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Southland Times, Issue 931, 10 April 1868, Page 2

We are requested to call the attention 'of our readera to the very extensive auction sales to be held by Mr Todd, at his rooms and yards, tomorrow. A large number of properties, town, suburban, and country are to be offered, and also a number of useful horses, Mr G-idney's shipment ex Auckland. The sale begins in the rooms at 12 o'clock sharp. On Wednesday last, at noon, at the Hall, Prince of Wales Hotel, Brother G-eorge Reese was duly installed into the office of Worshipful , Master of the Masonic Lodge. The new i W.M. then invested the following gentlemen as his officers :— S.W., Brother Cotton; J.W., Brother Webster ; S.D., Brother J. T. Martin; Treasurer, Brother Tapper; Secretary, Brother Bain ; I.Gh, Brother Saunders. After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been disposed of, the members sat down to a cold luncheon, provided by Mr Smith, to which ample justice was done. The customary installation banquet was postponed until the 23rd inst., in consequence of the absence of a number of the brethern. A match between ten of the members of the Invercargill Volunteer Rifle Corps, and ten of the Riverton Company has been arranged to take place at the Riverton butts on Monday the 13th inst. This being the first friendly match between the two companies considerable interest is displayed as to the result, and a large number of spectators it is expected will be in attendance. We understand that special conveyances will be put on for the occasion, to leave Invercargill at 6 o'clock on Monday morning. We learn that Mr Watt, who has for many years discharged the dutieß of Resident Magistrate at the Bluff, has been appointed Sheriff for the Province of Otago. Although his duties at Campbelltown have been comparatively light, he has nevertheless in their discharge given general satisfaction, -whilst in social life his gentlemanly and courteous demeanor secured numerous friends. The following are the particulars of the cargo of the Robert Henderson, and its estimated value :— MTherson and Co., 928 bales, 329,9911b5, of tke value of £17,158 10s 6d ; Calder, Blacklock and Co., 616 bales, 213,4161b5, £11,798 15s 10d; J. Stock and Co., 449 bales, 111,7931b5, £6,658 8s; Whittingham Bros., 200 bales, 82,4031b5, £5858 15s lOd ; Mitchell and Co., 42 bales, 14,0421b5, £702 2s. Total number, 2,235 bales, representing 751,6451b5, of the total value of £42,176 12s 2d. This vessel also con- 1 tains the following : — Calder, Blacklock and Co.> 3 bales skins, and 2 boxes effects, £53 ; M'Pherson and Co., 4 bales skins, £33 ; Whittingham Bros., 1 bale skins, £8 18s 6d ; making altogether the value of the cargo, £42,271 10s Bd. We extract the following from the " Australasian" : — " The committee appointed at Sydney to push forward the preparations for shipping a cargo of meat under Mr Mort's care, are now appealing to the stockowners of several Colonies for assistance in making up the sum of £8000 or £9000 to provide the meat and pay the freight on it. About 300 tons are to be shipped, the patentee undertaking to provide the necessary machinery, plant, chemicals, materials, labor, &c, and to go with the meat to England. The subscribers are, of course, to risk the loss of their money in case of failure ; but whatever results from the sale of the meat, if landed sound, is to be divided amongst them in proportion to the sums contributed. The disposal of the meat is to be lett entirely to Mr Mort, and such confidence have the Sydney people in the ability and judgment of that gentleman, and so fully has the freezing principle been tried on shore, where it must act to letist advantage, that the money and subscriptions in kind will no doubt be shortly forthcoming. Tbe neighboring Colonies are invited to contribute, as the success of the experiment is calculated to promote materially the good of all ; but those individuals who are inclined to assist are asked to signify their intentions without delay, to allow of arrangements being concluded as quickly as may be. It is hoped that the vessel, with this novel cargo on board, will be ready to sail in about two months " The premonitory symptoms of approaching winter which we have lately " enjoyed" should be sufficient to direct the attention of owners of I private property and the custodians of the public estate to the condition of all drains, gutters, &c, &c In order to prevent the formation of permanent pools of water in places where they ought not to be, surface gutters should be made to conduct the rain as it falls to the nearest drain, and all drains and ditches ought to receive a thorough overhaul. The outfall or mouth of main drains 1 should receive particular attention, as the slightest obstruction at this part of their course soon causes the whole to silt up and renders the entire system connected with them inoperative, and worse than useless. The state of the main drains in several parts of the town have frequently callod for remark of late, and nevermore urgently than now. The covering timber is in some places broken through, leaving moat dangerons ugly holes which should be at once secured. Several of the street crossings also require a little attention. The side gutters, in the main thoroughfares at least, should be thoroughly scoured and the trap gratings and culverts opened up and cleared out so as to allow a free race for the surface water. The side drains of a portion of the North road beyond the town belt, are especially in want of attention. The sand carried into them by the rains has in some places completely choked them up, so that during wet weather the water lies at a level encroaching on the crown of the road, which in consequence must floon succumb to the heavy traffic passing over it, unlesß the necessary repairs are at once made. These need cost no great expense. The main ditch, from the road to the sea, is in first rate order, and a few days of the prisoners, as on a former occasion, would ensure the safety of the road through the winter. It may be well to remind the ladies that the several drapery establishments in town are now closed at 6 o'clock in the evening, except or. Saturdays. During the summer months the hour for shutting up shop was 7 o'clock, but as winter has now set in, the time has very properly j

been fixed A aft hour «tolie¥. In ia $l*ee lib t Inveroargill it cannot possibly be any incon- a venienes to the public that business should be y restricted to the very reasonable hour j named, while by its protraction to some a indefinite time, as is too generally the B case in retail warehouses, a grievous hardship is j inflicted on both masters and employes con- j. nected with the trade. The matter, however , rests entirely with the drapers themselves, there i are but a few of them in town now altogether, 1 and they can surely act unanimously in a matter j which must ultimately be equally advantageous. •, A firm adherence to the rule for a week or two < would be certain to Becure the early attendance of their respective customers, and the consequent j benefit to themselves. i ! The "Scientific American" states " *hat the ' American Wood Company, at Manayunk, Perm., have the largest works in the world for producing paper from wood pulp. Logs of wood, principally • poplar, are cut into chips bj revolving steel knives, which can cut forty cords every twentyfuur hours. These chips are then boiled in alkalies and reduced to pulp. By a pecliuar process of evaporation, eighty per cent, of the soda is saved, and 20,0001 b of printing paper are made daily," . ■ On Wednesday last Mr C. D. Irvine, well known in Invercargill, was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, charged with having been found on the. previous evening, dressed in female costume, loitering surreptitiously about the premises of the Rev. Mr Tanner, North Road. It came out at the examination that the prisoner had been annoying Mr Tanner's family greatly ior some time past, and that the matter had ultimately been placed in the hands of the police, the result being that Mr Irvine was arrested on Tuesday evening under the circumstances stated. Constable Tuohy, who made tlv nrrest, stated that, according to iustructiouß, and acting from information raceived, he was on duty on the North Road about half-past ten o'clock on the night in question, when he saw a person, apparently a female, enter Mr Tanner's garden. Suspecting that it was the prisoner, he followed and saw the individual go round to the back door, and, after knocking, converse with Borne one within. The only part of the conversation heard by the constable was the words " there is company inside." The pretended female then went away, and broke a paling or two off the fence to get through to the vacant ground at the back, when the constable went up and took him in charge. On the application of Mr Harvey, who appeared for the prosecution, the case was remanded until the 15th inst. ; the counsel for the prosecution intimating that he intended to press for severe punishment being awarded. Shortly before Garrett, about whom so much has been said by the Otago press, left Melbourne for New Zealand, he addressed the following letter to the " Herald" :— " Respected Sib, — In your issue of (I believe) Monday, I read that the convict Henry Garrett had been brought from New Zealand to Melbourne, and that it was hoped that I (yes, I, for I am that person) would not be allowed to make this colony the place of my permanent abode. Now let us, my dear sir, with calmness and good feeling, discuss the matter. And, first, why should you take the pleasure — it cannot be a duty — to keep branding me as convict? Let me ask, am lat the present time one ? The most that can with truth be said is, that I am an ex-one ; and had this term been used it would have been as well. Might you not with more justice both to me and the public, and more dignity to your profession, used, as others have done, the term man? You cannot be a stranger to the meaning of the old English saying of fair play, which means-not to strike or kick a man when down. Now, what is it but doing this, to keep reiterating these hard names? If every man's fauUs were known, as mine are, who would escape stoning ? Am I not sufficiently miserable and degraded ? Have you read in the other papers how I have been dragged from amongst those who felt interested in me, and would have assisted me, and thrown (destitute, and helpless from being crippled) amongst strangers, who form their opinion of me from the Press. I feel sure you are but unthinkingly, and not wantonly using the influence you possess, to excite the easily aroused prejudice of the public against a man who, seeing his former errors, faults, or whatever they may be, is struggling with no ordinary difficulties to prove he is not the incorrigible and unmitigated ruffian it has been said he is. Would it not have been pleaaanter, wiser, and juster to have advocated that the Government, and if it refused, that public benevolence should afford me the means of subsisting honestly during the few days I am compelled to remain, and to defray my passage back where lam desirous to go ? Had it not been for the kindness of one or two who I saw for the first time on board the Auckland, I should have, had to accept the refuge of the gaol, or resorted again to the only resource left such as me — crime. This last I am determined not to do, lif I can by any me ins avoid it. Trusting to your charity and good feeling, I beg the insertion of this ia your paper, or such remarks upon my case as it may deserve. I bee to subscribe myself, yours moat respectfully, Henby G-abbett. — 25th February. According to the " Star," " the amount of building now going on in Ballarat is greater perhaps than was ever in progress before at any one time, and labor and materials have risen in value, or else even larger additions still would be now making to our urban architecture." Sir Henry Parker, as chairman of a special general meeting of the proprietors of the Union Bank of Australia, held in London, on the 13th of January, Bpoke in glowing terms of the career of the institution, at home and in the colonies. "It affords me great satisfaction," he observed, "to be able to meet you to-day with such a favorable report and statement of accounts. (Hear, hear.) Bearing in mind the great monetary and commercial depression which is now prevailing in this city, and which of course must, indirectly at any rate, affect our relations with the Australian colonies ; also bearing in mind the vast amount of banking competition which we have to encounter there, I think I am not too sanguine in congratulating you, as I do most sincerely, on the very sound and prosperous condition of our affairs. (Cheers.) I ought not to pass from this bubject, however, without calling your attention to the fact that this result has been arrived at, after she most careful investigation, by the committee of accounts, of the state of affairs at the branches abroad as well as the affairs x>{ the bank at home ; and that after this investigation the most ample provision has b-jen

made for ail debts either bad br of a doubtfuiraii 1 an exceptional character. (Cheers.) As we hard 1 received the mail this morning, although we have not yet had an opportunity of reading our letters - as carefully as they will require to be read here* ' after, I may also mention that this provision extends down to the very latest date, that is to say. ' the 26th of November last, and that we know of , nothing to contiadict the very satisfactory report which has been laid before you this day. (Hear, hear.) Here I may, perhaps, be permitted, in ' passing, to pay a jfcribute to the zeal and ability [ which have been displaced by the staff of officers of the bank both at home and abroad; at home preaded over by our able manager, Mr Saunders, and in the colonies by our excellent manager and inspector, Mr M'Mullen. (Hear, hear-) A great deal is due, of course, to the officers of the bank for the success which haa attended our exertions." The correspondent of the " Times" writing from j Philadelphia on Dec. 10th, says :— " Mr Charles Dickens, having completed his course of readings in Boston, has come to. New York, where he gives four readings this week. He began last week in Steinway-hall to an overflowing audience. Both in Boston and New York his readings have been well received, and are most heartily applauded. Mr Dickens' visit is a great success ; his welcome has been a warm one, and from the series of eighty readings he contemplates giving, he will probably reap a profit over all expenses of 150,000 dols. He has already declined an offer of 1,500 dols. a-night from an American, who desired to take charge of the readings, and who promised to pay in addition every expense attending them." The following paragraph, taken from the Melbourne " Leader" of the 7th March is suggestive to the directors of steam packet companies :- "In Mr Maguire's new work, ' The Irish in America,' some statistics are given which prove, in a very striking way, that by rapid passages and cheap fares, the great passenger traffic between New York and England is being gradually transferred from sailing ships to steamers. A like result would, no doubt, follow in the Australian trade were a line of powerful steamers started between Melbourne and England via the Cape of Good Hope. There arrived in New York in 1856, 22 steamers, bringing 5111 passengers ; . in 1860, 109 steamers, bringing 34,247 passengers j in 1863, 170 steamers, bringing 68,931 passengers ; in 1864, 203 steamers, bringing 81,794 passengers ; in 1865, 220 steamers, bringing 116,579 passengers ; in 1866, 340 steamers, bringing 160,653 passengers. A recent " Australasian " states that there is a fair probability that the movement recently commenced in Melbourne for the opening up of commercial relations with Fiji will be attended with success. Many of the trading community feel disposed to go into the adventure, and the American Consul at that port has intimated that there will be no objections raised by the G-overn-ment which he represents to the operations of the propposed Commercial and Banking Company. If this scheme falls under good management, it may prove highly advantageous to the trading and manufacturing interests of Victoria.