 a proposed expedition under Mr M'Crra ; Government help was promised, knd haa been received to the extent of some £200 ; this haß been supplemented by private subscriptions, and a party of explorers has been dispatched up the Hokitika river, with tents, rations, and toolß, but depending mostly on their own pluck and success s in seeking for and discovering gold as a remuneration for their labors. Tbiß system of prospecting is an advantageous one. . It is cheap, ua pressing hardly upon no one, and advantageous, as not being open to any great abuse. Mr M'Crae is, we understand, a veteran explorer, and baa strong [ faith in the resources of the country into wliich he intends to penetrate." 1 A correspondent at the Orepuki, writes: — Thert is scarcely any change in the population on

this field, during the last week or ten days, thd number of minor* beta? 850, Several parties who have ttorkeJ out their claims on t-ho bpaoh, hftvi left foi* th<» Bushy Paint w:jrk ; ntja. whore it is ibitn^.. :'il van wsk» /00-. f wa^e"*, shat ig to sftTi ftoai fou'* t« «ix pounds p»r w«*>]c per man. 3t-v*rcil ptl'.'*i<»B «we Out nriir-.'O'i'V in rhd bU*h>" f:: <.'o!H».-;iu'ifii of n oo'-iii mLiviou eelit by t-l^faoh nn >h." th« a.-riral of ihe last Tti^ilUh in>iil, in <vh>nhib wa-: gtatfdthiit tht< Biink of Ktiir . Ziaku I hid faiWl, hist)»i of tha N.jw Zea'and Rankm* Corporation, the following scene took p'tkce at various points ou the West Coast* The "Wfstlamt . bservop," Julr 28, says:— Tn concequance of the receipt of English news, and ot inforirjition as to the it had produced in Dunedin, there was a rush in Okarita on Monday, not equal in dimensions, but quits equal in extravagance to the recent rush to Bruce Bay. Fortunately, the locality which ■was rushed was capable of sustainiug a much larger population than that by which it was visited, and in every instance clairaholders had their expectations satisfied. Nor is there, up to the time we write, any piospect of the ground being wrought out, or of any claim proving ft " duffer" — the locality being none other than the teller's room in the office of the Bank of New Zealand, in the Strand. It happened that the English news, with the news of its effects, reached here on Monday morning by private hands, the post-office only giving us the benefit of communication every Saturday. On its receipt it was reprinted by us, as it was by every paper in New Zealand, our authorities being th" telegraph office and the ' ' West Coast Times. " Tho news of a rush on the banks in Duiu-din was, of course, conveyed to the Five Mile by ready tongues, fond of a practical joke, or a little sensa tion in these dull times. Exaggerated to no small degree, the story had its effect, and an hour or two proved that there ar<} more m onied men at the Fire Mile than one would suspect. Without waiting to undergo the process where usually done, the bank-manager's back room, they did their own " sweating," by walking into town at top speed, and for several hours the officers of the Bank of New Zeuluu I had onoguh to do to hold their own against the pressure of people demanding their deposits, either in one form of payment or another. Fortunately, though only a remote agency, the bank waß supplied with sufficient specie or notes, the latter being accepted by the Bank of New South Wales, and ths doors of both bunta were kept open for several hours beyond the usual time of closing, so that no one might go away disappointed. These circumstances, and the issue of soaie later news as to the absence of any rush on the game bank in Dunedin, moderated the excitement, and, although it continued partially next day, and some thousands of pounds were altogether withdrawn, the rush gradually subsided, and roufidenca was restored. Among the irore initiated an air of mystery attached to the news, because it was stated that the failures included the Oriental Bank (the colonial agents of the Bank of New Zealand) and another called the Commercial. It \va3 only ascertained on Wednesday evtming, by the arrival of a gentleman from Hokitika, that some mistake had been made in the telegrams received there. liißtead of the " Oriental and Commercial Banks," it should have read the " Oriental Commercial Bank " — some company very different from the Oriental, but whoso name it was found at Hokitika does exist in the list of basking companies, of course in no way connected with, the Bank of New Zealand. The same news had a similar effect a£ the Totara and some other outlying places, but it was shortlived, and we are glad to see, by latest telegrams from Duuedin, that " the banking excitement has subsided." though there it was mainly directed to the bank which represents the Province, and the Commercial. The rush occurred in the absence of Mr Allen, the usual agent. Mr Kirton having charge of the office in his stead, its occurrence causing more work at both banks than has been compressed, in the same number of hours for a considerable time past. The following is the state of H.M. Graol, for the week ending, Tuesday, the 14th instant. Sentenced to penal sen itude, d males ; sentenced to hard labor, 7 males and 1 female. Lunatics, 6 males and 1 female. Debtors 1 male, imprisonment 1. Total, 21 males and 2 females. Received during the week, 1 male. Discharged during the week, 3 males. Decrease for the week, 2 males. We learn that the dogs destroyed at the Police Station are handed Qver to a party who, for the ■ake of the skins, undertakes the responsility of a respectable burial. This is all very well, buc when we find the dog cemetery is in the very heart of the town, public duty requires an emphatic protest against it. If it is deemed necessary that the cemetery for human beings should be beyond the bounds of the town, certainly dogs should not have the privilege of reposing after death in the nridat of the population. We understand that Mr. Commissioner Weldon has been despatched to the Pahi with s view to report upon the extent and nature of the gold workings. Should the report prove favorable, it is not unlikely that the* Government will proclaim the Orepuki a goldfield. ' Another dramatic entertainment will take place shortly at the Theatre Royal. On this occasion, we believe that the proceeds will be set apart to enable the Fire Brigade to purchase an alarm bell. The state of the drain in Esk-street, leading from Mitchell's corner to the Railway station is in a most deplorable condition. Indeed, unless some 6teps are taken by the authorities to repair it, we would not be surprised to hear of a serious accident occurring. The 6ide of the drain has fallen in, leaving a chasm sufficiently large to engulph a horse and cart which might by sli^htotst degree deviating from the centre of" the road, coma to grief. Surely some of the prison labor aight be employed with advantage to cover the yawning abyss. The "Hawke'a Biy Herald" of July 28 says : — Orders having been received from Wellington to discharge the body of men, who, unJer Captain Biggs, Lave done Buch good service ; the St. KiUU returnß to Poverty Bay this day, with a view of bringing them on to Napier. The paymaster being now on the West Coast, and as the General Government with all its meanness, will scarcely torn the men adrift in the.midat of winter without their pay, the force will probably be a short time in Napier befor* bung finally disbanded.