The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1324, 21 October 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1870.

The past week has been rather an eventful one. The issue of these events belongs to the future, so that at present we can only deal with them in their character of current incidents. The reception given to Mr Macawdebw, and the members of his Executive Government, is a matter upon which we have good reason for congratulating the public. The programme embraced one or two arrangements of rather an intricate nature, and although the time allowed for completing them was limited, the whole affair was carried out without a single hitch. In this respect the Beception Committee is deserving of the best thanks of the community. After Visiting the various public institutions on "Wednesday, the party was broken up yesterday morning. His Honor, accompanied by the Treasurer, went, on to Biverton, and it is understood that he will proceed from thence to the interior, following the direction of the Te Anau Like. Messrs . Reld and Mofat returned overland to Dunedin, where they expected to arrive this evening. The fact that the Superintendent has set out to inspect a district of which so little is known as the northwest part of the province, is not without its significance. His anxiety to extend settlement throughout the more remote parts of the province is well known.. One of the first steps he took after being re-elected Superintendent was to arrange an expedition to the "West Coast, at Martin's Bay. A settlement in that direction is now springing up, and of late attention has been directed further south to Preservation Inlet. Judging from these facts we are inclined to look upon the step as one of some importance. The gold deposits at the Lbrigwood diggjiags have unques-' tionably a lead, and it is not hazarding a rash opinion to conclude that the lead has with that great^goldproducing centre, the head waters of the "Wakatipu and Shotbver. Apart altogether from that view of the subject, there are some splendid agricultural : areas in the vicinity of the Te Anau, which ought to have been settled long ago. His Honor, is expected back to Invercargill the besin : nirig of next week, when in all probability he will proceed _. with all despatch] to Dunedin. As this is the only opportunity ' r *«^»allJiaige^^rraome time to come of meeting his Ho^[bTp^r3sa!tii« 7 >-4t r jv.Qjild:' not be at all unreasonable to ask bin! $0 address a public meeting. There are many subjects to be advised upon, which do not come within the province of an after-dinner speech. That the Superintendent would comply with a request of this kind, if properly put, there need not be the shadow of a doubt. It need, not ; be a set speech. .A few questions judiciously propounded would serve all the purpose. The subject is one which we recommend ,to the . early attention of the public. The ballot election of members to serve in the special session of Council is another noteworthy event of the last few days. ' The result shows that the electoral distribution throughout the district is tolerably Well balanced, although it must be admitted that what is known as the anti-nnion party makes but a very small show amongst the members selected.