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Southland Times, Issue 999, 7 August 1868, Page 2

The annual monthly meeting of the Southland Horticultural and Agricultural Society was held !n the Princess Hotel on the evening of Monday Inst. On thia occasion there was a lar^e attendance of members, both professional and amateur, as it was known that business of great importance — affecting the practical management and general interests of the Society— was to be brought forward. The chair was ably occupied by Mr E. Cleave. After considerable discussion it was moved by Dr Willson, seconded by Mr J. Q-. Smith, and unanimously passed — ' Th at inasmuch as the establishment of the Southland Pastoral and Agricultural Association has pro-, vicled, tor the exhibition of farming produce, it

will be unnecessary to continue that department, and that tha name of tha Society be altered to the Southland Horticultural Society,' Moved by Mr J. E. Stewart, an I seconded by Mr Cooper — 'That Messrs Preston, J. G. Smith, along with the Chainnin, Seoretary, and Mover, be appointed a Committee to revise and adjust the schedule for the naxt exhibition.' From the experience of the past year it was resolved to discontinue tho Midsummer Exhibition, and to hold only our annual Show in the first week of March, a change which it is expected will meet all the requirements of oorapetitorsi and at the same time be more conducive to the interests of the Society whioh is in every way well worthy of publio support. It is to be hoped that donations and subscriptions will flow in to the Treasurer so that its efficiency may not only be maintained, but the benefits it confers may be greatly extended. | The first Annual Ploughing Match of the Jacob's River and Waianiwa District came off at Flint's Bush, on the farm of Messrs M'Lean and Fallow, on Thursday the 30th ult. Fortunately the weather was fine, which made the affair a very pleasant one. A large number of spectators were on the field, the ground was in splendid order, and everything seemed to comprise to put everybody in the best possible humor. There were twenty ploughs competing, the work of all being highly creditable. The following were the winners of the prizes: — First prize, £6, J. B. Sutton, Wright's Bush 5 second, £5, John Campbell, Jacob's River ; third, £4, David Younger, Groper's Bush ; fourth, £3, James Hay, Riverton ; fifth, £2, Adam Fleming, Mabel Bush ; sixth, £1, William Fraser, Waianiwa. John Lindsay, Waianiwa, W. Hazlitt, Flint's Bush, and A.M'Dwrick.Waikivi, received honorable mention. An extra prize, consisting of a set of cart harness, presented by Messrs Whittingham Bros., was awarded to Mr J. B. Sutton, for the best break and finish. A pair of silver-mounted winkers, value £2, given by Mr James Galbraith, of the Noah's Ark, waa awarded to Mr Calder, for the best pair of horses and harness. A sim'^ar prize given by Mr Gellatly, saddler, Dee-street, was obtained by Adam Fleming, of Mabel Bush, for best kept horses and harness. Mr J. B. Sutton also obtained two other special prizes, one, a waterproof overcoat, presented by Mr Murchie, Riverton, for being the successful competitor first finished ; the other, by Mr Hayward, for the most equal ridges. The Judges, Messrs James Wilson, M.P.C., James Cumming, and John M'Lean, discharged their onerous duties to general satisfaction. In the evening a large company sat down to ac excellent dinner, laid out by Mr G. Howell, in Mr Hazlett's barn. The dinner went off well, the usual toasts being given and responded to most heartily, and the company spert altogether a very pleasant evening. The 'Argus,' 18th July, says :—" The , telegraph announces the death, yesterday, at Adelaide, of Mr George Loder, the well-known composer of music, and at one time the conductor of the Lyster opera troupe here. Mr Loder had an excellent reputation in London, and arrived in Australia some years ago in company with Mrs Loder (Miss Emma Neville) to give musical and dramatis entertainments. In these they were less successful than, perhaps, they had a right to expect. Their last engagement was played in Adelaide, where Mrs Loder died some time ago ; and for months past Mr Loder has lingered in gradually declining health, a victim of broken hopes and spirits." The 'Wanganui Herald' 17th July, says: — "From reliable authority we can state that Lieut-Colonel Gorton has received positive instructions to call out the militia for active service in this district, the boundaries of which are thirty miles radius from the Wanganui Court House. It is not, however, his intention at present to call upon them to perform duty, but merely to order the Ist and 2nd class in town and country to parade for receiving arms, and if they do not come voluntarily forward to ballot for 150 or 200 men from the Ist class in town, to hold themselves in readiness to assemble at certain posts on sound of bugle. This ia a very necessary precautionary measure, in so far as the town of Wanganui is concerned, and we have no doubt but men will cheerfully come forward to receive arms." The 'Lyttelton Times' of the 23rd, says:— ' Mr J. L. Hall has written to an acquaintance in Christchurch, relative to the Thames diggings. In his letter he gives a most encouraging account of the field ; states that he has been on Hunt's claim, and was astonished on beholding the extreme richnes3 of the stone. Mr Hall has been on most of the diggings in Australia ; and after noting this fact, he assures his friend that the Thames diggings are the richest that he has ever visited. Another private letter contains the following : — ' The Thames goldfield is nearly certain to be one of the richest, as a quartz field, ever discovered in the world. There is no exaggeration in the reports of the richness of the deposits. The Melbourne firms are sending over crushing machinery, which will be a great boon to the diggers, their present appliances being very indifferent. Everybody is in high glee about the Thames, and if they continue to strike gold as they are doing now the North will completely outstrip the South this summer.' "As an instance of what ludicrous misunderstandings occur occasionally in every day life," says the " Geelong Register," we may mention an occurrence which took place the other day. A gentleman who is interested in one of the amateur concerts shortly to come off, was calling on the ladies and gentlemen who had promised their aid by einging, for the puipose of gathering material for the programme. Among others he called on the daughter of a tradesman, and found the young lady in the act of leaving the shop, and entering a private room, with her hand, in fact, still holding the handle of the door. To his astonishment in answer to his query as to what song she intended to sing, the young lady answered, * Come in, and shut the door.' This the gentleman took as a delicate invitation to him elf, not knowing thafc there was a song bearing that inviting and suggestive title, and the embarrassment that ensued when he became aware of this fact can be ' better imagined than described.' " ' We,' 'Hamilton Spectator,' ' t > ik occasion in a recent article to speak of IY3 improved prospects of sheep farmera in r.-gard to the rate of interest to be paid by them for advances. We have since received a communication stating that one of the principal wool firms in Melbourne is prepared to advance money on the forthcoming clip at the rate of seven per cent. This is a lower rate than has been kn.own in the* history of Viotoria.'

The "Australian Medical Journal" just out, contains the concluding portion of Dr Clutterbuck's essay on " Disease in Victoria," which winds up with a remarkable case of blood-letting, in which a woman lost, at various times, by phlebotomy and cupping, 3,392 ounces of blood Dr J. P. Murray has a short paper on " Diptheria and Scarlatina," in whioh the opinion is hazarded that the two diseases are but modifications of the sam 9 morbid process. The Transactions of the Medical Society include an interesting paper on the "Deposit of Fat," By Dr D. J. Thomas ; case of cancer, by Mr M'Gillivray, of Sandhurst ; and a detailed account, by Mr Rudall, of a recent case of death under chloroform. The leading article is on the subjoot of fees, in which low charges for medical advice are -argued to be good neither for the profession nor the public. Mr Wrigg, C.E., says the ' West Coast Times* ' has been recently examining the Mount Rochfort coalfield, in the Nelson Province, and furnishes the following information respecting the , country he has lately visited. The height of ■ Mount Rochfort above the level of the sea is 3230 feet ; the lowest part of the mountain range | — the saddle — is 2129 feet high. Coalbrook Dale lies at the back of Mount W'Viam, which is 3370 feet in height. The point f'om which the first specimens of coal were taken stands 1890 feet above the level of the sea, and is situated near the watershed of the Waimongoroa." A correspondent of the ' Panama Mercantile Chronicle/ under date May 23rd, writes that ' A despatch from Lake City, Florida, states that a few days ago nearly two acres on a farm in Hamilton country suddenly sunk to the depth of fifty feet from the surface of the surrounding land. It immediately filled with water, and submerged the tops of the tallest trees. The ground is still sinking, and now covers four acres. The streams and creeks lose themselves in the surrounding country, which forced the outlet in this way. The sinks occur occasionally, but this is ' the largest and deepest ever known.'