PROVINCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1318, 7 October 1870, Page 3

PROVINCIAL.

Dunebtn. — Our correspondent writes : — To the best of my calculation, your j province will have become part and parcel of Otago before this communication finds its way into print. I trust you are j sufficiently reconciled to the fact to receive my congratulations upon the achievement. *If you just send the right sort of men to represent you in the Council, you will not have the cause for regret, I take it for granted, you imagine. If you could fall upon a mixed mob you would find them very useful. One or two who can entertain the " house," as it delights to be called, to a good sappy oration, while the others go subterfuging about the lobby. They need not be men of high moral standing ; — that's not necessary for Otago ; and as for educational attainments, if they can do a plain stroke of reading and writing, they will find themselves in advance of some of their compatriots. So much for the session — now for the recess. In Otago the one is only a. handle to the other, and unless both are equally well looked after, you may get the shadow, but you wont have the substance. You must devise some means for keeping up the steam. A monster meeting now and again goes down very -well, and if you could manage to provide for a periodical deputation, your cause would be a guaranteed success. The most economical way of managing this would be to elect a Dunedin man for oue of your representatives. If he was at all up to the work, he could set the thing to perfection. An indignation meeting in Invercargill over-night, strong resolutions forwarded by teiegraph in the morning, a deputation, consisting of your representative and a few of his friends at midday, •would look as if you really meant it, and I have studied the idiosyncracies of the Government to poor advantage if that is not the view it would adopt also. It is a suggestion for you to think over against the general elections, and by that time you will have had an opportunity of studying a few of the mysteries of our administration. As respects current events, the most conspicuous is Mr Macandrew's address at Balclutha. The speech was simply a recital of what the speaker had done and attempted to do during the late session of the Assembly, with some expatiatory comments upon probable results, or as the case happened, upon what might have been these results. A. few diplomatic touches were thrown in with good effect. As a preface, he furnished a vivid account of the enormous labor devolving upon a representative. Here and there he edged in a word about his elongated connection with the politics of Balclutha, and then, as if carried away by the warmth of his sympathies, he insinuated with touching simplicity that the hon. member for the Clutha was the only tie that bound him to political life. To ward off any suspicion of acting the part of a political mendicant, he told them he-could get plenty of constituencies, and that he had been already solicited to accept of move than one. The whole affair was gone through with such an easy grace that Mr Macandrew, as I have already announced to you by telegraph, was solicited to allow himself to be named for re-election. Indeed, ycu don't know the twentieth part of the po litical ability with which you have formed an alliance. However, I observe you are to have the charmer amongst you iv a day or two, and if he don't charm you sweetly I for one wiil suffer astonishment. A meeting to consider the advisability of amalgamating the Otago University with the New Zealand "University scheme was held on the 29th ult. Sundry objections were discussed, but the principal one was an objection to the 3rd clause of the Act founding the Colonial institution, which was interpreted as excluding clergymen from becoming members of the Council. The objection was communicated to the Colonial Secretary, but as no answer had been received when the adjourned meeting took place, the following elections were proceeded with : — Mr George Samuel Sale, M.A., of Rugby, formerly Fellow and classical lecturer, Trinity College, Cambridge, to the Chair of Classics. Failing the acceptance by Mr Sale, Mr Andrew Hutcheson, M.A., Edinburgh, Eector of the Stirling High School, Mr John Shand, M. A, Aberdeen, Heid Mathematical Master of the Edinburgh Academy, to the Chair of Mathematics. Failing acceptance by Mr Shand, Mr Randal Nixon, M.A., St. Peter's College, Cambridge, Head Mathematical M ister of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. Tozomaieieo. — The weather for some time past has been good. Cattle generally are in poor condition, and in some instances difficulty is experienced in procuring sufficient grass to satisfy their actual requirements. The fine weather was expected to improve the growth. The local paper reports the appearance of a large number of swagsmen, apparently in search of work, which seems to be not . by any means plentiful. The number of deaths resulting from the accidental drowning of children in wells Has created a painiul feeling throughout the district. Last week the infant son of a Mr Williamson, residing at "Waihola,met with its death in this way. The second annual walking show of horses took place on Thursday, 20th. Fifteen entires were shown, six of which were thoroughbred or lighter class of | horses. The favorites specially noticed were Storm Bird and Tom King, which are described by the Bruce Standard as follows: — Storm Bird, the property of Mr D; Corsan, Meadowbank, is a dark chestnut horse, and his racing qualities have been duly chronicled. He was bred in Canterbury by Mr "W. H. Harris ; got by Sledmere, out of Spray, and halfbrother to Scud, Wetsail, Belle of the -Isles>- and- Southern Chief. Tom King, the property of Messrs Maitland Bros., Clutha, was bred by Baron Rothschild. He is a dark chestnut, standing sixteen hands, and of great power, and beautiful symmetry. He is half-brother to King-

craft, winner of the Epsom Derby, 1870 ; by King Tom, by Harkaway, out of Pocahontaa, dam of Stockwell and Rataplan, half-brother to Hippia, Tormentor, Restitution, and the Baron. After the show, which was well attended, several entires were offered for sale. Farmers' Favorite, a black hor3e, of strong muscular power and splendid action, imported by Mr David ISTesbit, sire, Prinre Charlie ; dim, Violet Secoud, realised £107 10s; and Pride, an iron grey, rising 6 years old, and standing 1$ hands his?h, bred by Mr Geo. Murray, late of the Grange, East Taieri, sire, Ben Lommond, £55. The remainder were bought in at high figures. Tuapeka. — The loathsome disease of leprosy is said to have been imported into this district by Chinamen lately arrived from Victoria. Active steps have been adopted by the Government to prevent the spread of the malady. — One hundred and forty men, employed by the Government in forming the road between Manuka creek and Waitahuna, are reported to have been discharged. — The railway diversion and water-supply schemes continue to be agitated with all the effect the committee can bring to bear upon the subjects. — The temperance movement continues to make headway, and some really startling conversions have been wrought. — Flour manufactured at the new mill, Evans's Flat, has been used by bakers in Lawrence with satisfactory results. Preservation Inlet. — A deputation waited upon his Honor the Superintendent last week to point out the desirability of opening up communication by sea with this place. It was pointed out that a sum of £2,500 had been spent upon the development of the coalfields. The Superintendent said that negociations were pending with regard to a steamer, and it was possible that they might be extended to Martin's Bay, in which case Preservation Inlet would be in the direct route. He asked if those interested in the place would be willing to .bear part of the expense of such a service. To this question a reply was made that as the object was to expend means on the development of the place, the deputation could not undertake to defray any part of the cost of the service. Eventually it was understood that an equivalent in the way of a cheap supply of coals would be given, and, upon that understanding the Government promised to give the subject early attention.