The Southland Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 905, 24 February 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1868.

Our Bluff reporter, writing on 22nd inst. says : — During the last forty-eight hours, we had very fair samples of the two extremes of weather here, the morning of the 20th was very warm and mild, with a slight breeze from the eastward ; the weather-wise were remarking that it was too good to last long and that something else was coming. The shipmasters at the port had been expecting a blow for a couple of days, and had taken the precaution of making their moorings doubly Becure, and braced the yards taut up. About twelve noon on the 20th, a gale sprung up from the westward, carrying sand in clouds, and overwhelming everything with it, the wind was immediately foUowedby rain, which continued well into the afternoon, when it partly cleared up, the gale still blowing during the night, accompanied with thunder and lightning, and a very heavy hail storm fell in Ihe morning ; during yesterday, wiud,rain, and hail came down with -reat violence, which has continued till this morui.; r. and at the present moment there are no signs <<!" it abating. It is a fact of some interest to note that Krupp, of Easen, has orders on hand for guns to the. aggregate number of 2200, and the total value of £600,000. Krupp has now turned out altogether 8500 s^eel gun», of the value of £1,050,000.

The"P»Btoral limes" #tate» that a machine for the purpose of sheep shearing by steam is being constructed in Melbourne, and that it Bhear3 skins beautifully, but wants some further improTements before being generally applied to the living animal. Those who have seen it have no doubt but that the gentleman who is working out the idea -Hill bring it to a successful issue. It cuts quite close, and cannot injure the skin of the sheep, makes no second cut in the wool, and will do as much work as three men. f |The steamship Great Britain has again arrived at Melbourne, and, but for a mishap to her Btdam power, she would have anticipated the mail steamer, with December news. The " Argus" of ■ the 12th inst. reports :— The Geelong has won, but the race would have been with the famous Liverpool clipper but for a mishap to her steampower. Yesterday, shortly before two o'clock, the Geelong was telegraphed from Cape Otway, and as she passed she signalled that the Great Britain was astern, under canvas only, though almost becalmed, her shaft having broken on the fifty-fourth day out from Liverpool, when she was close in with the Australian coast. Little more than an hour afterwards the old ship was seen from the lighthouse at a long distance off, standing to the south. At sunset, however, she had got about six miles to the eastward of the Cape, under all sail, with a light breeza. She then appeared to be under easy steam, so that her shaft must have been temporarily repaired. Captain Gray signalled for tugs as he passed the Cape, and the Geelong saw the Resolute and Titian going down the bay to render what aid they could. The Great Britain will thus reach Hobson'a Bay some time to-day, after a magnificent passage (notwithstanding her misfortune) of fifty -eight days from port to port. Ihe "Daily Times" states that Mr Auld, the Home agent of the Province, in a letter which was reoeived by the Mail last evening, states that the ship Celestial Queen had been finally chosen to bring out the Salmon Ova. She was to sail on the 15th January, and she may be expected to arrive here early in April. The Viola sailed from Glasgow, for Port Chalmers, on the 3rd December, amongst her passengers being equal to 64£ adult assisted emigrants. The England, which sailed from London on the sth December, has amongst her passengers, equal to 10$ adult assisted emigrants. THe Committee appointed at the public meetng on Friday (says the "Daily Times," 19th,) relative to the relief of sufferers by the flood, held its first meeting yesterday afternoon, in the City Council Chamber, new Post Office.— There were present the Rev E. €K Edwards, the Ray Mr Cox Messrs J. Bathgate, L. O. Beal, G. Cook, H. Driver, J. Fulton, J. Gillies, R. Gillies, J. Macassey, R. B. Martin, J. Rattraj, G. Turnbull, J. Yogel, and J. S. Webb, secretary.— Mr Martin was called to tha chair. — Mr Webb stated that the Rev D. M. Stuart had written explaining that an engagement made several days ago would prevent his being present at the meeting. After a general conversation, Mr Macassey proposed a motion, which was subsequently several times modified, and then stood thus : — " That the Secretary be instructed to invite from the Mayors of country towns, the Clergy, and the Magistracy, in districts affected by the recent floods — and especially from any Local Committees which may be formed to co-operate with this Committee — information in regard to all cases of distress, for which public relief is invited by the Bufferers ; and that gentleman so addressed be requested to act as members of this Committee." — Mr J. Gillies seconded the motion. — Mr Turnbull proposed the following as an amendment : — " That an advertisement he inserted in the Provincial newspapers, inviting applications from on behalf of the sufferers by the late floods, such applications to be accompanied by a full statement of the particulars of each case, and references, to enable the Committee to ascertain how far they are entitled to relief." — Mr G. Cook seconded the amendment, which was adopted by 6 to 4 — Mr TurnbuU's proposal being now a substantive motion, Mr Yo:el moved as an amendment, to strike out the first portion of it, and to substitute, "That a circular letter be sent to such parsons as the Secretary may deem most fitting, residing in the districts affected by the late floods, asking them to invite applications," &c. — After a long conversation, this amendment was negatived and Mr TurnbuU's proposal was adopted. — On the motion of Mr Macassey, seconded by Mr Rattray, it was resolved, "That a subscription list be opened, for the purpose of providing a fund for the payment of preliminary expenses." — Tn the course of the meeting, it was stated that the Government had at its disposal a fund, out of which the pressing wants of any of the recently Bhipwreekep seamen could be met. Although happily free from the disastrous circumstances in which many of their contemporaries in the neighboring provinces have been involved through the late flood, the Bettlers in this district have, nevertheless, many serious obstacles to contend with at the present time, particularly those who have devoted their energies during the current season to the raising of agricultural produce. A prevalence of unseasonable weather during the summer has thrown harvest work nearly a month behind its average time, and will probably postpone its completion till the verge of winter, when a continuance of favorable weather cannot be looked for. It is therefore of the utmost importance to the husbandman that means should be at his disposal for the speedy cutting down and saving of bis crops, so as to take advantage of the short spells of breeze and sunshine which may occur. Unfortunately, all the available labor of the Province is now employed on the extensive road works in progress, at a scale of remuneration which renders it unprofitable for the farmer to enter into competition with the contractors to procure sufficient hands for his operations. It is therefore imperative to look ont for other means of reaping the frnits of his past toil, and luckily these are with ; n his reach. Everywhere machinery is coming extensively into use on the farm, as well as in other departments of industry, and although it was~~at one time believed that machinery could only be employed profitably on large estates, it i 3 now a fact that even the small farmer can find labor saving implements of numerous descriptions, suitable to his means and requirements. The settlers of Southland, we believe, have not been slow to realise this, to them, important fact, as the large" number of implements imported duvlng the past, year will show, and those who have not yet availed themselves of these means .of progress will no doubt feel the necessity of their doing 1 '- Iso during the ensuing season. Foremost amongst

the importers of this description of machinery, are the Messrs Hay Bros., who hare, we believe, during the past and present year sold a very large number of superior implements, principally reaping and tbreebing machines ; and it is Tery satisfactory to know that, in nine cases out of ten, these machines — though constructed at a cheap rate, to], bring them i»io general use — have given the greatest satisfaction to their purchasers, and proved of the utmost practical utility. From & number of similar documents, thejjMessrs Hay publish in this morning's issue 'twowstimonials as to the value of the reapers sold by them... and we cannot do better than commend thqfti to the consideration of those farmers who are at a loss what to do with their f&st ripening grain, in consequence of the high price of manual labor. We learn that the protest entered against Mr Meadows's horse Postboy — who ran first in the race for the Maiden Plate at the late meeting — on the ground that he was disqualified through having previously won an advertised race, has been sustained by the stewards, who are supported in their decision by the opinion of the Otago Jockey Olub. The stakes have consequently been handed over to Idle Boj (the second horse), and Mr. Riddle's Nelly Grey is placed second.