The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1086, 8 January 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1869.

There was no sign of the Tararua up to the closing of the Telegraph Office last evening. "We hare been requested to call the attention of Oddfellows belonging to the L>yal Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge, to an advertisement calling a meeting for to-night. A rumour was put in circulation recently to the effect that the General Government had declined to grant the land for the completion of the Oreti Railway. We are in a position to state that there is no foundation for the report, and there is reason to suppose the work will be speedily proceeded with. We are requested to state /that twenty laboring men can obtain employment on the h-ast Road near the Hokonuis, by applying at the Road Engineer's office. We understand that no tender for the leasing of the Invercargill Jetty for the current year has yet been accepted. It would appear that the much manned Colonel Whitmore has at length succeeded in severely punishing the rebel natives. Owing to some mistake we are without our Wellington correspondent's telegram. We are indebted, however, to our contemporary for the following intelligence, issued by him in the form of an extra yesterday : — " Great news from Napier. Te Kooti has b >en defeate i. The telegrams state that over one hundred rebels have been killed, and a large number taken prisoners. Te Kooti was in full retreat with Colonel Whitmore pursuing. From the latest Auckland papers we learn that the negotiations being conducted by Mr Mackay, on behalf of the Auckland Government and the King Natives, for opening the Upper Thames country for mining purposes, is progressing favorably. It is expected that satisfactory arrangements will be soon completed. The 'Southern Cross,' 2lst December, says:— " Mr Mackay and a number of natives were passengers, having come up to make arrangements respecting the opening of the Upper Thumes. Fifty-eight native owners of land iv the Upper Thames district have si,jned their consent to the opening of the country for mining purposes, and there are now only five dissentients, amongst whom is Te Hira. A cheque for the sum of £1,000 has been hande i over to Rapata as a first instalment of the sum agreed upon in payment for the opening of the district. It is expected that the arrangements will be completed in three or four week's time, and tliat the land will bj tlirown open to the miners. Indubitable pr_>of is ■aid to have been given by some of the natives as to the richness of the land." A few days ago Mi- W. H. Pearson, accompanied by the Road Engineer, Mr Dawaon, made a tour of inspection along the East Road. The result of their report on the subject is that twenty men are called for to proceed to the Hokonuis, under a sub-inspector, to put in a viable condition a portion of the road at a spot where the traffic is confinad to a narrow st"ip of land between the river Mataura, an I a spar f>om the ranges. Messrs YV. and H. Hill, who reside in the vicinity, are appointed honorary inspectors, and will, no doubt, se-i that the work is efficiently and economically performed. It is expected that the laborers will start for the locality on Monday next. The spot in question has long been a source of great trouble and expense to carriers to Switzer's, and to others engaged in traffic in the district. We would remind our readers that the Distillation Act came into operation on the Ist January. All brewers and dealers in wines and spirits, not being publicans, are required to register their names and take out licenses on the day mentioned, under a heavy penalty for every day they neglect doing so. The fee for the licence is £1. We would call the especial attention of thoso interested to this, as the Act is most stringent, and the fines must be enforced. ' Sydney Punch' has a cartoon styled, ' A New Zealand Settler, or Mr Punch's cure for Maori massacres, taken from an East Indian receipe which was found remarkably efficacious some years a^o. It represents a particularly truculent Hauhau tied to the muzzle of a loaded gun, to which the fuse is about to be applied. Turee of the Naval Brigade are lojking grimly on. The following letter from Colonel Whitmore appears in the ' Hawke'a Bj,v llemld,' 24th ult : — "Sib, — l beg you to publish my \ contradiction of one of the untruths contained in a letter o( your Poverty Bay correspondent, to the effect that I ha\e introduced flogging into my force. This, like a great deal that this person writes about me, is absolutely false. I have never caused or sanctioned the flogging of any man in my life. This statement, if uncoutraJteied, might prejudice recruiting, or I should not notice it. My personal character, which is the usual subjo t of your correspondent's attacks, I leave in the hands of my fellow settlers, in whose service lam fighting ; »nd I feel sure that iv the end 1 shall receive justice at their hands. lam glad, howevar, to acknowledge that one of these falsehood* has been contradicted by yourself." Mr James Pdterson, and Mr G. Hepburn, M.H.R., for the city of Duneiin, have resigned their seat?.

The 'Press' (Christchurch) writes: — "A correspondent has placed in our hands the following extracts from letters received by the present Panama rn.iil from correspondents likely to be well informed: From a le:ter dated 3lst October — ' I heard yesterday that two regiments are ordered to New Zealand.' From a letter dated 31st October — ' The present Home Government appear to recognise the necessity of putting native matters i:i ths right path, and will assist with troops, and I suppose, also with money, which is more wanted, if the colonists meet the Government half-way and put themselves in a proper state of defence.' " The steamer Hero arrived at Auckland from Sydney on the 21st iust. Madame Anna Bishop, the eminent vocalist, was a passenger by her. This talented lady gives a series of eiitertainmeuts in Auckland. The ' New Zealand Advertiser' says : — " The Otago Volunteers have in the most handsome manner placed at the disposal of the Government the whole of their tents for service in the field. The offer, we understand, has been accepted so far as that they will be lorwarded to Wellington, so as to be at immediate disposal should they be required at the front." We (' Southern Cross') have seen a private letter from Opotiki, dated 12th December, in which it is stated that Wi Pere, from Turanganui, had arrived with the remnant of his people— they all having been taken prisoners aud a number of tham killed. Wi, with his wife and children and a few more, made their escape from Te Kooti during the first day of the fight at Te Kavetu ; and, after being about ten day* in the bush, arrived at Te Torere. A meeting of the members of the Invercargill Fire Brigade, was held at the Skandinavian Hotel, on Thursday evening, 7th inst. The most of the office bearers, and some of tbo members were present; Capta'n Kingsland presided, and in opening the proceedings he stated the first business was to examine and pass accounts and after that to consider the position of the institution, and what steps should be taken to wind up its affairs, or place it under the " Fire Ordinance, 1867." For his own part, he had done all in his power to arouse the holders of property, aud Insurance Companies to take an interest in the Brigade, but he had failed; it was his intention to retire. The various accounts were examined and passed Mr Kingsland then formally resigned. A discussion took place as to what should be done, and it was agreed that the Brigade should also resign. Most of those present intimated that in ihe event of another Brigade being formed under the provisions of the Fire Ordinance, they would j >in. It was ultimately resolved that a deputation, consisting of Messrs King aland and Lockhart, be appointed to wait on His Honor the Superintendent, and the representatives of the Insurance Companies, to place bofore them the present position of the institution, ani report tue result to a meeting to be held on Thursday next. Messrs Graham and Wotton were appointed to audit the accounts. The following is the corrected list of the awards made by the Committee of the Caledonian Society, as forwarded to ua for publication : — FIEST DAT. 1. Pibroch — No competition 2. Quoits, 4 entries, — lot prize, £2 ; T. Miller ; 2nd, £1, J. Straohan 3. Putting Heavy Stone, 6 entries — Ist prize, £2 2s, N. Fergusuu ; 2nd, £1 Is, A. Strang 4. Throwing Hammer (lolbs), 10 entries — Ist prize, £2 2s, J. M'Crostie ; 2nd, £1 Is, N. Jierguson 5. Dancing Highland Fling — Ist prize, £2, J. Stewart 6. 10t> Yards' Race, 6 entries — Ist prize, £2 10s, U. Wyeth ; 2nd, lot, J. Wallace 7. Putting atone (15lbs), 7 entries — Ist prize, £t 2s, N. Ferguson; 2nd, £1 Is, G. M'L,eod 8. Throwing Hammer (16ilbs), 12 entiies — Ist prize, £2 2s, W. M'Lareu ; 2nd, £1 Is, J. At'Crostie 9. Hurdle Race, 5 entries — Ist prize, £l 10s, C. Wyeth ; 2nd, 15a, W. Greg.-ry 10." Ueet Dressed Highlander — let prize, £2, A. T. Clark Special Prize for Boys — Ist, £1, Master Hai vey 11. Tossing Caber — Ist prize, £2 2s j G. M'Leod ; 2nd, £1 Is, Noble 12. 500 Yards' Race, 5 entries — Ist prize, £2, C. Wyeth ; 2nd, £L, J. Wallace 13. Tilting at the Ring, 22 entries — Ist prize, £2 2s, G. Smith ; 2<<d, £1 Is, J. J. Cuff 14. Boys' Race (under 4ft Gin) — Ist prize, ss, C. Kingsland ; 2nJ, 2s 6d, W. Henderson SECOND DAT. 1. Best Pibroch Piayer — Prize, £4, George M'Leod. Best Quickstep Player — Prize, £4, Cox 2. Sword Dance, 5 entries — Ist prize, £2, J. Henderson; 2nd, £I, A. Simpson 3. Tossing Caber — Ist prize, £1, J. M'Crostie ; 2nd, 10 j, J. Shirley 4. Hop, Step, and Leap, 4 entries — Ist prize, £2, Larnar, distance, 33ft 2£in j 2nd, £1, J. Snirley, 33ft Hin 5. Kunning High Leap — Ist prize, £2, J. Wallace ; 2nd, £1, J- Henderson 6. Vaulting with Pole — Ist prize, £2, J. Henderson, 7 ft tin ; 2nd, £1, Livingstone 7. Ihrowing Cricket Ball, 10 entries — Ist prize, £1 lus, J. Lambert; 2nd, 15s, G. F. de Joux 8. Mile Race, 6 entries — Ist prizj, £2, C. Wyeth, time, 6min. 13sec. , 2nd, Hi, J. Wadace 9. ihree- legged Race for Men, 6 entries — Ist prize, 15s, Wyeth and Wallace 10. l'hree lr-gged Race lor Boys — Ist prize, 10s, Stewart and M'Laren 11. Tilting at the Ring (special prize by Mr G. Smith), 24 entries — l»t prize, £2 2s, H. Derbie 12. Volunieer Race — Ist prize, £2, R. Toild ; 2nd, £1, J. Dunlop 13 Reel of Tulioch — Ist prize, £2, J. Stewart ; 2nd, £l, A. Simpson 1 k Climbing Greasy Pole — Ist prize, loin of mutton and £1, W. Lambert