Local and General.

Southland Times, Issue 921, 23 March 1868, Page 1

Local and General.

Our Bluff correspondent under date 19th inst, says : — There is no signs of the Rangitoto with themaUvia Suez, The weather has been very thiok aUthe morning with drizzling Am, and blowing fresh from the westward, the signal station is enveloped in mist and undefc these circumstances the steamer wiUnotbe visible until she has made the harbor. We are enabled to state that, from arrangements made by the P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company, in future its steamers wUI run direct from Southampton to Colon, without touching at any intermediate ports. By the adoption of this route aU he unhealthy coaling places wUI be avoided, and the entire trip from England to New Zealand divested of the unpleasantness of caUing it West Indian ports noted for the prevelance of fever. This alteration in the route cannot but prove satisfactory to the pubhc, and it shows a determination on the part of the directors to mace' such changes in the programme first adopted as experience may prove likely to increase the comfort of the passengers, and ihorten the time occupied in the trip. In commmenting upon the steady progress of the receipts of the Victorian RaU ways, ths ' Argus' ofthe 10th inst. says : — "We are glad to notice that the traffic on the Government lines df raflway begins to show some improvement. The: aggregate receipts for the past week amount to £10,797, as against £10,430 in the corresponding week of last year, and the aggregate to date from the beginning of the year is £101,093, as compared with £99,301."

A novel and somewhat exciting chase of a resident of the town, by an amphibious animal, known as the sea lion, now being exhibited at the establishment of Mr Von Hammer, Tay-street, took place on Sunday morning last. As far as we can learn, it would appear that about seven o'clock on the morning of the day mentioned, Mr Michael Cahill, of the Provincial Hotel, was proceeding up the street towards the post-office, when on nearing the Fire Brigade buUdings, he heard an unearthly sound. He describes it as being something between the bark of a dog, the roar of a lion, and the hiss of a serpent. On turning round he beheld a creature bounding towards him in great jumps, roaring at every spring. Thinking at first i that it was a savage or mad dog, and considering that discretion waa the better part of valor, he took to his heels and ran with electric speed until he reached the Church of England, where, pantng with exertion, and trembling with fear, he paused in the portico, and timely peeped out to ascertain the whereabouts of his pursuer. There he was foUowing in the direct track, jumping with a speed that convinced "Mike" that, although he was the fleetest of foot, his place of refuge was not safe ; but, with true Hibernian instinct, he was determined to scan more distinctly the character ofthe animal that had given him so ominous a morning's salutation. He had time to make a few observations. On came the brute snorting and roaring— it was unlike anything he hid seen before, being neither dog or fish, but resembling, to some extent, each . It had the head of the seal, the body of a dog, with four web-feet, by the use of which it covered

several feet of ground at a bound. Thinking that the timo occupied in his observations had given his antagonist, who had nearly reached him, too great an advantage, our townsman darted from his hiding place, dodging round the church corners, then towards Eskstreet, back into Tay-htreet, still closely followed, where he got the advantage of his roaring pursuer in the straight running, and on approaching the Scandanivan Hotel, placards announcing that a aea Hon was being exhibited led to tbe conclusion that this must be the animal. With haste he made foi that establishment, and speedily battered at the door with an energy that threatened the panels with destruction, and aroused the inmates. Mr Von Hummer, upon making his appearance, lecognised his "pet," and seeing it had become excited by the chase, procured a rope, and witli great dexterity flung the noose over its head ; amidst jumping and bellowing on the part of the captive, he was safely caged in his den. We have paid a visit to the creature and must acknowledge that though not large he is a nasty looking customer. He was trotted out for in-* spection by Mr Von. Hammer who appears to have him under great control, feeding him from his hand, but we observed that he held an iron bar of which the animal seemed to have wholesome fea& It is well worth an inspection by all interested in natural history. We learn from the Queensland papers that that*colohy has at length obtained a new Land Act It is a long and elaborate measure, and is the work, not of any one man, but of a variety of interest" that have mutually contributed and

cosnpromised their.' ideas.:' **'- It includes what different parties have asked for — free selection, fencing, good tenure, deferred payments, and cheap land. If it draws capital and labor to the soil, weU and good, but without this all crotchets are vain. The foUowing is extracted from the " ArgUß :' — "Amongst the colonial industries brought into notice of late, the manufacture of genera promises, to be the most successful, in consequence of the care evinced in its production. The Warrenheip Distillery Company, finding the difficulty of conten ling against the imported spirit to be, under ordinary circumstances insuperable, resolved to ■ obtain the requisite skiUed labor, and thus supply the deficiency, and sent to Holland for a man of sufficient experience and capacity. To-day, samples of their new manufacture, produced by the Dutch distUler, have been submitted to us. They compare so favorably with such weU-known brands as JDKZ and yellow seal, beside which they were placed, and none but the most competent judge could detect any difference. We have ,' no hesitation in saying that, with a spirit of such quality, not only the Melbourne trade, but that of all the other colonies, should bo secured. The Governor of H. M. Gaol begs to acknowledge, through these columns, the receipt of a donation of books through Mr Rose, BookseUer, towards the Gaol Library. On Friday, the 20th March, 2540 acres -pLAr land was sold. The purchasers were -MsieisSY Holmes, M'KeUar, and Elliott. Weundwrsia&lVthat othtr applications msfy shortly be expected ■