Probincial News.

Southland Times, Issue 902, 19 February 1868, Page 3

Probincial News.

Some short time since it was announced that Wellington time would be observed at all the Telegraph stations throughout the colony. This was deemed necessary from the constant complaints 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 Welltngton 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 many years adopted with great satisfaction in the Australian colonies, Greenwich time is now the standard for the United Kingdom. The Po&t office and the other Government offices are nowbeing 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 (says the Army and Navy Gazette) has reached this country from the Cape of Good Hope in reference to His Royal 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 E. Purves 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 entitled to, and will receive all the honors which are consistently due to a prince of the blood, it must be remembered that he is a captain in the Royal Navy, and as he is in command of one of Her Majesty's ships, it is expected that he will comply with the »ales of the service. An invitation says the Wellington Independent to H.R.H. the Dnke of Edinburgh to visit Raratonga 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 haslet of oranges." The reply was, if he ate that, we thought he would do pretty welL 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 iv 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." 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. From the corner of Dee-Btreet, to Kelvin Street, at the interval of a few yards, there are holes, with an accumulation of pollution that Bend forth a maleria of the Tflest kind, seriously endangering the health of the inhabitants in the neighborhood. Something should be done. Could not a subscription be got up by the inhabitants, and the assistance of the Government solicited ? During the last few weekß the Railway Station has presented a scene of life and activity. Considerable alteration has been made on that portion of the line 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 gtone-carrying trucks, in order to obviate the inconvenience that was experienced from their having to be discharged at the station 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 refreshing 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 West Coast Times of the 2nd iast., says: — "The chief event of the month in connection with mining matters was the despatch of an expedition by the Government, in the s.s. Kennedy, to ascertain the fate of and relieve the diggers of Jackson's and Big Bay districts, news having arrived in town to the effect that the most frightful destitution reigned there, no vessel having called at either place for nearly three months. The nearest depot of stores was at Okariti, to reach which, however, involved a long and perilous journey of some eighty miles, across many unbridged and unboated rivers and round dangerous headlands, where the unwary traveller is placed in imminent jeopardy of being washed away by the sur£ The tempestuous and rainy weather which prevailed during the months October and November rendered the journey doubly hazardous ; but driven to desperation by hunger and the fear of starvation, a party of diggers accomplished it from Jackson's Bay, and made known the condition of those left behind. The Kennedy was not off, the purj o c of the expedition was accomplished, and we are happy to Bay the men were not found reduced to the dire straits represented by the first ciy raised, and were moreover ascertained to be in the receipt of good returns, and when supplied with provisions were quite content to remain where they were." !

The Australasian thus tteata upon the neces* sity of sending a steamer in search of the mUsing boat's crew from the Auckland Islands:— " While the terrible story told by the few survivora of the -wreck of the fthip General Grant on : the Auckland Islands, still lingers in the memory of the public, no effort whatever has yet been made by the Victorian Government towards ascertaining the fate of the chief mate and three seamen who went to sea in a small boat, twelve months ago, with a view to bring relief to their fellow-sufferers, Bnd were never heard of afterwards. Surely the probabilities of the case are enough to warrant Bending the Colonial steanv sloop Victoria once more to the scene of so many disasters ; not, as before, to depart without leaving behind something to help those who might be shipwrecked on those islands in the future, but I some subbtantial token of the human sympathies of the first Australian colony. The ]New South Wales Government annually sends a vessel with supplies for shipwrecked people to the Booby , Islands, and if the New Zealand Government j omit to do their duty in respect to the Auckland j Islands, there is no excuse for our imitating a bad example, or asking ourselves who are our responsible neighbours in this matter. It is extremely probable that the boat in question drifted to some other island, that it was destroyed on beaching, and that the occupants are now living without means of escape. In any case it seems not too much to ask, in the interests of humanity, that H.M.C.S.S. Victoria Bhould be sent to the islands, not only to search for the lost, but also to leave behind an iron house of refuge, and stores secured in cases fof galvanized iron, for future castaways. Such means of relief left in the principal harbor might go far in saving many lives, and doing an amount of good which cannot be reckoned up in money value. As was mentioned at the time, the instructions given to Captain Norman, and his limited supply of stores, precluded his doing this when in search of shipwrecked people on these islands once before j but he might be better guided now. We nnd on inquiry that the Victoria is unemployed, and the death of the late lamented Captain Wilkinson leaves the Admiralty survey in such condition that a few of the ensuing months can be fully occupied with shore duties. If the Victorian Government do nothing, why should not the Victorian public subscribe to help in this cause ?" Great floods have occurred in the Provinces of Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough, causing destruction to property to a large extent. The Dunedin Evening News of the Ist inst. contains the following glowing description of the ability of a local preacher. As he intends visiting Invercargill shortly, it is but right that successes achieved in other localities by our "admirable Crichton" should be fully set forth :— " Any one who hears Mr Earl must be convinced that to be able to speak well is an ornament and useful accomplishment. The importance of good elocution is sufficiently obvious. Mr Earl follows nature, and to follow nature is the ffundamental rule of oratory. Mr Earl evidently has frequently observed the various ways by which nature expresses the several perceptions, emotions and passions of the human mind, and he distinguishes them from the mere effort of arbitrary custom or felse taste. Mr Earl gives and clear a full utterance to the several simple and complex sounds. An insipid flatness and langour is an almost universal fault in reading, and many public speakers often suffer their words to drop from their lips with such a faint and feeble utterance, that they appear neither to understand or feel what they say themselves, nor to have any desire that it should be understood or felt by their audience. Mr Earl does not belong to the class I here refer to. On the contrary, he is an almost perfect preacher. As there are some cripples that get on horseback because they cannot walk, so there are some people that bellow because they cannot speak. Such fools should pay a visit to Mr Earl on to-morrow evening. Mr EarJ'a oratory emphatically points out the precise meaning of a sentence in Scripture, and he shows plainly in what manner one idea is connected with and rises out of another idea, and he gives to every syllable its proper sound, and thus conveys to the mind of the audience the full import of the wholo quotation. A grammarian could improve his grammar, a logician his logic, a rhetorician his flowers of speech, a man of sense his sagacity, by attending a course of Mr Earl's admirable sermons. He never leaves a topic until he has explained its difficulties in a manner that exhausts all that is complicated in it. A poor subject he enriches by his oratory, and a good theme literally glows on his tongue. During h« discourse not an eye sleeps— every head is directed towards the preached. His manner and his matter is ever simple. Since his commencement in St. George's Hall there has been no reduction in the number of his attendants, who include members of almost every Christian persuasion. And no wonder. There is no preacher in Dunedin equal to Mr Earl in the gift of oratory. He is a genuine orator. He speaks with ease, and consequently the listener hears with ease. As painful speaking, entails painful attention, so does fluent wisdom yield a pleasurable sensation to the ear of the pleased orator. Mr Earl says common sayings iv an uncommon way. The strength of his voice, the obvious earnestness of his manner, the picturesqueness of his gestures, the excellent delivery I of his anectode, his splendid talent for telling narratives derived from Scripture, and his ability for passing with perfect ease from plain sense to the highest flight of pathos, and to the highest reach of oratory — all these do contribute a pious attraction, which sufficiently explains the power he exercises over the large audience, which, every Sunday evening crowds to hear Mr Earl in St. George's Hall. Indeed it is a pleasure to hear him. There is no turning up of the whites of the eyes ; there is no snuffling ; there is no nasal accompaniment ; there is no drowsy apathy or aristocratic langour. AU is life and energy and muscular honesty of purpose with Mr Earl. He is a man who piously hates shams, and ho knows well that many men who wear the cloth divine are merely shams. A good preacher wants a good audience, and a few men hke Mr Earl would soon prove the death of Eitualistic mummery, because the emptiest brain would, after a time, prefer his simple, but strong oratory, to imbecility clad in the religious millinery in which the Bishops of Dunedin and Salisbury evidence their supersti- : tious degeneracy. What we want in the church i is more of the soul, and less of the body — more ( intellect wedded to spirit, and less sensuality i wedded to mercenary motives and pampered , luxuries. '

VmiTirMrttiii i iiTiiium mi iiJKni'Miifi'M'' """"■' ll """""" Tir ' """' ™" Referring to the Otagd and Southland Invest* ment Company, Morgan's Trade Circular states v that the directors, having received their accounts < from Dunedin, have declared an interim dividend ■ at the rate of ten per cent, per annum for the half year ended 31st July last, leading a consider- T able balance. , The sudden death of Mr Hill's splendid mare, Fashion, alluded to in our report of the races, is * much to be regretted 5 being not only a loss to * the owner, but also to the Province. It is a remarkable coincidence that Exile, the most promis- a ing horse in Victoria, after running, and winning, c staggered and died, in a similar way to that of Mr Hill's mare, Fashion. The Boston correspondent of the New York Tribune supplies the following notice of Mr | Dickens in America :— " Meanwhile, until night, Mr Dickens has kept himself strictly secluded from all but one or two old and intimate friends. His rooms are at Parker House, and there he has remained, busily engaged all day, in writing and study, except when he is taking his daily eight mile ' constitutional ' walk with hi 3 publisher, Fields, and steadily declining all the invitations to breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, parties, balls, and drives, that hospitable Boston pours in uponin an unfailing stream. Much of his time is spent in the most laborious pains-taking study of the parts he is to read. Indeed, the tfublio has but little idea of the cost, in downright hard work of mind, and body, and voice, at which these readings are produced. Although Mr Dickens has read, now, nearly five hundred times, I am assured, on the best authority, that he never attempts a new part in public until he has spent at least two months over it in study, as faithful and searching as Rachel or Cushman would give to a new character. 3} This study extends not merely to the analysis of the text, to the discrination of character, to the minutest points of elocution ; but decides upon the facial expression, the tone of the voice, the gesture, the attitude, and even the material surroundings of the actor, for Acting it is, not heading, in the ordinary sense at all. Mr Dickens i 3 so essentially an artist that he c&nnot neglect the slightest thing that may serve to heighten the effect of what he has undertaken to do. And he is as conscientious, sj strict in all hi* dealings — a rery martinet in busineßß, and thorough man of affairs — that he will leave nothing undone that time and labor can do, to give the public, that pays so much for the pleasure of him, the full worth of its money. This is the reason why he, a man of the world, greatly delighting in society, thoroughly fitted to enjoy it himself, and to make othess enjoy it — deliberately cuts himself off from it, until his task shall be done. ' I am come here,' he says, 'to read. The people expect me to do my best, and how can. I do it if I am all the time on the go ? My time h not my own, when lam preparing to read, any more than it is when I am writing a novel, and I can as well do one as the other without concentrating all my powers on it until it is done.' " The heavy traffic that is now on those streets from the railway station to the East is cutting up Esk and Tay streets with a rapidity that will soon render them extremely bad, unless steps are taken to keep them in repair. The number of drays loaded with metal for the roads now being constructed, "and the wool-laden waggons that are continually passing and repassing, renders it absolutely necessary that a small gang of maintenancemen should be engaged. In all cities in the colony, even where municipalities exist, the maintenance of the main roads is undertaken by, and a charge upon, the Government. In Invercargill, there being no Town Board or Council, it is impossible that the streets can be kept in a proper condition" unless the Government do it. A few pounds expended at the present time would do more to preserve and consolidate our permanent streets than as many hundreds will do a year hence. The middle of Esk-street and Tay-street require repairs of an inexpensive character. A few loads of gravel for the filling up of ruts, and fresh timber for the crossings from the Government offices to Rose's corner, in Tay-street, and also the crossing at Deveron-street, is all that is needed to preserve the road for a long - time to come. This is not, however, aH that is 'wanted. The drains in all the principal streets have become foul and dilapidated, and unless there is something done before winter sets in, they will be entirely useless, dangerous, and destructive of life. The Government should at once attend to this matter. A gang of four experienced men could do all required iv a few weeks. In other towns, of no greater importance than Invercargill, a much larger number of men are constantly employed in work similar to that we have mentioned. Among the recent contracts let there is one for lowering and gravelling the aide paths in Eak-streets, from the corner of Dee-street to the railway station. This was much, required, the existing sideway being very dangerous, aud compelled passengers by the train to walk through the cart-track. It is a work that should have been long since accomplished, and will be a great convenience to the public when finished. It is to be hoped that other works of a like character will be pushed forward. A meeting of the Committee of the Southland Horticultural and Agricultural Society took place at the Princess Hotel, on Friday last. Mr D M' Arthur was voted to the chair. It was resolved* — "That the Secretary adveriise three extra prizes, for peaches, plums, and gosseberries, respectively ; and that in future the fresh butter shown should be free from salt. That the date of the exhibition should be altered to Wednesday and Thursday, March 18th and 19th." Other business in connection with the ensuing Show having been taken into consideration and arranged, the meeting terminated. It was formerly accepted as a truism that no matter whatever other organisations nagged, the Invercargill Volunteer Fire Brigade would never fail in maintaining its character for perseverance and efficiency. The attendance of the members was most exemplary on all occasions of either fire or practice. What has become of them now ? For months past nothing has been known of the condition of the Brigade. Fortunately, there has been no fire in the town calling for their assistance; but it is notable that the custom of periodical inspecting the engines and the firetanks has been neglected, and this leads to a fear that in the event of a fire breaking out the machinery for its extinguishment might be found unworkable, and the members of the Brigade undisciplined and useless. This compeny did eaia for itself a high reputation, and it is to be hoped that, by a return to its former activity, it w" 1 maintain it. It ia an institution that Bhould not be allowed to retrograde.

... .. . - - -....-'■■■ - - 1 His Honor the Superintendent of Tarshnki nras recently elected a member of the Provincial Council of that province. He is reported to have laid: — In consenting to be nominated to the Provincial Council, he had been actuated by the wish to simplify the form of G-ovemment and issimilate it to local institutions in other parts He had always been accessible to the public on the smallest matters. He thought, however, that if he had a seat in the Provincial Council some time might be saved, and some difficulties ivoided. He was in favor of the simplification of the form of government, and economy as far as possible, but he would not be led away so far by the cry for the latter as to risk the efficiency of the government, and place the province in danger of a state of anarchy. The condition of the people was ou the whole better than that of the Maories. With regard to the prospects of the province he believed they were really at their lowest point, and that they had a solid basis of future prosperity, for nobody who used his eyes could doubt that the district would in' time be occupied by a thriving agricultural population. He did not say that people would make their fortunes, but they would be well off. He considered the present form of government too complicated, and that there was no sufficient link between the Provincial and Colonial Governments. It was impossible to foresee what the position of the Province would be in twelve or evenßix months hence. With regard to any changes which might take place in the form of Government, he thought that no sudden alteration should be made, but that such gradual modifications should be introduced as to adapt the form of government to the people's requirements. He would limit the power of the Provincial Councils to local matters, and would also limit ■their legislative power. This would tend to make the laws of the colony more uniform. The main function of the Provincial Council should be to discuss local matters, but measures of any importance or magnitude should be finally made law by the Q-eneral Assembly. An experiment was now being made in We3tland, by the result of which we should be able to judge of the utility of this mode of government, but even if this experiment lailed, this system should not be condemned, as the nature of the pop^ation of Westland should be taken into consideration. He merely wished to say further that he bad consented to enter the Provincial Council as an experiment. Some small incongruities must necessarily occur, but he thought on the whole it might be productive of some good. At all times he reserved to himself the right of resigning his seat at any future time, in case the experiment did not answer his expectations. A Wellington contemporary, of Jan 7, has the following : — Much uncertainty prevails with reference to the time of Sir George Grey's departure from the colony for England. Hitherto it has been definitely nnderstood that his Excellency would arrive from Auckland to-day and leave by the Mataura to-morrow, but his intention it seems likely, is now abandoned. By the latest Auckland advices we learn that he returned to Auckland from Ohinemuri and the Upper Thames on the 24th ult. The Sturt went np the Ohinemuri stream nearly as far as Te Hint's house, but that chief did not show himself. His Excellency made an attempt to get the country thrown open to the diggings, but without success. On Saturday week he was waited upon by a deputation of members of the Provincial Council, who presented him with the farewell address lately passed by that body. The same afternoon Sir George left for Kawau in the Sturt, and was to return to Auckland on the following Monday. Sir George Grey loveß to shroud his intentions in mystery, but in this case we imagine that he cannot make his mind up what to do. It is now known that the Duke of Edinburgh will not reach New Zealand before the Bth of March, and hence Sir George Bowen, our new Governor, does not leave Sydney till the Feburary Panama steamer. This may possibly have induced Sir George Grey to put off his departure from Kawau for some time longer. The Wellington Independent of the 12th Just., referring to the results of prospecting for gold in the Province, says : — ' The following notes relative to the Makara locality have been furnished to us by a gentleman of considerable experience of gold-mining in the Australian colonies and New Zealand : — " Having read one or two of Mr Grove's most elaborate-looking reports respecting his efforts to discover payable gold in the neighborhood of Makara, and having an afternoon at my disposal, I started in company with a couple of companions whom I was fortunate enough to entice into accompanying me With but a dim idea as to the exact route that led to this problematical Ophir,-we managed to get as far as South Makara, where we met a son of Mr Monaghan's, who, it turned out, had but a few moments before returned from the place. He informed us that he had been one of Grove's party since it had been organised, and had shared the labor of prospecting the various gullies figuring so pompously in the reports to the Superintendent j that they could get no more than a poor color wherever they had tried ; that bo far his Bhare of the proceeds had been an infinitesimal one ; and that as Grove was about to transfer his efforts to a remoter part of the coast, he had come to the conclusion to give it up, which account, by the way, contrasts somewhat unfavorably with Mr Grove's report. The young man very kindly volunteered to guide us to the foot of the spur, and instructed us as to the rest of the way, but expressed his doubts of our being able to reach there that night, as it was then about dark, which surmise eventually proved correct. We ascended the hill and followed the track as well as the faßt waning light would permit j but not having the powers of the Bed Man in that respect, we had to confess ourselves beaten, and seek a camp for the night. We accordingly tumbled down the first gully — for no other word so well describes the process — until we came to water, and there on a rugged projection of the hill we made ourselves comfortable for the night, still thinking that we were somewhere on the same creek as Mr Grove's party. In the morning we ran the creek down to the sea, when it proved that we had dropped into the Waireka— the locality, I believe, which gave the first indications of gold in the province. On the whole, I cannot say that I was favorably impressed with the auriferous appearance of the country. Although in some respects bearing a sort of general resemblance to the bed rock of Gabriel's Gully — a sort of metamorphic shale — yet, when examined closely, it -does not confirm tb« first impression.

Our Bluff corespondent, Under date 6th $eb, writes :•— " The Bite for the erection of the new 1 Telegraph and Post office has been finally fixed, i and the building will now be proceeded with I without delay. 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 is Mr Kerr architect, the contractor is Mr Moffat, both of Invercargill ; the dimensions of the building are 25 x 32 and will be decided into five apartments. It is expected that the whole will be finished by the middle of next month. We believe that it is the intention of the Government upon the completion of the offices to conjoin the two departments." The Melbourne papers relate the following : — " A rather curious case 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, where, soon after his admission, he expired. An j inquest was held on the body, when several wit- j 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 of the body, gave it as his opinion that the immediate cause of death was disease of the lungs and kidneys from want of proper attendance, and the verdict of the jury was to that effect. The body of the man was interred ; many a regret for his demise waß expressed by those who knew him, and often was a kind word dropped to his memory. However, a female who was one of 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, haunt* ing the scenes of life. 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 says : — " 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 from two to twenty birds in each, according to the different species. The cages contained blackbirds, 100; missel thrushes, 4 ; song thrushes, 100 ; starlings, 150 ; hedge accentors, 100 ; larks, 150 ; linnets, 150 ; robins, 50 ; house sparrows, 150 ; goldfinches, 100 ; yellow-hammers, 12 ; and black caps, 2; partridges, pheasaiits, swans, &c, to be added in London, making up a complement of 1500 birds. The quantity of seed, paste, corn, &c., laid 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-shoofcing. on Tuesday next. The contest is with the Rirerton 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 ba 1 ! 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 cleri of the municipality, he was presented with a silver bouquet holder, subscribed for by 160 natives of Tasmania. He was to have visited the salmon ponds on the same day, but was prevented from so doing by the inclemency of the weather. After lunching with the Speaker of the Assembly, His Royal Highness forwarded a request to the public, who had assembled outside the house, that they would not cheer him as he left. His horses were 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 Ofcago 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 Jehner's letter, we learn that it was his intention to leave England on or about the 3rd February, and may be expected in Dunedin the commencement of next month. He intimates that if after three years labors, the Church expressed dissatisfaction, he would resign his see. 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 that a similar activity is being shown in other district!. ,

Mr R. P. Whitworth, ft gentleman #b» k*l bad considerable experience ia the compilation <* Gazetteers for Victoria, New South W * l '*» , South Australia, is now visiting New Zoaland » order to prepare a companion work to the tbef mentioned. The completeness of the volumes published may be estimated as of a high claw, from the fact that the New Zealand Government have supplemented the projected volume to' ta» extent of £400. Mr Whitworth was at th» Bluff a few days since en route to the Northern Provinces, and may be expected to return in • few weeks. The work he is engaged upon is an important one, and the publisher being Mr F. F. Bafflier, of Melbourne, is a guarantee that it will be complete and well executed, a standard book of reference. One of the most violent hailstorms thaths* 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 ths* Invercargill only got the tail end of the storm. AWaikivi correspondent informs us that about four o'clock the weather in his district was most oppressive, and shortly after terrific thunder accompanied with hail of a size he never before witnessed came down with extreme force. H» describes the hailstones t% being as large M 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 storm. We cannot yet learn if the crops have been seriously injured or not. The Grey River Argus says:— From nrioni 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'a 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, hare been fairly disheartened, and they are now leaving in hundreds. The business people on the diggings, and the wholesale houses in 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 along the beach southward during the last weak or two, but that very few can be seen proceeding in th« 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." From late northern papers we learn that Sir George Grey has discovered some rich gold-bear-ing 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 Key. F. Thatcher). The gold is found in green-looking quartz, which is very thickly impregnated with the precious metal. The Age (Melbourne), 25th January haß the following telegram from. Sydney: — "A grand review took place this afternoon in the Domain, in which the military and rolunteers both took part. His Boyal Highness was present, in company with his Excellency the Governor and their suites. It was a grand sight' 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 Buites." The Grey River Argus reports a singular accident which was occasioned by lightning to the 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 partially injured. In consequence of the operator being unable to effect the necessary repairs communication' with HoMtika has been entirely suspended, and until a new instrument canbe obtained 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 shall be permitted to lapse without business being entered upon." 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 £15,000. There is every 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. 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, whiht during Sunday a cold winterly wind was experienced from the south, and overcoats and other wintry gar* , meats were in requisition on all «id«s,"