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Southland Times, Issue 724, 16 September 1867, Page 2

In connection with an advertisement which appears in another column, a sample of soap and candles have been forwarded to this office. We have much pleasure in testifying to the genuine good quahty of the articles, as deserving of the highest recommendation, but, more especially do we deem them worthy of remark from the fact of their being of local manufacture ; tho makers being Messrs W. &A. M'Leod, of Esk-street. It is at all times the duty of the inhabitants of a young country to offer every encouragement to those whose enterprise prompts them to attempt tho production of articles iv common use, as they thus help in the most effective manner to develop the resources of the place itself, aud at the same time retain in local circulation the mouey which would otherwise be sent out of the country in payment of the imported articles. So forcibly has this principle been felt that, notwithstanding the all-prevailing preference for free trade, protective duties have in many instances been imposed on those particular manufactures kc, which it might be supposed the country was capable of producing witliin its own limits. So light, however, is the tariff at present imposed in New Zealand on the articles now under notice, that it can scarcely be said to be protective, and therefore the manufacturer has bat little extraneous eueouragement in his competition with the foreign producer, through the importer. The quotations of the makers with whom we are presently concerned (the Messrs M'Leod) appear to indicate that they are quite competent to hold their own iv the market, and it seems certain that their productions require but to be better known to largely increase then* already extensive business. We understand that the Messrs. M'Leod, intend to add considerably to their present premises on account Oi increasing business. The following particulars of the progress of Acclimatisation in Otago are taken from the local papers. The "Daily Times" of the llth inst., says : — " Water is now beiug introduced by pipes to the Acclimatisation Society's grounds, for the purpose of supplying the pond which has already been formed by the Manager, Mr Clifford, and the breeding ponds intended for the reception of trout ova which are expected shortly from Tasmania. The Water of Leith is the source from wliich this supply is brought ; a four-iuch pipe being laid from that stream some distance above Duncan's Mills, through the Town Belt, and across the road immediately contiguous to the toll-house. Inside of the grounds a tank has been built for the reception of auy silt conveyed by the water, and from the tauk the water is led by a tbree-inch pipe to the artificial pond for birds, and by a two-inch pipe to the fish-breeding boxes. The pipes used are ordinary clay drain pipes, but they are being jointed with zinc or tin, and well puddled ; and it is expected that they will fully answer the purpose, which they are intended to servo. The fence around the pond for water-fowl has now been completed, and Mr Clifford is afc present busy finishing the pond, as far as it is at present intended to form it, and iv laying the necessary out-let pipes and rubble-facing to tho banks. Around the pond will be planted weeping willows and other trees of a description suitable to the situation, and the black swans, which are hatchi*_o- will be some of the first of its inmates. At present the fence forms a convenient temporary enclosure for the Cashmere and Angora goats, which, however valuable they may otherwise be, liave really dove a considerable amount of harm by destroying the bark of many of the smaller indigenous trees. The fencing of the breeding-ponds for trout is the uext piece of work to be done, and an enclosure for the Axis Deer is also contemplated. The " Bruce Herald " of the 4th iust. has fcho following item of acclimatisation news : — " It is with considerable satisfaction that we understand the island iv Lake Waipori has at length been put into a proper condition for the safe keeping of the hares which havo been turned loose by the Acclimatisation Society. The six feet ditch, separating the swamp from the island has been j completed ; and we trust the three " squatters " to whom the Government have granted free use of these fifteen acres will not fail to have tbem j very fully stocked before many years, so that a lar^e number of hares may be available to stock ! other parts of the Province, and secure to our couutry gentlemen some of the home sports. The case of illicit distillation, (says the " Bruce Hdald," heard before the Resident Magistrate yesterday, occupied a long time. : Peter M Queen was charged by the Collector of Customs with having in his possession on the 2nd September, a still, &c. The report of the evidence we must hold back till next week. His Worship inflicted a penalty of £150,. or in default six months imprisonment. Mr Dyer, gave notice that he intended to appeal.