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Southland Times, Issue 1247, 6 May 1870, Page 2

Owing to Mr Stafford's speech having occupied so much space in our last issue, and the pressure of other matter demanding attention in this, we hold over Mr Fox's speech at Dunedin until next publication. The opening lecture of the season, in connection with the Young Men's/Mutual Improvement Society, was given on Monday evening last, in the Presbyterian Church, . the lecturer being the Rev. A. H. Stobo, and the subject, " Hints for Mental Culture." Owing to the very unfavorable state of the weather, the attendance was not as large as might have been expected ;' but, judging from the evident pleasure with which the first lecture was received, the opportunity afforded by the course ia likely to be ex- ! tensively availed of. Several gentlemen were* present on the platform erected for the occasion; and the Rev. J. S. Rishworth having opened the meeting by prayer, Mr Stobo commenced 'his* lecture by an explanation of the circumstances under which it had been prepared, requesting bis audience simply to regard it as the opening of a course, and as directing attention to the mental training and study necessary to give practical good effect to an association for mutual improvement. The lecture, which abounded with indolent and telling illustrations, fully disposed of the conditions laid down in its introduction, and as, from its method and simplicity, it was rendered easy of remembrance, it "may. be accepted as a manual or text-book on the subject treated on. Mr Thomas Perkins was called upon to close the meeting by prayer. A case of some importance was heard before H. M'Culloch, . Esq., R.M., at the Bluff on Wednesday last. Wm. M'Michael sought to recover from the lessees of the railway, £11, value of a cow killed by ballast train. Plaintiff, who conducted his own case, alleged carelessness on the part of the engine driver as the cause of the accident, saying that had a proper look-out been kept, the danger would have been seen in ample time to have stopped the train, and produced several witnesses in his support, one of whom swore that " a dog, let alone a cow," might have been seen over 50 chains off at that part of the line. Mr Harvey, for the defence, showed that immediately the danger was observed, every exertion had been used by those in charge of the train to avoid it, but without avail,owing to the fact that it occurred on a curve in a cuttingwhere it was impossible to see any great distance ahead. Six of the trucks passed over, the animal, two of them being thereby thrown from the rails. He thought it a shame that Government was not compelled to fence the line, not only for the. safety of stock, but to guard against accident to , human life. His Worship concurred in Mr Harvey's remarks about the fencing of the Line, and stated that as there were several similar cases awaiting trial at Invercargill, he would not at present give a final decision on the point at issue, but in the present case plaintiff would require to accept a non-suit, as the evidence had failed to prove carelessness on the part of defendants. Plaintiff was understood to give notice of appeal. The Secretary to the Provincial Hospital desires, through our columns, to acknowledge the receipt of £5, collected by Messrs Hankinson Brothers. ' We suppose we must accord that veritable " old lady," the Southland News, the privilege of having the last word in the quarrel. In its last issue, instead of meeting our direct charge in a " manly" way, the editor stirs up a little dust and prudently retires into his shell, where, if he takes our advice, he will remain for some time pondering over the " hard rubs" he has received during the rencontre. The claims in the estate of the deceased " Edward" Hart (not " John," as erroneously stated by a local print), will be paid on application to Capt. Ellea. Mr James Kennedy, late Sheep Inspector, has entered upon his duties as Inspector of Telegraphs between Tokomairiro and Invercargill. No fewer than 150 persons have responded to the advertisements which appeared in the home newspapers inviting applications for the professorship in the Otago University. A contract for the construction of the line of telegraph from Tauranga to Taupo has been entered into, and the line is expected to be finished in about three months. Agricultural settlement is reported to be rapidly progressing in the Grey Valley, a large number of agricultural leases having been taken up. At the present moment, says the Timaru Setaid, we believe there is not a single hundredweight of coal in any of the yards in Timaru, and the steam saw mills of Mr G-. Cliff have stopped work in consequence. A cargo is daily expected, but in the meantime numbers of persons have been compelled to go back to the use of wood.

The Hokitika paper of April 26 says t — The County Council has been summoned to meet on the sth of next month, at noon, and it ib then expected that a large amount of the business which would have remained unsettled- until the second Tuesday in July, will be transacted. The most important is probably the passing of a series of resolutions as a basis on which to draft a Westland Waste Lands Bill, to be broughtinto the House of Bepresentatives by our members. The settlement of many parts of the coast depends upon the Bill being framed in a liberal spirit, in order to enable intending settlers to escape the great drawbacks and difficulties which stand in the of their purchasing ana turning to profitable account the enormous tracts of forest land in the county, and it is to be hoped that no shortsighted counsel will induce our members to forget that the settlement of the county is the main object to be achieved, even though it be necessary to give away the land to induce persons to cultivate it. No money will be voted until the July session commences, and the discussion of the Estimates will then probably be the principal business to get through. It will be observed from an advertisement, appearing elsewhere, that the Wesleyan body intend giving a soiree in their chapel, Leet-street, on Wednesday evening next, the 11th inst. The demonstration is meant as a welcome to the Rev. J. S. Kishworth, their new minister. During the evening a number of addresses, will be delivered, and the choir is expected to discourse some pieces of sacred music. Apart from the certainty that the denomination will assemble in full force to accord Mr Rishworth a hearty reception, there is every probability of there being also a large attendance of strangers, judging from the success which has accompanied late re-unions under similar auspices. Tay-street, after dark, has hitherto presented a dismal vista' to the wayfarer, anything but inviting or provocative of resort. Henceforth, however, the thoroughfare will be rendered something safer and more attractive, the residents having wisely resolved to expend a surplus of the gravelling fund for the purpose of dispelling the gloom.* The lamps now standing are to be put into serviceable repair, and others erected 'where necessary. The inhabitants of Winton and the surrounding districts — as advertisers put it— -have to be congratulated on the possession of " increased business facilities" in their snug little township. The manager of the Bank of Otago elsewhere announces that an agency has been opened there in connection with their Invercargill branch. In the meantime, business will be transacted at White's 'Hotel, until suitable premises for the bank have been erected. This is only one of the many advantages to the locality sure to follow the opening of the Railway. A letter has been received by W. B. King, of Taranaki, from his nephew, W. J. Cotching, of London, containing interesting information with regard to the iron sand. Mr Cotching was engaged in-3Mr C. Martin's experiments, and when his process was found to be useless, this gentleman continued experiments, and finally took out a patent by which he states that he can .smelt it as cheaply as any other ore, or cheaper. He derides the efforts of local inventors, considering their process too expensive, and is prepared to come out and establish works if sufficient inducement offers, for which he states that a great ironmaster and M.P. has almost promised the necessary funds. He has smelted 100 tons of the sand, and the process is announced as perfectly successful by Professor Abel and others; The Ladies' Benevolent Society held its annual soiree in the Exchange Hall on Tuesday evening last. There was a fair attendance, notwithstanding the weather was unfavorable. After tea had been discussed, the Rev. W. P. Tanner, by request, took the chair, and opened the business part of the proceedings with a short address laudatory of the ladies who chiefly carry on the Society. The Rev. A. H; Stobo appeared as deputy of the hon. Secretary and Treasurer, and read the reports detailing the year's operations. From these we gather that the Society commenced me year with a balance to credit of £41, which was subsequently augmented by a Government subsidy of £85, and £117 from other sources — public subscriptions, &c. — making a total income of £243. The expenditure wbb comprised under the heads of — Destitute children, £150 ; cash and provisions to women and families, about £90; leaving a balance of 14s 7d in hand. It was calculated that to meet the calls likely to be made upon the Society, something like £150 would be required for the current year, which it was hoped would be forthcoming. The report noticed with satisfaction the paucity of cases of distress, and was adopted on the proposition of Messrs G-eisow and Watson. Several pieces of music admirably rendered by a few friends filled up pleasantly the intervals as they occurred. Members of the Acclimatisation Society are reminded of the general meeting to be held this evening, in the Prince of Wales Hotel, at 8 o'clock. It is to be hoped a sufficient number will attend to enable business to be proceeded with. As steps are likely soon to be taken to form a garden near town, the public will act wisely in. taking an active interest in the project, by making their influence felt in the management of the society. The annual general meeting of the Southland Horticultural Society takes place in Colyer's Hotel on Monday evening next, 9th inst., at 8 o'clock. The business will be the election of office-bearers, and the putting in operation the machinery necessary to carry on the Society for the current year. It is specially desirable that the claims of this useful institution should be liberally acknowledged on the part of the public, not only in the way of contributions, but also by personal effort in conducting its affairs. Owners of " frontages" in Dee-street have at last initiated steps for having the whole of the side-walks gravelled. A meeting of those interested was held in the Prince of Wales Hotel during the week, at which Messrs Sloan and Gellatly were appointed to collect subscriptions '.towards that object. A deputation of three was likewise appointed to wait upon the Government and solicit assistance in the work, in the shape of prison labor, a request which will scarcely be declined, seeing it was accorded bo readily for the same purpose in the case of Tay-street. The total receipts on the Canterbury railways during the months of February and March were £11,769 18s, as compared with £9279 2s lOd received during the corresponding period of 1869. There is therefore an increase this year of* £2490 1 15s 2d, or at the rate of 26*83 per cent

It is an unusual thing (says the Bruce Stan \ dard) to record that sickness prevails to a more than ordinary extent in Tokomairiro at the preBent time. From this cause very considerable inconvenience ifl felt from the want of a sufficient number of intelligent, attentive, and strong ' females to act as sick-nurses. We believe that there is a good opening for one or two of such a > class of women as we hare described, in this district. . •^The Timaru believes that it is correct • in stating that after the resolution passed the ; other evening, Mr Stafford will again come forward i as a candidate for the representation of Timaru at , the approaching general elections. He has re-\ i cently been solicited by three other constituencies , in different parts of the colony to become their representative, but will not give up a constituency whose views are so exactly in accordance with his own, and who form one of the most important , outlying districts in the colony. We take the following from the Melbourne i ! Herald : — " Photograph him, and take him away," L I it is suggested, should be the sentence pronounced by the magistrates on all inebriates who j may be brought before them. This hint has been thrown out by a correspondent of a London journal, and the plan advocated is that every drunkard should be photographed, and then a copy of his portrait be forwarded to every publican in the city, with a notification that . should drink be supplied to the individual . photoed, the publicans will have to pay the ' penalty for so doing. The publicans would, in course of time, supposing the hint were taken, have a beautiful set of portraits to adorn their bars — in fact, they might in coarse of time i paper their walls with likenesses of the lovers of strong drink. The suggestion, though, we fear, however striking, is not likely to be adopted, though we have no doubt that the operation of being photographed would prove in some cases a stronger deterrent from getting drunk than the fine of 5s and costs. What would the magistrates do with the man whose photographic cartes were in every pablichouse already ? Would they re-photo him, and send him round a second time? They might give orders that any one found drunk a second time should be photographed the second time in his drunken state, and order that this picture should form a companion ' to the first. Beyond this Btage we know not what could be done in the way of ornamenting the hotels, and holding up to public gazo the man incapable of keeping sober. There is one objection to this Bcheme of punishing the drunkard, and it is this — What is there to binder some wicked sprite of mischief from getting copies of the portraits multiplied of some of the most virtuous of our citizens, and sending such round for exhibition in the various bars ? We might find, some day, that such an ardent temperance man as even the Hon. W. M. K Vale, or Mr Burtt, or even Matthew Burnett, mightfind themselves held up as shocking examples to every dram-drinker in every bar in Melbourne. We believe that one of the American States has a plan of taking the likeness of every man who is charged with drunkenness, while he is in a state of intoxication, and these are exhibited in public, so that publicans might be warned against selling drink to the original of the portrait, and the transgressor be shamed out of his drunkenness. Melbourne would supply a most varied selection of portraits, and perhaps if a drunkards' portrait ' gallery were formed, and every one" brought up at the police court, convicted of being drunk, were taken, and then sent to form part of the collection of portraits, it might, at least, lessen the beastly sights that are often to be seen in the streets of this city.