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Southland Times, Issue 907, 28 February 1868, Page 2

The Rifle Volunteers were engaged during nearly the whole of Wednesday last at the butta contesting for the honor of representing the district at the Great Colonial Eifle Match, to take place at Wellington in presence of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Although the weather was of a favorable character, the scores made were upon the whole very poor, no member having made points enough to qualify him for the coveted position of honor. The men themselves lay the blame principally on the rifles they have been supplied with, as being already well worn-out, and, consequently, not true. The Riverfcon Corps has been more successful, and will have the distinction of sending representatives north. The subjoined is the score of the Invercargill Corps : —

It will be seen that Mr Puettelkow is not to be allowed to retire from the position he has so long occupied as proprietor and manager of the Theatre Eoyal, without receiving the graceful consideration usually accorded on such occasions, viz., a complimentary benefit. Mr Puettelkow has for a number oi years been before the public in a diversity of characters —as proprietor and manager of the Theatre Eoyal, shipbuilder, and landlord of the Provincial Hotel —in all of which he has made himself conspicuous for energy and enterprise. During his management the Theatre has ever been available, at a merely nominal '-ate, for entertainments given for public or charitable purposes; as also for the convenience of the citizens in the holding of public meetings, the Horticultural Shows, &c. If some of Mr Puettelkow's speculations in catering for the public entertainment have proved less successful than he might reasonably have anticipated, the misfortune has been entirely borne by himself, wii hout lessening his efforts to provide suitable r©.

creation for the public. The benefit will tske place this evening. Besides the attractive character of the programme, Signor Vertelli will contribute hia quota to the night's entertainment. The "Daily Times" oftho 22nd inst. has the following:-It Waftouaiti, r on the morning of Friday last, early visitors to the beach observed I an irrmense shoal of fish close inshore, and presently found that a great number were obtainable through the receding tide'lea-rins? them behind. After the first discoverers had amply laden themselves, says the " Herald," the news rapidly spread and there were soon lots of people to gather the unusual harvest. 'There were, as well as large fish (of from one to two feet in length), a great number of sprats, or a similar variety, which have been pronounced by connoisseurs highly delicious There appears to be a difference of opinion as to which particular Species Jthe larger fish belonsr. They somewhat resemble the ling, while one who ought to be an expert in this [kind of knowledge says they are a description of blackfish; but by whatever name they may be known, they were first-rate eating. It is suggested' that the late storms may have caused the coast to be visited by these extraordinary shoals. The beach at Oamaru, says the local paper, is now a scene of great activity, numbers of men and drays being at work in collecting and removing the immense quantity of wool ex the un fortunate Star, now lying upon the shore- There are also a number of men and boys busily engaged in picking out the seaweed, &c, from the wool The purchasers of the wool have also fitted up most complete washing apparatusjit the site of the late bridge. There is a largeboiler erected, built into substantial masonry, for supplying hot water to the vats in which the wool is steeped in a solution of potash and soap. Numbers of boxes are placed in the stream, with perforated sides, and eratiags at each end, and the wool taken from the vats is placed in these and thoroughly rinsed; it is then carried up to the Esplanade, tnd spread oat on sheets of sailcloth to diy. In addition to the large quantity being cleansed as described, the contents of some 800 bales have been spread out upon a paddock at Mr J.Allen's, to dry. Every pains seems to have been taken to put the wool in marketable condition, and we hope that the gentlemen who have undertaken the risk and trouble wi 1! realise satisfactory pecuniary results. The barque Novelty has brought to Auckland a shipment of insectiverous birds for the local Acclimatisation Society. It appears that, notwithstanding the care bestowed upon them, both in the provision of a auitable house and food, together with uninterrupted attention during the voyage, a large portion have not outlived the severe weather occasionally encountered. The Society are, however, fortunate in receiving 161 birds of various kinds. The greatest mortality was amongst the robins, which died in numbers during the cold stormy weather. Out of ten hares put on board, one lived until nearly the termination of the journey, when the severe gale of the 2nd and. J3rdj instant proved fatal to it. It was found dead during the continuance of the gale. The collection, landed in safety, comprises: —nine pheasants, six goldfinches, 50 chaffinches, four woodlarks, three house-sparrows, 30 green linnets, five rockstarlings, a number of starlings, grey linnets, hedge-sparrows, thrushes, blackbirds, skylarks* yellowhammers, partridges, &c. At a meeting of the Invercargill Presbyterian Congregation, the following fitmncwl afciteuninfc was read and adopted : —

400 500 600 yds yds yds Tl. Color-Sergeant Scandrett... 2 10 12 Sergeant Moeller ... 4 2 o—6 Pr. Millar ... 15 7 2—24 „ Reese ... 17 19 6 — 42 „ Campbell ... 19 8 0—27 „ M'Arthur ... 8 16 10—34 „ Humphreys ... 9 2 o—ll „A. Brown ... 18 7 4—29 „C. Brown ... 14 14 2—30 „E. Stevens ... 10 4 7—21 „ Murphy ... 11 5 o—l6 „R. Taylor ... 11 7 9—27 „ Jas. Taylor ... 11 0 3—14 „J. Henderson ... 18 4 0 — 22 „ Jas. Hamilton ... 0 0 0 — 0 „ Sinclair ... 5 13 o—lB „ Oliver ... 2 3 3—B „ Cameron ... 3 7 o—lo0 — 10 „ Greig ... 10 2 5—17 „ Worsley ... 13 3 5—21 „F. Henderson ... 21 11 7—39

EECEIPTS. Bv Sustentation Fund . . £230 0 0 „' Church-door Collections . . 279 411 „ Seat Rents . . . . . 261 0 0 „ Special Collection for New Hebrides Mission . • • 2. 817 6 „ Donations . . . * . 23 0 0 „ Proclamation Fees . • . 22 10 0 „ Miscellaneous . • • 13 0 0 857 12 5 „ Balance from last Statement . 53 12 0 911 4 5 „ Balance due Treasurer . . 2<?5 13 7 Total . . . £1176 18 0 EXPBJTDITUIIB. To Sustentation Fund, accounted for to General Treasurer . . £230 0 0 „ Supplement to Mr Stobo . . 86 4 2 „Mr Stobo for travelling expenses 15 0 0 „ Precentor's salary to Bth Nov. 25 0 0 „ Beadle's salary to 14th January, 35 0 0 „ Loan Co., Loan to Trustees paid off 500 0 0 „ Loan Co., Interest on Loan . 39 1 3 „ Cost of Sec ion adjoining Manse 28 14 10 „ Cost of fencing Church section, end painting same . . 46 18 0 „ Insurance of Church and Manse 10 10 0 „ Labor and Improvements on Church sections . . . 12 19 9 „ Repairs to Church . . . 617 9 „ Cost of Books for Library and Donation to Sunday School . 11 19 0 „ Special Collections paid to proper authorities . . . . 82 10 10 „ Kerosene, and lamp glasses . 12 011 „ Sundries . . . 14 1 6 „ Special donation to Wallacetown 20 0 0 Total ... £1176 18 0