The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1186, 2 July 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1869.

The debate, which resulted in the vote of want of confidence being carried against the Staffoed Ministry, is instructive in its way. It shows clearly the unsatisfactory condition in which the public affairs of the colony has been placed by the system of dual Government. The Opposition was composed of a miscellaneous collection from all parts of tlie colony, held together by a common hatred of Mr Staffobd. Indeed it would be a most interesting study to the ,

philosopher to analyse the motives which led many of the members to vote against the Government. The most contradictory elements appears to have been moulded into one compact mass. Mr M'Leajt and his friends went hand-in-hand with Mr Macajtdrew and the Otago members, whilst Dr Peathebstoste might be seen side by side with Auckland and Canterbury members. The debate was remarkable for the absence of any new light being thrown on the Native question, but a general opinion appeared to be prevalent that Mr Staffobd should be ejected at all hazards. His fame ! had spread far and wide, and all sorts of opinions were held about him. To some, he was haughty and unbending ; to others, he did not advocate self-government with sufficient vigor ; the red-hot Provincialist bitterly hated him for destroying cherished institutions ; whilst his native policy arrayed against him a great many of his former friends — Fitlgente \ traliit constriclos gloria curru, nan minus ignofos generosis. But, when all the op- I posing forces were gathered together, and the Government did resign, leaving the course free, how lamentably the Opposition failed to find successors worthy to perform the functions of Government, became strikingly apparent. We do not mean to say that Mr Fox is incompetent to conduct the business of the country, but it is a fact that shortly after the division took place, it became eminently conspicuous that there was no cohesion amongst the Opposition, and many of those who had loudly declaimed against the Government, were the first to offer objections to the appointment of some of its successors. At present, we cannot see what good the change is likely to effect. Money must be obtained to carry on the war even on the most limited scale, and Mr Eox has not proved himself happy on a former occasion in the disbursement of the Three Million Loan. The people of the Middle Island will not be benefitted by the fact of Mr Pox assuming office, unless some different programme is introduced. Indeed, the tendency of the present Government is to practically annul the legislation of the last two years, because if the old provinces are allowed to assume their former proportions — by absorbing the smaller ones — it is manifestly clear that they must have larger powers, and must again obtain the privilege of borrowing money on their own account. This would interfere with the Consolidation of Loans Act, besides increasing the already large debt of the Colony, an sjua. uuuu txgcun ariaes has question of the expensive nature of five governments. In whatever light the position of the Colony is viewed, we believe that the only true remedy for our difficulties lies in the Financial Separation of the two Islands. The Imperial Government cannot get rid of its responsibility in New Zealand affairs, without a loss of prestige that would be more ruinous than a dozen Maori wars. If the question of Separation weretobebrought frequently before it, it would be compelled to assume control of the North Island. As long as we are obliged to furnish the largest share of the funds necessary to carry on the war, disturbances will continue in the North Island. We do not mean to say that the people of the north are desirous of such a state of things. Far from it. But there would be more prompt action in times of disturbance, and in times of peace, a greater desire would be manifested to remain so. The revenue that should be spent in opening up the Middle Island, and cultivating generally the peaceful art of colomaation, is now sent to Wellington, for native war purposes. The very fact of the existence of a rebellion, is in itself an impediment to our progress, because it is the means of deterring people from coming out to a country where life and property ' are insecure. There are thousands of people at home, who do not know the , geography of New Zealand, who are unable to distinguish between the North and South Island, and who believe that the warextendsthroughout the colony. Hence the great falling off in immigration. Nor does the Government take any steps to remove this ignorance, by dissemina- i ting information about the resources and nature of the colony. Its own existence is harrassed by factious opposition, and most of its time is spent in effecting combinations, in setting one party against another, and in creating desires it is not powerful enough to grant. When such a state of things is allowed to continue from year to year, growing in magnitude, instaad of decreasing, it is high time that every well-wisher of his adopted country should seriously consider the imperative necessity of taking part in public affairs, and impressing upon the representatives in the General Assembly the advisability of supporting a measure fraught with such importance to the people of the Middle Island as Separation.

It will be perceived from our advertising columns that tbe Penny Readings Committee will give the usual weekly entertainment this evening. The programme is both attractive and varied. We hope to see a crowded house. Miss Dolly G-reen gave her farewell performance at the Theatre Royal last evening. The attendance was pretty good, and the entertaigll ment very enjoyable. "We arc requested to intimate that Mr O shorn© will continue the clearing sale of general merchant disc at the stores of Messrs Cochrun, Granger, and* Blackwood, this day, commencing at 12 o'clock. Mr Surmsn elsewhere announces a sale of s. large quantity of candles, for the benefit of whom it may concern, to-morrow at 11 o'clock. Also, horses, &c, at the yards, immediately thereafter. The probability of rich quartz reefs existing in the Longwood Hanges has long been admitted, and every now and again discoveries are being made which tend to confirm that belief. As the parties at work in the locality continue to penetrate the spurs, the indications of highly auriferous veins seem to become more numerous, and more worthy of credence. The latest evidence of the reefs being close to the present workings, is the obtaining of several specimens of quartz, by Mempes' party, apparently not being severed from the leader, or at all events, not far travelled, as the sharp angularities of the pieces have not been, reduced by friction, as would have beeu the case, had they been subjected to the action of water and drift. The specimens were in the possession of Mr Surrnan, who showed them to the curious or interested. Their richness of course could only be guessed at, but those supposed to know the value of stone, assert it to be equal to almost anything yet discovered in New Zealand. It is to be hoped that bofore long we may hear that the leader has in reality beeu struck. A northern contemporary says : — The ingenunity of the rebels on the East Coast in furnishing themselves wtih ammunition, or subsitutes for what would be considerad indispensible requisites for European warfare, is noticed by our special correspodent. The cartridges made by them are said to be very creditable specimens of workmanship, with the gum from native flax used to fasten the paper together ; and for wads they make use of round pieces driad fungus. The Urewere, or as we may term them men of the mountains, are described as fine specimens of Maoris, and run about their native hil.s like goats. The annual meeting of the members of the Southland Club, was held on Wednesday afternoon, Mr W. H. Calder in the chair. After some preliminary discussion, it was discovered that there was no balance sheet prepared for the past year, consequently no business could be transacted. It was agreed to communicate with the late Secretary, Mr J. P. Jones, Dunedin, asking him to furnish the necessary particulars by next meeting. The subject of telegrams waa then gone into, when it was resolved to discontinue receiving any more until the state of the funds had been ascertained. Tne meeting then adjourned. It will be perceived from our adv ertising columns that a meeting of the Shareholders of the Independent Water Race Company, Switzer's resident in Invercargill, will be held at Colyers' Princess Hotel, Dee-street, this evening, at half""St 58FjSSs °ifif°&»i or t;iie extenaion~o7 Sunday School operations, in connection with tbe Church of England, in Invercargill, was held in the Exchange Hall, on Tuesday evening last. Over a hundred persons, representing all the various religious denominations of the city, sat down to tea, the arrangements and provision for which by MrJTulloch were all that could be desired. The object of the gathering was introduced, and explained by the Rev. Mr Tanner, detailing the efforts already made in the Church to bring about a healthy action in the cause of Sabbath teaching, and inviting the co-operation of all able and willing to work therein. He was followed by Mr J. E- Stewart, urging the desirability and necessity of effort to make the school a success. Mr Perkins expressing his long felt surprise that so little had been attempted by the Church of England here in Sunday School labor, gave some hints to the teachers upon the nature of the work, and the requisites for efficiency. During the evening a paper on ' Liturgies,' was read by Mr Gibbs, and a most effective reading was given by Mr Butts, of a piece by Han's Christian Anderson, in the nature of an allegory on the death of an infant. The musical contributions were all extemporised, and went far to prove that in every social gathering in Invercargill there is enough at least of musical talent available not only to please, but to furnish a real treat. The evening passed over very socially and pleasantly, and the soiree was brought to a close about 10 o'clock. We (' Daily Times') regret to learn that Mr Dawbin has reported to the Government that nearly all the salmon ova are dead, and that all hope of a successful issue to the experiment may be considered at an end. There could be no doubt that this unfortunate result is owinf to the unusually lengthy passage of the Mindora, and to other unfortunate circumstances of which enough has been said. In the event of an experiment being repeated it is worth while considering how such a result may, as far as possible, be avoided. The suggestion made by sergeant Quinn in a report lately published in our columns, relative to the employment of the Clyde ships for the purpose, is a good one. Nor is the advantage of more rapid passages, referred to by the sergeant, though certainly the chief advantage, the only one to be obtained by their employment. There is also in their favor the fact that the ova can be procured at a much le9B distance from the vessel, so that a lengthy railway journey, like that from Worcester to London, is avoided. The Clyde ships, moreover, start more punctually to their advertised date than those sailing from Loudon, thereby avoiding unnecessary delay after the ova are placed on board. There is yet another plan, however, which has been proposed by the Acclimatisation Society of Southland, and which appears to have much to recommend it. We refer to the proposal to Bend to British Columbia for the ova. The passage thence in a good ship averages from 40 to 60 days, while the ova could be obtained in the immediate neighborhood of the vessel, and be put on board the very day of her departure. The matter is deserving of consideration both by the Government and the Acclimatisation Society^

The following particulars regarding the effects of the late earthquake at Oaraaru, are furnished by the local journal : — la and near the town the effects produced were very manifest, though nob serious. Even in stone houses and offices chairs and desks rocked backwards and forwards quite visibly. The motion appeared to be from east to west. The oscillation was distinctly felt in the Resident Magisfcate's Court, the Court being sitting at the time. The reporters' table and the magistrate's desk rockei to aud fro k an3 one man among those in the body of the court, noticing the doors to rattle violently, actually got up and opened the door, thinking some one was seeking admission. Bottles were shaken from shelves, and from a boarding-house in Thames street the children ran frightened into the street. Mr James Stevenson, of Riverside Farm West Taieri, informs the Bruce Herald that he sowed in ,the past spring an acre of the Sugar Beet seed, supplied by the Provincial Government, -wrltli tke following results : On land not previously manured, 39 tons, and on manured land, 46£ tons, to the acre. This same land was first broken up three years ago, and yielded 60 tons mangolds to the acre, for a firs^prop, and from 14 to 15 tons potatoes the second year. Mr Stevenson calculated that he could grow Sugar Beot at £12 an acre, so that the above returns should leave a large margin for the profit of the farmer and manufacturer. Kumor has been busy during the past week, say 3 the ' Waikouaiti Herald,' respecting the rasult of a proselytising visit of a number of the Northern Maoris to their brethren resident at the Kaik here. Though*it is believed that these visitors were chiefly from the Moeraki and Timaru districts, we have good reasons for stating that several were from the North Island, and that from the Province of Wellington. "We regret to say that there can now be no doubt that the pernicious doctrine of Hauhauism has taken considerable hold of the minds of the hitherto peaceable and remarkably well-disposed Maoris at this Kaik ; and that instead of devoting themselves to tilling the soil as heretofore, they liave absolutely done nothing this season' towards securing crops — neither planting nor sowing — and it is positively asserted that they do not intend doing either. To give an instance of the rapidity with which the aboriginal mind can relapse into its old barbarianisms, we are informed that a well known and highly respected aged Maori, whose wife recently died, under the influence of the teachings of those inculcating the doctrines of Hauhauism, as well as in accordance with ancient Maori customs, burned down during the past week the j house in which she had died, containing every* thing in the shape of furniture and cooking utensils, which his habit of associating with the Europeans had given him a taste for. On Friday last a number of Maoris went awaj, but we understand in about two months there is to be a large gathering, from all the Kaiks, in Southern Canterbury. There is no doubt that regular correspondence is kept up by disaffected North Island Maoris with all the Southern tribes, and though not in the least alarmists, we think that | storekeepers should be very careful whom they Bupply with ammunition. We may mention that ' we hear the name of Horomona Pohio (who is a | Maori magistrate) mixed up with the doings of I Southern Island Hauhau prophets, in a way that should at least cause an investigation to be made. lhfi.;©a l ifeT J i aw%^ saya -jj" 'HjgMftbft^ffi" trie House of Representatives on the 16th inst. The motion is stated to have been received with great cheering and laughter. He said that he did not hope to carry his motion this session, but if he remained in the House for one or two sessions longer, he hoped to be more successful at a future time. He should not enter into the subject in detail, and would only give one, but what he considered a sufficient reason for his motion. A very general opinion prevailed in the country that the members of the House were more solicitous for their comfort than for the welfare of the country ; and that impression would be somewhat shaken by the discussion of this motion. By the abolishing of Bellamy's the sessions would be shortened, as a large portion of time was now taken up for sessional purposes. If hon. members, instead of having a pleasant refuge to fly to from the long speeches and small talk of the House, had to eudure them, they would very soon find a remedy, and what had been called the police of the House would speedily make members more succinct in their speeches. Notwithstanding these arguments, however, the motion was negatived, not a single voice, save that of the mover, being given in its favour. Miss Juno whose merits as a tragedienne are well known in New Zealand, has been playing in Adelaide. Her benefit there was honored with the presence of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Edith Fergusson. According to the Wellington ' Post ' one of the Bank managers in Sydney is about to leave for New Zealand, to open branch establishments in several of our New Zealand towns. In the House of Representatives on the 18th inst., the following papers were laid on the table : — Return showing the tatal amount expended on defence purposes since the 30th of June, 1869, the amount expended in excess of appropriations, and the liabilities incurred ; return showing in detail the appropriations fop defence, which amount in the whole to the sum of £241,000 stated in the return laid on the table on the 11th June, 1868 ; return of arms belonging to the Colonial Government, and how distributed ; also> a statement of the number ordered from England or Australia ; also a return of the various forces, European and Native, and where stationed. The ' Westport Times' states that a man named William Smith, a drayman in the employ of Mr M'Cormack, Westport, lost his Ute on Saturday afternoon by a very simple accident, which is thus related by a witness at the inquest : "On Saturday evening, while I was standing on Stanley wharf, I saw the deceased drive a horse and dray into the river. After he came out, he turned the horse round, and put him in the river again. He was sitting on the dray, on the side next the river. That side of the dray went down deep into the water. The deceased tried to get the horse out, but it plunged ; the dray and the horse sank ; and the water came up the man's neck. He struck out with his hands to keep himself afloat, and got to the horse's head, but as soon as he got hold of the head, the horse plunged more violently with his fore-feet. The hosse seemed to strike him with his feet, and in a few seconds both disappeared."

The ' New York Leader ' contains the following items of preas gossip : Several of our contemporaries are discussing the question as to the highest price paid for journalistic work, and some seena inclined to think that the one hundred Ifo|iik«a >,p.er column given to Fanny Fern by friend Bonrier; of the 'Ledger,' caps the climax. Not at all. Mr Stephen U. Fisk, of the ' New York Herald, was offered one hundred guineas —^over five hundred dollars— by the London ' Times * for his report of the Atlantic race, making about two columns of that journal. Mr Fisk refused the offer, preferring to make the ' Times ' a present of the account, and thereupon Mr James Q-ordon Bennett paid him one thousand dollars for the same report, printed in the ' Herald,' making five hundred dollars a column —the largest sum ever received by any journalist. The ' Melbourne Age ' says :— -During the recent trip of Sir James Ferguß3on and suite to She Mount G-ambier district, a visit was paid to the far-famed Blua Lake, generally supposed to be the crater of au extinct volcano. Captain French and the President of the Marine Board sounded it in 24 different places and found the depth to vary from 30 fathoms to 112— the average depth being 43 fathoms. At the spot where they fouad 112 fathoms, they sounded carefully all ro und, and found it to be a smal circular hole, the edge of which varied from 40 to -15 fathoms. After the departure of tho viceregal party, some workmen engaged in getting up the boats used by the visitors in exploring tho lake, discovered an opening in the rock, which proved to be- an extensive cave. They explored it for about twenty yards, wi thout getting to the end of it ; but were then forced to desist, as they had no lights with them. A quantity of dingylooking specimens, reso mbiing coral, were found and forwarded to Adelaide. We hope Jour South Australian friends will have the cave thoroughly examined, and we shall watch with interest for the result of their researches. ♦The Pleasant Creek News' learns that a d escription of eagle different in plumage and size to the eaglehawk has been seen lately in the c o untry to the.north. " The bird is described as larger and apparently more powerful, with a grayer plumage and a much larger and lighter be-ik. Oar informant, who has much to do with travelling stock in that direction, informs us that they are regarded by some of the aborigines with a feeling akin to veneration ; they are strong enough to sail away with a young lamb, and that altbough ap parentJy but migrating ,in this direction, some of the squatters complain of the mischief which they cau3e, as well as of their boldness and ferocity." The followiug interesting particulars in reference to the Waikare Like, in the vicinity of which is the present scene of Col. Herrick's operations are taken from a letter in the 'Hawke's Bay Herald: — flic canoes U3ed by the natives on this take are of immense size, and even with these the natives.do not venture to cross the lake save in clear weather. In a N.W. or S.E. wind, one !of which is almost always blowing, a horrible sea is produced. The country jon the shores of the lake is rough in the- ! extreme— dense bush and mountain ranges, inter | sected with gorges and deep gullies, and, so deeply ( indented by deep bays, that the distance.round it is double its actual length, which from Te Onanrtto'trt fchftin-pdirur JilaaeJbr CaOOeS^at the_ commencement of tho roaa to JJua Tahuna, iflusfc not be less than 10 or 12 miles ; whilst, from the extreme end of the Wanganui-a-Paora branch to tho extreme end of the Wairau, it must be 18 or 20 miles. From Te Onepoto the Tiki Tiki Headland is probably a mile and a half. The white man who lived with Te Waru after the fighting at Wairoa, in 1866, swam across from Tiki Tiki to the Panekiri bluff, overlooking the Onepoto, to fetch some articles left by Te Waru at the landing place, and back again. A singular fact with this extremely interesting sheet of water is, that it has no outlet save by the Waikare Taheke stream, by which it discharges itself through a cavernous tube passing right under the Raiakaha hill, so that its outlet is several hundred feet below the level of the lake, and its warm waters are discharged into the rocky bed of the watercourse, with a hollow roaring that, in bad weather, is tremendous— the stream being a foaming torrent like a mill sluice for miles on its descent to join the Waiau. The valley of the Waikare Taheke is grassy and open, and with no great expenditure of labour might be converted into a good road until it commences the ascent of the Raiakaha hill at Te Kopane, where it will be remembered Te Waru laid in ambush and killed nine of the friendly natives at the first volley, and so severely wounded our old friend Ihaka Whauga. Speaking of the withdrawal of the troops from the colonies, the Melborurne ' Daily Telegraph' says . — It is intimated that an inter-colonial conference will shortly be invited to consider the whole fcubject. In some of the colonies, in New Zealand for instance, and perhaps in Tasmania, the total withdrawal of the troops will be sensibly felt, and it is not unlikely that some temporary modification of the views of the Imperial Oovernment will take place in their regard ; but in New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, the change is already considered tin fait accompli, and a conference, therefore, there will have to be. It would be premature to speculate upon the definite shape which the deliberations are likely to take, but it is above all things important that none but the wisest, most diplomatic, and patriotic men should be sent as delegates. It would be almost a national disaster if the Conference should terminate in some half-and-half resolutions, hesitatingly arrived at, perhaps passed under protest, and afterwards to be the theme of jealousies and Parliamentary recusancy. The Conference will probably be held in Melbourne, not only as being the most central situation, but as the capital of the colony which has already gone far in advance of all the others in organization and liberal outlay on defences. Although the principal mem. bers of the Conference will probably be members of the respective Governments, it would be desirable that some experienced officers, naval or military, or both, should also assist in the deliberations as experts, and some such arrangements would no doubt be made. Whatever is done should be done without any delay, and we do trust that this time we shall all be in earnest, for as the troops are really going there ought to be an end of all wind-baggery. Australians generally will feel that one more and very decided step is being taken towards the accomplishment of a National Confederacy — the Dominion of Australasia. i

The ' Lyttelton Times' says that private letters received at Wellington from Sydney via Auckland Btate that the manager of the A.S.N. Company is about to visit New Zealand, to make arrangements for a line of steamers calling at the principal ports: The « Grey River Argus,* of the 19th init.j says :— " Where the late fire took place is ndwr the scene of busy labor, and the carpenterpower of the town and neighborhood is taxed to the utmost to supply the demand. Those who suffered by the fire are vicing with each other in the Bpeedy erection of their places of business. The offices of Mr Perkins, solicitor, "■- --and shop of Mr Trist, blacksmith, have been rejected on their old sites ; the store of Messrs Hamilton and Nicholis rapidly approach^ ing completion, and will be occupied in a few days. The piles are berag put in for the rfioroctiou of Johnson's Melbourne Hotel, and Plannary'a Harp of Erin Hotel ; and similar preparations are being made for the store of Forsyth and Masters, who have built and are now ocoupying a temporary building opposite the old site. Tenders have been called for the reerection Of the Sank of Australasia, but the other 3 have made no sign, peuding the instructions from head- quarters. A late Auckland contemporary states : — " Two mon were shot at Auckland while the Naval Artillery were firing one of the Armstrong guns. One of the men, a Mr Martin M'Dermott, tinsmith, was standing about forty yards to the ri«ht front of the gun, and on its being discharged he was seen to stagger, and would have fallen, but a bystander ran to his assistance. On a medical examination being made, it was found that a piece of metal had entered between his ribs on the right side, and lodged in the cavity of his chest. The doctors had not been able to extract the piece of metal, and the case is considered a very serious one. Another man, whose name is unknown, was at the same time wounded in the groin. A piece of metal, about the size of a crown, was taken from the wound, and the man was able to walk about soon after.