The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1181, 13 December 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1869.

We reprint this morning the address of the Superintendent of Otago, when opening the Provincial Council at Dunedin on the 9th inst. The speech is rather a lengthy one, and touches upon a numher of important topics, but is interesting to ub chiefly on account of what it says on the proposed union of the two provinces. On this subject, his Honor expatiates with the eloquence of an enthusiast. Evidently jubilant at the triumph of his partizans in our Council, he warns his own against putting obstacles in the way of his cherished scheme. He has had a difficult task to perform — to make annexation palatable to Otago without eaying anything to create a revulsion of feeling in Southland — and he has managed it, so far, adroitly enough. Probable disadvantages to either are nicely toned down, until they are lost and disappear in the cumulative benefits foretold for both. He considers it a matter for congratulation that " two such importaut

provinces aa Otago and Southland " [Southland is an important province now from an Otagan point of view] " should unite of their own free will," and holds those who differ from him as not taking a " comprehensive view of the future. ' j It is admitted that " at the outset, perhaps, the pecuniary advantage of re-union will be in favor of Southland," but this bitter morsel is instantaneously sweetened by the assurance that " the assets which South- j land will bring into the joint account will amply cover any temporary advances which Otago may be called upon to make," (the italics are ours). In the next paragraph His Honor requests the Counnot to " overlook the fact that Southland (Invercargill) is the natural key to a very considerable portion of our territory," and therein probably lies the kernel of the question, the origin of the whole affair. Seeing that this fact is now so candidly admitted, would it not have been more in accordance with the institutions of the colony, and more advantageous to those immediately interested, had Otago ceded to Southland the districts which naturally belong to her, and which confessedly cannot be properly administered from Dunedin ? It is comforting, however, to be assured that "should the proposed union happily be completed, the various districts which at present constitute the Province of Southland will receive the same treatment at the hands of the provincial legislature of Otago, as any other district throughout the province." Had the word " outlying" been inserted before the last " district" in the foregoing sentence, ifc would have given the necessary qualification to the expression. By supplying the omission, however, we can at once form a ust estimate of the treatment awaiting us. Mr Macasdbew looks upon the " union of the two provinces as the first step towards reducing the coat and machinery of government in New Zealand." In other words, he regards it as so much towards securing one administration for the Middle Island, with Dunedia as the capital. Conspicuously, no allusion whatever is made to the necessity of referring so important a question to the country, before it is definitely settled. This is the more remarkable, from the fact that the present Council of Otago has very nearly run its term, and that the delay of a few months would have given the inhabitants of that province an opportunity of exercising their influence upon a point which so materially concerns them. The people have a right to demand that they be heard, and it cannot be said that they " unite of their own free will " until they have had an opportunity of expressing their opinions offered them. It will be an unwarrantable and most arbitrary act of legislation should re-union be ratified without consulting the constituencies.

Ik a letter to the JVtws, appearing on Saturday morning last, the Secretary to the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association attempts to explain away a discourtesy on the part of the committee to which we had alluded in our report of the show. Although not requested to do so, we willingly give the explanation the additional publicity our columns afford. Addressing our contemporary, Mr Macbobie says : — " Regarding the omission of Dinner Tickets to the Press, alluded to by your contemporary, I may say a pressure of work prevented my getting the services of a Dinner Committee ; and, however willing to undertake the responsibility of issuing them, I had so much to attend to as to be unable to deliver allforwhom Tickets were written. — Four's &«., D. Macbobie, Secretary." The explanation is, it will be noticed, very cautiously, some might say craftily, worded, and we can to bo me extent admire the chivalrous feeling which prompts the writer to rush to the rescue of the committee, and, in appearance, as« sume the responsibility of the blunder. The "pressure of work prevented my getting the services of a Dinner Committee," is worthy of "Mr Tight Barnacle" himself, and the pleasantest days of the circumlocution office. A " Dinner Committee," forsooth ! "What to do ? Pluck the geese ? Mr M. next says : — However willing to undertake the responsibility of issuing them, I had so much to attend to as to be unable to deliver all for whom tickets were written." We presume he means to say he was unable to deliver tickets to all for whom they were written, and intends to imply thereby, that amongst those "written," but "not delivered," were the invitations for this office. Seeing that our reporter was in the Secretary's office in the yards several times during the course of the day, the act of handing over a ticket to that gentleman could not have interfered much with the " other things " which Mr M. " had to attend to." Moreover, from conversation with Mr Machoeie himself, both then and subsequently, our reporter knows that tickets for the Preas were not written out. We regret occupying so much space about a matter in itself trifling. Our

original remarks on the subject were mild enough, and but for the letter of the Secretary, nothing more need, or would, have been said concerning it.

Mr Christopher Balierstedt, who has been described as the father of Victoria line reefers, and was one of the earliest and most successful quartz-miners in the colony, has lately died at Sandhurst. The exports Irom Marlborough during the quarter ending September 30th, were from Picton as follows :— Wool 3001b9, ralue £8 ; Fish Oil 1000 gallons, value £140 ; and 500 ounces gold, value £2000 ; Total, £2148. The corresponding quarter of 1868 was £956 only. Tbe ship Excelsior, which was to leave Auckland on November 25th, had the following colonial products amongst her cargo : — Produce. Quantity. Value. ( Flax 201 tons 6 cwts. ... £5173 Wool 314 bales 5450 Kauri Gum ... 293 tons 10 cwts. ... 12,827 Tallow 31 „ 10 „ ... 1100 Gold 7240 ozs 19,650 SUver 235 lbs 700 Total £44,909 Total value of her cargo was £46,126. A veritable whirlwind (soys the Examiner) was experienced in Nelson on the 28th ult, about eleven o'clock. The wind was gusty all tbe morning, blowing chiefly from theS.W., when all at once it came with a force such a» we never before experienced. Fortunately, it lasted but a few seconds ; but during that short time it did no inconsiderable damage, both to gardens and buildings. The large panes of glass in one of Mr. Hounsell's windows, in Bridge-street, were blown in ; Mr. West's powder magazine, in the rear o£ his house, was capsized ; the corrugated iron roof covering Mr. Laing's bakehouse, was stripped off and carried to some distance ; an empty crate, in which crockery is hr ported, was whirled out of Mr. Wilkie's yard, to a height of fifteen feet, against a window of the Galatea Hotel ; and in the timber yard of Messrs. Curtis, at the rear of Bridge-street, stacks of timber were thrown down, and sheds levelled with the ground. In Brook-street, a shed was thrown down, which, falling upon a cow belonging to Mrs. Polglaae, killed the poor animal. Several trees were blown down, and in some places snapped off. The phenomenon waa also felt in the bay, where the John Perm was caught by the wind, and taken aback. But the most remarkable occurrence was the eccentricity of the tide. The tide had been flowing for an hour before the whirlwind came, but it at once began to ebb, and continued to do so for some time, and non-plussed Captain Carey on entering the harbor some time afterwards with the John Perm ; for, according to ordinary rule, the tide should have been flowing two hours, whereas he found it ebbing. A nephew of Dr Livingstone, the far-famed African traveller, resides (says the Bruce Herald) in the South Clutha district, in the vicinity of the large bush stretching from Port fttolyneux to the Mataura. He is reported to be one of the best bushmen in the locality, and manifests considerable penchant for exploration and power of physical endurance for which his kinsman is so justly celebrated. Mr Fox, the Premier, has given a temperance lecture in Wellington. It is thought as not at all unlikely that under his rule a "Permissive Bill" will be introduced in the next session of the Assembly. A gold bearing quartz reef has been discovered at Saddle Hill, some nine miles from Dunedin.; The prospects are said to be very good. Captain Robert Collins, Quarter-master to the Colonial Forces, died at Tauranga on the 13! h November. Ec had served in the East Indies, 6 years 11 months ; lonian Islands, 1 year 6 months; Crimea, 1 year 8 months ; New Zealand, 5 years. Altogether he had served 23 years as a soldier. He was in possession of four medals, namely : — " Crimean, three clasps," " Turkish," " Gratuity Medal," and " Medal for Meritorious Service." He was present at Balaklava, Inkerman, Sebastapol and at the capture of Kimburn. He was fortysix years of age, and leaves a widow and family to mourn his loss. Tenders for the following public works on the Eaßt Road, between Bridge Inn and Long Bush, were opened at the Government Buildings on Friday, 10th inst., and decided as follows : — Contract No. 1 A — Drainage and formation of 120 chains.

No tender accepted. A tender was also received from A. J. Smyth, offering to perform the whole of the work for a lump sum of £4157 53, but as it waa not in accordance with specifications, it was not entertained.

The B nice Herald of the Bth inst, says : — " Our own special reporter informs us that on Tuesday last he descended the deep shaft at Wetherstones (430 feet) so as to examine the recent workings, which, he states, will, within the next fortnight, prove the existence or nonexistence of a deep lead or gutter of gold deposit. The bed rock had, the evening previous, been unexpectedly struck at a depth of niae feet below the drive ; it is now proposed to sink another shaft, half-way between the first and last opened. Judging from their dips, it is all but certain that the gutter will be reache.i very shortly." Conferences and Commissions (says the Wangaa-ai Chronicle) are just now the order of the day. If they do no more they at least afford our politicians a holiday at the public expense. New Zealand ia not wealthy, but it is very goodnatured, and every year it gets up something of this kind. At present, in addition to the embassage of Dr Featherston and M.v Dillon Bell to England, we have our representatives to an Intercolonial Conference at Sydney. Mr Yogel and Dr Knight sailed last month on this mission, and as the meeting had been postponed for four weeks, they will have ample time to make themselves acquainted with New South "Wales, and to enjoy the hospitalities of its capital. We haven't a word to say agahut the conference ; it is a good thing for our leading colonial men to come together occasionally and exchange notes ; only New Zealand can ill afford the expense. The business to be talked over at Sydney, we understand, refers principally to what may or can be done (of course any proposals must be merely suggestive) in the way of arranging an intercolonial tariff. Mr Yogel is well fitted to represent the colony in this question, if his protectionist notions are not brought in to spoil the thing, and something beneficial may come of it at a future date. In considering the Estimates during the late session of the Wellington Provincial Council, one of the members is reported to have said " that no saving of £1500 a year by reducing salaries would alter the financial position of the province, which was, that if the most favorable anticipations were realised, there would not for year* be any more money than was necessary to pay salaries and interest. The province was used up, worked out and no longer in a position to discharge the functions for which provinces were created, and for which alone they were useful. He therefore did not see what; the Council waa wanted for at all. The hope of getting a return from the Manawatu was a delusion which had been held up for years — a shadow which could not be grasped. If the province could not fulfil its functions it had better give up at once, and no t attempt to maintain, for a short time longer, a miserable struggle by the expedient of reduoin g ■alaries to starvation point." It is said that it is necessary to go some distance to hear news of the locality where one resides. The following paragraph which appeared in the Thames Times must have rather staggered Soufchlanders in that place : — " Messrs j Levien and Donalim have been elected to the ! Provincial Council of Southland as the represen* ' tative for Pelorus. The unsuccessful candidates ] were Messrs Rutland and Parker." We would recommend our contemporary to purchase one of the recently published geographies of the colony. Our readers will perceive that Southland has been substituted for Marlborough. At the meeting of the Southland Prospecting Association held on Friday evening, the following resolution was passed : — " That a general call be made to liquidate existing liabilities j and that another meeting of shareholders be convened to | consider the advisability of continuing operations, j or wind up the affairs of the Association." j Resolutions ha»ve been passed by both Houses of the Queensland Parliament, granting a bonus of 5000 acres of land to the exporters of 750 tons of fresh uncooked meat, manufactured in the Colony, and sold in Great Britain or Ireland at a price not less than 4£d per pound. We remind those interested in the Total Abstinence cause, of the meeting which takes place to-morrow evening. As the business is important, viz., to fix upon a site for the pr >- posed hall, there ought to be a good attendance. The numerous friends of Mr Macdonald of Islay Station, Mataura (says the Bruce Herald) will regret to learn that this gentleman met with a serious accident on Saturday, the 27th ult., the horse he was riding rearing and falling heavily upon him. Fortunately for Mr Macdonald, we believe Mr William Hill, of Croydon (that celebrated sheep breeder), happened to be present^ and extricated the sufferer from his perilous position ; lateat accounts, however, from Islay, state that Mr Macdonald is now out of danger, and in a day or two will be able to resume his duties on the station.

B. M'Allister £699 Us Od. M. Hosan 517 0 0 B. M'Menamin 462 19 6 B. Berndtson 460 0 0 H. Brotherton 457 0 0 J. Cardie 449 10 0 Eamsay&Co 397 12 0 H. Powell (accepted) 353 0 0 No. 2. Cartage of gravel for f mile of road. H. Mayo £675 0 0 B. Berndtson 405 0 0 J. Gallagher 405 0 0 B. Crombie 352 0 0 John Friskin (accepted) 269 O O 1 No. 3. Cartage of gravel for £ mile of road. Peverel Everel £742 10 0 1 J. Gallagher 742 10 0 B. Berndtson 573 0 0 J. Friskin (accepted) 438 5 0 No. 2 B — Drainage and formation of 119 chains. R. M'Allister £689 2 0 B. Berndtson 503 0 0 A. M'Menamin 459 0 0 J. Cardie 417 0 0 W. Brotherton 415 3 0 | M. Hogan 405 0 0 I B. Powell 361 0 0 T. Ford &Co (accepted) 340 0 0 No. 5. Cartage of gravel for f mile of road. B. Berndtson £405 0 0 J. Gallagher 405 0 0 B. Crombie 358 0 0 M. Hogan 320 0 0 J. Friskin (accepted) 269 0 0 No. 6. Cartage of gravel for f mile of road. J. Gallagher £742 10 0 B. Crombie 651 0 0 B. Beradtson 673 0 0 M. Hogan (accepted) 450 0 0 J. Friskin 438 0 0 No. IC. Excavation of 5 UK) yards gravel. J. Friskiu £1428 0 0 K. Crombie 1420 0 0 J. Gallagher 134,7 0 0 W. Moffett 1083 O O B. Berndfcson 948 0 0 J. Cardie (accepted) 890 0 0 No. 2C. Excavation of 5400 yards gravel.