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Southland Times, Issue 1125, 6 September 1869, Page 2

We beg to direct attention to the important sale of books, of Mr Louia Rodgers. The list comprises many valuable and useful works, aud affords an opportunity for the formation of a library on reasonable terms. Each week we hare been enabled to speak in lauiatory terms of tha Popular Entertainments, and Friday Evening's performance was in no way behind, but rather in advance in point of excellence of programme, satre and excepting a want of punctuality, which is a grave matter, as a portion of the audience are children, and the performance should finish about ten o'clock. We are glad therefore to hear the delay was an unavoidable feature. The readings were excellent. Anj person feeling that Dickens was severe in hi 9 description of a Temperance meeting, as depicted in the inimitable " Pickwick Papers," and admirably rendered by a Bluff gentleman, whom we have not heard since last series, would receive ample amends in the carelul reading by an old favorite of "The Town Pump," the subject of which humorously advocates the consumption aqua pura to the exclusion of intoxicating beverages. An extract from "Frank Fairleigh," by a gentleman, who, on his first appearance a few weeks back established a reputation, was admirably selected. In place of a concerted reading which was not quite ready for presentation, a gentleman whose efforts on a late occasion in wig and gown won laurels for himself, kindly gave " Bob Sawyer's Evening Party." The last reading, " A Bachelor's Thermometer," hnmorously depicted various jiltings, and efforts to hide approaching age, culminating in a recognition at the age of fifty, of the attentions of his cook by a rush into matrimony. The instrumental music showed care, attention, and a due regard to excellent time, and need not be particularized. The rocal portion of the programme introduced three pieces in which the whole strength of the amateurs was produced, and gave universal satisfaction, last, but not least, we hailed with j pleasure, " The Murmur of the Shell," by a lady j whose re-appearance a fortnight ago was much appreciated. It was a pity a duet, to which many looked forward, had to be postponed as an accompaniment was not prepared, but it is to be hoped an opportunity of hearing it will be afforded next Friday. l ' With reference to the reported discovery of gold at the Orari Gorge, Canterbury, the ' Titnaru Herald,' of 28th ult., says : — On Thursday morning early two gentlemen started and arrived at the field about ten o'clock. They deacribaithe country as a fearfully rough one, where in places it is almost impossible to travel except on hands and knees. On arriving at the camp of Marten and party they sartv - the claim which had been pegged off, and one of the gentlemen took a tin dish and .w'ished'ouVthreeVdishes'bf stuff, only: in, one of which did he die cover the "colour" pt,^, gold. '! Wxb olaimis'in a narrow rrv-er ,bad,r> wh^re there is not room for a hundred men, and there! is ' miles of, the, place. The prospe'dT altogether is not promising, and they believe there,, t is no, payable, gold in th« losajijy of, the Qrari> Gorge. — A private ietter quoted by the^ajameJ' journal states fchaJ^Th^ew, jiqd part^. wUI,, probably ' be compelled to leave the Opuha reefs in another fortnight through' want of^ means to carry onfch^ir • gearch. It is sald'oy £he v Vv¥it3r/tliat a' Very likej-y creek for a rich go\d£flld ( is. t tke whidh ' Mr Raine's house stands^akShawood station fot.« on Safarfday I 'last two men from- Timaftf picked up apiece of gold in tliis'cVeeTt'"as''large !^3 a " sb^rt button," with some juari^ attached,. ,&nd it eydentjy ctjuld ri^ot hav,e c^me fropa any jJi^tance^ Ih- 15 d ißl\j>f (^tuff ,ifl,,tihi? l lac»H};y.Aher.i>i, ia tfye .vqqlpur, *p,hs obtained., r ytyofhpi report fiurreofc \n town yeaterday was that gold had been found on 'the''Haka^aremea 'River',- close °Xo the, accommadation house of Mr Ross, but we believe, nothing; of importance has been discovered. r \ „.( .Education* in Canterbury is »in' » ll 'ba'd'"S*ate, judging f?oin the following remarks' 'fa'" a-lettet- ' ad'dreVse'd'to the ' Lyfctelton Times': — If any pe>aon intjrestefl"ih"'"t!te r "nTat&er will examine for himself, he will see that with the solitary exception oF Southland' the children of" t!ante*rbury are ' the worst educated of ■any/c&ldre^ ijcu' ,%w, .Zejalanrl. 'He wiH aiso' learn t£at in the^.jiijpivinpo pi., Nelson (where there^are no school fees, 'andwhere the Board of Education is composed oft^ie" 'chak-fadn 6f local 'committees/ V 4^ out"'of 'every" . 100 children between the^ages qf five r and. f lj5 i -jc4n ' re v aS' 'and wnfp L jj>e/eaß.jn ; ,Paq^phnj'y!,thfir : c,f ate only 28 in every 100 who can do so. ' Herald ' "of that date states that,A,,pareal )f .ilian^ondsjhad biieip^it^thAoQfficQ^of thit i4 pappr,,,'i.pw»iiF«dxuiithe'l»nd« o£>4fee-A&ustraii£ n« Diamond G6mpal!ly', t «^tne'Tw l oltaflfe^fla!f,land**a! c LUB in namtfee^it^hurge^ fyfiuigrone of two at d a ha r l£ i c.af£<M. yM^ T. T. nes, the weU.known jeVfillerof&eorge-Btreet, who favored us with a

eight of the gems, pronounces them to bo stones of the first water. We are informed that the whole of the land in which there is any probability of diamonds being found has been taken up by lease under the mining regulations. On the day previous the ' Herald ' mentions having been shown a v-arietyofsapphires, rubies, and diamonds, more or less perfect in character, which have been found on and in the neighborhood of land in Burrandong, on the Macquarie. This is well-known as a diamond locality, and is mentioned as such by the Rev. W. B. Clarke in sundry of his works on the mineralogical resources of New South Wales." The Rev. W. B. Clarke's tetter on the Armidale "diamond," of which we have already published the material portion, contains only one other paraghraph which calls for extract. He 9 ay g , — « The statement Mr Townsend gave of the size of the alleged diamond — however truthful it might be — showed the improbabity of its identity with that mineral. For, if not more than one in ten thousand diamonds in a diamond ! district is, as is said, worth much consideration, 1 how many million chances must there be against one, that a diamond larger than any hitherto known should be picked up from the surface of what is certainly not a diamond area !" Our Wellington evening contemporary of Aug. 19, has the following : — " A mania has taken fast hold of Wellington ladies, which would be highly flattering to the officers of H.M.B. Challenger if they were not too well accustomed to that sort of thing. We refer to the fashion of ladies assimilating their dress as much as possible tj that of the naval officers ; and of wearing in the hair and as ornaments to their dresses, anchors, brass buttons, gold bands, &c. To such a pitch has this mania for naval " belongings " reached, that not a ball takes place in Wellington now, at which at least half a dozen young ladies may not be seen with their chignons tied on the tops of their heads with black ribbons, on which the word Challenger stands out conspicuous in gold letters in front. This seems ticketing themselves with a vengeance, and in a way happily not seen among English girls. In the day time, as well as in the evening, the naval influence is observable. Take a stroll down the beach, and ten to one the first lady you meet will have on a blue pilot jacket ornamented with brass buttons, and with gold bands round the wrists. These latter are intended to make her neighbors as wise as herself as to the rank of her naval sweetheart, of her own brevet. The * European Mail ' says : — " A notice was posted at Lloyd's, on June 14 reporting that a Dutch barque had picked up one of the missing boats of the ship " Blue Jacket," from New Zealard for London, burnt at sea. Only seven people are said to have been in the boat ; it was picked up 400 miles east of the Falkland Island. No mentiou is made of the 4,000 sovereigns whiih were put into the boat when she left the " Blue Jacket." The above was reported to tbe " Cubana," from San Francisco for Liverpool, who omitted to obtain the name of the Dutch barque, or where she was bound. The ' Mount Ida Chronicle ' of 27th ult. says : — " Mining operations are being again carried on with renewed vigor. Snow has entirely disappeared — the mountain tops being the only exception. Water for sluicing is again plentiful, and we are glad to see from the escort returns that Mount Ida is fast approaching her old position at the head of the poll, from which tbe severe weather of the last month or six weeks had displaced her. We hail the event as an omen of brighter times and of the cessation of the extreme dullness in business which has for some time past prevailed in the Hogburn. According to a Northern contemporary the Waitotara settlers, who are now beginning to return to their homes, are greatly apprehensive that the Hauhau psisoners will again be let loose on them. A movement is on foot among them to petition the Government for the prevention of the reeurn to these districts, (at least for some years to come), of the Patea and Waitotara rebels who have surrendered and are now at the mercy of the Government. Mr. John Handley has taken the initiative by convening a meeting of the Waitotara settlers. The Otago • Daily Times 'of 24th inst., says : — A case in which a road rate of a most excessive character has been laid has come under our notice. The proprietor of a farm situated in one of the southern districts of the province, complains that his property, consisting of 2245 acres, has been put down at the annual valuation of £841 17s 6d, being at the rate of 7s 6d per acre, the a^sess.men.t. upqn, which; at the rate of 2s per £, amounts to upwards of £84 for the ,jear A • H,e alsp,!Bteteß,.sas, he-, would ,be gl*d to lease.the, farm afoth&rat&of -2s 6d pet< : &cre, ' and ' that atibtn % er' ; farnl l inthe' J samen6ighb'brnt)oTl,"wiih a li'lll 1 .....! : -•■' '■■■ ■ '.••■•■■! -. f '7u" 7 * •)•••■ ''I i considerable!,, improvements uppn, if;,, was, leased JUat y.ear.at. the lake of 2s per acre.'... i -.••■•> ' •■ The^Waka^p-Miil'-bf Idth'ln'^t:, "is&js-.^-The '3^ 'an'd' genial 'se^sori wKicji^jantil |ate/y ? was,', the ,cpmmpn a , topic,,, of. everyday » c.Qn.ve J raatian,.!has rttther-'euddettly -becomes qu-ifce-- -wintry 1 . ""On, Tuesday night the district was : visited * tr^thi &, "heavy snow' storm" J and("our' mountains', ' for the fira.t,,time, th.is ,-y,ear, u ,;see.jn, s re.sig-neduy»,.fo> have accepted their usual winter's coveriag"of' j; STio.y. •Tife'mrfun'tain trac^ l atref l allljut v 'inlpassabl'e, aftd Jfoe snow an l ,Mi6rf Point' saddle 18 six "feet deqp. It may seem strange to say that we gladly "liail r the present weather' T as being tnore wholesome and agreeable ; for the reason that the cause ;of the recent mild weatfier nas been intimately and unple&Sfi'ntly, associate i, 1 dv Our • tnind,' with the;, unusual frequ'ehteyTof 'earthquakes during thjafcr period. j "'^•The'weaiJHe^'c'dntinues'ttf^e'fearfulfy dry jin tfiia neigb.'b'ornpddj"' writes the^iSaiic^us, Marsh Express.' "The resemblance to the ...drought !of Jast-yearifr- -quite -alarming* — Wo have the same daily recurrence,, ,96 .npfifeh-easterly winds, with frequent cloudiness of sky, but no rain." '■ ■"' The ' Eurppean, Maiy 'ia, tbeTeport of a meeting of the National Association for the promotion of social science, says : — " Sir G-eorge Grey dn- * doubtsdly, «»ada .iha . epeeeh' of the evemng.f He 'Teferred''more l especially to j lotd jrl G'rahville's late.: 'fflSSgatctHcr 'the Governb°r % "6f ' New, 'Zealand' |akd ' "SBserte-a' tnafc nrwbula' 1 'pfo&bly ( feacT/'to J jjreshmassacres. He characterised' ft' as 'a' series »<•■■ misßtatements ( fromtjvbggjnning to end.' ' My' heart,' he exclaimed, *is almost breaking at t ie> accounts I've lately teceived from New Zealan !.'» Th^ ?<ejteranri Gcpvgjpprt .spoke ap* quietly land jetfso eloquently that he evidently carried the meet«< ing wijh him. He went on to state that, in nis- r opinion, the Colonial Secretary ought at least jtoJiftm, sr coQncii,T like*! the Indian* Sgcfe&rjr, jto<advise him. Untold injury had accrued} • pc--asserted, to the colonies from the ignorance of tiie' heads of the Colonial Office, who were appointed-; to th«i*&ifeK£a<tfifefe> fifelqiuehWy^tnout the lesSst previous training."

A small quantity of prepared flax has been employed at Balolutha ia caulking a punt, oakum not being obtainable. The experiment is Baid to have given satisfaction. There is an anecdote of Mr Richmond, late Native Minister, says the Wellinsrton correspondent of the ' Lyttelton Times,' " which, had he been still in power, I should not like to hare mentioned it, since I heard of it at the time of its occurrence. Two or three years ago, _a Resident Magistrate having a very small salary, was ordered on a special duty to a native district, and was kept there for many months. Only by the strictest pinching was he able to make both ends meet, when he resided with his family ; but now that he had as it were to maintain two homes, he went to leeward fast. He came up to Wellington and begged for an increase. The debts he had incurred hung like a millstone around bis neck ; and he informed Mr Richmond that he must leave the service, sell his furniture to pay his debts, and seek employment elsewhere., if he could not be allowed back extra salary for the period he had been detached for native service. Mr Richmond saw it was a case of hardship that it would be unjust to refuse to rectify, and he promised that an increase should be granted. Next morning, when the Resident Magistrate came, Mr Richmond informed him that the increase could not be granted ; that he had been informed that if he did it in one case, he would have to do it in many others. The poor fellow was about to go away — great strapping man as he ia — w ifch tears in his eyes, when Mr Richmond slipped aa envelope into his hand saying, ' I'm not a rich man, but perhaps you won't mind borrowing that of me ; don't trouble about paying it until you are perfectly able.' The envelope contained a cheque for £50." Te Moanui, a leading chief at Tauranga, and a faithful friend of the Europeans, lately died there. The following descrition of the scene at the great feast given the tangi or Uhunga party by his friends is taken from the Auckland Herald : — After a rather protracted inveral, boats and canoes began to arrive from the different settlements in Tauranga. During the day the ground was crowded with visitors. After performing the war dance on the beach, the tangi commenced by a number of old women, who had been previously selected to receive the Uhunga. One old man, noted for his grand speeches, raised up his voice to the highest pitch and gave the order to light the fires. No fewer than fifty pigs were then slaughtered, and in order that it should appear to the guests that there were treble that number, the poor swine were beaten to death with small sticks to increase the amount squealing, within hearing distance of the crying party. There were also large quantities of kumeras, potatoes, flour, and sugar, distributed to all present. The Uhunga then returned to their boats and canoes, amidst shouts of acclamation which rang in the ears of the visitors like thunder.