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Southland Times, Issue 747, 8 November 1867, Page 2

A number of gentlemen met at the Club yesterday afternoon, to consider the desirability of inviting His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Southland. The feeling was general that the invitation should be given. Captain Ellis was called to' the chair. The chairman briefly explained the object of the gathering. A resolution was proposed by Mr E. D. Butts, and seconded by Mr F. H. Moore, to the effect that His Honor the Superintendent be requested to telegraph to His Excellency the Governor, asking if he would advise Prince Alfred to visit this province. This resolution was unanimously carried. Other matters were discussed, when it was resolved that the chairman be requested to see the Superintendent, submit the resolution, and upon receipt of the G-overnor's reply, call another meeting. The attendance was numerous, and those present evinced much earnestness. Should a favorable answer be received, the preparations for His Royal Highnesses viait will be commenced at once. It will be observed by advertisement that the drapers have altered the date on which they intend closing their premises in honor of the Prince of Wales birthday, from Friday to Monday, 11th iast. This has been done in or ler to make it as much as possible a general holiday, the banks and public offices having arranged to close on that day. We understand the merchants and storekeepers have also agreed to close their places of business, so that nothing now stands in the way of the day being celebrated according to time honored custom. Should the weather prove favorable, as it is to be hoped it will, picnics, boating parties, &c, will no doubt be indulged in. For public convenience the Government intend running cheap excursion trains to and from the Bluff, stopping at the intermediate stations. They w ill no doubt be largely takon advantage of. A despatch has recently been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, suggesting that in every colony containing naturalised foreigners who are likely to travel in Europe, it would be convenient that notice should from time to time be given in public newspapers of the necessity for 67 ich persons providing themselves, before leaving the colony, with some official evidence of their identity and description. Mr William Seager, of Wellington city, is at present employed in making a boiling down apparatus which has been ordered by a gentleman residing in the P.O7ince of Marlborough. The boiler will eisily contain, the carcases of five scores of sheep. The entire cost of the apparatus is estimated, at $230,

A proclamation in the General GJwernment Gazette declares that the Armed Constabulary Act shall come into farce on and after the first day of November. It is stated in the West Coast Times that " Jhe Dobson Memorial," in tho form of a very handsome monument, was landed a few days ago at Hokitika, from the Lizzie Coleson. >. We (Daily Times) observe that early in August Lady Don was in Canada, and performing, successfully in Montreal and Toronto. The same journal states : — " We understand that all, or nearly all the young women who came out in the William Davie, as assisted emigrants, hare obtained situations at previously current rates of wages j and that a eood many of the men have also been engaged and have started up-country. Seven or eight of them were placed through the assistance of the Immigration Agent ; the rate of wageß for ploughmen being £52 a year. The Sydney papers report that, by the schooner Arche d' Alliance, news has been received of a frightful murder of a whole family at New Caledonia. The brutal tragedy is said to have been committed on the Big River; the victims being a Mr and Mrs Pascal, their two children* and a servant. The perpetrators of the deed were four natives of Sandwich, who were in the employ of Mr Pascal, and we learn were aU captured by the authorities of New Caledonia. A letter is published in the Taranaki Serald of the 15th ult., tfrom Gilbert Kerr and Co.; of Abchurch lane, London, dated August 1, and addressed to the Superintendent of Taranaki, stating that they regret to say that, after all the annoyance and delay that have occurred with the Iron Sand Company, there was but little prospect of the matter being proceeded with at present. The excuse on this occasion is that Mr Jordan entertains strong doubts as to the manufacture of charcoal, and at the last moment hesitates to start without more data to go upon, and a larger capital.