Local and General.

Southland Times, Issue 875, 3 January 1868, Page 3

Local and General.

There is little of political news to note since our last Bummary. The Council will not meet until the 6th January, but it is expected that the session then to commence will be an important one. Several questions of great moment 'will have to be discussed. Among the most important will be those of railway extension and the revival of assisted immigration. Materially, the Province has given ample evidence of having steadily advanced during the year. On the 19fch December, the first show of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association took place in Invercargill, and proved a complete success. The exhibits — horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs — were numerous and of the first class j a full report of which will be found in other columns. It may, however, not be out of place to remark that the prizes awarded were the largest that havo ever yet been given in any province in the colony, and there was no lack of funds to pay them. It served to prove that Southland is unsurpassed as an agicultural country. At the various shows held in Otago and Canterbury, the long woolled sheep from Morton Mains (R. Hamilton Esq.) took the whole of the prizes, but upon his own ground there was a keener competition and in some instances the prize takes of the other provinces had to yield up their laurels^ to other local competitors. In addition to this the Horticultural and Agricultural Society's Annual Show has taken place. It was a fine display of Elowers, and native produce of every imaginable description, proving unmistakeably that all that can bo grown in England with the assistance of hot-houses can be reared here without such aid. The Christmas holidays have passed over most satisfactorily. Notwithstanding the difference of the climate, the old custo m of family re-unions — roast goose, roast beef, and plum pudding has been strictly observed, and the New Year has commenced under favorable aspects, the prevailing wish being that next year will find numbers of our home friends present to join us in c elebrating its advent. 4»