The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, july,26,1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1284, 26 July 1870, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, ju1y,26,1870.

"Whetheb the panacea of. Messrs Yogel and Co. for the financial ills of NewZealand will restore the country' to robust health, is a problem which time alone can .solve. But whatever the result to the colony, the measure has at least secured; the immortality: of its author; The name of thebon. the Colonial Treasurer will descend to posterity as the father of the sensation of 1870. The rapidity with which the scheme has run the orthodox course of. all great ideas is something remarkable. "When first announced, the House held its breath In amazement. Then there arose the shout of ridicule, then opposition/ and, finally, with some modifications, the Ministry have the gratification of seeing their measures accepted without a division. Prom the terms used by leading opponents to characterize the Government scheme, such as "extravagant," "wild/; ".visionary," and, •". reckless/ a keener contest might have been expected, and the completeness of the victory cannot but take all by surprise. In view of these facts it is tolerably evident- thai ~'those> who denounced the . plan \ as . , absurd . and impracticable, did so without any very definite conception of the grounds of their objections. Indeed, MrTIdGEL had so cleverly interlaced the different branches of his scheme, 60' adroitly arrangedits intricacies, thatit is doubtful if many hon. members understand a moiety of the Statement to the .present hour •'■

the probability is rather that he entirely succeeded in his design of mystifying the greater Dumber. With so many calls upon their time, few of the representatives could by any possibility find opportunity, to clissect \ arid \ djsjest a budget so elaborate, or to comprehend the abstract result of a system r iof -figurea\ so expertly manipulated.; Whext : therer; fore an-a^thdrity> like-Mr FrizHEttß^ftr/ after allowing the froth of the debaWio I low . off, quietly jcose and . passed the highest possible encomiums upon the proposals, it ia iiottd be wondered 4at- that oppdsitibn'became abmewhat leBS violent,' and that small concessions were greedily accepted as an< excuse fora change,of opinions. "We think, , however, the ; country will regret that corieessions navel been made at all, and that .ministersj would nav^ shown r, themselves more! deserving of continued confidence had; . they stood by- the scheme in-its integrity.; The reduction of the proposed loan from six to four millions will profiably /be; regarded as a step the ■ opposite ta+|ha,t; they should have taken. GChe larger^ amount; was barely sufficient to give an appreciable impulse to the prosperity fos -the country. Curtailed to - its modffiefd^' limits, it will \js' |el|j( even although the greater portion is still to- be expended on public works. Had r the Government stood firm, and refused to bid for place by paltry compromises, the chances are that the constituencies would, have thoroughly supported them, >; and that, after an appeal to the electors, they would have^retuTned'i;o- : iheir---present benches fortified by the public vote ; neither would this course have involved any material delay. This assumption is fully warranted, not ;onlr v by the subsidence of opposition in the House, but by thre'l ione" of Vpntlic.. opinion,: ? wnetber as.expressed^ throug|L|h*e"c6liimi^ ! of the press, 6t the medium Tof public meetings, held throughout the colony concurrently witn the progress 'of ftie debate in the -iissembly. Nearly every " centre of population," with v any pretentions to the name, of a town, 'has expressed its views on the question in the latter manner^and, as a-xule, their verdict has been' in fevor of the G;pvernmenjb. Southland, has,, however, contented itself with quietly looking on. The " reunion " campaign seems to have exhausted its energies, 6ri what iish equally deplorable, so. dwarfed its political intellect that it ca^ot cbmprehend, or not _ to consider, questions of more than mere local significance. Seeing that Invercar- > gilT stands in the favorable position bftKe Southern terminus of the -grand "railway system projected in'MrVo&EL's scheme, her people ought to be now more " tha?n ever alert that their, natural claims are not overlooked, or disregarded, to satisfy the clamors of greedy neighbors.^Whether as an independent province, or as only . a district of another, Southland will be unfairly treated if she is nqt one of .the first to be benefited by the! operations of the Government plan; "The expenditure of a very moderate share of the two millions to be;deyo^eol to that purpose would extend her railways so as effectively to accomplish the object in view — open up large tracts of fine land for settlement, and provide cheap and rapid means of communication with ;the ■ interior gold-^ fields. A correspondent's letter elsewhereshows that Otago, with all her boasfefl^ achievements ifi rokdmakibg, is ridtiri tae position to . work. most, profitably ite, -rich '■ district of the midland lakes, and that ; with a tithe ol her Resource's; now at our ' command, we could yet easily appropriate the-entire trade-,of that-fine region. -Let our representa^ivea theii, as well as our people, be obi their guard, ,and watch^that this loan is. not diverted from jits legitimate purpose, like its predecessors. In spite.oL vehement^protestations that it shall be spent— supposing it procurable — ; solely on colonial considerations, it is by no means impossible that rival provinces mayin'some way contrive to lave the control of a large proportion bf it. *- Ito. view of thia contingency, while so far wishing success to the scheme, we cannot but regret its management is not in other hands.. Had those men from whom: it has been purloined, _ and whose political instincts are unequivocally colonial, had the carrying ok it out, we should have had jpittle' fear of its fulfilling all that it is intended to accomplish. ... ,•'-'•■■ • '"*<'■: ' ;

- It will be seen by advertisement . that tjie v interim*^committee appointed- at^a late general! meeting to report upon the practicability of the! establishment of a reading .room and library,! intends to bring' tip its report at a public meeting, called for 1 to-morrow: evening at the Council . HalL The town Earing been canvassed for. Babscribers, the . public will be, called upon for its, decision as to the carrying out or abandonment | of the sokeme. It is greatly to be desired that! intending subspriber?, together Wth those who \ hare not qualified themselves as such, will attend; the meeting. Enrolment of subscriber* will' )>ei made up to the time of electing the committee, : snould it be decided to proceed.; If _the present ; occasion; is allowed to pass, it will probabiy bet many months before the matter is again Beriouslyj mooted. „.,...'... „-. •''" i ; ; ' : ; ' :;i i ; ;: ; - •-— ; i

The usual quarterly meeting of the Presbytery of Southland was held on Wednesday, July 6, %t 11 a.m.. There were present, the Revs. James Clark (moderator), Stobo, Alexander, Sterens, and Messrs John Erstine, Charles Coster, and . John Gumming, elders. The moderator reported that Mr Wood. was willing to supply Winton and Forest .Hill, and would be free to do so after the lfth.Vpf jtbis month. [It now appears that Mr Wood, cannot come until the beginning of August.] > v The^Prßsbyterjr- resolved that Mr Woocl be appointed to Wiuton* and Forest Hill for three months on the expiration of his present engagement, ' and ; • that the, Church* Extension Committee :bo urejed to, treat. this as an appointment: of their _own. ;; The clerk having laid on the table a communication from Mr Morrison, anent the formation- of a kirk-session, it was resolved to empower Mr Morrison to dispense the communion, make up a roll of members, and ordain those office-bearers that should be elected by the congregation, and, with the elders thus elected, to constitute a -session, A plan fora manse at Sw^tzer^s w^as.laid on. the.tablej bnt the Presbytery could not' transmit theappiication for a grant, from the Church Trust Fund, until it is, certified that the contract for building has .actaally,,been, taken. The Presbytery adjourned and met again in the evening for. conference with ;the,{offi>e-bearers of the various congregations . on^the statje of .j religion. Much -free conversation ; took place, 1 and many important suggestions were made with respect to the best means of obtaining increased spiritual life. It was agreed to: ire^uest : Mr . ITirkland to visit as a Deputy, on 'the second and third Sabbaths of October, or as. soon thereafter .as possible. The alarming , prevalence of. J3abbath desecration, especially in' connection with £he calling- of steamers at the, port of Bluff, having been brought before the Presbytery, it was resolved to bring the subject before the. Chamber of Commerce, and request them to fake etepsto bring the traffic to an end. j It was agreed to hold another conference, between ( the Presbytery and the various office-bearers at; an evening diet at the .time -of the next ordinary ; meeting. A list. of topiei^ on. which to invite' suggestions and information-, : was ordered to be prepared and transmitted to; -kirk-sessions. The Presbytery then adjonrned -to. meet in the samel place on Wednesday, the 12th October, at 11 a.m. j oiiv promisa* to 1 " Cotomsfc," we. state" the, results of our, inquiries; upon the subject of his letter-r-the . carrying away of the ; pl&Hngof the abandoned • railway 'embankment below' Appleby. It appears that gome consider- j able time ago, a gentleman residing in that .vicinity presented himself to the Government in the: capacity of chairman and delegate of a local committee appointed by the inhabitants to devise ways and means for road improvements,, arid jrequesiM its ;aid in effecting .repair^ to 'a , certain street in^that neighborhood. At his sag- , gestion, probably, the. Government granted the ; committee, permission to use as much of the . planking in .^question -a* jnight ;; be necessary .for the purpose specified— the _ repair of the. public street. Since that time, other similar applies- . tions have,' we are informed, been made, but none have as yefc. been acceded to. The case therefore stands thus. If the parties to whom permission ' was long ago given, continue to remove the timber as they think proper, they an*" either putting a wonderfully liberal construction upon the original concession, or think: further, applioation an unnecessary formality j and if it is heing removed by people who have not even the shadow of a former authority to cover their doings, they are simply taking what is not their own. In any case, we are assured that at. the present moment no person has the consent '^bf the authorities to the- removal of the planking, and anyone .to appropriating public property, ' shpuld/.wej. presume, be proceeded against in the usual manner. the value of the material in question for the purpose mooted by our -correspondent,- there' can be "no "question. ; It is exactly what is required for railway loading : stages, .and will, have to , be . provided— for . th at purpose before long. In the meantime,- if there is any of it ' to spare, one or two bridges near town require sheathing immediately, to render 1 them safe. -. -, ■ - ■• > - ■ The iron-pipe bridge constructed over the river Bakaia, has stood the- highest; flood witnessed in the river for the last six years, without sustaining ; any damage. • : ■y:':',}\ y <j .^J. ,We do not know^ (says itjhe: JjCeqaMl of the 9th) : who were the two_ passengers^ ,who w,ere late for . the City of "lifelbourne recentiy,- ! an^ lost their* passage, but should guess from tW circumstance ; that they were Auckfanders; Of all late places this is the, latest. .Nobody seems to have the slightest idea of the value of time. Chairmen, directors, and shareholders are late at meetings ; half the audience t come late to a concert; magistrates 'are late, on the bench ";. a third of the. congregation come late to church; in nine cases out of ten the cook is late with the -dinner ; and the punctuality of Mr Hall's; boats is; quite start- : ling. It i» ; to, ' be hoped that; our children will learn the art of being always up to time, and at the same time speak with respect of there late parents.' ; ' : ! '--. v " ' .-.•'••' ' ■;-•.-'•--■-• • Some interesting experiments have been made in London with the. view obtesting the speed and efficiency of the service established by the IndoEuropean Telegraph Company. Direct communication wa3 opened with Teheran, in Persia, a distance of 3700 miles, and answers to questions were received within' thirty ! seconds4 i? <r , Common Laborer " sends the following | information to the Zyttelion Times on the grow* j ing' of early potatoes :—" It is now about two years since I first commenced to cultivate early potatoes by means of the shelter offered by good evergreen hedges. lam now so satisfied with its importance that I hasten to make the method •known for the benefit of others. The south arid west parts facing the north and east can only be used, and of those two the north side is the best. The best kinds of potatoes for early planting 1 are the white round "American earlies and Ashleaf kidneys. The seed must be bought or procured by ' exchange every year from places many miles away. Trie seed should . be - spread -upon the floor of some loft or on shelves where none of the sprouts ! can'get broken. It will be ready to plant about; the commencement of spring. Many people have no room to spare for such purposes indoors. The best plan therefore is to get the ground under: the hedge. welLmariured .and dug up, Land plant ; the potatoes in autumn. A tall, thick, well-: trimmed hedga gives the best shelter, and there! is ascertain way of- trimming by which an outward and backward stand can be produced. By; (;he above simple mean's fine early potatoes can be' secured by the middle "of November, buta greatdeal' offutnre success depends upon keeping away weeds,, digging in plenty of good manure after each crop,and a regular exchange of ~«eed. I have observed; that some of our leading men speak about the: •perseverance, aad industry of Other- nations,' and assert they /would make the best emigrants, but I . think, what :jwe want i«, ,to be taught more: practical facts by example and precept.. I; hope; owners of- neglected gardens and shabby- -hedges, : | who waste too much of their leisure, and some-! times 'all of ity 'will- profit by the above' remarks.; They are reminded that it ia the attention paid toj such- small and apparently unimportant matter* i -which helps to giye the greatest hag£ines9." v j

We understand that a petitibti to the Governor for the formation of a cavalry corps in Invercargttl, went North by the Phoßbe on her last trip. The document bears upwards, of 40 signatures, including most of our leading townsmen, bo that there Beema every probability of the movement being a success. .'.'■'' ' , "Under the heading of " Chips ; fr6m' the Colonial workshop," a correspondent of the ' Taranaki Herald supplies tha readers of that journal with his opinion, of the .proceedings in r ,-the The following is ah extract which,' will: no -doubt be interesing to bur readers :— There; itf a pleasant fiction in the- House— that therei-is no distinction made between the old and the new member; but practically the fallacy jf : this assumption is daily manifested. - New membera. are forbidden.toinitiate any subject of importance which the old leaders do not care to be discussed, or to bring forward any important' measure for- altering the statute law of the Colony." ' It is not often that young members transgress. Their native modestyj T suppose, is. sufficient to deter them from such presumptions of course. But this session, a young member has chosen an ambitious subject on which to make his maiden Bpeech ; he took the thread-bare topic— that in the opinion of this House the Imperial Government has. failed in its duly to the Colony; From what I gathered in the lobbies and elsewhere, the leaders of the Opposition," and, perhaps, also of the Government party, had agreed to teach the "young" member . the impropriety of thus ambitiously occupying ■ the time of the House. • Nothing daunted, however, when the time., arrived, Mr M'(Juliv>ay commenced his a speech to' a thin house— all, the ex-ministers, Stafford, Hall, Richmond, and Haultain had made themselves scarce, and Fox alone occupied the Government benches ; but, to the astonishment of .every person, the new member soon gave evidence of made himself master of the subject^and, being a practical speaker, spoke fluently and consecutively; his reasoning was clear, and despite his quaint appearance and amusing mannerism, his speech: was so effective, that those who came to scoff remained to applaud when he concluded. He was much complimented, -and the significant vacancies in the Opposition and Government benches were 1 alluded to in very firm language, which called forth excuses from .Haughton for the leaders of the Opposition, pleading an unfortunate prior engagement, ; and from Mr Fox, „ that the departure of the English mail precluded Muiisters-from attending in their places, but the excuses were received with avowed doubts j;how4 over,- the debate was adjourned, and, I have no doubt, we shall hear more of it. If the_ speaker is as strong in reply as he has been in initiating the subject, he will be a welcome addition to the debating powers of the Houße,— his queer appearance and funhy'manner will soon be forgotten. , . . ; •