The South Land Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 893, 3 February 1868, Page 2

The South Land Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1868.

The carrying out of the work necessay for the completion of the Northern line of Eailway to Winton has commenced. Mr T. Paterson, Eailway Engineer, and Mr Bray, Civil Engineer, have arrived, and are now engaged in perfecting the survey, and the plans and specifications required previous to the Government calling for tenders for its construction. This is a matter for congratulation. Notwithstanding the varied mistakes that atttended our first railway enterprise, the money that was wasted, and the financial difficulties that followed, it must be confessed that it has not been all loss and no profit. If the traffic returns of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill line have not been so favorable as the sanguine might have anticipated, they have shown a steady increase in revenue, and decrease in expenditure, and there is little doubt that the completion of the Winton line, and the road works now going on will materially increase its receipts for the future. The fact of its existence has already had a beneficial effect in inducing capitalists to invest even without the expectation of further internal communication being immediately undertaken. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that now roads are being constructed, and the railway so extensively extended, that the land sales of 1868 will far exceed those cf 1867. The Winton line opens up a large tract of fertile land that has not yet been placed under cultivation, for no other reason than the difficulty of bringing the produce to the port. When this is removed, or in the course of removal, the land already purchased will be placed under crop, and other land taken up. The prospects of an advancing future are hopeful, and signs of coming prosperity are visible. The execution of public works have absorbed all the surplus labor, wages of eyery description are on the I rise, and the want of immigrants is seriously felt. This want will be ronsideraby increased when railway works are in full operation. The labor market is at the present time so bare that the agricultural and pastoral settlers can with difficulty obtain hands to reap their crops or shear their sheep. Now is the time for those settlers who have friends or relatives at home to send for them. It is not alone railway laborers that will be required but workers of every class. .Cultivation will increase, new townships spring up, and the demand for mechanics become as urgent as for those repuired for road-making. It is more than probable that the contemplated Mataura Eailway will also be soon commenced. The General Assembly during last session adopted the principle of ercouraging railway enterprise by giving long leases to companies that would construct approved lines at a pepper-corn rent. An Act to faciliate the formation of a railway from Nelson to the west coast of that Province, on this system, was passed, and a company is in course of formation. This mode of securing rapid and abundant internal communication has been found to work well in America, India, and other countries. There is no doubt it will prove successful in New Zealand. The General Government having adopted the principle, the Provinces should put it in practice. Three sessions since this question was debated in the Provincial Council, but the proposal was rejected. Since than a great change has taken place in the tone and temper of our local legislators. It is therefore, probable that, if a similar act to that adopted for Nelson was introduced next session, it would receive almost unanimous support, and the General Goyerumeut would freely assent to it. The benefits that would flow from the construction of the Mataura and other lines upon the leasing system are great ; and the sooner the matter is taken up the better for the Province. Let us get a steady settled population, and then every class of the community will become contented and prosperous.

The road contracts are being rapidly executed. The East Road is being formed with a promptness that reflects credit on both the Road Engineer and the contractor, and we are informed tbat a similar activity is being shown in other districts. We have frequently had occasion to allude to the dilapidated condition of the Esk-street main drains. They have now become positivly dangerous to a degree. Erom the corner of Dee-street, to Kelvin Street, at the interval of a few yards, there are holes, with an accumulation of pollution that send forth a maleria of the vilest kind, seriously endangering the health of the inhahitants in the neighborhood. Something should be done. Could not a subscription be got up by the inhabitants, and the assistance of the G-overnment solicited ? During the last few weeks the Railway Station has presented a scene of life and activity. Considerable alteration has been made on that portion of the hne between the station and the Puni Creek bridge. The sharp curve has been taken up, and nearly a straight line formed, and is certainly a great improvement. There has also been an additional branch line laid down for the stone-carrying trucks, in order to obviate the inconvenience that was experienced from their having to be discharged at the Btation proper. The stone is being brought up in such quantities that drays are constantly being loaded. Wool teams are almost hourly arriving, the platform having to be used to preserve the bales from the weather. In fact, the bustle that is now to be witnessed is a most re fresh, ng contrast to the dullness that previous months displayed. The tenders for the interprovincial mails accepted are, the N.Z.S.N. Company for the following services: — From Manakau to Wellington, from Auckland to Port Chalmers, and from Port Chalmers to Manakau. The tender of the Panama Company has been accepted for the conveyance of the mails from Wellington to the Bluff, from the Bluff to Wellington.

The "Wellington Independent" of the 16th ult. has the foUowing i— '* The harbor tnastert of the different porta have been engaged in drawing up a uniform code of regulations for aU the harbors in New Zealand, each of which has ! hitherto had its own set of rules, occasioning much perplexity to ship masters. The conference has been held under the direction of the GTovernment, who possess powers under the Marine Aot, passed last session, to render the adoption of the code compulsory." The foUowing telegram was received in Auck-^ land from* Waikato on the 23rd ult. :— The^ Ngatiporos have burned down Firth's monument to Thompson, and given notice that th«y would attack Kihikihi in a month. The monument was inaugurated some months ago, in presence ofthe Queenite aud Kingite sections of the Ngatihaua, Thompson's tribe. The "Herald" of the '3oth says this piece of mischief was the work of a fe\r East Coast natives. With regard to the threatened attack upon Kihikihi, the " Southern Cross" says thafc " bodies of armed men have been moving lately from the Piako, Upper Thames, and other quarters, to the neighborhood of Tokongamutu. It is probable that some of these men, passing near Kihikihi, have threatened the settlers in a loose way, without any authority from head quarters. But it must be remembered that Kihikihi was Rewi's pet vUlage, and would likely be the first place attacked." The " WeUington Independent" says : — " Considerable interest was manifested yesterday morning at the arrival of the brigantine Despatch from the Chatham Islands with a number of Maoris, who are en route to Taranaki, the country of their forefathers. The Maories belong to the Ngatitamu tribe, and the elder of them were driven from Taranaki between thirty and forty years ago, at the time of the great j Waikato invasion. Flying from their conquerors they went to Waikanae and Port Nicholson, and finally Bought a refuge at the Chathams, where they easUy reduced the Morioris, who were neither possessed of so much physical courage, nor of such improved weapons of warfare as themselves, to a state of slavery, and treated them, it is said, with great cruelty. The proximate cause of the present migration is the havoc caused amongst the Maories at the Chathams by the measles, which has given rise to one of those panics to which the Maori mind is so prone ; but no doubt the amor patriae, which is so strong in the Maori breast, has had considerable influence in determining them to return to New Zealand. Their destination is the northern part of the Province of Taranaki. About 125 arrived yesterday, and the Depatch has been chartered to transport another detachment."