The Southland Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1866.

Southland Times, Issue 553, 4 September 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1866.

From a correspondent we learn that a destructive fire took place at Stewart's Island on Thursday last. The saw mills of Messrs Bullock and Co. have been totally destroyed. We have to call attention to the sale of the wreck of the whaling brig Amherst, now stranded at Stewart's Island. This sale will take place at noon, in the commercial sale-rooms. Mr Todd is auctioneer, and particulars oau be obtained from our advertising columns. The public meeting to receive the report of the deputation appointed at a provious meeting, to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent with reference to the opening of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, will be held at the Theatre Royal this evening. As ' no doubt the meeting will be largely attended, we would suggest that it would be a fitting opportunity for a publio expression of disapprobation of the proposed withdrawal of the three-eighths of the Customs revenue from the Provinces for General Government purposes. Canterbury and Otago arr agitating the question, and Southland is called upon to express an opinion. At the request of some members of the Committee of the East Road Settlers, we hold over our report of the proceedings of tlie meeting held at the Provincial Hotel. Winter is passing ; yesterday wa9 a poouliar and oppressive day. A hot wind or what in New Zealand bears that name, prevailed, and in the afternoon about three o'clock, a genuine "brick-fielder" was experienced. For a considerable time the dust was so intense, that pedes* trians could not see across Dee-street. We may expect a chang«, but one thing is certain, the backbone of the winter iB broken, and pleasant days muy bo looked for. The fellowing is taken from the " Home News," 2nd July :—- " The Great Eastern steamer, with the Atlantic cable, left the Medway shortly after noon on June 30 under her own steam, in charge of Mr Moore, pilot, and accompanied by her Majesty's steamer Adder, to conduct her past the Nore. A large number of other steamers were also iv attendance. She proceeds direct to Berehaven, Ireland. ' On rounding Garrison Point she was loudly cheered by a large coucourse of spectators as she steamed past with her paddles working. According to present arrangements she will commence laying the cable on July 10, if all goes well." From our telegrams it will be se?n that the " Legislative Council Bdl " has not been parsed. As many of onr readers may not know tlie nature of this bill, we shall briefly state of its nature. i The Legislative Council is a nominal bodj, but according to the constitution not restricted to numbers. It is competent for the government of the day in creating members at pleasure. The Council imagining that this was inconsistent with the high position they wore supposed to occupy, have objected to the arrangement, and seek to limit the number of members of the Upper House. Had this been carried, the result would have been to give the Legislative Council the pjwer to overtide the Assembly as well as the Provinces — to in fact create a " life " censorship to all who mi^ht be called to the Council. The rejecting of the bill is therefore highly satisfactory. We (" We*tland Observer ") learn from a correspondent, who was passenger by the lona when she visited Jackson's Bay, that the old Maori, ! Waraki, who has been for some time resident there, is dead, and that the c is none of the aborignal race left thf.re now but three women. Our correspondent aids : — " There is not much doing at Jackson's Bay at present, but there is a little doing at Big Bay, forty miles to the southward. It is, perhap-, not worth speaking about, but some of us will return to Jackson's Bay by the first opportunity."