The Sonthland Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1866.

Southland Times, Issue 590, 12 November 1866, Page 2

The Sonthland Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1866.

The anniversary of the birthday of the Prince of Wales, Friday, the 9th October, was befittingly kept by the people of Invercargill. It was obeerved as a close holiday, and the loyat instincts of the community were fairly displayed. The Government flagstaff, the ships in port, most of the hotels and other establishmennts were decorated with flags of all nations, and from the dawn of morn to sunny eve everyone appeared determined upon flinging from them the care 3of business, forget the depression of trade, and go in for a day's thorough enjoyment. The day proved most favorable for the satisfactory completion of the programme prepared for the occasion. The morning's sun rose with brightness, while the sky was mellowed by heat clouds, the faithful indications of a fine day. The first and most attractive order of the day was the Railway Excursion to the Green Hills. Sometime before eleven o'clock, the Invercargill station presented a scene of activity seldom witnessed in Southland ; men and women, some with baskets, some with parcels, and others with javinial go-carts, had taken this opportunity of affording the diminutive images of themselves a lesson in the manly sports that give physical strength and activity to the man. After a display of activity and judgment on the part of the members of the committee, the train with from one hundred and fifty to two hundred excursionists was started. The run down was accomplished with ea?e and comfort. The distance is estimated to be thirteen miles, which was traversed in little more than thirty minutes. On coming in sight of the disputed ground with its " no further" rail, in close proximity was observed flags flying of all kinds and description. Upon leaving the carriages, most ofthe excursionists at once bent their >teps towards the commodious refreshment table of Mr J. F. Jones, of the Southland Club, which was replete with all the good things, and after a few minutes, the whole party preceeded to an adjacent field, and the sports began. A foot ball match having been quickly formed, a scene of intense activity was presented, men who might have been supposed to have forgotten their youthful games entered into the spirit of the amusement. This spot was the chief attraction of the day. In addition to this, other familiar eports were indulged in. At one o'clock the bugle sounded for lunch, and all hastened to the stand. A large table that would accommodate about sixty people, amply laden with provisions and liquids, was Boon surrounded, while the ladies were placed under the shade of nature's canopy. The lunch, was all that could have been desired. The craving of the inner man having been satisfied, Mr C. B. Kingman, who acted as chairman, in an appropriate speech proposed the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Eoyal Family, which was enthusiastically responded to ; the Vice Chairman then gave his Honor the Superintendent, which was also suitably received. Several other toasts followed, and many short but pithy speeches made. The health of the contractors, coupled with, the name of Mr A. J. Smyth, was received with applause, and that gentleman in a few remarks expressed his gratification at the result of the gathering, and confidence in the future of Southland, and a determination to make it his home, and construct other railways at no distant period. Several other toasts were proposed, among which may be mentioned that of the Chairman, who in responding expressed implicit confidence in Southland, stating that he had contemplated leaving the province, but after visiting the provinces of the North, he had come to the conclusion that Southland was the best after all ; he believed that its mineral wealth would prove great when developed, and ho had come to this conclusion after much investigation, and he would hold to her to the last. The ordinary toast of Prosperity to Southland, the Ladies, the Press, and the Committee were proposed, and duly responded to. That to Mr Jones for the arrangements he had made to ensure the success of the excursion was received with applause ; in responding to it he refused to take credit for what had been done, inasmuch as had it not been for the liberality of Mr Smyth, who remunerated ' him, the project could not have been carried out. The afternoon was spent in dancing, footballing, and other manly games, and at 4 o'clock the train started on its homeward trip, and in thirty-one minutes arrived at the Invercargill Station. In the evening the performance of the Dramatic Club took place at the Theatre Royal. The house was full in every part, and the acting excellent. It is not the part of a journalist to criticise any but professional performances, but in this instance there would be no occasion if it was inasmuch, that all the gentlemen acted, and looked the characters they assumed, with, ability, and the lady amateur proved herself entitled to be classed as an accomplished actress and lady. In fact, the performance would have even been highly creditable to a well trained company of professionals. The twenty-second session of the Provincial Council of Otago commenced on Tuesday, the sth. November, in the New Council Chamber, which is described as being the finest in the colony^ His Honor the Superintendent in his opening address congratulated the province upon its financial position, and remarked that npwards of a million of money had been expended upon public works before the new Provincial Government buildings. He stated that the territorial revenue for the past year had been considerably in excess of the sum anticipated, and enabled the government to undertake all the public work that had been sanctioned, and that the only great river no"W remaining to be bridged was the Waitaki, which, with the co-operation of the Canterbury Government, he hoped would be soon undertaken. He alluded to the difficulty that was experienced by the Home Agent on obtaining female immigrants, and suggested that consideration should, be given to the question of ap-

pointing an agent in fiondoa, ftw fc'ia purpenfr of tho diffusing of information as to the resource! 6? the province, and co-operata with the existing agenny in obtaining immigrants. That the. Southern Trunk Railway Bill had received th«. sanotion of the General Assembly, but the Loatt. Bill for raising funds for this construction had not been pasaed; but he was hopeful that th» loan would be unnecessary to justify the under* taking. He alluded favorably to a reduction of the gold export duty ; the readjustments of the electoral districts ; the educational and other questions of local interest ; and drew the attention of the Counoil to proceedings of the General Government during the last session, suggesting that the serious attention of the House should be given to all the questions which had been brought forward in the Assembly and not settled. The reply to the speech has not yet reached us. We learn from the Dunedin papers that tho new Provincial Council Chambers ran the risk of being burnt down on the 4th November. We extract the following from the Daily Times, of the sth November — " About a quarter before midnight, the jetty watchman saw smoke and sparks coming through tbose windows ; ana running into Princes-street, he met two detectives, who sent a messenger to get the fire-bell rung, and then went into Bond-street. TheVolunteer Brigade mustered rapidly and strongly, and soon had engines and water available. Mr Corn well was amongst those who arrived early on the spot; and he, from hia knowledge of the building, was able to assis* Captain Bees and his men to get as speedily aa possible into the Hall. Once there, with water at command, there was no doubt that the firewould be checked. The flames were in fact very soon put out ; and then half an hour's trouble was sufficient for following and extinguishing every trace of burning." A communication his been handed to us for publication : — " Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 30th October, 1866. Gentlemen,— l have the honor by the direction of MrStaflfbrd, to ackrowledgo the receipt of your letter of the sth ultimo (received here only on the 22nd instant) complaining of the delay in the preparation of Crown Grants in the Land Office at Jnvercargill. In reply, I am to inform you that an enquiry has been ordered to be made into ihe subject of your complaint. There are no Crown Grants in the. Secretary for Crown Land's Office here in the names "of any of those who sign the letter nowacknowledged. I have the honor to be. erentlemen, your most obedient servant, W. Gisborn, Under Secretary. To Messrs Thomson, Mitchell, and others, Invercargill."