The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 734, 9 October 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1867.

It is not improbable that his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has already reached the Australian shores. Erom the programme of his movements received by the Victorian Government by the last mail, it would appear that the Galatea with its noble commander may be expected in these latitudes about the first or second week in October. It is therefore reasonable to calculate that, at the latest, the Prince will visit New Zealand in December or January next. What preparations are being made in this colony to give His Royal Highness the reception a loyal people should award the son of the most beloved Sovereign that ever sat on the throne of England r But little as yet appears to have been done. The General Government have been officially informed that Lo will visit New Zealand, and doubtless money will be forthcoming for a "Wellington reception. But the question arises, shall the representative of Royalty be allowed to form his ideas of the importance of this colony from a visit. to a Province, which, though the seat of Government, is inferior to nearly all others in productive capabilities ? "We think not. In order to give the young Prince a clear conception oftheresourc.es and value of the New Zealand possessions of the British Crown every Province should be visited, and there is every reason to believe that such are the views of His Royal Highness and his Queen-Mother. In the despatch forwarded to the Governors of the Colonies, it was distinctly stated that in making a visit to the colonies the Duke of Edinbubgh aimed at obtaining, by personal inspection, a. correct estimate of tbe

extent and value of Britain's Colonial j dependencies, and to this end he placed I himself in the hands of the respective Governors as to the localities he should visit— that when once on the Australasian shores, ;he looked upon the viceregal authorities as instructors as to his course of action, and would abide by their advice. The question arises, will he come to Southland ? "We believe he will if invited. It has already been officially announced that His Excellency the Governor has intimated his intention of recommending a visit to Otago, and there can be no doubt Southland will not be overlooked ( if a becoming invitation is given; Is Southland prepared to give His Royal Highness a befitting reception? We think she is. There is now. a Rifle Corps, scarcely inferior in numbers to those of the larger Provinces ; there is an agricultural and agricultural enterprise unequalled in New Zealaud, and a loyal people who will strain every nerve to give the Queen's sailor-son an enthusiastic welcome. Mr Harris, now a member of the General Government, and the Southern Island representative of that Government, in announcing the probability of the Duke of Edinburgh's arrival inOtago,intimated that the Galatea was so large a ship that it would be found desirable for His Royal Highness to come down in the Brisk, or some other moderate-sixed frigate, Port " Chalmers not affording safe anchorage for the great ship. It is not for us to question this opinion. It may, however, be pertinent to the question to suggest a 1 way out of the difficulty. The Bluff . Harbor would be a safe port into which to bring the Galatea aud keep her during His Royal Higness's stay in the Southern Provinces. If the Duke desires to see the country, and we believe he does, what better opportunity could be afforded than an overland trip from Invercargill to Dunedin. He would see more of true colonial enterprise in the three days journey than could be seen during months of popping in and out of the various provincial ports. It is within the compass of probability that if this sugges- ' Mm^w^ ] KixnWit would" bTfoind" to conduct the august party to the neighbor- , ing Province of Otago, and, we doubt not, 1 give an impress so favorable to Southland 1 as an agricultural country that time would never efface. An objection to this proposal may be advanced, — that if the Galatea did come to the Bluff Harbor and remain at anchor during His Royal ' Higlmess's sojourn in this Province aud Otago, that a difficulty would arise in his reaching the ship at the time of his departure. This argument is fallacious. "With the advantage of the telegraph, the Galatea could at any time be at the Otago Heads to await the embarkation of the Royal party. The question is, however, shall we invite his Royal Highness to visit Southland ; and if we do, what steps should be taken to prepare for his reception. In Victoria a Royal Commission has been appointed, and we think it the best system to be adopted. It is not, perhaps, consistent to advocate a Provincial Commission, but it is advisible to nominate a number of gentlemen of Southland as a Reception Committee, and recommend to His Excellency the Governor that in the formation of a Royal Commission, for the colony representatives for this Province should be included, and selected from- the names submitted. "We have but little doubt that if an invitation is sent through the Governor to the Duke of Edinburgh, he will visit Southland, and the General Government , supplement largely pubhc contributions in order to enable us to give him a handsome reception. If this is to be done it must be done quickly. There is no time to be lost, and both the Provincial Government and the public should at once take the matter up in earnest. It is not to be supposed that the Government will, as on the occasion of the Governor's visit, provide all the funds for the reeeptipn of the Duke of Edinburgh, but we have no misgivings as to the liberality of the" loyal Colonists of Southland. They will, we feel certain, by both labor and means, make His Royal Highness's welcome a more demonstrative affair than has yet been witnessed in this Province,

To-morrow; being the Presbyterian half-yearly fast, the Banks and Government Offices will be closed, and the day observed as a general holiday. ■ v : . The list of prkes to be awarded at' the forthcoming Grand Agricultural Show -inv January.^ ; next, appears in our columns .thisVmorning.. It will bo observed that . although the amounts in \ most instances are comparatively, the money has been judiciously apportiohedio as to* include nearly every department of both agricultural and pastoral enterprise. It must also be borne in mind that the object of societies and competitions of this nature is not to offer direct pecuniary advantages to exhibitors, but rather, by bringing together a collection of selected 1 animals or articles and submitting their respective merits to the criticism of competent and recognized judges, to demonstrate the ulterior advantages to be obtained by both exhibitor and the country generally, by careful, persistent, and wisely directed effort on the part of the producer. The amendment ofthe award is, and ever should be, an altogether subordinate consideration to the intending competitor. The honor invariably attached to success should be sufficient stimulus to extra effort, while the material, though indirect benefits, accruing therefrom, will be ample reward. It is said that a suitable enclosure has. been obtained in the town in which to hold the show ; this in . it-self will greatly promote the success of the society, and 13 a vast improvement on the arrangements of former shows, under which they were held at yards some seven or eight miles out the East Road, utterly (considering what the roads were then like) beyond tlie reach of the majority of the public. It is is to be hoped that the stewards will make timely arrangements, so that everything may be turned to the best advantage for ensuring the success of the Exhibition. A recent letter from the Fiji Islands states that " A tract of land on the N.E. point of the Island ot Vauua Levu has lately been sold for a sheep ran. The gentleman who purchased it ha 3 left for New Zealand, to make arrangements for sending down 20,000 sheep as soon as possible.' The Blue Spur corresp -indent of the " Tuapeka Press" writes, " The fine weather which we have had lately has melted most of the snow ou th**, ranges, and the water races are well supplied with water. The Waipori Water Company are cutting a race from the Beaumont Creek, which will be about four miles in. length, and wiil join their main water race from the Waipori. This enterprising company have constructed nearly fifty miles of race. The British American Company have made a tail-race at the head of the Victoria Gully, and are driving a tunnel for a blast. "Ronton and Company washed up a short time . , „ ™ vi gold. They have suspended operations for a short time. Fiffe and party had a first-rate blast last week, and they are busily employed washing. All the other Companies on the Monro's side are busily employed. On the Gabriel's side of the Spur, Morrison and Co. are washing dirt from both faces. The Perseverance Company's blast has proved a good one, and they are washiug away a large quantity of cement. Keppel aud party are washing up ; and all the other claims are in full work." There was a meeting of members of the Roman Catholic Church, held at the Imperial Hotel, Dunedin, on tho Ist inst. (says the ''Daily Times :" — - The object of the meeting was to initiate . stops towards the procuring of a British Bishop and priests for tl c Middle Island of New Zealand. It was explained by the several gentlemen who addressed tbe meeting that, by the British Roman Catholics, who formed the majority of the adherents of tha ! Church in this Province, as well as in the other Provinces in the Middle Island, a great want was ielt, through the almost entire absence of any other priests except those connected with tho French Mission. It was stated that it was now estimated that there were 80,000 Roman Catholics in New Zealand, yet the proportion of that number resident in the Middle Island had only the services of three British priests — The Rev. Mr Williams in Otago, and two clergymen on the West Coast. Bishop -Viard, it was stated, had been petitioned ou the subject, but no steps were known to have been takeu to remedy the present position of matters, and it was considered that it was high time, especially in the interests of the children of the members of the Church, that British priests should be provided. Testimony was borne to the pious and zealous character of the French missionaries, and reference was made to the Rev. Mr Moreau as a worthy type of his brethren ; but it was considered that there was now necessity for priests being procured for those districts in which there is none at jjpresent, or for the presence of British priests, who could discharge their duties and communicate instruction more satisfactorily than priests speaking only a foreign tongue, or defective English. It was suggested that a meeting should be held st which more definite or regular steps | should be taken— such as the appointment of a committee to communicate with the members of the Church in other parts of the Middle Island j and it was agreed that such a meeting should be called for Friday evening next. Por the purpose of arranging the necessary preliminaries a number of geutlemen present were appointed as a committee, and it was agreed that they should wait upon tho ; Rev. Mr Moreau to solicit the use of the school house for the meeting, or that they should select such other^place of meeting as it ] might be necessary or desirable to appoint,