The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APEIL 3, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 927, 3 April 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APEIL 3, 1868.

Yesterday was observed as the Presbyterian j Fast Day. All the public offices and Banks were closed, and the occasion was generally observed as a strict holiday. The Theatre Koyal was. well filled on Wednesday evening last. The occasion was the benefit of Mrs Robert Heir. The programme comprised the farce of the " Rough Diamond," readings from Artomus Ward and Edgar Poe's poem of "The Bells," scones from " Macbeth," " Lady of Lyons," and "Leah." The Dramatic Company Jent their assistance. We regret that pressure on our space prevents a more lengthened and detailed notice j but generally we may say the evening's amusement was a complete success. Mrs Heir was called bofore the curtain several times, and received the warm plaudits of the audience.

The following is the state of H.M.'a Gaol at Invercargill for the month ending Ist April current :— Sentenced to penal servitude, 4 males ; sentenced to hard labor, 7 males ; on remand from Eesident Magistrate's Court, 1 female; confined during the pleasure of the Governor in Council, 1 male : total, 12 males and 1 female. Received during the month, 11 males, 1 female ; discharged during the month, 7 males; increase for the month, 4 males, 1 female. 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 *f my house. I was engaged in the Post-oflice with Mr John Coventry at the time, and hearing them calling out I looked 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 went 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 stole, he tendering a £5-note in payment. Having done my business with Mr Coventry, I went over to the store, when Mrs Rae said, " Can you give me change for a £snote ?" 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 ior 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, j 'You are Fred. Ward.' He smiled, and said — 1 Yes — you knew me as soon as you saw me.V 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 somehorsenails — 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 t 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 j 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 make 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, both 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.' He said, ' I may be 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.' The following tenders were opened on Thursday, at the Provincial Treasury : — Re-building Brick Safes. J. A. .Frederick (accepted) £137 0 0

"From the Northern papers we learn that the Provincial Council of Auckland has been prorogued. Amongst the measures passed was an act empowering the Superintendent to sell or mortgage the railway works and lands to any Company willing to complete it to Onehunga, or of other terminus to be determined upon by the Superintendent. The " Press" (Canterbury), 18th inst., says :— "The whole of last night's sitting, with slight exception, was devoted to discussions arising out of his Honor's memorandum. The following resolutions were carried : — ' That in the opinion of this Council there should be a Provincial Council, chosen by the people of this province in the same manner as the present Council is chosen.' ' The Council to have the control of all matters strictly provincial.' c That the Council should elect the Superintendent, who shall sit in the House as Chairman, and act as general contro^-er of departments, but should have no power whatever of engaging the revenues of the province for payment of any contracts or works without the express sanction of the Council ; provided always that members of the Council should be eligible for election as Superintendent.' ' That there should be a permanent staff of officers for conducting the business of the departments.' ' There should be an Executive Council of members of the Provincial Council, as colleagues of the Superintendent.'

•The Council to vote only half-yearly supplier and, in matters provincial, to have power to raise taxes for provincial purposes — management of waste lands, railways, roads, bridges, and public works, education, immigration, police,' gaols, asylums, and harbors ; provided that 25 per cent, of the land fund be given to the districts in which the revenue is raised.' The principal, we may say the only, debate that took place on these resolutions was on the question whether the Superin* tendent should be elected by the Council, which was carried on a division by a majority of 20 to 9. A motion, ' That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient that the present system of Government by a Superintendent and Provincial Council, as established by the Constitution Act, be abolished, was negatived by 24 to 5.' "

30 chains Gravelling Mill Road. Geo. Friskm ... £155 0 0. Thos. Powell ... 120 0 0 . Geo. Frogart . ... 127 0 0 J. Anderson ... 137 0 0 N.S.Campbell ... 206 5 0 D. Hunter (accepted) ... 112 0 0 Gravelling 69 chains at Long Bush. F. Martin ... £455 0 0 C. Baggot ... 448 iO 0 J. A. Koss ... 450 0 0 J.M'Crostie ... 400 0 0 M. Shirley ... 414 0 0 F. Frogart and Co. ... 360 10 0 J. Anderson (accepted) ... 322 10 0 D. Hunter ... 344 10 0 N. S. Campbell ... 664 2 6 . P. M'Gullan ■ ... 478 0 0 Formation Long Bush. Tkos. Powell (accepted)... £110 0 0 B. Cumming ... 130 0 0 . James Gibson ' ... 117 0 0 Thos. Marshall ... 125 0 0 Approaches to Otautau. R. Cumming ... £452 0 0 W. B. Caseels and Co. ... 301 0 0 B. Berndston and Co. ... 250 0 0 P. Grant ... 310 0 0 E. Powell (accepted) ... 211 0 0 N.Campbell ... 264 0 0 C. Munroe ... 430 0 0 J.Gallagher ... 629 1 8 J.Friskin ... 280 6 8 Bridge over the Otautau. Colin M'Kinnon ... £960 0 0 W. Scandrett ... 65" 0 0 P. Grant ... 654 0 0 N. S. Campbell ... 685 12 0 D. Lockhart ... 850 0 0 EeidandCo. ... 593 0 0 W.Moffat ... 643 0 0 J. A. Frederic (accepted) 490 0 0