The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 925, 30 March 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1868.

This evening a new programme will be submitted at the Theatre. The performance will commence with the comic drama of "Delicate Ground," a ballad by Mr Wotton. and the reading of "Ingoldsby's Vulgar Boy j" to conclude with the comic farce, " Rough Diamond." The programme is an attractive and varied one, and should command a full bouse. The total value of the imports at the several ports of New Zealand during the quarter ending the 31st of December last, amounts to £1,250,983, against £1,676,814 during the corresponding quarter of 1868. Dunedin contributes £395,628 ; Lyttelton, £106,507 ; Hokitika, £154,313 ; Greymouth, £53,223 } Nelson, £112,899; Napier, £34,285 ; Wellington, £112,660 ; and Auckland, £140,880. The total value of the exports from the ports of New Zealand during the quarter ending the 31sfc December last, is £815,954, against £785,140 during ii ie corresponding quarter of 1866. Hokitika is :;£ the head of the list with £251,601 ; Dunedin next, £158,202 ; Greymouth, £127,730 - Westport, £119,382 ; Auckland, £62,652; Brighton, £40,877; Nelson, £17,245 j Invercarsrill, £10,402 ; Lyttelton, kB;-18i , and Wcllingt n, £4,818.

We hare been requested to call attention to an alteration in the date of Messrs Dalgety, Rattray and Co.'s sate of sugar. The sale is now to take place on Wednesday, lsfe April, in consequence of Tuesday, the day first advertised, being a holiday. Mr Thomas Rae, of Falconer, New South Wales, writing to the " Armidale Express," under date March 2nd, gives the following particulars of a visit of " Thunderbolt," of bushranging notoriety :— " Yesterday, about half-past 2 p.m., a man and a boy rode up to the tap-room ef my house. I was engaged in the Post-office with Mr John Coventry at the time, and hearing them calling out I looted out of the window, when the man sang out, " Two glasses of brandy." Calling out to my son to serve them, Mr Coventry and I had a good look at the horse he was sitting on. : I wpnt out, in company with Mr Coventry, and made the remark, "What a splendid horse." He said, "Yes; he's a Cossack. Have you a store here ? I want some things." I cried out to Mrs Eae, who went and served him in the stoic, he tendering a £5-note in payment. Having done my business with Mr Coventry, I went over to the Btore, when Mrs Rae said, " Can you give me | change for a £5-note ?" I said to the man, ' Yes, if you will take a cheque of mine,' when he smiled and said, •We will see.' He then came to the bar and called for two nobblers, insisting that I should take one. Although I scanned him pretty well, I could see no firearms — only a large lump on each side under his trousers. Ward's features were familiar to me, having seen both him and his brother many years ago. I said, 'You sre Fred. Ward.' He smiled, and said— 4 Yes — you knew me as soon as you saw me.' He then called out, ' Misses, two brandies, for Mr Rae 'and I,' which were duly served and paid for. He then asked me, ' Oh, you have some horsenails — I want some.' Having none, he could not get them. I walked away with Ward from the house upwards of 50 yards, and advised him to give up the miserable career he was following, when he said he could not get money enough to leave the colony. He had his things put up to the boy who never dismounted for about two hours, the time they were here. He took two bottles of brandy, and mind you, all the time he was here he never let his horse out of his hand, and never came into the house ; he stood at the store door with the horse's bridle in his hand. I believe I could have taden him, but it would have been by shooting him. Would I have been justified ? I was not certain of his being Thunderbolt, and he behaved in a most decent manner to myself, Mrs Rae, and children. Should he visit me again, I trust he will behave in a similar manner ; but I will be much obliged to him if he will keep away, and would strongly advise the Captain to niake his exit from this quarter. Ward left us about five o'clock with his boy, in a gentle walk, and in "about ten minutes returned himself, as hard as his horse could go, with his firearms exposed, drew up at the house, wheeled, and went ;off again at the same rate. The horse he was riding is one of the best I have seen in the colony, loth for speed and endurance. He asked me,; 'Do many of -the .police come here ?' I said ' Yes ; they are greatly about now, and you are sure either to be taken or shot.' His said, '■ I may jbe shot, but will never be taken alive.' I said, ' God help you, poor fellow.' He said, * My doom is cast and I can't help it.' . ' :