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Southland Times, Issue 709, 14 August 1867, Page 2

Agricultural statistics, showing the number of acres under crop, in wheat, oats, and barley, for the season 1866-7, hare been published by the Canterbury Government. The Province is divided into three districts — north of the Waimakariri ; between the Waimakariri and the Kakaia, including the Peninsula ; and south of the Bakaia. Ihe total nxunber of acres under crop is stated to tiave been 55,328^ j and the following is the 3stimated yield of each crop : — 707,268 bushels of wheat, 863,176 bushels of oats, and 111,802 tmahela of barley,

There was a numerous meeting of the electors of the Waihopai district held at the Theatre Royal on last Tuesday evening. Mr Clerke, the late member, entered into an explanation of his political condact whilst in the Provincial Council. As usual, there was a quantity of " chaff" indulged in, but the utmost good humor prevailed throughout. A resolution was passed that Mr T. M. Clerke is a fit and proper person to represent the electors of the Waihopai. Ho official report is as yet received as to the result of the Longwood election, but we have information from a reliable source that Dr Monekton has beaten Mr Cuthbertson by a majority of thirty. The " Lake Wakatip Mail," 7th August, says : — " The heaviest snow-storm ever witnessed here ■visited the whole district on Sunday night. It continued nearly all night, and the tows and J neighboring country were clothed in a man;le of white all the next day. On Monday evening first sleet, and then rain, fell heavily. Singular to say, frequent flashes of sheet lightning took piace each night. The weather has since continued stormy, whilst much rain has Mien on the low lands and snow on the higher levels of the ranges. The sheepowners are likely tp be heavy losers, unless a thaw ,comes shortly and releases their flocks. We understand Mr Kirkpatrick had 200 sheep snowed in at Moke Creek (a faw of which have been dug out) and about 700 sheep, owned by Mr Williamson, are snowed in on the Crowu. range. Other owners may be equally unfortunate ; but as communication is almost completely cutoff, it is difficult to give authentic details at present. The stormy weather, we fancy, has been very' general all over the Province, and we fully expect to hear of heavy floods and much damage being done by them. Mr Warden Broad was unable yesterday to visit Maori Point. The snow had drifted on one part of the track to a depth of nine feet, but by taking the hill sides, two enterprising packers^ just managed to pass through." The following picture, as drawn by the " Nelson Examiner," of the financial condition and prospects of a sister Province is not very cheering : — " The financial condition of the neighboring Province of Canterbury is anything but satisfactory. On going into committee on the Estimates, the Provincial Secretary stated to the Council that the estimated expenditure for the current year of £434,279 was £127,000 in excess of the estimated revenue, and that to this deficit there was to be added an overdraft afc the bank of £92,000, and liabilities amounting to £21.000, making altogether a total liability of £545,000, against an estimated revenue of £307,122. Bad as this state of affairs is, it does not, accor Jiug to the opinion of several members of the Council, represent them in their worst aspect. The revenue estimated by the Government is believed to be greatly in excess of the sum likely to be received, so that debentures to a considerable amount will have to be sold, to square the accounts of the Province at the end of the present financial year."