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Southland Times, Issue 902, 19 February 1868, Page 1

The clergymen of the variouri denomination* in Dunedin, held a meeting on Monday, the 10th instant, when it was resolved to appoint a day of humiliation aud prayer, haring reference to th» recent wrecks and destruction of life and pro* perty, from floods and storms. A deputation waited on the following day on His Honor the Superintendent, and the Hon the Boucitor-G-eneral, requesting them to clou the Govern* ment offices on the occasion. The.request mi complied with, and the 20th intt., is appointed m the day.The fifth annual inter- provincial cricket match, between the Otago and Canterbury dubs, took place on the Dunedin cricket ground, on Tuesday, the 11th inst. The attendance of spectators was numerous. The Otago team was again victorious, beating the Canterbury men with nine wickets to spare. The score was :— Canterbury, Ist inningt, 46; 2nd innings, 66.— Total, 102. Otago, Ist innings, 86 ; 2nd inning*, with nine wickets to spare, 18.— Total, 104. The New Zealand and Australian cultivators have no greater enemy to contend with than the thistle. In Victoria tens of thousands of pounds are expended annually in trying to exterminate it, and a heavy penalty is inflicted on the owner of land on which this objectionable weed is allowed to 'seed. In Invercargill and the suburbs the spread of this pernicious plant is very rapid, and the number now flowering very great; whole sections are literally covered with thistle*, and unless something is done before the seed* pods are ripe enough to be carried by the wind, the country will be soon deluged with this plants While on this subject, we may relate how the thistle first obtained a footing on Australian soil. A venerable son of Scotia in the early day. of the Port Phillip settlement, emigrated to thai colony; after being located for a short time on a beautiful farm in the vicinity of Melbourne, the old gentlemen became melancholy and discontented. He came to . the conclusion that it . was the absence of his fond loved, national thistle \ that had affected his mind, and resolved to import the seed. If the destructive effect of this act could have been foreseen we think the people would have forcibly exported the wild fanatic, ■ who, by riding a hobby, has worked dire mischief. ! The owners of property on which the thistle is . spreading should immediately take steps to destroy > them. If this is not done at once, legislation : will be required to compel landowners to el«an I their land. '