The Southland Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1103, 2 August 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1869.

A Reuter's telegram from Galle, dated June 16th, and published in the Sydney Empire of th c 10th ult., says that wool had recovered Id in London. On Saturday last, 31st July, about forty gentlemen, friends of Donald M'Donald, Esq., late manager of the Union Bank of Australia here, met in the Southland Club Hotel, for the purpose of presenting that gentleman with something to mark the esteem entertained towards him by his fellow-citizens. The souvenir, consisting of a very valuable gold watch, suitably engraved, was accompanied by an appropriate address, beautifully engrossed on vellum by Mr J. E. Stewart. His Honor the Superintendent presided, and prefaced the reading of the address with a few remarks expressive of the esteem in which Mr M'Donald was held by himself and those present, and assuring him that he carried with him to his future homo their best wishes. Mr M'Donald replied in a short but neat speech, expressing how highly he valued the unexpected honor which had been conferred upon him, and assuring them that he should ever cherish the memory of the occasion as one of the most gratifying incidents of his life. Mr M'Donald soils by the Airedale to-day, for Nelson, to take the management of the Union Bank there. The ' Daily Times ' of 23rd iust., says :— " The Council of the Acclimatisation Society held an ordinary meeting yesterday, in the lower room of the Athenseum. ipresent :— Mr W. D. Murison, in the chair, and Messrs Carrick, Mason and Thomson. Several letters were read and accounts passed. Mr G. Buckley, manager at the Hon. Mr M'Lean's station, at Morven Hills, stated in a letter, which was read, " the pair of deer turned out, now 18 months back, seemed to be doing well, but he was not able to say whether there was any increase. They ran near a small bush in the hills, about 30 acres, and when disturbed, they immediately made for cover. The shepherds had often seen them by approaching the bush against the wind. Sometimes there was only one, and never more than two together." A letter was also read from the Queenstown Corporation, acknowledging with thanks the intention expressed by the Society to furnish them with a supply ot trout. In connection with the acclimatisation of trout, it was stated by the hon sec. that it was intended i to make the first experiment next year in the Queenstown district. He further intimated that 12 deer had been received from Canterbury. He was instructed some time ago to arrange for the purchase of them, the question of price being left an open one. It was expected that the deer would involve a cost of from £7 10s to £8 per head, but the price charged was £10 10s each. The cost price exceeded £11. After some arrangement, however, with Messrs Driver, M'Lean and Co. the price was reduced to £9 10s per head. The deer -were placed in the possession of Messrs Wenthworth and M'Kellar, and they were to be set free in the Tapanui district. There was a probability that ultimately the gentlemen to whom the deer had been consigned would give the Society the price they cost, and the gentleman who sold them to the Society intended to contribute a donation to its funds. After a brief discussion it was decided to liberate the pheasants in the Clutha district, Messrs Murison and j Carrick being authorised to select the locality. The President stated that the rules of the Society had been sent to Wellington for registration. It j was also mentioned that Mr Clifford would most ] probably obtain a larger supply of trout than was secured on hia previous visit to Tasmania. The ' Oamaru Tiroes,' of 23rd inst., has the following : — <€ It appears probable that ere long the limestone for which this district is famous will be made available for an entirely new purpose viz., as a substitute for drain pipes. We have been shown by Mr Ritchie Young blocks of this material hollowed out semi-circularly, so that when the two halves are united a first-rate drain pipe or channel nine inches in diameter is formed. We understand that stone piping or channelling of this dimension can be delivered in Oamaru at 3s per foot run ; something like 20 per cent, under the co3t of earthenware drain pipes of similar capacity. This should be the means of retainiug > for the encouragement of a local industry a considerable sum now annually expended in the purchase of the means of drainage. Were the stones, instead of being hollowed ou Semi-cir-cularly, cut on an angle, so that the two halves wben put together would give a rectangular channel, like a box drain set on its corner, the cost would be greatly reduced. In his speech moving the first reading of the Summary Trials Bill, Mr Fox made the following remarks : — " lam glad to say that I found on the table of this House, where it tad been placed by the late Q-overnment, the draft of a Bill printed and circulated in the House o/ Commons in April last, although it had not passed its second reading, providing for the interchange of prisoners amongst the different Sritish Colonies. I think it will be an excellent practice for us who have proved ourselves such bad gaolers, that if we should come into the possession of large bodies of prisoners, or could not provide for those we have, we should enter into an agreement with the Australian Government, or even with the Indian Government, which possesses the Andaman Islands as a penal station, so that we might be relieved of them. I can imagine that the newlyappointed Governor of Western Australia, who has charge of a little convict establishment, would not be sorry to receive some of our prisoners, if for no other purpose than that of keeping up his acquaintance with the native tongue. If the Aot to which I refer is passed, it will relieve the Government ot this colony of a great deal of trouble and anxiety as to the deportation of prisoners. Considering that every evening during the past week was devoted to some species of amusement in the shape of Bazaars and Soirees the Popular Entertainments Committee have reason to be gratified with the attendance at tbe Theatre Royal on Friday evening last. The audience testified their appreciation of the rendering of the programme, ■which waa fully up to the standard of these deservedly popular weekly gatherings. The readings were deserving of all praise, being of a suitably varied nature, and we were glad to welcome not only two, who only occasionally render effective assistance to this branch* of the

entertainment, but the acquisition of two other gentlemen, who made a fir3t appearance at this series. The musical treats were with two or three exceptions produced by those whose untiring'exertions can never be too fully appreciated, ft was fortuuate that a non-resident lady remained still in town from the previous week's concert, and sang with Mr Kingßland a selection from "II Trovatore," arranged by Glover, and admirably adapted to their voices. The programme was also strengthened -by the valuable addition of another gentleman to the list of musical amateurs. So much did the audience admit c his rendering of a song in each part that an encore was on both occasions demanded. It is quite a matter of superorogation to mention that the instrumentalists acquitted themselves with their usual good taste and ability. In the House of Representatives on tho 20th inst, Mr Dignan asked the Government whether it was their intention to take any steps for the establishment of a. Mint in the colony. Mr Fox, in reply, said that the Government would bp very j glad to see a Mint established in the colony. The ; subject had been brought under the notice of ihe ! Imperial Government fay Mr Fitzherbert, and, in reply, the Home authorities had sent out a report of the working of the Sydney establisment, which was not of a very encouraging character, as the Mint had put the colony to great expense, •while it was under the sole control of the Imperial authorities. It was now about self-supporting, but issued 800,000 sovereigns a year, which,! was a larger number than a New Zealand branch would bo likoiy to issue. The Government, however, considered the establishment of aMint would be beneficial to the country, and would direct their attention to the subject, The ' Daily Times' of 27th met., say :— " A specimen of that rare visitor, the frost -fish, was yesterday captured at Port Chalmers. This singular fish is rarely seen in these latitudes, except in very cold weather, although, singularly enough, the specimen now in the Museum was caught in January. The specimen caught yesterday was nearly six feet in length and about four inches broad. We take the following from the ' Daily Times,' of 2'th inst.: — " The mutton hams preserved by Mr George Thomson, of this city, promise to come into general favor. They form an excellent I dish at a moderate price. On a late trip of the i Alhambra to Melbourne, they were submitted for approval to the cabin passengers, who concurred in thinking that as a relish for breakfast or lunch they cannot be surpassed.— ? We observe that meat I curing has also been attempted in Wangauui. in noticing some hams cured by a Mr Locke tt of that place, the ' Evening Herald' writes in the following strain : — ' It is something to have the privileges of an editor, when one of the privileges is to receive a present of a rasher of ham for breakfast. The opportunity having been afforded ua of writing from experience, we may say that the finest of Sinclair's hams does not excel hams cured by Mr Lockett, of this town. Mutton hams have been cured by the same gentleman (of course, only for his own übo) in a way to mate any gourmand thank the gods for his existence and the enjoyment of taste.' " We are requested by the Secretary to the Bagged School Committee to acknowledge the receipt of £12 4s 6d, being the proceeds of an Evening's Entertainment, conducted by the Popular Entertainment Committee, on behalf of the Institution, and to render the thanks of the Committee of the Ragged School to the Ladies and Gentlemen who assisted on the occasion. It may be well to remind the owners of dogs that the tax for the current year |is due to-day. The police will, no doubt, be round collecting it, and we believe it is intended to enforce the provision of the Act, with regard to dogs not registered, moßt stringently. A correspondent writes to the ' Australasian, asking " what the impression is in Victoria amongst sheepholders regarding washing sheep in hot water before being spouted. Since tho receipt of the last news from England, which comments not very favorably on the hot water process, many persons here are halting between two opinions, whether to adopt the hot water at a medium temperature of, say about 90 deg. or dispense with it altogether." In a note to the letter the editor answers the enquiry as follows :— • " Hot water, improperly used, may be injurious, but there is no donbt that warm water, not over 110 deg., with soap and soda ha the soaking-pen, gives brightness to the wool, and softens the dirt, so that it can be removed more quickly and more thoroughly than after any , amount of soaking in cold water." We observe that the building hitherto used as a place of worship for the Independent congregation, at the end of Tay-street, is being removed, the contractors having by means of rollers, } winches, &c, already brought it into the centre of the roadway. We understand it is intended to place it in Dee-street, botween Mr Fraser's timber yard and Mr Colyer's Hotel. The owner, Mv J. T. Thomson, of Dunedin, having recently purchased the building and ground from the trustees, who were anxious to sell to liquidate a heavy mortgage on the property. Mr Thomson originally presented the land to the congregation. The subject for discussion this evening, by the members of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society being " Protection versus Free Trade," there should, as there likely will, be a large attendance.