SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Southland Times, Issue 646, 20 March 1867, Page 2

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

At the .E.M. Court, on the 12th instant, Kenneth Sl'lvbr was brought up charged with • wilfully damaging public property, viz , a portion of the Oreti Railway. He pleaded Not Guilty. From the evidence ifc appeared that Mr "M'lvor ba9 certain outstanding claims against the Government for land token for railway- purposes. His demands not hating been met, he adopted the expedient of closing the line, by pltcing a chain across, at n point, where he asserts the riglit of ownership of the land on which the railway i 3 formed. The local Government, to test the question, caused the arrest of M'lvor under the provisions of the Police Ordinance, sub-division - 3, clause 8. After a careful hearing, an adjournment cf two hours was agreed to, to enable the prisoner to communicate ■with- his counsel in Punedin. On the Court resuming, the Resident Magistrate said that on consideration he hadcome to the conclusion that the prisoner had not acted with maiice, but in the assertion cf •» supposed right. lie should, therefore, dismiss the information. Mr Ilnrvey, who appeared on behalf of the local Government, gave notice of appeal. Tho clipper ship Chile which arrived from . Dunedin about three vreekß since, in ballast, to load 'wool at this port for London, is all but filled ■ up, and "will Le ready for sea in a few day. It is satisfactory to note that this 'fine Teasel ■ as well as her predecessor (the Water ■ Nymph) completed their outwsffd loading ; in ft thorte* sp&ce of time than any ■'

siderably within the date advertised for sailing, and speaks well for the advance Southland is . making in the growth of the staple production of the colony. From the previous quick passages' made by the Chile from New Zealand to London, we anticipate that she will be", amongst the first -" arrivals with the season's clip, the Witch of the Tees (the third ship of the season) is also rapidly - filling up, and will likewise have quick despatch. _. It is a subject for cotnment that Southland is more destitute of fruit jthan any other. Province in New Zealand. -The question is often asked, . can .Southland grow fruit, is the climate and soil adaptable? It is.'' During" the. last few weeks we have inspected samples of Provincial fruit of various kinds, that for size and flavor could not be surpassed. Lately we were shown a sample of peaches grown by John Blackloclc, Esq., quite equal to anything we have seen produced in the Australian colonies. There can be no qhestion but Southland has a 6oil, and a pHinate pre-eminently" adapted for cultivation of " every description. Population and energy is all that is. required to make it acknowledged to De_ the garden of New Zealand. . . The new Railway Terminus at Bluff Harbor is. rapidly approaching completion; 'and when finished will greatly help to improve the appearance of Campbelltown, as serving to fill up* the largest of the many gaps which exist between) the buildings at that place. It will afford ample accommodation for the growing requirements of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Bailway, arid^ is constructed with an especial regard to strength, in order to withstand the heavy gales that prevail off this portion of the Middle Island at certain seasons of the year. It was said by a celebrated actress (Madame Vestris),that no structure, human or material,, need look dilapidated however shaken by time, as long as paint, and the skill to apply it, existed. We are almost inclined to adopt this as a truism. The Provincial Government Buildings, which have long looked dim and dismal, suggestive of the inmates having in the quietude of Dusiness hour? to perpetually chant as a dirge, " the light of other days is faded," has assumed a cheerful appearance calculated to impress strangers with the idea of activity and progress. -We have heard of a large capitalist in a neighbouring colony, who, desirons of investing, visited many towns ; in every one of which he was surrounded by parties desirous of impressing him with the growing importance of their especial locality. He had one reply as a refusal to invest, in the inviting town sections offerred. " There is no paint." — No place can be advancing that cannot afford to paint." Tf his view as to paint being the sure indication of progress is correct, and we think he was not very far wrong, Invercargill must be rapidly progressing. There is paint everywhere— the Government is painting, shop-keepers are painting, hotel-keepers are painting, in fact everybody is either painting, or dreaming of doing so. Is not this indicative of returning prosperity ? '"■ The movement in favor of taking the management of the Hospital out of the hands of the Government is progressing. A large, number of subscription lists have been issued, and subscribers' names are being rapidly obtained ; — we have seen one list that represents over £600, and others with not a much less sum dotted down. The customs revenue collected throughout the Colony of New Zealand during the year 1866 exceeded that of 1865 by £114,000