The Southland Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1333, 8 November 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1870.

The Duaedin Evening Star, in its issue of the 31st ultimo, makes a suggestion respecting the Hou. Mr Gisborne at which we hardly know whether to be proud or " piqued. In one sense it may he accepted as a recognition of superior skill in determining: the claims of suitable representatives, and in another sense it looks not unlike the outponrings of a narrow-minded jealousy. The mention of Mr Gtsbotmtb's name for Southland may reasonably have been looked upon as a hint for our neighbors in Dunedin to follow, but it did not warrant a rival claim on their behalf. To teacb the road to political rectitude, and then be jostled out of the way by too apt a puoil, is a principle of strategy usually confined to love and war. This is tbe posture Dunedin threatens to occupy. It is told that -IfrrftS'Tar^teßOßWE to "become a candidate for its representation, and in the next breath it is asked to anticipate that invitation and secure Mr Gisbobne's services for itself. With many of our contemporary's remarks we readily agree. The proposed candidate is alluded to as a man of legislative and administrative experience, whose services would be infinitely more advantageous than the amateur politicians who have been instrumental in weakening the iufluenca of the province. The fallacy of supposing men without preliminary training fit to represent a constituency is ably bandied, and the bungled legislation of New Zealand, with its unwieldy mass of enactments, justly ascribed to the neglect of the principle involved. Our contemporary unfortunately ventures a step further, and in taking that step he shows tbe cloven foot of a selfish indifference to tbe province as a whole. Southland constituencies are described as small and uninfluential, and the moral influence of such an election is spoken of as imperilled by tbe connection we propose. Now, it is rather difficult to comprehend the last-named statement. If it means that Dunedin can bring a greater amount of representative incapacity into juxtaposition with thepoliticalaptitudeaccredited to such men as the Hon. Mr Gtsbobne, then we readily give it the benefit of any doubt tbat may exist upon the point of moral influence. Left, however, to tbe simple deductions of moral persuasion, we can make no such concessions. That the electoral Toll of Dunedin is greater in numbers than tbat of any one constituent in Southland, cannot be denied, but, taken all through, we are inclined to tbe belief tbat tbe franchise in Southland has been exercised witb more prudence than Dunedin can boast of. In requesting a stranger like Mr Q-isbobne to ' allow himself to be put in nomination for Southland, we are able to do so without the smallest risk of exposing him to the insult of a contest witb men of the J. G-? S. Gbant ptamp, and tbat is a guarantee Dunedin cannot afford. As regards the question of relative importance, Southland is in a position N to advance claims bearing moderate comparison with those of Dunedin. Our relations to the Middle Island are in ] many respects synonymous witb those of i Auckland to tbe North. The Bluff is, i and must continue to be, tbe first and j last port of call in tbe line of inter-' colonial communication. Possessing many j of tbe requisites, and not a few advan- j tages for establishing a direct trade ] between the produce-fields and tbe foreign market, it is folly for Dunedin to mention it as a place of insignificance. Whatever Otago may attempt to do towards extending its available territory, must be accomplished in and through tbis district, and so very urgent is tbat work tbat tbe province suffers hourly for want of it. To bring a shrewd practical politician into direct communication witb interests of this kind — interests, so to ( speak, that are waiting to be created — is j surely a matter of some importance. Indeed, we are inclined to believe tbat j these interests gain even more significance than those of a place like Dunedin, { where every visible resource ia, more or less, called into requisition as active agencies of commerce. Suppose, for argument's sake, Mr Gtsbobnt^ makes i an electioneering tour of Dunedin, and what would bis observations amount to ? He would see stately buildings, fine cultivated farms, and a host of minor accessories in social and material advancement, calculated to lead to tbe belief that the system of colonisation bad been eminently successful in Otago ; hence, the chances are, lie would fall into the current groove of administration, and so defeat the main object in view. On the other hand, by bringing bim into contact witb tbe vast solitudes that exist on the other side of Jaicob's Eiver, matters would be exhibited in their true light. The effect, or rather the defect, would be seen at a glance, and the probabilities are, the true causes would be investigated. This is the light in which Dunedin ought to view the proposal, and when honestly considered, it is hardly possible to fail in discovering that her best interests are identified with tbe effort we are making to secure good available representation. It is to be regretted tbat such an unwarrantable intrusion should bave been threatened. Dunedin is under deep obligations to tbe Province at large for her commercial prestige. She is, moreover, presumed to exercise a certain amount of influence outside her own boundaries, but by following a selfish policy she can hardly expect that influence to be well sustained. Surely good candidates in New Zealand are not so scarce that one place need think about tripping up another in a matter of the kind. If Dunedin insists upon forestalling Southland, we presume there is no alternative but to turn our attention elsewhere, and even then we have no guarantee against a Bimilar result.

The Middle Island is under a deep debt of gratitude to the owners of the iatercolonial steam packets for the ingenious device they have resorted to for driving the question of a Suez mail subsidy to its extremity. It is unnecessary to enquire narrowly into the nature of the measure adopted; it is quite enough to know that their efforts have been eminently successful in rendering the service absolutely futile. Their departures and destinations have been adopted with studied regard to that vexatious delay, annoying under any circumstances, but specially irritating under tbe existing anxiety for home advices. The steamer with the inward mail made Hokitika a week ago, but from tbe number of ports of call alloted to the passage round, there is little probability of her reaching Otago before to-morrow. Then again, the outgoing mail leaves tbe Bluff on Thursday, exactly two days after the time advertised for the steamer leaving Melbourne, so that the New Zealand bags will have to remain there until ._the-.6th proximo. This is a clear loss of twenty days, or nearly half the time required for the entire journey. Of course this is not tbe natural defects of the service, W, their studied neglect, still they prove the extent to which we are in the hands of the steamboat agents, and .in view of that fact any reasonable terms they may be prepared to make, should by all means be accepted. One hundred pounds per month was tbe limit offered by the Government, which is admitted on every side to be altogether inadequate. We are not prepared to furnish a detailed statement of the extra risk and liability incurred by a steamer bound down to take its departure at any given time within a specified period, but it is easy to understand tbat these are considerable. We are informed on authority which may be considered reliable, that £250 would not be an exorbitant charge, and from what we can learn, the company would be prepared to negotiate upon such terms. At tbat rate the annual subsidy would not exceed £3000, which bears no proportion to the pecuniary, consideration at which the mail by California is rated. \ i The matter must be reconsidered sooner or later. The [service in its present state is a mere sham, and the faster it is readjusted tbe quicker will we be relieved of the studied inconvenience from which we at present suffer. In Dunedin Bimilar complaints are expressed, and nothing is more reasonable than to ask that a joint effort should be made to secure tbe remedy. The subject is one for the immediate consideration of the Chamber of Commerce, whose course would be to secure co-operation on tbe part of the Dunedin Chamber. We feel persuaded that the importance of such a suggestion will be at once recognised by our commercial men. Halters made of New Zetland flax are now sold at Auckland for 6d each. At certain times, on the road from Napier, the air is absolutely darkened with myriads of small insects, which doubtless owe their existence to the adjacent swamp. If great care is not taken, they enter tho eyes, mouth, nose, and ears of passers-by, and cause graafc irritation to horse as well as rider. Their numbers can only be likened to the sand on the sea shore. The flockowners of Wellington are busily engaged in making preparations for shearing ; the weather is moat propifciom, but owing to the number of sheep-farmers clipping at the same time, many find a deficiency in the number of shearers. In the Whareama, the price given is 20s per 100, the shearers to find themselves. In Featherston 15s, rations provided. The woman Bolton, a native of Dieppe, France, who has been mentioned in our columns in connection with the Drybread mystery, Btands committed for trial for having unlawfully disinterred and dug up a male child, nofc named, the child of the deceased Ann King, theu and there buried. • A meeting of the Western District Farmers' Club will be held in the school-room, Gummy's Bush, on Friday next, llth insfc., afc 8 p.m. The advertisement announcing the meeting, intended for publication in our issue of Saturday last, reached the office too late for insertion. Our Campbelltown correspondent, writing yesterday, says : — Amongst the Omeo's cargo from Dunedin the other day was a novel importation by a Blufilte, consisting of 4 dozen loaves of bread, the reason being, not that there was a scarcity of the staff of life in CampbeUtown, but simply that it could be brought from Dunedin, and sold here at twopence per 41b loaf less than the Invercargill price. I Dr Carr gave another of his popular enter- I tainments in the Theatre Royal last evening, j which was even better filled than usual, - owing, perhaps, to the novelty of a large number of phrenological charts having been advertised to be distributed amongst the audience gratis. Of the performance itself ifc is needless to say more than j that- ifc was fully up to fcho doctor's standard. Dr I Carr gives an entertainment to-night at Long Bush. The Collins's Troupe, a small body of professionals, embracing a great variety of talent, is to arrive in Invercargill to-morrow, and will give their firat performance in the Theatre on Thursday evening. The entertainment comprises vocal and instrumental music, dancing, and delineations of life and character. The abilities of the chief artistes are highly spoken of, and, combined wifch the moderate rates charged for admission, should command a good attendance. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterdays Thomas Wilson was charged on remand with the theft of a silver watch and guard chain, the property of Johu Thomson. Prosecutor and prisoner had met in a house afc the jetty early on the morning of Monday, the 24th ult. After remaining there till daybreak, Thomson discovered that his watch and chain, which had been entrusted to the care of another occupant of the house, had been taken away. In the meantime prisoner had left, and on being taxed with the theft, he admitted with some hesitation having taken ifc. Prisoner subsequently pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labor.

An Ofcago paper says thafc Mr Arthur Burns, late M.P.C. for the Taieri, and now in Europe, is making arrangements for the establishment; of a woollen manufactory in Ofcago. He i 3, on his return to the Province, to bring with him not only the requisite machinery, bufc also the workers necessary for the enterprise. Economy (says the Dunedin Echo), is now *o be popular. Even Mr Fish thinks that the Province has been put to expense in providing Messrs Reid and Duncan with a free trip to Southland — the Superintendent alone should have had that favor granted to him. One might tnink that it wa9 the duty of those having the manajemant of public works to make themselves acquainted with the new " joint-of-the-tail land," recently annexed to Otago, so thafc public money might not be extravagantly expended; but we have begun an economic era, and such a thing mnst not be thought of. It is not a waste of public economy for the Province to pay Mr Macandrew . to peregrinate through Southland " touting " for the office, but for Messrs Reid and Duncan to make themselves acquainted with Southland's wants is gross extravagance. We are progressing, and that rapidly. The usual half-yearly meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society took place at the Prince of Wales Hotel on the evening** of Thursday lasfc, 3rd inst. ; W. Wood, Esq., in the chair. The minutes of former meeting having been real and confirmed, the chairman mooted the subject of a fresh effort being made towards the formation of a public garden. The matter was discussed in a conversational manner at great length, i the general conclusion being that, under the altered circumstances of the district, considerable assistance might now be obtained from the Government, in the shape of prison labor, or otherwise. A motion recommending the attempt was ultimately passed, and the matter remitted to the committee to carry out. It was also hoped . the public would show fcheir interest in the matter j in a substantial form. The nexfc business taken j up was a proposal for the affiliation of the Society j with that at Dunedin. Ifc was believed that by ] working the two in some measure together, both ! would be enabled to do much more than they j can do separately. The excellent position which the local society holds for prosecuting the work of acclimatising fish, it was thought, might be made available for the whole province, and that our contributions in that department might be balanced by the Dunedin Society's sharing with the Inveroargill one its importations of birds, animals, plants, &c. A resolution expressing the desirability of the union was carried unanimously, the details of the arrangement being left to the committee. Some further correspondence with Mr Seth Green, of the United States, was also read, which was very encouraging to the meeting, as was also a letter from the agents of the steamers trading between New Zealand and San Francisco, stating thafc they should be happy to aid the Society as far as possible, by giving the greatest care to any ova or other consignments which might be forwarded by their boats, besides charging only the lowest possible freight thereon. A cordial vote of than a to the hon. sec. and treasurer, Mr Butts, for his untiring zeal in the interests of the Society hitherto having been duly acknowledged, the meeting terminated with the customary vote to the chairman. Three youths, half-castes, were sentenced by the Resident Magistrate on Friday last, 4th inst. , to two years' servitude in the Duuedin Industrial Reformatory, for having committed a series of shocking criminal assaults upon a little girl at the Bluff, some few days ago. The boys ranged from 11 to 15 years of age, and, though so young, had behaved with horrid cruelty to their little victim, a child of only 6or 7 years. Th« little girl, who is an orphan, was out in search of a calf, at some little distance from the house of her guardians, when she was set upon by the young ruifi-ins. Oflate we have heard a good deal about the ensuing elections. We are indebted to Hokitika for varying the entertainment, and giving us something about a candidate. He is named Mr Dan O'Callaghan, and is said to be a near relation of the charming Judy of that ilk. The following extract from his hustings' speech is reported by the Boss Guardian : — A Government thafc taxed nannie goats was not fit to live. He did not want Chinamen to come here ; ha thought there were plenty of white people ; he would stop Chinamen. He had no objection to accept the chairmanship ; he could explain himself in a black hat as well as a white one. He would support Johnny, the bellman, as Collector of Customs. He would employ a man to help the Collector of Customs to carry his ledgers. He i would appoint a country astronomer if needed. He was in favor of making the Totara district into a separate county ; bufc did not think a railway to Melbourne was needed. He wanted nothing to do with Hokitika or Melbourne, but wanted the stuff brought from London. He would reduce the price of publicans' licenses, and drain the flat at Government's expense, but could not reduce the rates. He was in favor of a road to Greenland and of immigration The first ship from London he would load with iron, gold, or anything. If the Prussians were to come, he would erect a battery afc the jetty, but he did not think the war would come out here." A vote of confidence in Mr O'Callaghan was carried j unanimously, which ia not surprising considering the liberal character of his programme. The Provincial Government Gazette notifies thafc the Directors of the Caledonian Society of Otago have resolved to bestow prizes upon pupils of the schools of Ofcago who shall show the greatest excellency in the following subjects at a competitive examination to be held on or about the 2nd or 3rd of January next : — (1.) An examination, partly viva voce, and partly written, on Scottish history, during the period from the accession of James VL (1603), to the death of Queen Anne. (2.) A grammatical analysis of a portion (to be prescribed at the examination), of the vision by Robert Burns. (3.) Recitations from memory from the works of any writer in the Scottish language. (4.) Recitations from memory from the works of any writer in the English language; and (5.) General excellency in the whole ofthe preceding subjects. For each division 20s is the lst prize, and 10s the 2nd. Li a recent issue we advocated the propriety of the proposed steam service between Dunedin, the Bluff, and Riverton being extended, at stated periods, to Preservation Inlet and Martin's Bay. We are happy to say that the suggestion has been so far acquiesced in that theße places have been included in the Government advertisement inviting tenders for the work.

The following characteristic letter by Mr Vincent Pyke in reference to a report that he proposed contesting the election for Superintendent, is printed by a contemporary. He says: — Permit me, through the medium of your columns, to express my thanks to your correspondent U.N.0., ior his kind introduction of myself to the public as a possible candidate for the Superintendency. I entirely agree with CN.O. in his estimate of my abilities, but at present I prefer to cultivate - my cabbages in * peaceful obscurity. The following quantities of gold were receive 1 in Dunedin by the last escort : — ■

ozs. dwta. Queenstown ... ... ... 2,182 8 Arrow ... 1,430 4 Cromwell 1,457 0 Clyde 500 0 Teviofc 777 14 Alexandra 484 14 Blacks ... 958 0 Stßathans 1,058 0 Naseby 2,204 0 Palmereton 233 3 Lawrence , 1,346 7 Waipori 669 17 Switzers 870 0 Waitahuna 367 11 Total 14,538 18