The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 655, 10 April 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1867.

To-morrow, being the Presbyterian half-yearly fast day, we understand that — as has hitherto been the custom — business will be entirely suspended. We trust it may be bo — that our tradesmen will displays little more unanimity in the jnatter of closing their shops on this occasion jfcan they have done on several holidays recantly. We learn, that His Excellency the Governor Jim left" instructions to purchase 2,000 acres of land in this province for the purpose of a Maori Hererve. From an article which appeared ia a back number of the "Family Economist" we may state for the information of our sporting readers, that ia a single year from one pair of pigeons 14,760 pigeons may be produced. Ebbatuai — In the account of the prize firing of the Biverton volunteers, which appeared in our journal a few days back, we are given to understand that our correspondent was wrongly impressed as. to the number of rounds fired at each range. Instead of fifteen rounds, it was only fire. Our columns thii morning contain an announce* jaent which we have been expecting to see for fome time past We allude to the performances to take place at the Theatre Boyal on Friday evening. /When we say that the entertainment is given by the members of the Invercargul Ama< t«su?,Dramatic Club, a* a complimentary benefit to.ICr B. B. Wotton, we presume we have said igttitor enough to . ensure a full house on this eocauon. The Dramatic Club v about the only fttiociation in Invereargill which has achieved greater success than was anticipated. Their appearance heretofore have been heartily. Applauded, and the programmo this time subttitted Uin every way attractive, " Tillikmt and Slit Dinah" forming the concluding piece j while, •part from the . popularity or merit of the dub, th» recipient of the benefit is in himself highly dffwrving of public acknowledgment. On many , of public utility his valuable services ■^IjWW^een gratuitously: and ungrudgingly given, ' :^j«Hrould, n<y doubt, be co again. We trust to . J.-.j|tt-* bumper houae, and anticipate a molt en*

We are informed, says the « G-eelong Advertiser," that Mr M'Cauly of G-lenlyon obtained the extraordinary yield of 2200 bushels of grain (600 of wheat and the balance of oats) from 40 acres of land. The oats were of splendid quality, and our informant states that 4fc bushels could be easily packed in an ordinary 3-bushel sack. Messrs Hutcheson and Walker of the Loddon Oastle farm, Glenlyon, obtained over 3000 bushels of wheat from 110 acres. The "Wellington Evening Post," speaking of the telegraph says:— "The laying of the cable across Cook Strait has not, up to the present, proved any great boon to the press, nor, if we are ! correctly informed, have the public much occasion to rejoice at the wonderful working of the electric spark. In all other parts of the 'world the 'telegraph' answers the pnrpose for ! which it was introduced; but here in New Zealand it is little more than a delusion. Go when you will to the head office in Wellington, your answer to an urgent entreaty to forward a message is, ' The wire 3 are not in good working order;' 'The poles are down;' or perhaps, 'The Government messaaes will take some time yet for their transmission ;' so that between cheap and nasty workmanship, and the almost exclusive monopoly of the wire by all important officials, still enamoured of their toy, there is but seldom an opportunity offered to the public of either receiving or sending messages. In another column will be found a telegram from Dunedin,' dated 15th March (yesterday), 1.45 p.m., and delivered to us at half-past nine o'clock last night! ! !" A Mr John Rogers, of Kingower, has sent the " Age" a description and plan of a " mill ship," the inventor proposing to effect the voyage from Europe to Australia in fifty days, by substituting for sails a windmill apparatus attached to screw propellers. -