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Southland Times, Issue 719, 4 September 1867, Page 2

For the following particulars relative to the Oreti Election we are indebted to the Eeturning Officer (Mr C. E. Marten.) The nomination took place at Lowther last Tuesday. Only three electors were present. Mr C. Cowan proposed Mr J. E., Cuthbertson ; seconded by Mr P. M'Kellai-. No other candidate being proposed, the Eeturning Officer declared Mr Cuthbertson duly elected, and the proceedings terminated, having lasted barely three minutes. Mr Cuthbertson was not present. "We learn that a memorial to the Hon. the Postmaster- General is in course of signature by those interested in the establishment of postal communication with the Orepuki, praying that a weekly mail service may be granted between that place and Eiverton. It is to be hoped that the memorialists may be successful, as there can be no doubt that great necessity exists for such a service. There is in the district a population of 80 diggers, besides settlers and other residents, and hitherto they have had no means of obtaining their letter? from Eiverton further than that afforded by a casual passenger — a very uncertain means of transit — while communications of importance or urgency require a special messenger. The amount of correspondence which must of necessity pass between Eiverton and a populous locality sucli as the vJiv-puki will, we doubt not, be a sufficient consideration to induce the Post-master-General to return a favorable reply to the memorialists. ' • . ' The "Lake Wakatip Mail " gives the following satisfactory account of gold mining operations in the district :— " With fine weather, mining operations are being renewed with vigor. The Boatswain's claim, Twelve-Mile (Lake), continues to yield splendidly, and the gold is increasing in coarseness. At Tucker Beach, favorable piospects are also being obtained, and the news generally is cheering. Indeed, we have not seen, for a very long period, so much general confidence felt in mining matters, and especially amongst the sluicers. The returns are steady and it is now safely demonstrated that steady wages are obtainable in nearly any portion of the district, and we trust to witness a steady increase to the population during the next six months. Large claims are the order of the day, and a plentiful supply of water will probably be obtainable during the whole of summer. In fact, mining operations generally are being more steadily and systematically pursued as a settled industry, than we ever before remember to have seen in the district. Eesidence areas and substantial houses are dotting the various out-districts, and giving an air of permanency that should be re-assuring to alarmists. The Scandinavian Company are crushing with fifteen heads of stamps, and Southberg's have just completed some alterations to their machinery, and we believe the'" stampers are a^ain going. It is stated that some of the quartz claims will be prospected by work/ng parties of miners shortly." The special 1 correspondent of the " Canterbury Press," in a letter describing the results of the debate on Mr Vogel's motion, in the House of Assembly, for a Committee to enquire into the financial condition of the Colony, and the Government's amendment thereon says : — " Certain it is that the Opposition is not that compact body which Dr Featherston boasted it was. Mr Vo^el is deserted by his party, and he knows it ; and the Government have only to use ordinary discretion and display something like a firm front, and they will have the support of all moderate men, and need not fear the efforts of Featherston, Yogel, Macaadrew and Co., to unseat them." The " Nelson Examiner " has the following : "Intemperance. — The first case of posting a drunVand under the new Licensing Act, took place yesterday, when the following notice from the Kesident Magistrate was served on all the publicans respecting a well-known individual of the name of John Smith, formerly a brewer in Nelson ; ' Notice : The undermentioned person having been convicted of drunkenness three times within the space of six calendar months, you are hereby cautioned not to supply him with spirituous liquors, wine, ale, beer, or porter, for a period of one year from this date.' Then follows the name and description of the offender." We think the practice of posting up habitual drunkards might, with great advantage, be introduced in this part of the Colony. In reparing one of the tables at M'Douga 11 . and Cherry's machine, Morning Star Hill, Wood's Point, Victoria, a short time ago, 300 ounces of gold were found, whioh had escaped through a small crevice or or.ao'\ ,-.._-.