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Southland Times, Issue 864, 13 December 1867, Page 2

We understand that the Colonial Engineer, Mr Balfour, is expected to arrive by the next steamer from the North. He is empowered by the General Government to inspect and report upon the present condition of the Oreti line, with a view to its ultimate completidn. Mr Fitzherbert, the late Colonial Treasurer, at a complimentary dinner given to him by the people of Wellington previous to his departure to England as Colonial Agent, took occasion to complain bitterly of the small attendance and the general want of attention displayed towards him. According to the Dunedin papers there will be no lack of public amusement in that city, during the Christmas holidays. Cannot Invercargill endeavor to follow the example ? There is a complete dearth of amusement just now. On Wednesday evening the Wesleyans held a meeting in their chapel, Leet-street, for the purpose of encouraging the congregation to renewed and increased eflort in the cause of missions. The chair was occupied by Wm. Russell Esqr., and the audience, which was respectably numerous, was addressed on appropriate topics by the Rev. R. S. Bunn, Mr Perkins and others. Several interesting extracts were also read from Missionary reports. In the course of his address Mr Bunn quoted, from a financial statement of tha Missionary Society, figures showing the Middle Island of New Zealand to be anything but liberal in its contributions for .missionary purposes, and .. took occasion to comment severely thereon, characterizing it as absolutely discreditable that a country like this, where actual poverty was unknown, where the great majority of the inhabitants were in easy, if not affluent circumstances, should not only not support its own missionaries but actually absorb to a large amount the pence and halfpence of the poor children of Great Britain. He trusted that this state of things might Boon be reversed, and that in future reports New Zealand might occupy a more honorable position. The preparations for the forthcoming Show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association are progressing. The Union Bank paddock that will long be remembered as the scene' of one of the most destructive fire 3 that hare ever taken place in this Province, is once more to become a place of life and activity. Already much has been done, and the workmen omployed are working early and late in order to complete the contract as soon as possible. The plan of the yards is, as far as our unprofessional acquirements permits us to judge, well drawn. The space within the enclosure is judiciously proportioned and the comfort of the visitors provided for. From the number of entries already received, there can be little doubt that the Southland Live Stock Show will not be inferior to any that has yet been held in New Zealand. Some two years ago, when Southland's depression was at about its deepest, and Invercarcargill was suffering a gradual collapse j the various republican territories of South America engaged to a considerable extent the thoughts of those anxious to find fresh fields for their enterprise, very few, however, actually managed to find their way across the Pacific, the difficulty of finding vessels going direct proving a serious barrier to their hopes. It will be seen from our advertising coloums that an opportunity now presents itself of reaching those colonies by a vessel direct from the Invercargill jetty, the barque Prospector being now laid on for Valparaiso, We understand that several intending passengers have already applied for cabins, and, as only a limited number can possibly be expected, it is not likely that the sailing of the vessel will be long delayed, so that any others who may be thinking of proceeding by her would require to make their dgision quickly. The Prospector, both on this and the previous voyage to this port, has proved herself a thoroughly tight and trim little clipper, possessing those qualities so difficult of combination — fast sailing and buoyancy sufficient to render the deck comfortable in almost any weather. In proof of this, it may be stated that not a [single claim has been made against tho ship on account of damage to the cargo just discharged, every thing having been landed clean and sound as when put into the hold. Those, therefore, who contemplate taking passage by the Prospector may congratulate themselves on having found so favorable an opportunity, and will no doubt find their voyage, under the courteous care of Captain Thomson, partake much of the character of a pleasure trip. The Melbourne Argus of tie 27th, describing the illuminations of the preceding evening, says : — " To say that the illuminations were gorgeous ia to use language utterly beneath the occasion, and as that is the strongest word of the kind that we know, the affair must be left to the imaginations of such unfortunates as were not abroad after nightfall to see for themselves. At the Post Office, at the Treasury, and at the Town Hall, there was a perfectly dazzling flood of gaslight, and so far as the designs of the several illuminations could be discerned by blinking eyes they appeared both appropriate and artistic. The Post office, the only one of our important public buildings which can be regarded as finished, looked really beautiful, its noble facade lighted up by rows of brilliant lamps at the outer edge of the footpath. Among the transparencies there wa3 perhaps some little touch of sameness, which is not remarkable when we bear in mind that all the best of them were the work of two or three artists. Mr Chevalier's were of course, thoroughly good, and outshone all the others in merit, the water babies which he had introduced into all of them being particularly felicitous. Mr Campbell's . pictures had aborigines for their speciality, and were spiritedly drawn. Mr Calder's ships were excellent, and more life- like (if the expression is premissable) than any others. Of course many very wretched daubs shocked the discernment of the discriminating j but then they did their part in promoting the general pleasure, since, if they did not command admiration, they excited laughter. His Royal' Highness ...was made to assume such an immense • variety -• of "absurd, grotesque, and improbable aspects, that hit Royal

mother would certainly hare failed to recognise her offspring in the majority of them. Admiral Benbow on a signboard must have sat for the most of these, so stiff, and wooden, and glaring were the attitudes and colors in which the authors had chosen to embody their ideas of the British naval commander. High-shouldered were some, others decidedly lop-sided, others again with an inane simper upon their facei, alternating with grim arid ferocious naval veterans, oU making a bizarre pretence of being Dukes of Edinburgh. We can sincerely sympathize with.His Royal Highness in having such an indignity put upon him as most of those artists for the nonce have not hesitated to perpetrate. Her Gracious Majesty the Queen scarcely fared better. Her Royal face and figure have been grossly misrepresented, not to say scandalously libelled, in many of the transparent pictures which were last night exposed to view. As for the British lion, that noble quadruped has simply been made a fool of in innumerable instances. A monkey of any self-respect would not submit tamely to such cruel indignities. Even the magnificent Galatea has not escaped the desecrating touch of these painters (and glaziers). Shorn of her fair proportions, distorted out of all knowing (as the phrase goes), and disfigured by ornamentation which does not belong to her, and which would ba preposterously out of place if it did, the splendid ship is represented under a j variety; of ridiculous disguises which must have vexed the souls of all belonging to her if only they were unlucky enough to see the humiliating travesties." The Otago Daily Times of the 7fch inst., says : — The nineteenth anniversary of the Hand and Heart Lodge, Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, was celebrated last evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, George street. Supper was provided by Bro. H. Fredlich. The Hall was decorated with banners of the lodge, of other lodges, and with flags and ferns ; and at one of the windows a transparency, bearing the various emblems of the Order, was displayed. Bro. Swan, N.G., presided ; and Bro. A. Sligo, V.G., was in the vice-chair. After supper, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed, and heartily drank. Then followed the toasts of the Superintendent and Executive, the Mayor and Corporation. Bro. Roger b, Provincial Grand Master of the Order, proposed the toast of the evenings Prosperity to the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge. The chairman, in responding, referred to the prosperity that had attended the Lodge since its formation, nineteen years ago, and in doing bo alluded to those members who had striven for its success in the early days, | mentioning, as worthy of special honor, the name j of P.G. Bro. Charles Reid. Speaking of tha success of the Lodge, he said that it now had £233 13s Id in the Bank to its credit. The Widows' Relief Fund amounted to £35 11s 4d ; Promissory Notes outstanding, £125 13s 6d; fixed Bank deposit, £300 ; Government Debentures, £600; value of land, hall and leased ground, £1200. Total assets, £2794 16s lid. He then, on behalf of the Lodge, presented P. j G. Bro. Robin, with 'a scarf and apron, as an acknowledgment of the zealous and able services rendered by him as Past Grand and Treasurer, i The toasts,— the "District Officers," "Trade and Commerce," " Fire Brigade," and others, were then given, and as the evening was enlivened by songs and recitations, the meeting passed off most pleasantly. Acclimatisation is proceeding rapidly in Victoria, and according to the following paragraph supplied by the Melbourn Herald, the wilds of the Grampains promise to be soon well stocked with game infinately superior to that which is indigenous to the country. The Herald says : — " Testimony as to the presence of the axis deer in the nighborhood of the Grampians is fnrnished by a waggoner who passed through to Ararat last week. According to this authority, while eucamped at a place which he describes as ' near Leadcourt,' and while searching for one of the horses of his team which had strayed away for a considerable distance, he was startled by seeing ' a flock of the biggest goats he ever looked at' galloping along the _side of the range. They went so quickly that he was unable to destingnish anything concerning them/ except, their size, which he describes as assimilating to the"proportions of calves. These were Jollowed by a couple of kangaroos chased by dogs, The man watched them for a distance of half-a-mile, and describes the ' run' as one of the best scenes he ever witnessed ; the ' big goats' left the kangaroo and dogs far behind, and ultimately turned up a ravine before being lost to sight' These goats it is thought must be the axis deer, lately turned out by Mr Wilson, of Longerenong, some of which, it is reported, have been seen in the neighborhood of the Grampians !"