Friday, 2nd December.

Southland Times, Issue 1345, 9 December 1870, Page 3

Friday, 2nd December.

The Council wont into Committee for the purpose of considering the following resolutions :— " Ist. That this Council is of opinion that it is desirable to construct a line of railway from Invercargill to Mataura." "2nd. That the Government be empowered during the recess to treat with any individual or company for the construction of the said line of railway on the following terms, viz. :— That the cost of construction shali not exceed £100,000, and that the expenditure in each year is made contingent on the amount of land sales effected in the district, at a minimum price of 20s per acre." Mr Eeid, in moving the resolutions, explained that the country which the proposed line would traverse was of a level nature, and well adapted for railways of an economical construction ; while, owing to the want of proper metal, it would be difficult to construct a good road through it* so that, for some years to come, it would be as cheap to construct a railway as a. metalled road. The present road was good for summer traffic, but was of very little use during six months of the year. The reason for bringing these resolutions down was that an offer had already been made to the Government for the construction of a railway between the points named, but the Government felt powerless to treat without the sanction of the Council. The offer, however, was not of such a nature that the Government could close with it j but it was quite possible that, with a little negotiation, it might be so modified that the Government would be able to accept it in the event of these resolutions being carried. The resolutions, while placing the Government in a position to decide definitively upon an offer and at once to enter into an agreement with an individual or company, on the terms specified, did not give it too much power in the matter. The distance between the points named was, he believed, 40 miles, and £100,000 would not be a large sum to set aside for such a line of railway. He hoped the Committee would repose sufficient confidence in the Government as to believe they would take proper safeguards for the interests of the province. After some discussion an amendment Ito report progress and sit again on Monday was carried on a division by 19 to 15. ■ ••■••'

"Cometh up as a flower "~ Very likely it does, but there is one thing that don't go down as the flour— and that is the price of bread. . ; A' Connecticut economist, who has worn the same hat forty-three years, says it has been, in fashion itven times.

The Wix» Bfisvi AMD Tin Wa*.— We learn froftthe French papers that the wild beasts hare taken di»gu*t at the scenes of ' horror to be witnessed in the neighborhood of their own homes. The Metite notices the appear mcc in the Ardennes of bauds of wolves and wild boars, which, it states, have, been, driven from the forests of Germany and Alsace by the guns of Woerth and Saarbracjct The Sport, of Paris, says that Wild boars and all sorts of game desert the forests of the east and fail back ttpoa Belgium. This Invasion of Belgian territory is touching upon tender ground; but great excuses 'should be made for wild beasts, who must not only suffer intensely from the noise and discomfort consequent upon the incessant fighting going on around them, but must have come to the coo* elusion that human creatures can be wilder beasts than themselves. In the meantime, the inhabitants of the frontier towns have organised a number of battues, and have succeeded in destroying a really surprising quantity of game. In one instance as many as fifteen wild boars, old and young, were killed in a few hours. .

A convict named Kelly, who has Been in the Perth prison (W. A.) lately confessed to the authorities there, that about twenty-fire years ago, at a small place in Ireland, he. murdered a police-magistrate named Bell, by shooting him as be wag coming out of church. After the murder Kelly states he got away to America, whence he went to Prance, arid &<>>■ there back to Ireland, where he enlisted in a regiment which shortly after went to India. Kelly was transported for life, and has been noted for his turbuleoce since his arrival in the colony ; he is now upwards of sixty yean Of age, of large stature, standing 6 feet 2 inches, and is an Irishman. One night, soon after his confession, as above, he nude his escape from the gaol.

A large meeting has been held at Port Chalmers, at which resolutions disapproving of ths> action taken by the ExecutxTe in the matter of the Immigration and Public Works Bill wer* passed, uoanimoasly. iL.:_Jr-