The SOuthland Times. WEDNSEDAY, MAY 15, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 670, 15 May 1867, Page 2

The SOuthland Times. WEDNSEDAY, MAY 15, 1867.

"Some time since a- difficulty occuired in the interpretation of -the Southland.'^aste Lands .Act. ; It arose from the fact that intending, purchasers were ...dutpjos^J^ the Province _ was quickly cleared off -nnder_ihe provisions of the Southland Debt Act, that there was a- probability that the upset price' would be reduced to a lower figure than at present exists; that in fact no guarantee was held out fb 'purchasers that the price of land would not be reduced to 10s per acre. "We believe that this misunderstanding has lately led to the stoppage in a great measure of the sale of land in this Pro-. Tince, because naturally where uncertainty -exists on such .a point people cannot be induced '■■ to invest. ¥c are aware that in riumerous instances capitalists r who were disposed to, purchase land have held back in the hope that the price would be reduced — such result being brought about/ perhaps, by the impoverished condition of the General: Government, and the desire to realise on the landed estate of Southland. Such forebodings,; however, we are in a position to dissithe subjoined letter from the Colonial Secretary, to His Honor the Superintendent, will prove. It is therein positively asserted that no alteration is intended, or will be permitted on the upset price, without the concurrence of the Assembly. It is to be hoped that after the distinct pledge on the part of Mr Stafford, that doubts will no longer be entertained of the intentions of the Colonial Government on the subject. The following is the letter : — . " Colonial Secretary's Office, ' " "Wellington, 3rd May, 1867. --"-Sib, — Eeferring to the question of reducing the price of Waste Lands of the Crown in the Province of Southland, which has been the Bubject of correspen-, dence between your Honor and the General Government, I have now" the honor to state that the Government has no intention of taking any steps, or_ giving any notice for reducing the price of the "Waste Lands of the Province before; the question can be further considered by the General Assembly. ■•■-..-• "I have the honor to be, ■ : "Sir, " Your most obedient servant, "B. W. Staitoed. uW» Honor the Supejfatwdeatj

We understand that, in accordance with the common practice in Scotland on similar occasions, a special thanksgiving service, for the abundant harvest just gathered , will be given in the Presbyterian Church, Tay-Btreet, on Thursday (W-morrow) evening, at 7 o'clock. * ' iWe learn that protection' has been granted by iihe "^oldfieldß Warden for a prospecting claim— .TjeacbTworkings between the mouth of the New River and the Bluff Harbor. The prospectors report no room on known ~ ground for ; jbabre than 20 men,r /wator being scarce. " The ground applied for by- ihe prospecting party is on the ocean beach,- and-can be by an old track about two hundred yards on the Inver-, cargill side- of Ross -and Aldrich's houße near the railway, below the Greenhills — distance about two miles from there to the beach. The prospect is>bout £1 a day per man in the prospectors' claim. There is another beach adjoining nearly half a mile long, with two or three small creeks running into it. The stripping is deeper Tiere than in the prospectors' claim, and neither the beach nor the creeks have been well prospected.; There appearß a good chance here. for a few men acquainted with beach working — not more than perhaps a dozen — but with no ; absolute certainty of remuneration. Another party are working some miles nearer the New i River, in the bush, and have obtained coarser gold, but the ground generally has, not been prospected, and there is no inducement, from what is known, for more than a few men. Stores and tools must be taken as none can be. obtained on the ground. , ', The winter has certainly fairly set; in. We learn from a gentleman who has arrived from the Lake District that snow, hail, and rain 1 has fallen to a larger extent than has been experienced at the commencement of winter for years. He Btates that the road from Queenstown to Invercargill is in a fearful condition, that in the trip down the passengers by. .the coach had to walk a considerable distance through snow and mud, and that the winter prospects up-country are very, dim.. Mining operations it is feared will be seriously interrupted, and during the ensuing few months- trade exceedingly dull. ' ; ' , The dangerous condition of Esk-street, arising from the choking, of the drains, and the deep ruts that exist is likely to prove; of serious if not fatal consequence. As an instance of what may be expected during the winter, we may cite a case which occurred only the other day. In Esk-street,' between 7 Jed-street and the cricket ground, the; south ."side i of 7the"Btreet has become; "obstructed by rubbish, and' an extensive she.etof water, in some places from one to two feet- deep' has been formed,- the footway sis slippery and,un-j the most cautious ia' liable to be precipitated from tha gridirons into the mud and water at any moment. On the occasion to which jwe particularly allude, three children were walking along, when one slipped his foot, - and fell headlong into the water, arid at the time our in J formant arrived at the spot the child was struggling for life, its head being ; under water. Fortunately he was in time T to save its life, but two! •minutes more and help would have been useless. This occurred in a place that could have been iept clear and safe by" half-a-day's labor of one man. It is certainly time that the citizens took some steps to promote street improvements. It will be in the recollection of our readers says the "Nelson Evening Mail," that at the time of the discovery of the Maungatapu murders, the Government gave orders, that all boxes and other luggage arriving at this port from Australia should be searched on landing. This ord^r wa9 issued in consequence of information which had been received by^the police, to. the effect that a large quantity of firearms and other murderous instruments would be forwarded from Melbourne to the miscreant Sullivan, at Nelson, to be employed in carrying out the nefarious projects of the horrible gang with which he was connected. It appears from a paragraph in the Christchurch " Evening Mail ", of the 18th instant, that a box has been lying at the New Zealand Company's stores, Lyttelton, for some months pa9t, addressed to "Thomas Sullivan," and that, not beiag claimed, directions had been given that it should be opened, when thd contents were found to be revolvers, swords, and masks, which were handed over to the police. This statement first appeared in the Wellington " Evening Post " of the 13th inst., and, in consequence, enquiries were made at the Company's office at Lyttelton, and the Christ-' church " Evening Mail " vouches for its correct-; ness. The trade of Greymouth, like that of Hokitika, -has lately been rather dull, in oonsequence of the rush of miners to the Buller and its neighborhood. The "Argus" of the 2nd inst. says: — " The quays of Greymouth, which have for some time back presented an almost deserted appearance recovered somewhat their old bustling character yesterday, through the almost simultaneous arrival of several yessels from . Melbourne and the coast ports. The local trade is, however, very dull, and the stores and other places of business cannot tioast of a redundancy of custom. " Still, 'our business men keep „up their spirits wonderfully, and express faith in an ultimate general improvement. ' The Grey's right yet' is a common phrase, as commonly accompanied by anathemas on the Canterbury Government, and- a wish that the Grey district had the good fortune of being a dependency of Nelson. Every where one hears the same expression of dissatisfaction, and what is more significant, the opinion is gaining ground than there is a considerable quantity of humbug in the professed anxiety of the Government in behalf of Weatland, Out Customs* returns of the . laat; tttft d*?t &W ft Tory H&f ftcto? xt&U, ft Wfi

than usually large-quantity of goods having been [ cleared for home consumption. The amount of I revenue collected yesterday was about £50 in ex- | cess of tiiaf collected on any previous day eince the opening Tof the Custom-house at this port — ■ viz., £1,073 Bb." ; ;