Social and Domestic.

Southland Times, Issue 962, 3 June 1868, Page 3

Social and Domestic.

We have been favored with the persual of a letter recently received from Peru, South America, from Mr Weldon, the lite Director of Telegraphs in Southland. The letter is addressed to his brother, the Commissioner of Police, and the writer speaks in 'glowing terms of the salubrity of the climate, &c, and appears highly pleased with the country generally. He has received a most responsible and important appointment in connection with the extension of telegraphs in that country. Many of Mr Weldon's numerous friends in the Province will be glad to hear of his success.

The Southland coal brought into Invercargill by Captain Howell was tested on Saturday last. The trains on the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway were driven by this fuel, and the engineer states that the result was most satisfactory.

The late heavy rains have swollen the rivers in the Mataura district to such an extent that several gentlemen have narrowly escaped drowning. On Tuesday last, a well known and popular Invercargill merchaut was crossing the Mataura at Menzies Ford, in company with several gentlemen, when one of the party was carried some two hundred yards down the stream, and was only saved by the excellence of his horse. A. little later, while crossing the Whyndham, the representative of trade nearly came to an untimely, end, horse and rider disappearing in a deep hole, whence the former was only dragged out through his presence of mind in attaching himself to his horse's tail. At this time of the year too much caution cannot be used in fording riverß,wb.en narrow escapes ate daily occurring.

There could scarcely be a more apt definition of what we hare to call the new "Ministry" than is thus furnished by the "Bendigo Advertiser » : _« The end, aim, and object of the existence of the Sladen Cabinet is to carry on the irovernmenfc of the country in defiance of the deliberately expressed opinions of the people. It is an audacious attempt to rule the country in the interests of a minority, and to create and perpetuate the reign of an oligarchy. Such a government is the logical conclusion of the attempts that have been made to enhance the authority of the Council by diminishing the privileges of the Assembly, and of the extraordinary reasoning which would give to our Upper House more than the powers of the House of Lords in England, and to our Lower House less than those of the House of Commons. The cloven foot has been apparent all through; but now there is no attempt at concealment. In dealing with such a wretched sham as the present Administration, why should we waste time in considering its policy, or whether it has a policy in reference to the land or any other subject of public importance ? What can it possibly matter to Lhe public what are the professions, liberal or otherwise, of a Ministry whose very existence is an outrage and an insult to free institutions, which is the wretched offspring of oligarchial insolencr to the people and oligarchical subservience to the dictation of Downing-street ? The political abortion, tended as it is with fond solicitude by the old women of the Upper House and by the enemies of Liberal principles throughout the colony, is scrofulous and rickety, and can never survive the first cold blast of opposition in the popular chamber of the Legislature." .

The second of the Penny Beading Entertainments came off on Friday evening last, in the Exchange-buildings, with much success. So unfavorable had the weather been during the afternoon and evening, that fears were entertained that the meeting would require to be postponed j but bafore eight o'clock, the rain having cleared off a little, quite as large an audience had collected as that which patronised the first entertainment. Business was commenced by Mr J. E. Stewart reading a prologue, which, in addition to being original and appropriate, possessed also the rare merit' of brevity. The other performers, one and all, also acquitted themselves most creditably, maintaining the interest of the audience throughout. One or two humorous pieces read during the evening created much mirth. The musical selections were, as usual, rendered with taste and correctness, and to the great delight of the audience, who warmly applauded each, vocal and instrumental effort, in some cases insisting on an encore. The public is evidently inclined to support these popular entertainments, and their subsequent success will in a great measure rest upon the zeal and tact of the committee of management. These gentlemen must be most careful to maintain and increase the prestige already obtained, and this will best be done by making arrangements for the successive readings at least some weeks in advance, so as to give those who have either to speak, sing, or play, ample time for preparation. Defects, or imperfections, which become apparent at any of the entertainments should also bo punctually remedied, and not allowed to occur a second time. Admirable as the arrangements have been on both past occasions, there are two points to which it is but right to direct the attention of the management. The first and most prominent is the too great length of most of the readings : this error was quite as noticeable on Friday evening as it was on the first occasion. The second is the allowing too long a time to elapse between the various pieces. An audience cannot bear to see the boards unoccupied, and on the slightest appearance of a hitch, or delay, soon testifies its impatience and disapprobation. At the close of the entertainment Mr M'Clure, the chairman, intimated that, as the Exchange buildings had recently changed hands, it was probable it would not much longer be obtainable for the purposes of the Penny Heading Society. This is to be regretted, certainly, in one raspect, as the iron buildings are very conveniently situated ; still, we believe the Theatre would be the best place for the meetings, a3 the lights and piano are always there ready for immediate use ; while having the meetings in the Exchange entails a great amount of labor on the committee in lighting up, borrowing, or hiring and moving the piano for every occasion, and so forth. No doubt the proprietor of the Theatre will treat with the committee in a liberal spirit ; and if so, they cannot do better than give their next entertainment there.

The London correspondent of the " Melbourne Herald says :— " A few days ago the Dowager Lady Tichborne died very suddenly. She had from the first interview acknowledged the Australian claimant as her son. Her death will greatly complicate this romantic case. There were suspicions of foul play, but at the inquest no evidence was forthcoming that could at all sustain this. At the funeral there was some disturbance, another member of the family taking the place of chief mourner, from which he was ejected by Sir Roger Tichborne. 'Several letters "have" appeared "in the 'Times' about it, and two from influential residents ia the district acquit ' Sir Roger ' of. all blame, and speak in positive terms of his identity with the long-lost heir."

■ We learn from a Melbourne, paper that the Australian Medical Journal for this month con.tains,- amongst other useful communications, one by Mr Johu Wilkins, F.R.C.S., Collins-street, . detailing the great assistance of the lately discovered instruments, nowti as the laryngoscope, and rhinoscope in ascertaining the real nature of diseases situated in the nose : throat, and windpipe to the lungs. By reflectei light these hitherto hidden parts are now brought completely into view. The two illustrations given by the doctor will, no doubt, be interesting to the curious, as the removal of two tumours from the back of the nose is. a triumph of treatment we have not heard of before in the colony, though ' we believe this feat has been accomplished frequently in Europe, and with the most satisfactory results. The other case is a splendid illustration of the good which may result from the system of treatment pursued, as; the disease was discovered and a cure effected hv in a few weeks, though it had existed many years.^

The "Age" announces that there will be an "equivalent" of the impeachment of President Johnson of the United States, ""in Victoria/ before another month is passed." 'Is, this an; authentic announcement, or is it gasconade"? ,

A late accident on board the steamer Clarence,in Sydney harbor, ia reported by the "Herald' as follows: — "This, vessel left the wharf ; at a quarter past fire p.m., bound to Brisbanf, and

when off the Sow and 2igs lightship, a suddea burst of flame and cry of fire caused her commander, Captain Fitzsimons, to order tlw engine* to ba stopped. The ahrtn originated in the drawing of the stays of one of the boileri, causing a jet of fire to be ejected, by which a fireman named Peter Roach was , severely injured. Th<» ship was immediately anchored, and a boat dis« patched to town with the unfortunate man. A second boat was also sent up to town, apprising Captain Mnnro, the company's superintendent, of the circumstance. The Claronce was towed to the company's moorings at Pyrmont. Her departure for Brisbane will be delayed for a day or two. The accident is thus accounted for. Four stays in the back of the fire-box having given way, a sudden rush of water on to the coala in the- furnace displaced the fires, and blew the flame upon the unfortunate' fireman."

We (" Talbot Leader") are sorry to hear that pleuro-pneumonia, which it was believed and hoped had been cleared the country, has again broken out in this neighborhood, three head of cattle having recently died in the locality of Evansford from undoubted cases of this direful scourge.