Social and Domestic.

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

Social and Domestic.

Wednesday, Christmas Day, and Thursday were observed as dose holidays. Numerous pic* nio parties were formed and notwithstanding that the weather was not so inviting as might have been wished, it did not prevent excurstionists from enjoying the festivities of the season. On Wednesday a large number visited the Bluff by rail, others betook themselves to the New River or to other places, and in the evening there were numerous friendly gatherings of those who still cherish the good old customs of the mother country Thursday, bowever, was the pleasure taking day. The town was literally deserted. The Long Bush Races induced all of a sporting turn of mind who could secure a mount, to go and witness the racing, while others took the opportunity of visiting their country friends, or by pic-nicing and the like, rendering the day as , enjoyable as possible. Our Bluff correspondent, under date 26fch December writes ; — "Yesterday being Christmas Day all business was suspended at this port, and as by the first train from Invercargill about fifty passengers arrived, thf> town soon seemed to wear a holiday aspect. .Groups could be seen wending their way to the sea shore, others making for the Bluff hill, several heavily ladened with the good things that constitute the material , for a picnic in some of the picturesque spots in the vicinity of the town, The weather was all that could be desired. Although rather hazy there was quite sufficient wind to keep the Band flies from becoming troublesome. In the afternoon the beach seemed to be the favored resort j of the pleasure takers, and was promanaded until the shrill whistle of the locomotive reminded the excursionists that it was time to return home. The railway station on this oc casion presented a scene of bustle that we should always like to see — life and activity. We regret to learn that on Friday, 27th December, a severe accident occurred to Mr Henry Howey, manager on the station of Messrs J. and W. Aylmer, Wairaki. It appears that he was riding leisurely homewards, accompanied by a young led horse, when about a mile from Riverton, both animals bolted, and he was thrown into a ditch, one of the horses falling on him,' breaking his leg. The accident was witnessed by. ( some settlers, who immediately rendered all the assistance in their power. He was conveyed to Rivertcn, and taken to the house of Dr Scott where he received prompt medical assistance. On Thursday, December 31st, upwards of 8,660 acres were purchased by Mr Matthew Holmes. This will bring the land sold during the past few weeks up to the very large total of 14,000 acres. The following is an extract from the evidence taken before the Committee, appointed by the Legislative Council, during the late session, to inquire into the construction of railways in Southland. Dr Knight, the Auditor- General of New Zealand, was examined as a witness, and in answer to a question from the Chairman, stated )as follows : — ""It is not easy to state in a few words the grounds of my opinionregarding the proposed extension of the Winton Railway. Southland has more than the usual proportion of rich agricultural land ; but from the absence of facilities for interior communication the country is nearly useless for settlement. The railway which was intended to extend to Winton has stopped short at Invercargill. By terminating at the latter place this cjstly work is rendered useless for all purposes of settlement. Were it finished to Winton, a large agricultural district would be thrown open to enterprise and capital, while nearly the whole of the country, beyond Winton to the Lakes could be traversed with facility. Sooner or later this great public work will be completed — the nature of the country between the Lakes and Invercargill renders this certain. In respect of the Mataura Railway the "Companies " had expended large sums of money in the cultivation and stocking of their valuable estates in the district lying between" Invercargill and the Mataura River. At one of their farms they had not les3 than 4,000 acres of' land fenced and under cultivation. In this work many thousand pounds had been wasted, owing to the want of ordinary means of transit.^ The mofct disheartening accounts were* current of ( the difficulties the " Companies " had to contend with ; and it is feared they will be driven — if not to abandon — at least greatly to contract their., agricultural operations. They had at their disposal, for investment in New Zealand, British capital to the amount of nearly £2,000,000. They had already invested largely in Southland. It was impossible in such a case not to take a great interest in the welfare of the Province, and the duties which the Legislature had imposed upon me to settle the Southland debts rendered it moreover my business to call the attention of the General Government to the exigencies of the Province. It seemed to me that the value of the estate which the Government held in trust would not be diminished by setting aside a part of it for completing the Winton Railway and for constructing a railway, between Invercargill and the Mataura. Both lines are trunk lines. The railway to the Mataura would be a great aid to the Province of Otago, by giving a ready and much the cheapest outlet to the Hundreds on the eastern side of the Mataura ; while to the Companies' Farms and the settlers in the neighborhood of the line, it would at once be the means of making their undertakings profitable. I also thought if Waste Lauds were taken in payment for the execution of the works and the Government could be assured that the cost would riot exceed one acre for every pound cash the works were estimated to cost, that it would be well to encourage the Provincial Government to undertake them. And I reasoned thus : — The proceeds from land sales ought not to be treated aa ordinary revenue. They should be strictly devoted to the improvement and settlement of the country. It was, therefore, a legitimate proceeding to pay for public works in land, seeing that without these works no Waste Lauds of the Province were likely to be Bold. The increased value given to the land would more than make up for the diminution of the acreage of the estate. Those who purchased waste lands could not allow, them to lie waste. It would be their interest to bring settlers into the district. Besides the expenditure of hard cash on the public works there would be a number of industrious workmen left to settle in the Province, and instead of the hind there would ? be its representative in the shape of most useful public works. Yet not in lieu of the land, for the land would still remain j but instead of lying in idle waste would be in the hands of colonists anxious to increase the population and the productive powera of the Province. Without population the hind is worthless except to the runholder, and for him it would be best that he should have good roads. If this valuable estate were in the hands of capitalists they would do what I advise to be done. In their case the land sold would be a loss of4erritory, but in the case of the Province it is idle to treat it as a loss. The land remains to the Province, and the increase of revenue of customs and other public receipts would enable the Province to bear with ease the burden of the interest and sinking fund of the debt for whbh the General Government now holds the Waste Lands of the Province in trust." - •■ '•'