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Southland Times, Issue 906, 26 February 1868, Page 2

The competitive match of the Invercargill Rifle Volunteers that was to hare taken place on Friday last, but on account of the ltormv weather was postponed, comes off to-day. This is the match of the season. The object is to test the skill and precision of those ambitious to fire for Colonial prizes at the Grand. Match, to be held at Wellington during the visit of His Royal Highnew the Duke of Edinburgh. According to regulations, no member is qualified to be nominated as a representative of a corps who does not make fifty points with twenty-one shots. The perseverance in practice and the high scores that have lately been made by some of the members lead to the hope that our local Volunteers will supply men who will, if not victors, at least be sharp competitors with the picked soots from all the provinces. For a considerable time past, the dearth of amusement has been somewhat conspicuous. Notwithstanding that Invercargill possesses a very handsome and well appointed Theatre, with but few exceptions the house has been closed for nearly two years, for want of public support. We learn, however, that a change is likely shortly to take place. Mr Jones, the spirited proprietor of the Southland Club, enters into possession of the Theatre as lessee on the 2nd of March, and has already shown signs of a determination to spare no pains or expense in placing before the public amusement of an attractive character. Under the management of Mr Jones, Mr and Mrs Robert Heir will appear before an InvercargiU audience, and will be followed by other talent of a high order. It is to be hoped that Mr Jones will receive the cordial support of the citizens, in his endeavor to supply genuine amusement, during the coming winter months. ' Itis reported by the "Wellington Independent that an attempt was recently made by the Government to remove Sullivan, the Maungatapu murderer, from Nelson to some other settlement. He was brought down quietly in ordinary costume to the Otago, on her last trip from Nelson to this I port, by a constable in plain clothes, but as the affair became kuown, the captain refused to take him, and the prisoner had to be handcuffed and put on shore. A very valuable addition to the flocks of the province has just been made by John Morison, Esq., of Dipton Station, by the importation, from Vermont, U.S., of a small flock of very superior rams of the pure merino breed. The animals were driven through the town yesterday, and, considering their voyage, they looked remarkably well. Our flockowners seem determined to spare no expense or pains in perfecting the quality of their fleeces, so far as attention to blood is concerned, and it wants but equal attention and care in the preparation of the wool for the market, to place Southland brands at the head of wool s&lec quotations. It must be satisfactory to the consumer 'to observe that the butchers have decided to give him the benefit of the decline in the price of mutton. They advertise this morning a reduction of one penny per Ib. on the indespenßible chop. Yesterday by private letter we learned of tka sudden death of an old and highly esteemed fellow townsman — Mr C. A. Ross. In the earlier days of the gold fever here Mr Ross came over from Victoria, and enjoyed for some time an ample share of the success which then seemed to attend on every one in busines. The general depression which speedily followed, however, did not spare him any more than others, and ultimately he had to abandon the battle of life in this locality, and seek fresh fields for his energies. With this object in view he recently went North, and had just made a commencement in Wan- ! ganui when the accident occurred, which caused his death. On the Bth inst., he and several assistants were engaged riding in some stock, when he got thrown from his horse, receiving injuries from which he never rallied, and very shortly expired. We feel sure the sympathy of his friends, and of the community generally, will be substantially expressed towards his widow and family, whom his untimely fate has left in most needful circumstances. Subscription lists for the memorial to the late Croabie ward are filling up fast at Christchurch and Lyttelton. It is proposed to erect a memorial window in Trinity Cnureh, Lyttelton. Some recent accounts from Queensland have induced numbers of diggers to leave the West Coast. The " Grey River Argus " of the 13th inst. reports : — " Eighty-seven men left tor that place yesterday in the Tararua, and many more are talking of going, For their information we may state that we have seen a letter from the Queensland diggings giving a most deplorable account of the prospects of the men there. At the latest accounts there were about 8000 men on the diggings, while only 250 were on gold ; but even these could make no use or* their good luck, for there was no water to be had in the vicinity ; and the writer of the letter, while he wishes he had never left the West Coast, expresses his belief that in the course of a month the population now gathered together on the Queensland diggings would be once more scattered over the face of the earth. By letters received from the North Island, the " Lyttelton Time* ' ' learns that it is probable the Government will oxpend the whole of the sum voted for tho reception of the Duke of Edinburgh in Auckland and Wellington,

The Dunedin "Evening Star," of tha 19th ingt says !— " Extreme satisfaction has been givea in England by the offioial notification that the Long-pending arrangements for the consolidation of the New Zealand Provincial Loans have been at length completed. It was followed by an immediate improvement in all the securities of that colony j and the Stock Exchange lost no time in signifying its approval of this tarJy act of expediency and justice by ordering the New Zealand Government Bonds, 1396, and the province of Auokland Bonds, first and second issues, to be officially quoted. The newa from the Auokland diggings continues satisfactory, though* the want of efficient ouartz*orußhing machines forms a great obstacle to the development of the field. The " Weekly News," of the 31st ultimo, saya: — "The cutter Whitby, Doughty, master, arrived from Opotiki this morning. The news is anything but pacific Captam Doughty reports Opotiki as being surrounded by a large number of natives (H&u-haus), who have declared their intention of attaoking the place, on receiving reinforcements. Major St. John has ordered every available man to be placed on pay to be in. readiness for any emergency. Piequets are ou^ day and night scouring the bush, and they frequently fiud evidence of the rebels being in the neighborhood. About 200 natives were seen on the beach, and a party of militiamen were Bent out to attack them, when they very prudently made off. Probably, as the majority of the king natives are now -willing to be at peace, this local disturbance at Opotiki may cease." The "West Coast Times" has the following : — " It is rumored that the Government oontemplate some important changes in the location of the Judges of the Supreme Court. It is said that all the iudges will reside permanently at Wellington, which will thus become the Westminster of New Zealand, and from thence they will go on circuits to the other parts of the oolony." A Sydney telegram, dated the 11th inst., which appears in the " Melbourne Evening Star" of that date, says : — " Great excitement and considerable alarm have been created by the discovery that a Fenian society has for some time been organised in Sydney, and that it has been acting in concert with the agitators at home. The authorities are thoroughly on the alert, and arrestß are speedily looked for.'' On Monday evening last, Signor Vertelli, according to announcement, performed his rather hazardous feat of walking along a rope stretched from the top of the Theatre to a point on the opposite side of the street, across the top of the town market. Quite a crowd had collected to witness the daring performance, which was heightened in effect by a considerable display of fireworks. The spectators seemed highly pleased with the successful accomplishment of the attempt, cheering the artiste lustily at the conclusion of the exhibition. Having concluded the out-of-doors part of the programme, M. Vertelli aud bis audience adjourned to the Theatre Royal, where the evening's entertainment wa9 resumed ; the bill of fare on this occasion being diversified by the display of sundry feats of strength, performed with much grace and little effort. Our old acquaintance Mr JJ. B. Wotton, as usual, highly delighted his audience by Lis inimitable comicali-ti.-s. Messrs Lloyd and Milburn also contributed their full quota of enjoyment in the orchestral department. We observe that to-night M. Verteili is to eclipse all his previous feats, by walking a rope stretched over a six hundred feet span, at tie jetty, first by himself, and then with a man on his back, finishing up by turning a double somersault into the wuter. A proportion of the proceeds of this exhibition is to be given iv aid of the family of the man Smith, killed by a fall of gravel out the East Eoad & few days ago. Amongst the passengers per the s.s. Otago, from Dunedin, which arrived at the Bluff on Sunday last, was Mr H. S. Earl, a preacher concerning whose remarkable talents several highly eulogistic paragraphs, from Dunedin papers, have recently appeared in our columns. If Mr Earl possesses even a tithe of the oratorical powers ascribed to him, the premises in which he is to preach (Henderson and Bonar's old store) will doubtless prove far too small for the audiences that will crowd to hear him. The following letter and enclosure are published in the Otago " Provincial Government Gazette." On the cultivation of flax: — Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 6th February, 1868. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose a copy of a letter dated the 30th December last, from Mr John Moore, of Ballarat, in the Colony of Victoria, stating terms on which he would be able to manufacture New Zealand Flax. ■ Mr Moore has been informed that no sum has been appropriated by the Colonial Legislature as a premium for the successful manufacture of New Zealand Flax, but that I would send a copy of his letter to each of the Superintendents, in order that they might, if they should think it desirable, communicate directly with, him on the subject. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, E. W. Stafford. Hia Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Ballarat, December 30th, 1867. Sir,— I send you a copy for tht manufacture of the New Zealand Flax. I have manufactured it in Europe, also in this colony. I got it made into linen at home, which made very good linen, and white, arid for strength nothing could exceed it. A man can do one ton per week. The first ex? j pence would be one nundred pounds, which would put up everything fitting for twelve or fourteen men to work at — each mau would do one ton per week — by enlarging the manufactory you could employ as many men as you like. I want a premium of five hundred pounds ; also, if there is a company formed I want two shares, one for my son and one for myself. I will undertake the management of the factory. I would rather manufacture it in Melb jurne, I think I could do it cheaper than in New Zealand. I won't ask all the money until I give ample satisfaction. Direct in care of Mr Dimsey. Common School, White Flat, Ballarat, Colony Victoria. Your obedient servant, (Signed) John M >ore. I