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Southland Times, Issue 910, 4 March 1868, Page 2

Sometime since we drew attention to the growing importance of the Riverton District, and pointed out that the people were entitled to expect from the General Government tb.3 extension of the Telegraph wire to that town, and that they should seek to obtain it. We are glad to be able to say that the suggestion has j I been acted upon. A memorial has been preseuted by the residents of the town of Riverton, and the surrounding districts to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to lay before the General Government the claims this district can advance for an extension of the line to that locality. The disposition that the Sta.ffoi> Ministry have hitherto evinced to comply with the legitimate requirements of the outlaying districts in every province, leads us to expect that the prayer of the requisitionists will bs freely responded to. The memorial that we subjoin is lucid, and the signatures attached embrace the names of th<j chief residents — Merchants, Pastoral, Agricutural, and business men — of this important district. The following is a copy of the petition. " Riverton, 6th November, 1867. — His Honor the Superintendent, Southland. — We, the undersigned, inhabitants of Riverton and district, humbly memorialise your Honor that you will lay before the General Government the desirability of extending the line of telegraph (now existing between the Bluff, Dunedin, and Invercargill,) to Riverton, and thereby bring this steadily advancing District into immediate connection with the other centres of population iv the colony. The growing importance of Riverton will be apparent to your Honor, when it is considered that it is the only port of entry for the auriferous district of Longwood and Orepuki, as also for a large portion of the Province, and Lake Wakatipu Goldfields. These considerations, together with the increasing Customs Revenue of the Port, will at once show your Honor the necessity of this memorial. The probable cost of such extension wduld be £500; the working expenses, £50; and the revenue derivable from same, £150 per annum. Your memorialists will ever pray."