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Southland Times, Issue 1246, 3 May 1870, Page 2

Bib Honor the Superintendent was a passenger by the Raneitoto on Sunday last His destination, we believe, is Dunedin, whither he has gone to have an interview with the hon. Mr Fox, relative to the financial position of the Province; Tt is to be hoped that Mr Wood's mission will be successful, and that the pastoral rents, which have just been paid to Capt. Elles, may be handed over to the provincial authorities for the purpose of paying some of the claims against the Government, which in many cases are accumulating- under an 8 per cent, rate of interest. Our "ancient friend," the Southland News, has been smarting under the " stiffness" of our ' remark* in Friday's paper, aad has recourse to. his customary weapons— groundless assertions. For example, when we " bowl" him out in a clear case of gross carelessness, in a matter of some importance, that is simply " accidentally mis-; dated," a charge to be met by an impeachment that our " every publication is a tissue of blunders." This is a statement which is as false as it is unmanly and ungenerous. He challenges us with appropriating paragraphs of his "own manufacture," after they have " gone the rounds of the press." We freely confess that for a long tim^'.past the absence of any such production in his columns has been a " prominent feature." We fear that "loss of memory" must be put down as another sign of " decaying -vitality," for we assure him that his " peculiar" style is too easily traceable for us to be guilty of anything of the sort. It is no uncommon thing, however, for him to appropriate our " locals" on the day after their appearance in our columns, without exercising the common press courtesy of acknowledging the source from' whence they came. But, of course, if he chooses to play " second fiddle," that is his affur, and as our ideas are expressed for the general benefit, it affords us very great pleasure indeed when they receive any little additional publicity that the exceptional, circulation of the Southland News may afford! In fact, we have no intention of. instituting a prosecution against him for making use- of the information which we have taken all the trouble to gather. The artful manner in which he endeavors to turn the tables upon us, with reference to our "exchanges," is quite in accordance with the usual tactics of the News; and his " twaddle" about butchers and butter^ men, is quite in keeping ' with his usual good taste. In order, however, that our .friend's seeming obtuseness may be dispelled, we may again inform him that our offer to"- sell him some of the " stiffish paper," referred to that which is unsoiled, and if he allows it to find .'its way~ without handling it — into the possession of those who desire to make use of it for imparting additional warmth, it may probably remain so. \ Mr Mindoe has been duly elected to represent; the district of Oaversham ih- ; : the: General Assembly. The state of the poll was as follows :— 7 M'lndoe, 146 j Cutten, 71 ; Graham, 1 1&} Robertson, 9.- '.-. .. '..' . : - ; : i.. ; . . .'. '..'■ ■. '.I ■„ i". : More news of an old friend. America (says an English paper) may be proud of, its j George Francis Train. We cannot rival him on this side of the Atlantic' He is as unique as Niagara. He lectures on the " Old Fogies of the Bible," and he-sends a telegram to the Queen of England. Here it is :— " To Victoria, London. — Give me back my tramways, or down goes your monarchy. — Train." It is Bublime, and it is a magnificent proof of the subordination of the- mere elements to the dominance of gigantic intellect that the Atlantic wire did not shiver into atoms when the tremendous : message was , transmitted. '. '.'.. ' . 1" The cardinal point of the Ministerial policy, it appears, has been abandoned. - The Lyttelton Times of the 18th, ult. speaking " on authority," says : — The indefinite subsidy authorised for an Imperial regiment will not now be required, and it is "understood that the £70,000 authorised' to be expended annually for three years for raising in England a colonial force, will not be used. ; The Lake Wakatvp Mail of .the" 21st ; ultj says : — We notice that many of the old miners - connected with this district in itß earliest 'days are returning to it. This .shows that confidence is felt by those who have previous knowledge of 'the district. Several large additions have lately been made to our Chinese population. Above one . hundred from the . Tuapeka. district, haye i just arrived at the- Cardrona. ... \ English sparrows are now to be seen in the streets of Auckland. , ' '

We have to remind shareholders in the Southland Building, Land, and Investment Society, of the ftTinnail general meeting, for the election of officers, &c, which takes place to-morrow evening, immediately after the sale of funds. Nonattendera, residing within a radius of three miles from the place of meeting, are liable to a fine of two shillings and sixpence. The " Maria Douglas," a smart little schooner, built by Mr Bruce, of some 40 tons, is' now, nearly ready for sea. She lies alongside the wharf, where the finishing touches are being given to her. She now belongs to Mr H. T. Boss, and will shortly, we believe, be placed on the coasting trade, for which, she is well adapted. According to the Wellington papers, the Tararua on her last trip took on board at Greymouth 56 tons of Grey Siver coal for the purpose of testing its suitability for Bteam purposes. The result was not a satisfactory one, inasmuch as Bhe could ' not make more than six knots an hour while burning this coal. According to an Auckland journal, the ground of the Golden Gate Goldmining Company was sold by auction the other day to satisfy creditors, and realised £140. Mr Jiussell was the purchaser. ■ • ■ • - -'' The annual tea meeting of the Ladies' Benevolent Society takes, place in the Exchange Hall, Dee- street, this : evening; at half -past six o'clock. It is, we should think, superfluous to urge a full attendance on the part of the public. The Society j is one which has peculiar claims to support, and hitherto its "claims have been so'favorably recognised that it would be almost ungrateful to insist on increased liberality now. A dog-fish, seven feet in length, was caught by some boatmen, near the South Spit, off the entrance to the Buller river, a few days ago. The party were fishing for cod when the monster was hooked. That vanity is not the mere product of civilisation (says the Auckland Evening Star) was this morning exemplified in a shaving, saloon in Lower Queen street. A Maori, whose hairs had begun to show a slight sprinkling of the snow of years, entering,- requested- the proprietor to-restore the hairs to the hue of youth. For the'sum of " ten herring," which he paid like a man and a brother, the Maori's locks speedily assumed a raven tint, and he went on his way rejoicings ' The scene of the late fire in Dee-street is still hideous from the presence of the . unsightly "wreck." (Portions of two rade buildings,' never, ornamental, rendered still more ghastly through being half consumed, a litter of charred boards, j studs, and other debris, bricks, old iron, &c, &c, yet disfigure the Bite, and with it the "streets Is" it nobody's business to have the nuisance "abated?" The " gaunt ani hungry" look of Invercargill need. not be exaggerated .by the presence of blackened ruins in our main thoroughfare, and that, too, at the very door of our only public institution likely to be visited by strangers. It may interest some parties to know~(says~ the Bruce Standard!) that the largest tree on Inch Clutha, and perhaps in tho Province, is a most majestic ope in the bush "on. the river bank belonging -to- Mr Mosley, MP.C. It is totara, and is about 40 feet in circumference. From the slow growth of this kind of. timber, and the dimensions of the tree referred'to, it is evident-that that part of the island must have been dry land for at least, the last .thousand years.. There .are; others, of ' unusually large size in iha same bush, but none quite so large as this one monster, which, were it properly excavated, /might accommodation for a small family to reside in* Mr Mosley's delightful residence is wholly built of totara, not excepting the weather-boards, and the. mside lijiing'being all either biled^r varnished, . the effect is so rich that the name " totara " might appropriately be" changed to " New ZealandMahogany." A man named Millicap appeared at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday last, to answer to an information laid against him by J. Connell, charging him with . having provoked a breach of the peace, From the evidence it appeared that the informant had been -employed as a labourer at Mr- Broom's saw-mill, Bluff Road r of which defendant was foreman. In loading a truck with timber, Connell had done it in such a manner as to displease Millicap, when some hot words were exchanged,; defendant calling the other a " fool," and a "jackass," followed up by ordering him to? " clear out." Connell had felt inclined to strike,' but refrained, and took the " law of him."' Defendant alleged that Coimell was habitually lazy and troublesome, and that he was going to be dis« A charged at any -rate, - His Worship considered the ' case a very, trivial affair. Defendant was not justified in using «the language complained of, but he' did not think it sufficient to provoke a breach of the peace. He would inflict a fine of is, with cosfca, 15s. Two other cases— Bank of Otagd . v. Manning, and Gibson v.. Lorimer— were called, but, neither .parties : appeared. Cowper and Wilson got judgment, by default; against, J., Shobbrook for £24r18s Id; goods sold and delivered. !