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Southland Times, Issue 630, 11 February 1867, Page 2

We are obliged to bold over the report of the meeting of the Otago Synod until our next issue. A public meeting was held at the Provincial HaL, on Saturday afternoon, to take such steps as migh be deemed necessary to ensure a fitting reception to His Excellency, Sir George G-rey, whilst on a visit to Southland. Mr M'Culloch in the chair. The meeting was not a large one, but a lively interest, appeared to be taken in the proceedings by those present. The minutes of a preliminary meeting held atthe Southland Club some days previous*, together with a report ofa sub-committee appointed at that meeting, was read and adopted. The Chairman then read a long list of names of gentlemen who it was proposed to form into a general committee, froii which smaller working ones could be formed. Mr Pratt, however, objected to names being inserted without the knowledge of the persons, and stated that Saturday afternoon was a bad time to call a meeting, seeing that only the Banks, Government offices, and a few merchant's offices were clespd, and consequently but few could attend. He would like to see a larger attendance, and suggested an adjournment, in order to allow of a larger number of people being present. Considerable discussion took place upon this subject, but all appeared in favor of the fullest popularity being necessary, to ensure the success of the object sought to be obtained. Ultimately a proposition that the committee should be appointed with an adddition of eleven to form a quorum, was carried. Mr. J. J. Ham was then appointed secretary, and instructed to convene a meeting of the General Committee on Wednesday evening, at eight o'clock, at the Council Hall. We have been requested to state that the Race Committe -will meet for settling up this day at 12 o'clock, noon, at Colyer's Princess Hotel, Deestreet. A banquet will be held at the Southland Club in commemoration of the opening of the Bluff Bailway. The Ust numbers nearly all our influential citizens. A full report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue. The Theatre Hoyal was, on last Saturday evening, well attended. The performances gave great ■satisfaction, and every one present appeared to be hiehly delighted with the evening's amusement. These entertainments are becoming very popular, and we trust that the the gent'emau -who has be n the means of supplying the town with a creditable theatre and risking tbe engagement of a talented company such as the present one, -will receive a hearty reception on Tuesday evening. The New York Tiioes informs us that Mr Peabody passed through that city on his way to Baltimore for the inauguration ofhis institute, to which he has made a further gift of 500,000 dols. He haa also just presented 150,000 dols. to Haryard University for the foundation and maintenance of a museum and professorship of American archaeology and ethnology. The field is most interesting, and has been little explored. Fortyfive thousand dollars are to be invested in a fund, the income to be applied to the collection of antiquities relating to the early races on the American continent. The income of a like sum is set apart for the support of a professor of American archaeology and ethnology in the University ; and the remaining sum of 60,000 dols. is to be invested as a building fund for the erection of a suitable fire-proof museum building. Nearly half the time wh'ch Mr Peabody took from his duties in England has expired. It has been largely devoted to the working out of his plans for the disposal of an estate which he seems to regard as a providential trust for the improvement and elevation of his race. His example has, in at, least one instance, proved beneficial. Mr Alex. T. Stewart, one of our own millionaires, and one who, like Mr Peabody, is tbe sole architect of his immense and accumulating fortune, is preparing to give a million of dollars for the benefit of the poor of this city. The Evening Star of 2nd February, has the following : — " This afternoon, long before three o'clock, the hour appointed for Mr Macandrew to address the meeting of his supporters, every part of the Princess Theatre was crammed. The stage and its approaches were also crowded. Mr John Sibbald having been elected chairman, that gentleman briefly introduced Mr Macandrew _ to the meeting, and the latter gentleman, on making his appearance, was greeted with loud and prolonged cheers. Mr Macandrew spoke for exactly an hour, and this will be a sufficient explanation of our inability to give even a fair outline of liis speech. The most prominent features of it were, his description of his former connection with the Government of the Province, the share he had taken in developing the resources of the Province, his career as Superintendent from the year 1860, the circumstances which caustd his retirement from office, and the reasons which had induced him to again seek- the suffrages of the electors. In the course of his speech, which was at frequent intervals cheered very enthusiastically, . he emphatically denied the chargee whieb he 4

been made against him, but admitted that he might have committed administrative blunders which had cost ths Province, he contended, not a tithe of the sura, which those of his successor had. He stigmatised the action of his opponents, who caused his dismissal and disgrace, a diiibolical conspiracy, emanating from self-serving interest. It had been stated that he had been unable to resist temptation. He indignantly denied that. Had he been inclined, he could have served his own purposes at the ex pense of the public estate, and have wallowed in wealth ; and he instanced a case which had occurred in the midst of all his pecuniary difficulties, when he waa ottered a cheque for €3000 (and by-making his own terms, it could have been easily altered to £10,000), as a bribe to place a certam piece ©<?4&nd in the market. He concluded by faying that if he had committed fanlts, he had deeply suffered for them, and that they were, compared to the good he had ! done to the province, merely as the dust in the balance. He had at the last moment consented j to respond to the earnest desire of his friends, I and offer himself for election, and having crossed ihe rubicon, he was determined to go on. During his remarks, whenever a favorable pause admitted of it, groans for the Daily Times and the Evening* Star vere cnlled for and freely given; and on the conclusion cf his speech, Mr Macaw! rew retired amidst applause which lasted for a minute or two. A smart shock of an earthquake was felt in Nelson, between 3 and four this morning, 24th uit. There were three disti ct vibrations, and severer than have been felt for a long time. Mr Benson, on the beach, was awoke at 4 o'clock, by the falling of his clock. Many persons who did not fell the shocks, were roused at that time by somethin-*?; tVey could not account for. A correspondent informs us that he felt six pr seven shocks at 10 minutes past two. I We learn from the country districts that farm- [ ing operations will be most successful this year. All accounts agree as to the luxuriance of the | crops : in some cases as much as four crops of potatoes will be obtained.