Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 894, 5 February 1868, Page 2

The uncertain weather, sudden changes from hot to cold, that has been experienced in this province for many weeks appears to also have been felt, not only in the other provinces, but in the Australian colonies. The Age of the 27th ult., says : — " The very changeable weather which we have recorded from time to time during the last few weeks still continues. Old colonists whose experience of Australian summers dates back some twenty years cannot recollect such a season as we are now experiencing. Friday and Saturday were intensely hot, whilst during Sunday a cold winterly wind was experienced from the south, and overcoats and other winfry garments were in requisition on all sides." Mr R. P. Whitworth, a gentleman who ha 3 had considerable experience in the compilation of Gazetteers for Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia, is now visiting New Zealand in order to prepare a companion work to the above mentioned. The completeness of the volumes published may be estimated as of a high class, from the fact that the New Zealand Government have supplemented the projected volume to the extent of £400. Mr Whitworth was at the Bluff a few days since eu route to the Northern Provinces, and may be expected to return in a few weeks. The work he is engaged upon is an important one, and the publisher being Mr F. F. Baillier, of Melbourne, is a guarantee that it will be complete and well executed, a standard book of reference. One of the most violent hailstorms that has ever been known in Southland, occurred yesterday afternoon. During the morning black clouds were visible rising in the North, and the glass indicated a storm. The atmosphere was oppressively sultry, and about five o'clock hail of the size of peas fell in great abundance, but only for a few minutes. It appears however that Invercargill only got the tail end of the storm. A Waikivi correspondent informs us that about four o'clock the weather in hia district was most oppressive, and shortly after terrific thunder accompanied with hail of a size he never before witnessed came down with extreme force. Ha describes the hailstones as being as large as pigeon eggs, and shaped like road metal. We are also informed that the windows on the west side of the Junction Hotel were literally battered in by the force of the 6torm. We cannot yet learn if the crops have been seriously injured or not. We take the following paragraph from the Evening Star, (Dunedin) : — " It will be seen by a telegram in another column, that whilst the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and the Provincial Government of Otago have been talking about what should be done towards searching the Auckland Isles ; and the Colonial Government has been intimating what it intends doing in the same direction in about six months from this date, the plucky little Province of Southland has set earnestly to work, and actually despatched a well equipped party on an errand which any Province might be proud to attempt, much less to accomplish. We have called "Southland" little, but purely in a geographical sense, for, judging by its energetic and liberal action in this matter it may fairly lay claim to being the largest Province, so far as common humanity is concerned, in the colony." The Grey River Argus says : — From various persons who have recently arrived in town from the Buller district, we hear very doleful accounts regarding the diggings on that part of the coast. The continued wet weather has completely swamped out nearly all the claims on Addison's Flat ; and the diggers who have manfully stuck to the place for months in the hope of ultimately getting the gold they know is in the ground, have been fairly disheartened, and they are now leaving in hundreds. The business people on the diggings, and the wholesale houses in c Westport » are also feeling severely the unfortunate turn of affairs, as for a long time a system of extended credit has been adopted, based upon the belief that the gold would soon be got at. Business in Westport is stated to be fearfully dull, and the number of failures is becoming serious. Mr Aitken, the Government Surveyor, who is engaged laying out the line for the telegraph wires from here to Westport, informs us that fully one hundred men per day have passed aleng the beach southward during the last week or two, but that very few can be seen proceeding in the opposite direction. And yet, amidst all these depressing circumstances, there are men of very extensive and practical experience who predict that the diggings on Waite's Pakihi will at some time become the most prolific of any on the coast ; but that this will not occur until capital is brought to bear, and the works necessary to drain the ground are carried out on a large scale." An invitation says the Wellington Independent to H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Saratonga has been forwarded for presentation to his Excellency Sir George Grey. The King (Makea) sending it, on being asked in what style he would receive the Prince, said, " Why, I would give him a basket of sweet potatoes and taro, and a sucking-pig, and then, if he was not ' paia ' [full], he should have a basket of oranges." The reply was, if he ate that, we thought be would do pretty well. . *■. l.':

From late northern papers we learn that Sir George Grey has discovered some rich gold'bearing quartz on the Island of Kawau, near the " Bee Hive." Eight or ten very fine specimens ■were brought to Auckland by his Excellency's Private Secretary (the Bey. F. Thatcher). The gold is found in green-looking quartz, ■which is very thickly impregnated with the precious metal. The Age (Melbourne), 25th January has the following telegram from Sydney: — "A grand review took place this afternoon in the Domain, in which the military and volunteers both took part. His Royal Highness was present, in company with his Excellency the Governor and their diiifcpß. Tt.waa_aLerandsiehtt The .weather was beautifully fine, and a large number of spectators was present. The people were most enthusiastic, at the same time they were orderly. Some amateur theatricals takes place at the "University this evening, in presence of Prince Alfred, his Excellency Earl Belmore, and their suites." ( The Grey River Argus reports a singular accident which was occasioned by lightning to the I apparatus in the telegraph office, and affords a strong proof of the highly electrical state of the atmosphere at the time. The instrument called the " relay" was seriously damaged, some of the coils being fused and burnt through, and other parts injured. The counter on which this instrument was placed was scorched in several places, and another portion of the telegraph machinery was partiaUj^dDJured. .. In consequence of the operator being unable to.effect. the necessary, repairs communication with Hokitika has been entirely suspended, and until a new instrument canbe °btained the line cannot be worked. From the Lyttelton Times we learn that the shares in the "Agricultural Export Company are scarcely meeting with the demand expected. At present £2500 of the proposed capital only has been subscribed, and the season for commencing operations is now rapidly drawing near. Under these circumstances it becomes necessary to consider whether the objects for which the company was commenced shall be At once carried out on a scale originally intended, or whether another harvest Bhall be permitted to lapse without business being entered upon."