The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 895, 7 February 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1868.

The Provincial Government and the Banks have declared to-day a holiday. The majority of the business men intend to also observe it as a partial, if not close, holiday. Some short time since it was announced thut Wellington time woul i be observed at all the Telegraph stations tluv>u b r hout fhe colony. This was deemed necessary from the constant cumplaints that were made against the different officials for not showing promptness in the deliver yof telegrams, when in reality no delay had taken place. For instance an important message from Invercargill sent away say at 12 o'clock might be actually received at Wellington within ten minutes of its receipt would appear to have been fifty minutes in transit, the difference being forty minutes at noon between the two places. This system of unity of time was m*ny years adopted with great satisfaction in the Australian colonies, Greenwich time is now the standard for the United Kingdom. The Post office and the other Government offices are now being regulated by the telegraph clock, it is desirable that it should be adopted by the people. One uniform time being accepted for the colony •would prove^of great convenience to all parties, and unless one regular standard is acknowledged, there will be endless confusion.

A good deal of gossip (saya the Army and JTavy Gazette) has reached this country from the Cape of Good Hope in reference to His Koyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh flying the standard of England on the occasion of his entering Simon's Bay, in the presence of his senior officer, and thus expecting from the latter a salute, which, in fact, was due from the former. An explanation, we understand, ensued, which led to the ordinary compliment being paid to Captain B. Furves from the guns of the Galatea, and so the matter was settled ; bnt, doubtless, the attention of the Admiralty has been drawn to the subject, as although the Duke is em-led to, and will receive all the honors which ar, consistently due to a prince of the blood, it must be remembered that he is a captain in the Koyal Navy, and as he is in command of one of Her Majesty's ■hips, it is expected that he will comply with the roles of the service.

Our Bluff corespondent, under date 6th Feb, writes :— " The Bite for the erection of the new Telegraph and Post office has been finally fi» d « and the building will now be proceeded with without de^y. The site is immediately to the south of the Custom House, having a frontage of 35 feet, to a street running from Gore-street to the wharf. The designer isMrTTeir architect, the contractor is Mr Moffiit, 'rofch of Tnvercargill ; the dimensions of the building are 25 x 32 and will he devirled into five aparhnfints. It is expected that the whole will be finished by the middle of next month. We believe that it is the intention of the Governmant upon the completion of the offices to conjoin the two departments." The Melbourne papers relate the following : — " A rather curions casp of mistaken identity after death was revealed in Melbourne a few weeks since. A man was discovered lying in a lane off Little Bourke-street, in such a deplorable condition of destitution and bodily suffering as to render his removal to the hospital necessary, j where, soon after his admission, he expired. An j inquest was held on the body, when several wit-.i nesses, after viewing the remains, identified them , as those of a man named Henry C. Piesse, who, they stated, was once a person of considerable means. One of the most attached friends of the deceased in life, piously exhibited a precious relic, in the shape of a letter from the deceased, which he expressed his intention to preserve until the last day of his life, as a memento of the departed. Dr Malony made a post-mortem examination o r the body, gave it as his opinion that the immecHate cause of death was disease of the lungs and kidneys from want of proper attendance, and the veHiet of the jnry was to that effect. The body of the nun was interred ; it any a regret for his demise was expressed by those who knew him, and often was a kind word dropped t6 his memory. However, a female who was one c? those who identified the body at the inquest, was surprised on meeting what, as she for a moment thought was the actual shade of her friend Piesse, haunting the sceneß of ljfe. In half terror, half joy, she rushed up to him, and asked him whether he was dead or alive. She deemed she spoke but to his ghoßt, but he pledged her on his honor he was not dead. As it appears, the man upon whose dead body the inquest was thought to have been held, is alive and well, and who the really deceased person was remains a mystery." Referring to the shipment of birds exported per Warrior Queen, a correspondent of The Field B ays : — " Mr Bills, the experienced and wellknown bird fancier, invited a friend and myself to his store rooms in Brighton, to see the birds, which were ranged around two large rooms in their travelling cages, containing Irom two to twenty birds in each, according to the different species. The cages contained blackbirds, 100; missel thrushes, 4 ; song thrushes, 100 j starlings, 150 ; hedge accentors, 100 ; larks, 150 j linnets, 150; robins, 50; house sparrows, 150; goldfinches, 100 ; yellow-hammers, 12 ; and black caps, 2 ; partridges, pheasaiita, swans, &c, to be added in London, making up a complement of 1500 birds. The quantity of seed, paste, com, &c., kid in will cost upwards of £135. Special accommodation has been provided for this cargo on board the Warrior Queen. I consider it only due to Mr Bills to add that a better choice could not have been made to carry out the spirited and liberal order of the Society." The Invercargill Rifle Volunteers will have their maiden match-shooting on Tuesday next. The contest is with the Riverton Company, the firing at that place being fixed for the following Thursday. Considerable interest is being displayed by the Invercargill men in the event, and they are determined to do their best to prove the victors. It is certainly plucky of our local corps at so early a period — only about two weeks practice — to match themselves against a company that has been fully organised for years. It is to to be hoped the public will show an interest in # the progress of the volunteer movement, by visiting the practice ground on the day mentioned. By the papers from Hobart Town we learn the Prince created quite a furore among Tasmanians. On the Bth ult., he laid the founda-tion-stone of the new Cathedral at Hobart Town ; the ceremony was witnessed by thousands of people. In the evening he had a levee, at which 400 colonists were presented. On the 9th he favored the annual regatta with his presence, and in the evening was at the state ball in the town hall. On the 10th he visited New Norfolk, to which place he drove in a handsome stage coach drawn by four greys. After the reading of the address, by the town clerk of the municipality, he was presented with a silver bouquet holder, subscribed for by 160 natives of Tasmania. He was to ha*e visited the salmon ponds on the same day, but was prevented from so doing by the mcl Miency of the weather. After lunching with the *>p;'a«cer of the Assembly, His Royal Highness tor warded a request to the public, who had assembled outside the house, that they would not cheer him as he left. His horses v,-sre restive, and any such demonstration would not be agreeable to him. The Duke desired it to be understood that if the residents obeyed this request, they would extend to him a favor which had not been accorded him in any of the other colonies. On the 11th he was present at a grand concert in the town hall, and shortly afterwards left for Sydney. The annual meeting of the Rural Deanery Board of Otago and Southland, was held in Dunedin on Monday, the 29th January. The only matter of importance discussed had reference to the resolution passed at the previous meeting, inviting Bishop Jenner to enter upon the duties of his office. Letters from the Bishop of Christchurch, the Bishop of Dunedin, and the Archbishop of Canterbury were read. After a lengthy debate, the following resolution was put to the vote. Moved by Rev R. L. Stanford, seconded by Mr R. B. Martin :—" That this Board earnestly desires to express its opinion, that the entrance of Bishop Jenner upon active duties in this diocese would be most disastrous to the Church ;. and that this resolution be laid before the General Synod, for their consideration." The motion was lost, the votes being five for, and eight against it. From Bishop Jenner's letter, we learn that it was his intention to leave England on or about the 3rd Febi vary, and may be expected in Dunedin the commencement of next month. He intimates that if after ihree years , labors, the Church expressed dissatisfaction, he would resign his see. The General Government have intimated that in the event of the Duke of Edinburgh electing to visit all the chief Provinces of New Zealand, that the sum of £5,000, appropriated for reception ex-

penses would be increased by the addition of £10,000, making in all £18,000. There is ever; probablity that the Prince will visit all the important provinces. Having accepted the Otago invitation he will feel bound to also respond to those from Canterbury, Nelson, and Southland (if sent.) There is only nine provinces, and supposing the amount was equitably destributed, Southland's share would enable this Province to give him a loyal welcome without in any way overtasking the resources of the Province.