The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1183, 17 December 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1869.

A natitb wit once, in a happy moment, applied a nickname to Sib Geobge Grey, which so neatly hit off one of hia Excellency's weaknesses that it stuck to him ever after, and Governor Wait-11-BIT became the common appellation of Her Majesty's representative throughout Maoridom. It is just possible that some local humorist may yet immortalize the present Provincial Government by giving birth to an equally pithy and felicitous epithet applied to it. It is at least evident that if the procrastinating Viceroy deserved the stinging censure implied in the derisive cognomenation, the present " Ministry " is equally deserving of the same distinction. If "they also serve who only stand and wait," be true, then our rulers are laboring for the public good. Probably little exception will be taken to tte substitution of the word 11 sit " for " stand," as more expressive of the inert attitude of the Executive, who, ever since their appointment, have retained their seats without giving a sign of vitality. The only little stir which has occurred about the Government Buildings since their accession to office, has been that connected with the tenders for the East-road contracts, and that was a work inaugurated by their predecessors. For anything else that has been done, the doors might a 9 well have been locked up, and the blinds pulled down. The farce of keeping the departments in "full working order " is a miserable sham by which no one is deceived, for even the members and officials themselves seem to acknowledge the hollowneas of the deception, by occasionally starting at the empty ring of their own foot-fall as they pace stealthily through the vacant apartments. Of course it may be urged that •they- accepted the " responsibilities" (?) of the position on i?he imp\ie& understanding that nothing should be done until Otago bad decided the fate of the re-union question, and if so, it must be yielded that they have succeeded admirably in doing nothing — perhaps with a little extra assistance they might contrive to do even less, but then they must be reminded that that is not what the people expected of them, and as they supplanted men who were anxious and willing to make an effort for public relief, BO they are bound to exert themselves to the same end. Moreover, if they did not intend to fulfil the ordinary functions of a government, or perform the duties attached to the positions they assumed, whence the necessity for so many highly paid appointments ? what the need of an increased departmental expenditure ? Surely nominal salaries would have been ample consideration for nominal services, in which case there would have been less ground for complaint, although the fact of the energies of the province being placed under such restraint might still have been equally deplored. There is one matter, however, on which the public have a right to insist that the Government should take action without further delay. The vouchers representing the floating liabilities amount to a good round sum, and their inconvertibility into cash, except at a ruinous discount, acts as an incubus on the mercantile operations of the community. There is no reason why these documents should not be made transferable securities, and thus put into general circulation an amount of money which, from being locked up, hampers all branches of trade and industry. Such a course would at once remove, to a great extent, theeffects ofcontinueddepression, without in the slightest degree increasing } the debt of the province. The Appro- <j priation Ordinance, to which, no doubt, his Excellency will be advised to assent, provides for current interest being paid on outstanding liabilities, so that were paper of the kind indicated issued, it would pass readily at par, or so near it that no great loss would be incurred by those accepting it in liquidation of their claims. As it is, many have from necessity to submit to — in disposing of their vouchers — a reduction which more than iwampa all their profit, simply on account of the comparative worthlessness of those documents as security, and not because of any doubts as to their being ultimately paid. It is to be hoped the Government will at once take such steps as are requisite to remedy this evil. It would in no way compromise or interfere with their annexation policy, and would be a great relief to the public.

A Provincial Government Gazette, bearing Monday's date, contains a notification proroguing the Provincial Council, Mr Weldon's reei gaation, the appointment of James Wilson, Esq., M.P.C., as Provincial Treasurer, and of the following gentlemen as members of the Education Board, viz. . — James Wilson, Esq., M.P.0. ; Andrew Kinross, Esq., M.P.C.; Andrew Toshack, Esq., M.P.C. ; Revs. W. P. Tanner, A. H. Stobo, and B. S. Bunn. A special meeting of shareholders of the Southland Prospecting Association is summoned for this evening in the Prince of Wales Hotel.

We observe that Mr M'lntyre of the Commercial Stables has placed his comfortable brougham on the streets for hire as a hackney cab. The Victorian Post Office has adopted the English faßhion of issuing envelopes with embossed postage stamps. The Wakatip Mail of the 2nd states that visitors to the Lakes remark on the much more forward state of the grain crops here than in the fertile plains oi Taieri and Tokomairiro. A correspondent of the Evening Star suggests that the Dunedin Caledonian 3ociety ought to offer a prize to the Scotchman who speaks the least intelligible English. The Lyttelton Times of the Ist inst. gives a long account of a public meeting, having for its object the consideration of measures to check the evils of excessive drinking. The Mayor of Christchurch presided, and many influential men took part in the proceedings. The following t resolutions were passed : — " That the evils arising from excessive drinking call for social and legislative reform." " That a committee be appointed to consider what amendments of the existing liquor laws would be practicable and efficient." " That the committee be instructed to consider what measures of a social kind would be best adapted to discourage drinking habits." After appointing a large committee — consisting of his Honor the Superintendent and other leading men — the meeting terminated. A deputation from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce waited upon his Honor the Superintendent of Otago on the Bth insfc., relative to a proposal made by Messrs M'Meekan, Black wood, & Co., as to the conveyance of the mails between Australia and Dunedin. That firm j offers, in consideration of a four-weekly subsidy of £400 from the Otago G-overnment, to Jespatch a vessel from Melbourne with the English mail within two hours after the arrival of the ocean steamer, and to despatch a vessel f*om Port Chalmers with the mail for Europe e'ght days before the ocean steamer leaves Hobson's Bay, the Bluff to be called at both in the outvard and inward voyage. His Honor said that le would not pledge himself to any pioposition, but promised to submit the matter to the Council, trad recommend a email subsidy, on the understanding that the vessels would come to Otago direct. Mr D. M. M'Kay, the Canterbury Immigration officer, wa§ brought up before the Supreme Court at Christchurch on the 6fch inst., and discharged, on the ground that, as the judge said, " ttie province had not a oorporah, existence to own property. He was bound therefore to direct the jury that the Crown had failed to establish to his satisfaction that the prisoner was clerk in the strict sense, or at all events, that the money he received was the property of Mr Eolleston. That being the case, there was no use letting the evidence go before them, whatever might be the moral guilt of the prisoner. He would therefore direct them to return a verdict of acquital." From a return of lands in the Province of Otago and their classes, published in the Provincial Government Gazette, it appears that 1,421,000 are Forest} 284,800 acrea Lakes; 2,346,240 acres Barren ; and 9,308,600 ftCres Agricultural and Pastoral ; giving the total area at 13,360,640 acres. Of this, 5,956,506 acres are under Pastoral Leases ; 310,500 acres Pastoral Licenses; 6800 acres Agricultural Leases; 991.749 acres sold within Hundreds ; 303 acres within GroWfields ; 5566 under leaseholders' covenants ; 392,651 unsold within Hundreds ; ani an area of 1,384,400 acres of Hundreds. Tree planting is beginning to attract public attention in Adelaide, and the necessity of replacing the timber cut down around the city is becoming every day more apparent. The area of land under pastoral occupation in Victoria is 27,034,784 acres, the total rent paid being £174,331 17s, or 1.55 of a penny per acre. The Kaihoura Serald of November 27 writes ; — News reached the township on Wednesday evening last that a woman named Clark waß in the bush at th« Boat Harbor out of her mind, with a baby in her arms, quite recently born, and entirely naked. She was armed with a pistol and a knife ; and it is alleged that she was once in an asylum for some time. Several persons were out looking for her, but had been unsuccessful up to 25th ; but as she was reported to have been seen on the morning of the day before by Mr Monk's eldest girl, it is very probable that she will be in safe keeping. She was first seen on Thursday, the 18th inst. Mr Constable Paap left for the Boat Harbor on Thursday morning in search of the woman. The Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Times, writing on the withdrawal of the mail subsidy, says : — " Everyone in Wellington is thinking kindly of your Superintendent. We are all in a happy fran-e of mind at the prospect of having to wait an indefinite time for our English letters, and we are thanking His Honor Mr Macandrew for the agreeable sensations we are experiencing . j The delay is undoubtedly vexatious, but when ! next session we learn — as most certainly we shall that more money has been spent in bonuses to steamers than the subsidies amounted to, our vexation will be doubled. Even the Government organ blames the action of the Assembly — not of the Ministry— in giving way to the suggestion of the Otago members on this iratter, and openly ' desires Ministers to set aside the resolution oi \ the House, which, it says, will be more honored in the breach than the observance. Auckland is one of the stations fixed upon for the observations to be made in 1874, of the transit of Venus. The European Mail says : — " The Astronomer Eoyal is wisely making arrangements in good time for observing the transits which will take place in the years 1874 and 1882. The event is one of considerable interest and value to scientific men, and it is therefore desirable that it should be viewed from those parts of the earth's surface, where it can be best observed. The stations fixed upon for 1874 are Oahu (one of the Sandwich Islands), .Kerguelen Island (in the Indian Ocean), Rodriguez (a dependency J the Mauritius), Auckland (New Z aland), and Alexandria. Both the Admiralty and the Treasury have responded with alacrity to the appeal that txas been made to them for funds. Mr Warren de la Rue is of opinion that photography may be used with the utmost advantage for registering the transit." 1874 iB a long way off yet, but it is gratifying to know that at that time New Zealand will probably be visited by some of the leading astronomers of the day. Such a visit should be made the most of to advance the interests of science in the Colony.

A meeting of the shareholders of the Clarendon j G-old and Quartz Mining Company, Longwood, was held on Tuesday evening, when the Managing Committee submitted their report, in which it was stated an auriferous reef had not been struck, and though there was a small amount of funds in hand, a further call of £1 per share would be necessary to work the claim till Christmas ; also that there were vacancies in the Committee to be filled up. Messrs Butts and Kingsland were elected on the Committee, and Messrs E. Rogers and W. Henderson appointed auditors. The Committee were instructed to draw up some additional rules, and to make a call of £1 per share. j The trial of John Smyth for the murder of his wife at Lyttelton, was brought to a close at 12 I minutes to 12 o'clock last Saturday night, 9th i inst., after having lasted 24 hours. The jury, after several hours' deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty, an anouncement which was made amid " breathless silence" in the Court, which was densely crowded even at that late hour. His Honour, in passing sentence on the prisoner, remarked : — " I have no reason to assume that the conclusion at which the jury arrived is not a correct one. It is one which it was for them to arrive at, and which they have arrived at upon their oaths after careful consideration. The crime ■which you have committed is one, not merely of a verj aggravated character, but it is high in its class of crime, as there are peculiar circumstances of aggravation in it. It is not merely that you have cent a fellow-creature to her account sooner than she would have gone but for you, but that fellow-creature is the one whom you have solemnly vowed before God to love and to cherish in sickness and in health; and yet it appears that that very same woman was put out by you almost naked at night, exposed to the inclemency of the weather, exposed to every passer-by, and that this was not merely under a temporary impulse of passion, but that you were in the habit of ill-treating her repeatedly." With regard to the prisoner's behaviour during the trial, the Lyttelton Times says :— Throughout his trial, the prisoner maintained great firmness. At intervals he addressed some words of conversation to the warders in charge, gazed round the Court, even to the galleries, with unusual sang froid, and evinced the greatest interest in the I examination of witnesses for and against him, I and during the addresses of the learned counsel and hia Honour's summing up. He displayed considerable anxiety during the retirement of the jury, which was increased upon the announcement that the jury couldn't agree, there being nine (as it afterwards turned out) for a venuct of irilful murder, and three for the leBS crime, manslaughter. With the exception of these mameHts, Smyth could not have been more perfectly composed, so far as appearances went, if he had been on his trial for a very much less crime than one which ranks second in our criminal code. After receiving sentence he sat down in the dock, and buried hia face in his handß. We learn that a soiree will be given in the Presbyterian Church, on Monday evening next, under the auspices of the Mutual Improvement Society. Moat of the leading ' members of that association are expected to take part in the speeches, readings, &c, which, with music, are to make up the intellectual part of the entertainment. Several able friends of the movement are also to lend their assistance, so that on the whole a very enjoyable meeting may be anticipated. We find that several slight errors have crept into our report of the late show, with reference to the list of prizes. In sheep, class 10, the 3rd prize was given to Mr C. S. Warden. For the best pen of fat steers, Mr Q. Saunders took two prizes, Ist and 2nd. In pigs, class 2, the 2nd and 3rd prizes were awarded to Mr Mitchell, manager for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Edondale. For the beßt fat pig, a prize, the only one, was given to Mr Wild. A correspondent of the Grey River Argus writes : — An amusing incident occurred here a few days ago which illustrates the truth of the old adage, " Where there's a will there's a way." A resident in the neighborhood obtained a verdict in the "Resident Magistrate's Court at the Ahaura against another resident, for goods sold and delivered. An order of the court for immediate payment was issued, and then the question arose how it was to be served on defendant. Ho was known to be planted somewhere in the vicinity of Keid'e station. The plaintiff went there, but as soon as the man he was in search of saw him approaching, he bolted, and as he is young and active, and can run like a deer, he soon left his pursuer behind. However, that acute individual. was not to be " bested," so he returned to the Junction, and after hiring a horse and saddle for a lady, he disguised himself in female attire. When the finishing touch was put on, in the shape ofoneof Mrs Bs window curtains, which was made to do duty as puggaree, he made a fresh start accompanied by a male friend. When they came in sight of the station, the " lady " adjusted herself in a more ladylike position in the saddle, and as they came nearer she saw the object of her fond solicitude leisurely and unsuspectingly airing I himself in front of the house. When the pair rode up to the hut, 1 , true to his reputation for gallantry and politeness, came forward, and offered to assist the lady to dismount. She i thanked him (with, I have no doubt, a sweet I smile on her face, if her face could have been ' seen through the window I curtain), but just requested him in a deliciously confidential whisper "to take charge of that small parcel for her," handinghim, ' upside down,' the order of the court neatly enclosed, and addressed to himself. A loud and rery unfeminine guffaw from the lady, and another from her protector, made I - suspect that he had been Bold. The lady did not dismount, but I have heard that she left the skirt of her riding habit in I 's hands, which I hare no doubt will come in handy for saddle cloths. A meeting of members of the Invercargill Tota l . Abstinence Society was held on Tuesday evening. The attendance was not as numerous as expected, considering the importance of the business for which the meeting had been called — viz., the selection of the most eligible Bite for the erection of a Temperance Hall. The Treasurer stated the funds in hand amounted to £144. A number of available sections, with their probable price, was mentioned, and the discussion took a conversational tone ; but, eventually, a resolution was passed — "That a centrally situated spot be selected, and Messrs Hay and Waldie be requested to obtain written offers to sell from the owners of the various sections named."