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Southland Times, Issue 953, 18 May 1868, Page 2

j We remind our readers of the Entertainment in aid of the Benevolent Society, which takes place at the Theatre Koyal to-morrow evening. The programme, a very attractive "one; appears 1 in our. other columns. Prospecting appears to be attended 'with con- * Biderable success in the Longwood Ranges near I Biverton. A man who has been working in the - ranges for some time is said to have found a very * handsome nugget, weighing 3ozs. sdwts. ; he also I stated that he had two others in his possession weighing Bdwts. and sdwts. respectively. There is > no doubt that if the Government could devote a I small sum to cut tracts in the vicinity of Long--1 wood, it would give a great impetus to prospect- - ing in that direction. Gold is known to exist there, and it only requires the country to be p opened up to induce prospecting on an extensive scale. : Fears are entertained for the safety of a boats' crew, three in number, which left the station of ™ I)r Monckton, near the Orepuki G-oldfields, bound 1 for Biverton. No tidings have been heard of - them since Monday, the 11th inst., the day on which the boat left. Mr Campbell, who trades n between Biverfcon and Orepuki, arrived at the former. place an Tuesday, the 12tli insfc, and states that, »»o saw a boat bearing up in the 3 direction >jf Riverton the previous day ; but that 5 a .11 suddenly coming down, he was obliged to b haul iii his canvas ; and that when it passed, the j boat had disappeared. Two oars belonging to the missing boat were found' on the beach, and when it is considered that none of the youn * men " were exuert sailors, the worst anticipations may " be realized. The Resident Magistrate, Daniel * Shea Lawlor, Esq., with great promptitude, at 1 once despatched a party from Biverton in search, but up to the present no tidings have been received of the result. The Council of the Auckland Acclimatisation 3 Society has issued its first yearly report, and a most satisfactory one under the circumstances of the past year could have been expected. The r receipts for the past year, from all sources, have * been £1,134 10s 4d, and, after defraying the L working expenses, erecting an aviary and other I buildings in the" Domain; there is a balance in ther ißank of £53 15s. There have been 581 birds and animals introdnced under the auspices of the Society during the year, trad more than 200 birds, ' &c, have been distributed in the various districts. 1 The report is an exceedingly interesting one, and I. concludes with the following remarks : — " In . concluding, the Council would state that the ret suit of the past year's experience has confirmed the conviction that the climate of this province is peculiarly adapted to the acclimatisation, not only of English birds, but also those of wanner climes ; most of the English birds, which were in sufficient condition to do so, commenced building , a' few days after they were landed and turned , into the aviaries. It is earnestly hoped, therefore, that the efforts of the Society will be backed by the hearty support of those colonists who wish to cultivate the endearing associations of their fatherland, and at the same time check the ravages of the myriads of insects which so often destroy the farmer's hopes." ; . The "Thames Advertiser" (Auckland) gives the following account of the progress of the gold district : — "Therearenow 4,778 miner's rights issued. The population, which six months ago consisted of a score or two of men, now numbers about 7,000, of whom many are women and children. A large and populous town has been formed, and homesteads are dispersed everywhere throughout the district open to prospecting. When it is remembered that with very imperfect appliances the Thames goldfield has produced over 15,000 ounces of gold, worth more than £30,000, in the last six months, it may be readily imagined what the yield would be if adequate machinery were in the district." This is highly satisfactory, but, judging from the reports received, the Thames district has other wants besides that of machinery. The greatest want is the formation of roads, and this fact has impressed itself very forcibly upon the attention of the residents during the wet weather, which has already Bet in. What .they will be when winter exerts its i-igomvit is impossible to say! Another want is the construction of wharves. His Honor the Superintendent has held interviews with the people, but the conclusion they have arrived at is, that his Honor does not by any menus deal fairly or generously with the g Ado strict. A newXtourt-house was opened •m'tfusoiue formality on the 20th instant. The

Superintendent and his Honor Judge Moore were present on the occasion. The publication of a tri- weekly newspaper at Shortland, by two gentlemen who recently belonged to the " Southern Cross " establishment, is perhaps the most striking indication of the prosperity of the gold district. The paper is exceedingly well got up, and, jndging from its advertising columns, is well supported by the mercantile portion of the community. A population like that contained in the jpiniflg district is well able to support a local Organ, and if th© proprietors carry put the ; principles they have enunciated a beneficial influence will be exerted."A sad case of death by drowning occured on Thursday afternoon last. A man named Jamieson in company with MrFindlay a settler, having occasion to cross the New River ford in a dray» near Mr Grieves homestead, and whilst near the centre one of the horaes stumbled, and carried the shaft horse and dray down the stream. The dray by the impetus of the current, was capsized in deep water. Mr Findlay managed, after a great deal of exertion, and with the aid of a bundle of cornsacks, to reach the bank of the river, but Mr Jamieson was not so fortunate ; having been drawn into the middle of the stream, the velocity of the current was so great as to preclude any assistance being rendered to him and the unfortunate man speedily sank. Mr Findlay immediately hurried to Mr Grieves house for asistance, which was at once granted, but without success. (The body was, however, afterwards recovered. Mr Hoyt, whose name is so well known in connexion with coaching in Victoria, has just left (says the ' Australasian ') for Japan, of all other places, where he is intending to establish lines of like fast conveyances that have proved such a great public convenience here. There is a spice of romance in the circumstance of a practicalminded man going among a people who so recently were the most exclusive in the world, to slap them on the back, as it were, and bid them wake up from the dreamy monotony with which they have been going on for nobody knows how many centuries. One would like to have the impressions of an intelligent Japanese on the innovations, direct and relative, to which a line of choaches from, say, Yeddo to Yokohama, will j give rise. The dreadful shock the sight of those rattling, tearing, devil-may-care travelling machines will communicate to the proud, dignified aristocratic old humbugs, will be fatal to themThey will commit the happy despatch on the 8 pot, out of sheer chagrin at witnessing a revolu" tion they cannot control. Mr Hoyt will surely j pave the way for railroads, and we may calculate even with the present generation upon seeing the Tycoon in Wellington boots and a chimny pot hat.