The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1102, 5 February 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1869.

We understand that His Excellency the Q-overnor has been advised to Bet aside 25,000 acres of land for the completion of the Winton line of railway. It is to be hoped that the OtoTernment will offer no further excuse for delaying to proceed with this important work. A most interesting description of the Fij Islands, written by Mr BeaveD, will be found in our other columns .

We understand that requisitions are in course of signature requiring the representatives of the town, and of the Waihopai district, to meet their respective constituencies and give an account of their stewardship. A goodly number of names were obtained to the documents yesterday. We are requested to call attention to Mr Osborne's sale of Furniture, to-morrow, at Mr Beveridge's, Eye-street. Particulars will be found in advertisement elsewhere. The rifle shooting match between ten of the Riverton Rifle Volunteers, and a like number of the members of the Invercargill corps came off at the Invercargill Butts on Wednesday last, and resulted in the Bivertonians beating by thirty-eight points. This match had been looked forward to by the members of both companies and others interested in the volunteer movement, with great interest, and during the day a large number of visitors were on the ground. The two teams appeared in uniform, , and the firing was superintended by Captains I Harvey and Instone, and Lieuts. CHesow and Surman, Sergt.-Major Paxton acting as scorer. The weather was extremely fine, and it was generally expected that the scoring would have been high. This was not the case, although in comparison with previous matches it may bo considered good. The Riverton men showed great improvement upon previous efforts, but the Invercargillites fell far short of their usual practice score. This was the fourth ma*ch between the two companies, two victories having been obtained by each. The next match, which it is expected will take place at Riverton in the course of a few weeks, will be of more than usual interest, being the one to decide which company is the most efficient. The result is not to be regretted, inasmuch as it will stimulate both companies to practice more assiduously than hitherto, and lead, we have no doubt, to great improvement on both sides. The following is the score : — RIVERION. Yards. 300 400 500 Tl. Ensign Reid 13 5 5 — 23 Sergt. Smidt 18 15 6—39 — Robinson 19 16 14—49 — Wilson 17 18 8—43 Private Clode 20 19 7—46 — Acheson 18 17 12—47 — Hancock 14 14 2 — 30 — M'Donald 17 8 16—41 — Grant 15 12 17—44 — Mills 13 0 s—lß 380 INVERCARGILL. Yards. 300 400 500 Tl* Sergt. Dunlop 17 16 B—4l — C. Brown 15 13 5—33 — Thomson 13 14 8—35 — A. Brown 18 15 9—42 Corpl. Robinson 16 12 6—34 — Campbell 18 12 4—34 Private Millar 12 4 2—lß — Huffodine 15 15 12 — 42 — M'Arthur 11 10 5—26 — Grant 17 12 8—37 342 SERGEANTS MATCH. BIYEBTON. Yards. 300 400 500 Tl. Sergt. Robinson 17 10 14—41 — Wilson 17 10 13 — 40 — Smidt 9 14 9—32 113 INVEBCABGILIi. Sergt. Dunlop 14 11 12—37 — C. Brown 17 8 6—31 — A. Brown 14 14 10—38 106 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS MATCH. BIVEBTON. Lieut. Surman ... ... ... 11 5—16 INVEBCABGULL. Capt. Harvey 14 9—23 Shooting tie for Invercargill, one shot at 400 yards range. * Sergt. A. Brown, 3 — Pr. HufFodine, 4. In the evening a Dinner was given at the Masonic Hall, Prince of Wales Hotel, at which the officers and members of both corps, to the number of about forty were present. Captaiu Harvey, 1.R.V., occupied the chair, supported by Captain Instone, R.R.V., and the viee-chair was filled by Lieut. Geisow, supported by Lieut. Surman. The hall was decorated with flags and military appurtenances, and the dinner provided by Mr George Smith was excellent, there being abundance of eatables of the choicest description, with fruit of every kind. A novel feature in dishes was that of Australian mutton, preserved by the bi- sulphate system. We tested its quality, and can affirm, that it had all the flavor of fresh meat, and is a dish fit for any table. The cloth having been removed, the Chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts — "The Queen and Royal Family, &c," " His Excellency, Sir George Bowen, Governor of New Zealand," which were drunk with all honors. The Chairjian then proposed " The Riverton Volunteers," remarking that he congratulated them on the victory they had gained, and hoped it wonld induce his men to devote their time and attention to practice, and that the tables might be turned on the next occasion of a friendly competition. Captain Instone, in responding, while feeling proud of the result of the match, would desire to acknowledge the heartiness with which his company had been received, and the good spirit with which defeat had been accepted by the Invercargill men. He then proposed "The Invercargill Rifle Volunteers." Captain Harvey responded to the toast, and urged on all Volunteers the necessity for giving increased attention to both drill and target practice. The " Successful Competitors" was proposed, and appropriately replied to by Messrs. Robinson and Grant of the Riverton Company, " The Unsuccessful Competitors " followed. The Chairman then proposed " The Strangers," coupled with the name of Mr Lyons, who, in reply, complimented both companies on their appearance and achievements that day, remarking that although he had not joined either company he was interested in the progress of both, and hoped that ere long a Cavalry Corps would be got up, when he should immediately join. A number of other loasts followed, including " The Riverton Officers," " The Invercargill Officers," " The Volunteers at the Front," " Sergeant-Major Paxton," " The Ladies," " The Press," " The Host, &o." The toasts were in most instances accompanied with songs by the gentlemen present, and some excellent pianoforte music by Mr Matheson, a visitor from Dunedin. The party was kept up to a late hour, and the greatest harmony continued throughout the whole evening ; a general feeling being expressed in favor oi more frequent re-unions of a similar description.

The Wesleyan Sunday School has celebrated its fifth anniversary during the present week, by the usual services. On Sunday, 31st ult., the Rev. R. S. Bunn preached two sermons suitable to the oocffsion ; in the morning from the text, " He that winneth souls is wise," and in the evening on the oft quoted words, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." At both diets of worship there were full congregations, especially in the evening, when the church was crowded. The children belonging to the school were ranged on the platform"at the upper end of the church, under their respective teachers, and the hymns sung were especially selected for the day. The children a^o met in church on the afternoon of the same day, and were exercised on the catechism, and the Bible lessons of the two preceding Sundays, in presence of their parents and guardians. A public Tea Meeting was held in th3 school-room, North-road, on Tuesday evening, which was very largely attended. Eight or nine I large tables, rnder the superintendence of a I number of the ladies of the congregation, were • abundantly loaded with every requisite for a comfortable tea, which was fully appreciated by those present. After the tables had been cleared, the Superintendent of the school, Mr Crouch, took the chair, and the Rev. B. S. Bunn, and several gentlemen, addressed the meeting on appropriate topics, the intervals between the j speeches being pleasantly filled up by the children singing. The meeting was altogether a most social and pleasant one. The following particulars regarding the operation and condition of the school are extracted from the report read by the Secretary : — " On the whole the school is in a very prosperous condition. There are 165 scholars on the books, a slight increase on last year's report, and 16 teachers. The average attendance of scholars for the twelve months, notwithstanding the prevalent inclemency of the weather, and a more than ordinary amount of sickness amongst children. was — morning, 27; afternoon, 97. Regarding the funds of the institution, the committee regret that the balance in hand is but small. The monetary transactions of the institution embrace altogether a very small amount, not because more money might not have been profitably expended, but because the committee, acting on wisely- economical principles, have always limited the expenditure so as to have at least a small balance on the right side. Hitherto they have relied solely on the collections made at the anniversary services to provide funds for the purchase of school requisites, such as books, tickets, &c, &c, and have not made any special personal canvas for subscriptions on that behalf, as is generally done elsewhere. They have gratefully to acknowledge that their confidence in the public has, as yet, proven itself to be well-placed ; they cannot but feel pleased, considering the long prevalence of general depression, and the frequency of charitable appeals to the generous, to observe the increasing liberality, and the growing interest manifested by the congregation towards the Sabbath-school ; and they are satisfied that their wants have but to be made known, to be abundantly and spontaneously supplied. The balance sheet showed a credit of £2 6i 7d, exclusive of last Sabbath's collection. The teachers have been much gratified to observe the unabated eagerness of the scholars to avail themselves of; the advantages of the library. About 40 volumns on the average change hands every Sunday, so that although the catalogue numbers over 200 books, most of them have already been well read. As showing how highly this department has been appreciated, it is worthy of remark that, although the books have been in constant circulation for about two years, the number deficient when they were recently called in for repairs was but two. For the cost and maintenance of the library, the committee have been indebted entirely to the voluntary contributions of a few private friends, but as it again requires replenishing and enlargement, the committee feel it but right to give the congregation at large an opportunity of contributing to that end, instead of further availing themselves of the generosity of a few acquaintances." The report proceeded to express the satisfaction the teachers had in observing the uniform attention paid by the scholars, and the good impressions evidently produced in the minds of many, especially of the older boys and girls. On the following day (Wednesday), the children met for their usual treat. The day proved fine, and the sports common to youth were engaged in with great zest, the scene of pleasure being the grassy sandhills behind the school. Tea, buns, and cake, were supplied ad lib in the school, and were acknowledged most heartily by three ringing cheers for those who had provided them. After enjoying themselves to their hearts content, the children were sent home at a seasonable hour. A public meeting was recently held at Lyttelton, to protest against the removal of the Customhouse from that Port to Christchurch. A contemporary publishes the following extract from a private letter from Hobart Town : — " There has been a fishing for trout in the Plenty. Mr J. Buckland caught one of 61b weight ; and Mr Morton AUport one of 4lb. These fish were only three years and a half old. There is nothing to be said as to salmon, beyond this : — Some fish were seen going up the river in October, corresponding with the spring fish in the home rivers. But we hope to be able to give a better account in February or March, the Salmon Commissioners having resolved on throwing open the whole of the Derwent for rod-fishing during a certain season, but what that season shall be is not yet fixed. There is a reward of £10 for the first fish." The " Hobart Town Mercury" states that at a farewell'banquet given to Colonel and Mrs Gore Browne, "the first course was deserving of particular notice — the four brown tiout pre- ! sented by the Salmon Commissioners, the first cooked in Tasmania, being the chief feature. These were boiled and well served, and pronounced by the company to be of excellent quality." The fortune left by M. de Rothschild amounts, it is said, to above £25,000,000. A far larger sum had been mentioned at first, but cooler cal. culationa have reduced the figure. So it has been with many actions and witty sayings ascribed to him, and which have been either greatly exaggerated or merely invented. Of these anecdotes the name is Legion. The following, however, ia authentic. One day a gentleman entered his office. The baron, who was writing, said, without raising his eyes, and with the German accent he never got rid of, " Take a chair, sir." The gentleman, unaccustomed to this free and easy way, said, " I beg your pardon, sir, lam Count ." "Well, then, take two chairs," replied the bwon, without ceasing to write.