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Southland Times, Issue 1236, 12 April 1870, Page 2

. , ■ : — ■■■■' '::-- ; Vißi The large weigh-bridge which, has for a number.of years done good public service; at the nortti.^ end of Dee-street, is to be offered for sale at the Prince of Wales Hotel to-morrow. 'A:- machine of the kind is an absolute necessity to the town', and it is to be hoped a purchaser may be forth-' coming who will either retain it in its presentposition, or at, a more central locality. The machine is an excellent , one, and in first-rate ' order. A few petty repairs on the roads and bridges near town are urgently required, which, if done at once, would cost but little. It would appear, however, as if the authorities preferred waiting until some serious accident occurred, or the delapidations became so great as to necessitate a heavy contract.' The upper planking of the Puni Creek bridge is already worn through in several places, and the under one will of course speedily follow, unless protected by new timber. The Waihopai bridge on the North Road is also dangerous, one large hole yawns in the centre of the roadway, a loose plank being simply placed over it, and in several other places the floor is much rotted and abraised. The culvert at Harrisville, so. long allowed to gape wide open in three places; was sometime since partially repaired, but is still in a very unsafe condition. One end of it lies as it was left when burst by a late flood, and a large hole still occupies the very centre of the road, so that all traffic must diverge to the sides, both of which are likewise unsafe. A few carts of gravel would fill up the dangerous gap, and restore the roadway to its proper form. How people on horseback, traps, or waggons, escape accident when passing this locality, especially after dark, seems wonderful. The annual general meeting of members of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, it is elsewhere intimated, will be held at the Prince of Wales Hotel on the evening of Thursday, 21st inst. Probably if the public would just manifest a little more sympathy with this most valuable and useful institution, something might be done in the shape of having a public garden laid out somewhere near town. Invereargill is most, lamentably deficient in either natural or artificial attractions. A well stocked enclosure for the

purposes of this society would be a point of interest in convection with the town, be a relief to the interminable blankness of our surroundings, and serve as an agreeable place of resort for the townspeople. It only wants a little more lively support from the public to ensure something of the kind being done. By means of the land grant, the ordinary revenue of the association is relieved from the cost of introducing fi*h, a most expensive process, and is consequently available for other purposes, such as the formation of a garden, and the procuring ,of birds, animals, and plants for acclimatisation and distribution. The New Zealand Gazette of the Ist inst. contains the appointment of James Reid, Esq., to be Deputy Returning Olßcer for the district of Riverton, tor the election of members of the House of Representatives, vice Peter Grant, Esq., resigned ; of Henry M'Culloch Esq., to be Revising Officer for the electoral districts of Invercargill, Mataura, Riverton, and .Wallace, a^id of John Field Deck, Esq, M.D., to be Medical Referee under " The Government Annuities Act, 1869," for Southland. The Maungatua correspondent of the Bruce Herald writes :— " A rich quartz reef has been discovered on Rocklands Station, near Sutton Creek, four miles north of Beep Stream. The shares have been bought up very fast. Some parties in this district, who at one time had the chance of purchasing a few shares, now wish they had done so." The Drybreai correspondent of the Dunstan Times states that the pigs there " are getting an intolerable nuisance, and unless some steps are taken, h^^tbe townspeople, they will have full possession of the town, and another site will have to be chosen to carry on business." With regard to mining matters in the Lake district, the Queenstown paper says :— We learn with pleasure that some important discoveries of gold above the falls at the 25 Mile Creek, Lake Wakatip, have been made, and we are informed that a considerable extent of country, capable of containing a large population, is thus opened up. The gold obtained is " nuggety," and of large size. Hitherto, gold had not been obtained above the falls, so that the discovery, and the fact of the gold being so coarse, indicate very promising results. — Mining matters in the Moke Creek district are also progressing very favorably. The miners have extended a long way into the mountain fastnesses up Moonlight Creek, having reached within a few miles of Lake Luna. Mr Spenoe recently accomplished an arduous journey in iurveying a lease application in this hitherto unprospected region. We have thus evidence that gold does exist in payable quantities in a part of the country almost unlimited in extent. A telegram from Queenstown, published in the Dunstan Times, says :— " Several parties have just arrived from Canterbury, and have started overland for Martin's Bay, looking for sheep country and sections to take up." The Queenstown correspondent of the Cromwell Argus writes :— " Mr Simpson and party have i returned from their journey en route to Martin's Bay. Mr Simpson only went as far as the Hollyford River, I believe. It is stated that the making of a track will be much more difficult than was at first anticipated. The country is spoken of as showing good indications of gold." We notice the following advertisement in a Hawke's Bay paper :— " The wife of Frederick Ulph, not having heard any tidings of him for nearly four years,, and having been informed that Ms friends do not know where he is, intends; if she does not hear from him at the expiration of two months from this date, to get married again." A Cobden correspondent of the Greymouth Star reports the birth there of a second Richard the Third. Mrs Christopher Clark has given birth to ahoy who has a Bet of teeth. Butter is quoted in Lyttelton at 6d to 7d a pound for the best description. Two firms have taken advantage of this low rate to export to London 140 firkins. The steamer Tarra is offered for sale at Hokitika at the small charge of £20, and even at that figure there are no buyers. A correspondent writes to the Bruce Herald, from Oamaru, as follows: — "On Thursday I visited the works of the N.Z. Meat Preserving and Boiling Down Company, at Kakanui, where I saw butchering on a very large scale going on, in the most approved style "; several hands were engaged in killing the sheep, others skinning, and some carefully, stripping the fat from the intestines. The quantity of blood running from the place was surprising. In the works we saw an immense boiler, capable of holding 200 carcases ,'at once, where they are boiled — or more correctly* steamed down. At these works they intend feeding up 100 pigs at a time, giving them as .food the offal and intestines of the slaughtered sheep, and in due time the pigs will also be boiled down and their offal, &c, will be given to their progeny." The Wellington Independent says : — As some definite information may be desirable in reference to the New Californian route, we give the following particulars :— The Californian, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail steamship Wonga Wonga,*or City of Melbourne, will sail from Auckland on 2nd April, 4th May, 4th June 7th July, and after that the 7th of each month. The time occupied on the trip to England will be as follows : — Auckland, to Honolulu, 14 days ; Honolulu to San Francisco, 10 days } San Francisco to New York (by rail), 6 days j New York to Liverpool and London, 9 days ; total 40 days' travelling. The fares from Auckland to San Francisco will be — saloon, £35 j second cabin, £25 ; intermediate, £18 ; and across the Continent of America by Centra! Pacific Railroad, £10 ; beds and provisions costing £4 extra. Passages from New York to England can be had by the Cunard line — saloon, £22 ; second cabin, £10. The Imman line — saloon, £16 ; second cabin, £8. Passengers can thus get home by this route for £65 in the saloon, and £47in the second cabin, and £40 in the intermediate. Arrangements can also be made with the railway for the" issuing of tickets available for two months. As yet no arrangements have been made to book right through', but negotiations are being carried on, and^ it ~ls probable that shortly through tickets will be issued from New Zealand to England. /! bjne of the Maori prisoners, named Iraia Tumahijkj,'whb was once the principal chief of the Ngatiruanui hapu, and who was sentenced to 7 years' penal servitude, died in the Dunedin Hospits3;at six o'clock on the morning of the 6th inst,, of general debility.

The committee of trie Acclimatisation Society held its usual monthly meeting on Friday last, in the Government BuiLdin^s. The ruembera present were — Messrs Blaekloek, M' Arthur, Conyers, Q-ilmour, and Butt 3, lion, secretary. Mr Blacklock occupied the chair. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Butts read a copy of the letter he had written to the Superintendent of Otago — pursuant to resolution of the committee — and the reply thereto. The letter was enquiring whether Otago was disposed to join this province in a further salmon ova shipment. Mr Macandrew replied to the effect that his Q-overnment had it in view to submit a proposition on the subject to the next Council, but his opinion wa9 that, now a line of steamers was established between New Zealand and Jforta America, British Columbia, or Vancouver's Island, was the proper place to get supplied from. A.B this society had already made minute enquiries on the feasibility of obtaining ova from thence, with the result of fin ling insuperable obstacles in the way, it was suggested to acquaint Mr Macandrew with the difficulties in the way of that scheme. The committee did not think it advisable to leai Mr Macandrew to expect this society to co-operate with Otago in the proposal, being convinced that any advantage gained in point of shortness of passage, wa3 more than counterbalanced by the absence of appliances for getting the ova collected, packed, and transported from the spawning beds to the port of shipment. The Secretary wa9 authorised to com- j raunicate with Mr Sethgreen of the United Stateß, an eminent pisciculturist, on the subject of obtaining white-fish ova — a project mooted some months ago. Letters from two northern societies — Auckland and Canterbury — were read, on the subject of pheasants, and ultimately it was resolved to obtain six from the Canterbury gardens if they had that number to spare. The Secretary then submitted a draft of the report to be brought up by the committee at the ensuing annual general meeting, as also report from the curator, Mr Howard. Both* documents were discussed and put in final form. The date of the general meeting was then fixed, and the meeting closed. The Rev. R. C. Morrison having intimated his acceptance of a call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of Switzers, the Presbytery of Southland have appointed his induction to take place on the 13th inst. The Treasurer of New South Wales proposes to borrow £1,571,600 for railway extension and public works this year. This would bring the debt of that Colony up to £11,775,690. The amount of gold sold in Greymouth by the diggers during the race- week is said by the Star to be larger in the aggregate than had ever been offered on any previous occasion during the same period of time. Mr Jollie lately said in the Council at Canterbury, that there were only two colonising proYinces in New Zealand — that two provinces only were engaged in the introduction of immigrants to any extent, namely Canterbury and Otago. Auckland had far too large a population already ; Taranaki had never introduced immigrants ; Wellington was carrying on chiefly with the : assistance of the General G-overnment ; he never heard of immigrant ships going to Sawke's Bay." Nelson had now a very limited amount cf Crown land suitable for occupation ; and Marlborough was on its last legs, and could not introduce immigrants. , Although it is well known that numerous parties of miners are •employed in various places on the borders of the two provinces, it is very seldom that we hare an opportunity of obtaining reliable information as to the result of their labors. Of the " poor men's diggings" which are being systematically worked, that of the Waikaka, on the runs of Messrs M'Nab and Ainslie, would seem to yield the most satisfactory returns, as we are informed that there are nearly 100 men regularly employed there, whose earnings, at all events, seem to be sufficient to cause them to remain, and prosecute their work with energy, in some instances constructing expensive races. These men are most anxious that this locality should be proclaimed a goldfield, and a report that the Otago Government intends opening it up as a Hundred, has caused them some uneasiness. It would be a pity if wellknown auriferous ground were alienated from the -Crown before its riches are extracted, as there is no doubt that a large floating population finds a means of employment in searching for the precious metal in these alluvial patches. The Southern Cross says : — " We believe September is the best month for sowing flax seed. Boiling water should be poured upon the seed before it is planted, and it should be allowed to soak for twenty-four hours. This softens the hard skin of the seed, and greatly facilitates its germination. Flax seed doea not require deep cultivation, but may be sown broadcast and harrowed iv. If treated in the method described, the plants will make their appearance in about a month's time, and may be transplanted. The after-growth, however, is exceedingly slow, and if any person is desirous of cultivating flax on a large scale, we would advise them to use roots. ■ These may be obtained by digging up - native flax bushes, and dividing the roots into from 20 to 40 pieces. Three roots should be planted together, and covered up very lightly. A distance of about; 6 feet between each plant, and eight feet between the rows, will be found to answer best for cutting and carting. Considerable improvement in the quantity and quality of the fibre, however, results from cultivation ; no plant, probably, varies more than phormivm tenax, according to the nature of the ground on which it is planted." The Chief Postmaster has requested us to state, that as some misapprehension exists as to whether the sums stated in Table 111 (in the Plain Rules for Insurance published by the Government) represent the amount of the annuity, or only one-half of it, that it shows the whole amount payable for a year on each £100 invested. The name of Professor Kirk, of Edinburgh, is widely known over the civilised world as that of a zealous. Christian worker. For over thirty years the rev. gentleman has ably held a foremost position, not only as a minister of the gospel, but as a man of advanced and sound views on most questions of the day, particularly on those social and moral problems, the right solution of which so greatly concerns the whole human family. A number of Mr Kirk's friends who have watched his protracted labors with admiration, and followed his teachings with benefit to themselves, desirous of showing in some suitable manner their appreciation of the

many excellencies of his life and character, have resolved on presenting him with something in the "- N form of a testimonial. In order that all who «*»-" , desire may hare an opportunity of joining in the manifestation, agents for the reception of contributions have been appointed in the various quarters of the globe. The Australasian sub-, scriptions will be received by Hr David Bonthron, , of this town,- and no doubt many throughout „ these colonies will only be too glad of the oppor- . tunity to express their eateem for a man who has spent his life in laboring for the good of to-* race. William Eeid Douglas, Esq., fha» been appointed an Inspector of steamer* and Engineer Surveyor for the Colony of New. Zealand, under the provisions of 'The Steam Navigation Act, - 1856." * . An English paper makes' the following suggestion :— The idea has been thrown out more than once of our colonies sending their representatives to the House of Commons. Sneh ascheme is, however, obviously impossible. We eou'd not allow members for the colonies to legislate on the matter of our taxation. But would the same or any other objection apply toadmitting select men from the colonies into the Hoase of Lords? We are evidently on. the eve of the creation of life peerages, and the difficulty . already felt i3 to fix upon i;he class that ought to receive them as distinct from hereditary peerages. Representative men from our colonies would form such a class, against whom no objection oould be urged. As the Upper House deals more with general principles than with local details, their presence would not be felt to be so 7 anomalous as in the Lower House ; and on Imperial questions, which are so much more frequently discussed by our hereditary legislators, ' they would be as much at home as any statesmen - located within the four seas. May we add that to the discussion of colonial questions they would bring a knowledge and an authority whioh would not only elucidate many an obscure subject, bat which would give weight and dignity to their Lordships' discussions. . We would recommend , ~ ; the consideration of this scheme as. one that would not only draw closer. the bonds of th© colonies with the mother country, but;would con-; tribute to the stability .of. the House of Lord* itself. :-.■■' ... ■.:•■"■ \.r.:y..v\ In a letter to the Lyttelto* Timet denying th* authorship of certain articles in » Wellington . paper, Colonel Whitmore says:— :l am an, open dissentient from this ludicrous, demilitarisation which has so utterly broken down. I lament that all our military force is gone or goin?, and • - the; detective police- is still unable, after nine months, to take the field. I feel sure the rifle not the rattle is wanted to bring the war to an end, " and that nothing prevented this result last July ''' except the retreat of our troops to the coast when ' MriFox came into office. That error enabled Te Kooti to recruit his men and recover his prestige when he was a fugitive on the Taupo plains . without either food or ammunition. There is no* doubt about this, every man of the force I lately commanded knows it well- No military man of experience will deny tftat the coarse pursued, by : tj which Te Kooti was left alone till October, wa s certain to prolong the struggle. But, Sir, though I hold these opinions, and believe that the want of concentrated conmand, and the multiplicity of " : independent authorities must lead to bungles like Patetere, I utterly repudiate all thought of ill against poor Mr Brannigan. He was not responsible for the reversal of all that might have been, learned from the experience of every country in. times of disturbance, even radical America. H©.'^ j.J came at the invitation of Government, throwing up an excellent appointment, and has done his best, and I dare say done it well. His police is doubtless exactly what he promised, and is certainly what I expected it would prove. He has been vP only the instrument, and possibly may be mad* the victim of a theory for which others are responsible. He himself should be sacred. You_will remember when every engine that , could be " used was employed to vilify, to thwart, "and to. insult me for doing my best in former days ; I(|_V was then you said a generous word for me, Sir, ~ and appealed to the 'sense of fair play which you felt hadbeeh outraged in some insfances by "this" ~] unremitting persecution. lam glad to be able to \ thank you for your chivalrous defence, at thattime, and to ask jou to be so kind as to do me the same justice now, by recording my contradiction of a report circulate! ■ entirely from political motives, without a shadow of truth, and utterly opposed to those principles upon : which - 1. „ people; should always act towards subordinate - - officers in the service of the Government. : i i Mr R. P. Whitworth, the gentleman specially .', sent by the Otago Daily Times to report on th© extent and capabilities of the proposed new settlement at Martin's Bay (says the Wakatip Mail of the 31st ult.,) arrived in Queenstown yesterday morning at an early hour, having mad© .... .. the trip overland from the head of Lake M'Kerrow to, the head of Lake Wakatip in three ;: and a-half days.- He left the head of the former lake on Friday morning last, proceeding up the - west bank of the Hollyford river, and camping under some glaciers at night, . The following day (Saturday) he reached the ford noted by l£r M'Kerrow (where he saw traces of Simpson's Tcail^ party), not, however, at the-plaoe -tupposedrby— — that gentleman, but Borne miles further up the - •* river. Camping there at sight, he started for - Lake Harris the next mbrning, ; which place he reached after a three hours' climb up the ranges. Up to. this point, he was accompanied by Mr Thomson, chief of the survey party now- located at Martin's Bay settlement. He then tracked •- -~ down the Bouteburn, camping at night in ft grassy flat near Mount Centre j and ; the__Mlow- i_ . ing day (Monday) reached the head of Lako : T Wakatip, shortly after noon. On Tuesday afr ' ■ noon he reached the sawmills, and came down to- : Queenstown by Mr M'Ewan't ketch Gazelle, making a rather long passage on account of there • - being no wind, not arriving here until yesterday , jmorning. He says that the track is a well marked -though somewhat difficult one, and that n the distance between the heads of the two lake* might easily be made by one not over-burdened with swag in three days— he having lost half •t _ day in looking for the ford. In going froia' - Queenstown, however, the same difficulty doe» not exist; . He . reports all well at the survey p camp, and that the surrey party are going on " L rapidly with their work, being engaged at present . in making pointß for their triangulation. Mr Whitworth also reports gold as having been found at Big Bay, the next bight' north of, and a short distance from, the Martin's Bay settlement. He had fine weather all the way, except on Sunday night, when Tery heavy Tain fell, andien-" dered the Bouteburn totally impassable ;• — hey r5 however, having fortunately crossed as soon ash© saw symptoms of bad weather. ~ r .-.V:.