The Southland Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1866.

Southland Times, Issue 581, 22 October 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1866.

As to the desirability of possessing an efficient Fire Brigade, none will question. It is therefore with pleasure that we can point to the doings of the Invercargill Fire Brigade. Owing to many of its original members leaving for the West Coast, and a scarcity of funds, for a time it languished, but latterly it has displayed signs of new life and vigor. The indomitable perseverance with which Captain "Reese, under great difficulties, has kept this useful band toother is worthy of the highest praise, and the knowledge that the brigade is again becoming an active and efficient body is a matter for congratulation. During the last few weeks several new members have been emolled, regular practice commenced, and a deeper interest in the prosperity of the institution generally displayed. On Thursday, the 18th October, the brigade turned ont for regular practice. The muster was good, and the practice unexceptional. After the regular evolutions were gone through, an inspection of the fire-wells was instituted with the following result : — In Tay-street, inthe well opposite M'Pherson and Cos. store?, there was found fourteen feet water, and the one near Stock and Co., had eight feet ; in Esk-street, the welFopposite Morrison, Law and Cos., showed sixteen feet ; in Dee-street, opposite the Government buildings, twelve feet ; opposite the Southland Club, ten feet, and the two others in Esk street fifteen and sixteen respectively. It is to be hoped that the brigade will receive a larger share of public patronage than has yet been given to it. The Fire Brigade is a valuable institution, and should be liberally supported. X j It is reported by the Dunedin papers that Mr S. T". Every has been" appointed Sub-Colonial Treasurer at Dunfidin, Tire Mr C. Logic, deceased. We perceive from advertisement, that a new publication, entitled the illustrated New ZeaJander, -will be published in Dunedin, in "November, in time for the mail via Suez. It is to be a monthly periodical, illustrated with plate? and cuts, descriptive' of ISTew Zealand scenery, men, and things. Such a publication has lons been a want, and if the programme of the publishers is strictly carried out. it can scarcely fail of success. The standing of the firm that has projected it is a guarantee that it will be a publication of a substantial character. Mr "Rogers, bookseller. Dee-street, is the agent for Southland We have noticed that, during the last few Tfppks, unmistakoable sisms of a growing confidence in the future of the Province has been ex-hibi^-prJ. Se^ra! new buildings have been wefrd. and others long closed up, rs-opened with offensive a*~d alterations. The new e^iibHshment of Messrs Moeller Brothers, in Dee-street, is pprhnpq the most conspicuous of all. This firm hive now established themselves in the ground fl-ior of those extensive premise? known as the Exchange "Buildings. The two commodious shops that were formerly there, have been thrown into one, and now nresent the appearance of a Drapery and Clothing Emporium, which for size, compactn ss, and convenience is unsurpassed in the whole of New Zealand, and will bear comparison to the best in even Melbourne. The shop itself is from seventy -five to eighty feet in length, and from forty to fifty in width, and over seventeen feet high, supported by six large pillars; it has also a plate glass front, and presents an imposing exterior. The interior is even more imposing. With counters each side, the body of the shop is so extensive that a promenade may be indulged in without inconvenience to customers, however numerous they may be. It is tastefully laid out, well stocked with good and costly articles of every name and description known in the branch of trade to wliich it belongs ; every article is artistically arranged, and mirrors at the end of the room give a lively and brilliant appearance to the whole. In addition, there are two extensive fitting-rooms, one on each side of the shop, one for ladies, and the other for gentlemen. This establishment would do credit to any city in the Australias. There is another recently opened establishment, worthy of notice. Messrs Mitchell and Co. have opened those extensive premises lately occupied by Rout Brothers, at the corner of Esk and Dee-streets, as a grocery warehouse in connection with their wholesale establishment in Tay-street. We would remind our readers that the nomination of candidates for the seat in the Provincial Council, for the Waikivi district, in the place of Mr Stuart, resigned, wiE take place this day, the 22nd October, and the poll on Tuesday, the 23rd inst. Two candidates are in the field, viz. : — Messrs M'Clure and Toshack. Both gentlemen are well known in the district, and a close contest may be expected. The nomination and the polling will take place at the house of Duncan M l Arthur, Esq., Waikivi. W~ are glad to find that the Philharmonic Society is not asleep, but, on the contrary, has made solid progress, and has decided to give the first concert in the middle of next month, which will be just three months after the formation of the society — the time originally promised. We mentioned lately that the committee had de«. puted Mr C. R. Marten as Choral Director to organize the vocal branch, and he appears to have been completely successful. The Thursday evening vocal practices have all been most satisfactory and well attended, especially the two last whenabout 30 performers, including a large proportion of the fair sex, took part. Six choruses are now in rehearsal, two beautiful selections from Mendelssohn's celebrated opera music, viz : — " Farewell to the Forest," and " The Song of the Lark" — two fine operatic choruses by Weber, from " Der Freischutz " and " Precisoa," and two for a higher caste. " Ripe Strawberries " (Hatton), and " Who shall be Fairest" (Mori.) The programme, consisting of twenty pieces, has been determined, with one or two exceptions, and will be published almost immediately. The society has had to contend with a severe drawback in the absence of suitable printed part music. All has had to be copied in manuscript, by one or two industrious members, who seem to have found the occupation no sinecure. A large quantity of music, both choral and instrumental, has been ordered from Messrs Boosey and Co., London, and will arrive about Christmas. The Society's new harmonium is expected very •horfcly.

We learn that the tender of Mr Cha«. D. Irvine, for the construction of a bridge ove* the Orcti, has been accepted, also the tender of MrChas. "Reynolds, for printing for the Provincial Government, for the ensuing twelve months. The Grey JRiver Argus is responsible for the following : — " An amusing error has been com* raitted by the 'art critic' of the West Coast Times, although we have no doubt it was a very pardonable one. Some local artist had painted a portrait, which was exhibited in a shop window in H*kitika, the West Coast Times thought it worth an eulogistic paragraph, -which accordingly appeared, awarding credit to the artist for nil faithful likeness of Burgess, the murderer. Un? fortunately it proved that the artist had intended the portrait as a likeness of the late G. V. Brooke, and his indignation may be imagined. " Very severe floods have occurred (says the Bruce Independent, Oct. I*7) in the Dunsfan district. On Thursday night, the Manuherikia was floo led, and all communication interrupted for about forty hours. At Beck's and Black's, con« siderable damage was done, and several houses, tents, and indeed farms, on the Manuherikia flat •were entirely swept away, the occupants having to fly for their lives, and some of them having a very narrow escape. At the Lower Manuherikia, the river rose about thirty feet, and many of the occupants of the flooded buildings "were all night clinging to the roofs. The fluining of. the Golden Gate Company at tbe Gorge was entirely carried away, and so "was the Golden Sunshine Co.'s claim, Simmon's bridge and Glass, fl,umjjrig were also carried away. It was only with great difficulty that the Escort managed on Saturday night to cross the Manuherikia at Lowes. On Friday the coach from the Dunstan to Dunedin had to return. It rained heavily without intermission from 3 o'clock a.m. till 6 o'clock p.m. on Thursday. The-amount of damage done by the flood is enormous, and many persons will be completely, ruined.