The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1249, 13 May 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

An unusual pressure on our space compels us to hold over a leading article in type, a report of a visit to the Meat Preserving Company's works, and several locals, until next issue. The bridge over the Shotover was to be opened on the 10th inst. The Tuapelea Times of the stb inst. says that " the crops haye far surpassed the expectations of the farmers in the Beaumont and Teviot districts. The yields have been very satisfactory." We arerglad to learn (says the Wellington Independent) that a petition addressed to his Ex- • cellency the Governor praying him to declare the city of Wellington a municipality under the Municipal Corporations Act, is now in circulation, and is being extensively signed. The Auckland Advertiser Bays that in consequence of the writ not having been returned in proper time, 'the election for .Mongonui will be declared null and void.

A requisition to Mr Wood to resign bis seat in the Assembly will, we understand, be ready for signature to-day. It is almost superfluous to say that a large number of names will no doubt speedily be appended to it, or that there is only one reply which the hon. member can honestly return to the requisitionists. Our local " Mrs Gamp" takes fco scolding this journal in the most approved fashion. " Why was not so and so done ?" When we wish to disprove anything >ye state facts, and never ask our opponent to do so in order that he may prove our case. We beg to offer our " ancient friend" some further " food for reflection," namely, that had the province of Otago not received its share of [ the " Sinking Fund Released," £23,985 Is 9d, (an i unexpected source of revenue) the deficit would have amounted to the sum of £63 336 7s sd! The Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, W. Stuart, Esq., requests us to intimate that Mr M . Hyams's, Jeweller, &c, Dee-street, has been appointed a depository for stamps, under the Stamp Duties Act, where stamps of all descriptions adhesive or imprest, may be procured. At the annual meeting of the Southland Horticultural Society, held on Monday evening last at Colyer'B Hotel, the following gentlemen were elected office-bearers, viz. : — John Blacklock, Esq., President ; T. M. Macdonald, Esq., and E. D. Butts, Esq., Vice-Presidents; W. H. Hall, Esq., Treasurer; and Mr W. B. Scandrett, Secretary. The Committee chosen was as follows : — Messrs M' Arthur, Cleave, Preston, Howard, Cooper, Waugh, Pritchard, M'Ewen, Birrell, Sangwell, Millar, and Broad. The financial statement for the past year, showing a small balance in hand | was submitted and approved. It was decided to have two shows next year, the first on "New Tear's Day, and the second in March following. A meeting likely to result in practical good to the province took place in the Southland Club Hotel on TuesJay evening last, 10th inst. It wa3 called for the purpose of considering the establishment of a flax manufactory, where the fibre might be worked into bags, woolpacks, mats, and such other fabrics as it is adapted to, and as are in demand in the colony. Mr Jno. Blacklock occupied the chair, and, with Messrs Hay, Hare, and Shearer, tabled some valuable information as data. A committee was appointed to make further enquiries and report. From all we hear there are good groands of encouragement for the projectors to go upon, and they will no doubt find their efforts effectually supported by the public in the event of their deciding to attempt the formation of a company. The welcome tea meeting given by the Wesleyans to the Eev. Mr Eishworth, their new minister, on Wednesday evening, 11th inst., was a most successful affair in every respect. The tea, under the management of the ladies, was got up charmingly, and was duly appreciated by the happy crowd which filled the building. The speeches, by the Revs- Stobo and Rishworth, and Messrs Trew, Crouch, and others, were characterised by brevity, point, and good feeling, and were frequently heartily applauded by the meeting. By the kind co-operation of the amateurs of the town, some excellent music was discoursed, comprising a few favorite anthems, under the leadership of Mr Erskine, precentor in the Presbyterian Church. The " Kyrie," from the "Twelfth Mass," in which Mr Kingsland conducted, was a treat not anticipated, as it was not in the programme. We regret pressure on our space will not admit of a more detailed notice of what was a most pleasant reunion. The following resolutions, prepared and brought up by a sub-committee appointed for the purpose, were adopted at a meeting of persons favorable to the temperance movement, held at the Government Buildings, on Monday evening, 11th inst., which was well attended, and presided over by T. M. Macdonald, Esq. : — " Ist. That the present Licensing Ordinance ought to be more stringently enforced, especially clauses 6, 17, 20, 32, 33, 34, 37, 46, 49, 51, 52, and 53. 2nd. That the principle of the Permissive Bill, conferring the power of regulating licenses on two-thirds of the electors and householders, should be adopted for this colony. 3rd. That the present Ordinance be amended in clause 11, to'the effect that no liquor be sold after 10 p.m.; in clause 16, by adding after the word ' license,' in the third line, the words 'or has been convicted of any breach of this ordinance,' in clause 46, to the effect that any constable have power at all times to enter any licensed house ; and that a clause be added to the effect that any person three times convicted of drunkenness, be reckoned ' habit and repute,' and any licensed person supplying him with liquor be liable to a penalty. 4. That a committee be appointed to carry the above resolutions into effect". The General Committee meets again next Monday evening to re-con-sider these propositions, after which they will be submitted to a public meeting to be called for the purpose. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, W. Garthwaite sued H. T. Ross for £30 18s 7d, work done, and supplied, in the construction of the Maria Douglas. Mr Harvey for plaintiff, Mr Macdonald for defendant. The plaintiff admitted the liability to have been incurred, not by the present defendant, but by Mr Bruce, builder, and formerly owner of the schooner, who had since parted with his property in her to Mr Ross, but contended that Mr Ross was the party beneficially interested, and further, that at the time of doing the work, he was aware that Mr Bruce was being " backed up" by the defendant, and that but for that knowledge he would not have gone on so long. For the defence it was urged that defendant was in no way responsible for debts incurred independently by a third party, nor did his coming into possession of the vessel render him responsible for debts incurred in her construction, any more than the purchaser of a house would be liable for any debt 3 which might be due to its builder by the original owner. His Worship thought that, seeing Mr G-arthwaite had doubts about the payment, plaintiff would have acted more prudently had he satisfied those doubts at once, by declining to proceed until he knew by whom he was to be paid, instead of going on upon the supposition that he would be paid by somebody. Judgment was given for defendant, with costs, £3 11s. Mr Fox delivered a lecture on temperance in Knox Church, Dunedin, on the 6th inst. The | church was crowded in every part, and the address was well received. A child has died in Christchurch from suffo- ; cation, caused by swallowing a, small sleeveribbon.

The following requisition has been forwarded to every township in" the goldiields for signature : — " To Messrs O'Neill and Yogel, members of the General Assembly for the Otago Goldfields, — We, the. undersigned electors of Otago Golclfields District, desire to express to you our very natural wish to be represented in the next session of the General Assembly. — The position of Chief Engineer of the Province of Auckland we believe to be inconsistent with the indepen* dence of a representative and more especially of a representative of the people of Otago. — The Colonial Treasurer has completely identified himself with Auckland. But there are other and graver reasons for inducing the electors of the goldfields to suggest the propriety of his resignation. Upon the land question : upon the reduction of the gold export duty : upon all matters immediately affecting these goldfields, Mr Vogel's views have been proved to be antagonistic to those of his constituents. — Considering that our members are not resident, and do not represent our views, we urge upon them to afford us the opportunity of returning independent men to the Assembly resident in the Province, and identified with our interests." Our " blundering contemporary" confesses that itsets " traps" to mislead — that it knowingly issues fblse statements. This reveals the Southland News in a new light. Hitherto we have given it the credit of believing what it said ; but for the future we will class it amongst those contempfable members of the fourth estate who say anything to suit a purpose. What think ye of this, ye who pin your faith to the doctrines of the News ? It has been announced by the Government that the Waihopai Bridge, on the East Road,' will be closed for ten days from this date. The shortness of the notice given has occasioned much dissatisfaction amongst the settlers in the neigh* borhood of Long Bush; the Meat Preserving Company especially being greatly inconvenienced by such a sudden stoppage of the traffic. We extract the following sensible remarks from the Cromwell Argus : — " We heartily wish we could instil into the residents of the Cromwell District the useful lessons they teach us so well at Queenstown : unanimity in forwarding the interests of the district, promptitude in dealing with public requirements, and the putting of the shoulder to the wheel in carrying out any decision arrived at. Class divisions exist at that place as at Cromwell.. Party is opposed to party i some instances, but they argue the thing temperately out, and then unite heartily to carry out the views so arrived at. Their meetings are patterns of order, and are attended by the most influential section of citizens and residents. By adopting this policy, they keep alive a healthy vigor, and they obtain what is equally valuable — a due consideration of their interests."