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Southland Times, Issue 1348, 16 December 1870, Page 2

In Tuesday's issue we briefly alluded to a misunderstanding that had arisen regarding the rates charged for cartage between Dunedin and Lake Wakatipu. In accordance with the promise then made, we caused enquiries to beinstituted, and find that the figure mentioned on behalf of the draymen — viz., £14 per ton, and not as we had stated, £7 — is strictly correct. As already mentioned, the statement originated with the Wakatip Mail, a journal we are in the habit of quoting from regularly, without ever having had the veracity of these quotations impugned. We certainly admit that the paragraph with which the statement originated was .a misty one, but we maintain that the interpretation put upon it was both fair and reasonable, In addition to that fact, it was reprinted in the OtagoJ><**ly Times, and after remaining unco fntradicted for a period of thrgs weeka r we ventured to founds out* remarks" upon it. If two journals, both having facilities for correct information at hand, are led into error, it is not wonderful that a /journal at a distance of a hundred odd miles should be similarly misled. The most singular part of the affair is that a representation so manifestly unjust should have remained undetected until it travelled down to the last joint in the colonial tail. Indeed, it is questionable if it would ever have been detected had it not been for the discriminating powers of our district teamsters. On the other hand, we must not omit to mention that they have this journal to thank for bringing them to a sense of the' unjust reproach under which they rested. Turning to the real merits of the question, we are afraid that the facts elicited by this enquiry ouly go to support the necessity that exists for a more economical mode of transit. The miners themselves complain that current expenditure is out of all proportion to their earnings, and it is universally admitted that if a more equitable adjustment could be brought about, a much larger area of auriferous ground would be worked. It is very plain we cannot increase the income, so that a reduction of the expenditure is the only prospect left for meeting their views. Applied in that way, the Hoad Steamer presents some strong claims upon bur attention. As a means of locomotion, these machines have been brought to that stage of development when territorial contingencies such as we have to encounter, are, practically speaking, provided for. These contingencies may be set down as river-crossings and swampy patches of ground. So far as the former are concerned, a provision ia the shape of a false bottom for the compartments within which motive-power is generated, hasbeen invented, so that a temporary immersion in water doss not create, anyserious drawback. What is known as Nairn's patent prevents the. machine from bogging ' itself, however soft and marshy the ground may happen to be. The contrivance is a simple one. Hemp, with elastic material, such as cork or rubber, placed between the tyres, are the sole requisites. Anent this invention the Builder's Trade Circular reports : — "The material has proved to be per-, fectly suitable for the purpose, both as regards first cost, efficiency when in use, wear, and facility for repair. It is not liable to get injured, however rough the work to be done, and when repairs become necessary any laborer can do the work with almost any fibrous material that may be at hand.". Their hauling power, as compared with their cost, is the next question for cont iteration. The one imported into Dunedin a few weeks ago carries fourteen tons dead weight up an incline of one in twelve with perfect ease. The cost, including freight, was £800, and only one man and a boy are required for working it. We do not know of a single incline along the Lakes line of road that could be aet^ down at one in twelve, still we shall adopt the fourteen tons measure as our basis of computation. At the present rate of ■Carnage, that would yield £84, exclusive altogether of everything in the shape of passenger traffic or return freight. Besides the engine-man and his assistant, two or three stations for. the preparation and supply of fuel — coke— would have to be established. G-oing at the rate of ten miles an hour, which appears from authentic reports to be a very moderate speed, the distance from Winton to Kingston could be readily accomplished in one day. Allowing the day's journey to be twelve hours, which would not exceed five-and-a-half miles an hour, ample time would be allowed for all interruptions. Instead of £84, suppose the amount earned for the up-journey was £42, and the working expenses stated at £20, which^ considering the facilities provided along the road for manufacturing coke, is a high estimate, the net profit accruing from the trip would exceed £20. We feel warranted in saying that the project; deserees serious consideration. It would at once solve all difficulties connected with our traffic. It would enable our rates to Be fixed at a figure which would at once dispose of the question of competition. Of course, it is. a matter to be undertaken by a Joint Stock Company, and we feel certain that a very large proportion of the necessary capital —which need not exceed £1000 — could be raised at the Lakes.

■ A telegram from Mr Macandrew has been received by the chairman rof the Chamber of Commerce, intimating that he (Mr Macandrew) .would use every endeavor in his .power to get ■Southland- proclaimed a district under the Bands •shansfoir Act. The communication was 'considered so satisfactory that the projected deputation to Dimedin on the subject was abandoned.

Mr Fred. Dean, of Switzers, has announced his intention of offering himself as a candidate for the Assembly for the Waikaia district. Mr Bradshaw, M.H.R., has been requested to stand for the same constituency. Mr L. Rodgers, bookseller, has forwarded tor us a small volume entitled " Brief Meditations on Passages of Holy Scripture," by J. Or. D. The work will no doubt commend itself to the attention of a section of the oommunity. A telegram from Patea, dated the 10th inst., reports that the Hon. Mr Gisborne arrived there on Monday, and accepted a requisition to stand for Egmont. He addressed a crowded^ meeting of electors, and was enthusiastically received. Field operations in connection with the flying survey of the Mataura line of railway were commenced at the Invercargill and yesterday. The route via the Puni creek flats, starting from the bridge on the Bluff line, is the one being first inspected. Geo. Richardson, who at present stands com- 1 mitted for trial at the Supreme Court, was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday with petty larceny from a hut at Waikivi. The property abstracted was a pair of blankets. Prisoner pled guilty, and was remitted back to prison for four months with hard labor. The Westland County Council elections took place on the Btb, when the following gentlemen were elected : — For Hokitika, Messrs Reid and Bonar; for Greymouth, Messrs Guinness and lahman ; for Kanieri, Mr Robinson ; foa-Walmoa, MVRncfP. fX. P^ AT. T>.,n- JThawanU. O f the elections at Paroa and Okarito is not yet known. Mr Hoos, County Chairman, stood for Hokitika. During the quarter ending Sept. 30, the sum of £66,715 15s 8d was deposited in the various Post Office Savings Banks of the Colony by 5455 depositors. The sum withdrawn during the same quarter was £51,254 0s 9d. There remained therefore on deposit the sum of £15,461 14s lid. The total balance to the credit of depositors on Sept. 38 was £274,911 10s lid. Judging by a comparative statement, the Post Office Savings Banks are steadily increasing in popular favor. After the departure of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who is expected to leave Auckland probably in January next, it is the intention of His Excellency Sir George Bowen to visit Otago. He hopes to reach Dunedin about the end of January or the beginning of February. Sir George intends visiting the goldfields and making himself acquainted with the agricultural and pastoral settlements in the interior. He also anticipates great enjoyment in viewing the beautiful scenery of Lake Wakatipu and other lake and mountain districts. In all probability His Excellency will be accompanied by Commodore Stirling, R.N. The amount of gold exported from the colony for the September quarter was 124,047 ounces, being a decrease of 16,729 ounces compared with the corresponding quarter of 1869. Auckland shows a decrease of 4637pzs ; Nelson, 39050zs ; Westland, 63670z3 ; Otago, 15780z5 ; and Southland an increase of nearly 3PQpz9- „. ..Tfc «hon.l<f be -ojtploWd— ±}»t»tr tne~tEßerence "in quantity from Auckland, as compared with last year's return, is accounted for by some of the banks allowing their ■golti7to~accuuiulate7~awaiting the passing of the new Gold Duty Act. The Customs revenue collected in the colony for the same quarter' was £190,499, being a decrease of~c£i*^l. -A-uefe^ land shows a large decrease, Wellington and Canterbury an increase, and Otago a decrease .of £4000. In a letter to the Provincial Government, under date the sth nit., Captain AucUey Coote states ■ that he is unable to make an offer to construct the Clnthaline within the terms of the act. He makes an offer to construct any railways the Province may require, at the cost of the company he represents, in tbe following terms : — " The guarantee to be not less than 5i per cent., and for a term of not less than 35 years." Captain Coote adds, that should this lead to business, he is prepared to give security to the Government for the' prompt prosecution of the works. . If the Government will undertake to amend the Act during next session, he will come to Otago and will make all preliminary arrangements before Parliament will meet again. In accordance with Captain Coote'^ suggestion, the Government brought .down an amended Ordinance empowering them to give a guarantee, of 5i per cent, on £400,000 for 35 years. A Dunedin weekly — the JEcho — says : — Rog. thafc the M.^PXf7B~~From the Last-joint-of-the-tail land are going home, it may be well to tell the Southland folks how they did in our CounciL Messrs Wood, Wilson, Calder, M'Gillivray, and Kinross seem the most able. Mr Basstian is well spoken of, but he followed Carlyle's precept — "he kept silence." Mr M'Gillivray is a semi-lottery-loan-scheme man. Mr Johnston is led by the squatters by the nose, and did just what they were kind enough to tell him. He hopes soon, we believe, to become a full-blown squatter. We trust he will air the little eloquence he has in other quarters. Mr Calder tends to squatterdom, but is opposed to the lottery-loan scheme. He speaks well, and is a good member in looking after Southland's interests. Messrs Wilson, Wood, and Kinross are thorough-going members, and sensible and shrewd. They hold liberal views on settlement, and do not wish to see Middle Island money squandered in useless i North Island sjhemes. Mr Toshaok is also on the right side, though Mr Basstian's example seemed to have some attraction for him. As a whole, the Southland members are above their northern colleagues. Mr M'Gillivray ought to have some influence, but he has not much. He is generally looked upon as " doubtful "in voting. We hope Southland will always return such thorough reformers as Wilson, Wood, Kinross, and Toshack. If Mr Calder had not peculiar notions on the land laws, we would like to see him back. Perhaps he will reform. We can spare Mr Johnston, however, until his language somewhat improves. Pure Doric is not always a blessing. In the Warden's Court at the Bluff, on Monday last, the case of M'Cormick v. Bell and party was brought.onfor hearing before JMrWarden Rogers and assessors. The plaintiff claimed £20 damages in respect of defendants' having obstructed him in the working of a beach claim situated between the Bluff Harbor and New River Heads. Plaintiff's case was that he had pegged off the ground, hut was prevented from working by defendants,, who claimed a prior right. . From the evidence it

appeared that an application had been made under the Otago regulations for an extension of the ground held by defendants, which extension included the ground claimed by plaintiff. The Warden had refused the application for an exK tended claim ; but it was contended by defen> dants'counselthatunttttherefusal wasmade known to them, they were entitled to protection., Thej assessors gave a verdict for defendants, with costs of Court, £5 12s. Mr Wade represented -the plaintiff, and Mr Harvey the defendants. The following are the latest-reports anent the weather and crops from districts north of the Mataura : — At Tokomairiro a few genial showers had fallen, sufficient only to refresh the surface of the soil. More rain was anxiously looked for. At Tuapeka the weather was warm, accompanied by showers which refreshed the pasturages, and materially improved the growth of vegetation. Early oats had got into ear, but are expected to be short, both in yield and stature. Late- sown oata promise better. The gardens are looking welL At Inch Clutha the weather is dry, but the absence of rain is not spoken of as a hindrance to the season's growth. The crops are not in as forward a state as they were at this period last year. The cause is attributed to an exceptionally wet spring. Heavy night dews, together with the moistening influences of the Molyneux, make up for the want of rain, from which the neighborhood ia suffering. Mount Benger district has been visited by heavy rains, much to the satisfac> tioxTofthe farmers and gardeners. The river had risen about eighteen inches, but was again going down steadily. From the fact that the prevalence of a hot wind had no perceptible effect in checking the fall in the river, it ib concluded the hills carry much less snow than is usually the case. , The Southland representation in the late Conn* cil is commented on as follows by tliei livening Star of the Bth inst. : — Mr Oalder spoke a few truths yesterday when characterising the conduct of the Government ia regard to Southland as disgraceful, and the action of the Council itself as a severe satire on Provincial institutions. If anything were needed to support the latter proposition, it was yesterday's proceedings. A motion by Mr M'Tndoe, proposed more in the light of a joke than in earnest, led to a " free fight," in which the Secretary for Land and Works bore a conspicuous part. There is not a greater objector to' personalities than he, yet he managed to indulge in them pretty freely. Bat in one of the victims of his fierce onslaught he found "a Roland for his Oliver." Mr Calder, during the short period he has had' a seat in the Otago Council, has not spoken much ; but when he does speak, he speaks to the purpose and well. Ho carried the House with him yesterday afternoon in his brief denunciations of the actions of the Government. , It may be here said that, on~ the whole, the Southland members have left an agreeable impression of their abilities — notably Messrs Wood, M'GHUivray, and Calder. . Of them and the other members it may be said in the language of a contemporary : — " They are men of mbder« ately good attainments, and the district 'may 'lay the flattering unction to its soul' that it is fairly -rvprmmn*-*. — ou—^-j — — ~~±Ka-,_iha_exqutßite pretensions of Oazn-iru, the pTjy-hfm/iarL p^parm. ties of Tokomairiro, nor the shallow-patedness that comes down from the goldfields." The " fun," if such it might be callei, was cut short by the entrance at a little after T o'clock of his Honor the Superintendent. The prorogation speech was -afctcoU-roiyJjatened to ; and ife was curious to watch the countenanceT~df~Bomß: of -the _ < ijtaiF_ when his Honor enunciated his views on the administration of government. The announcement of- his Honor's intended recommendation of a speedy dissolution was received with loud applause, which had hardly subsided when the session of 1870, and the last session of the present Provincial Council, were at an end. . A meeting of the Acclimatisation Society Committee took place at the Government offices on Wednesday afternoon, 14th, W. Wood, Esq., M.H.8.1 in the chair. After the reading and confirmation of previous minutes, the Secretary read a letter from Dr Eccles, hon. sec. of the Dunedin Society, stating the proposition for the affiliation of the two societies, mooted by the Invercargill one, had been favorably entertained by that at Dunedin, but requesting fuller information as to terms. The chairman then informed the meeting of the result of several interviews between Mr Basstian and himself on the one part, and Dr Eccles and Mr Carriek on the other, as deputations from their respective Societies, which had taken place while hejgaaiatoiym Duuedin. "After the matter had teen discussed a little, it was agreed to postpone its further consideration for a week, in order that a fuller attendance of members might be secured before any decisive step was taken. The chairman expressed himself highly pleased with the progress the Dunedin Society had made in the acclimatisation of birds — songsters and game — and had been informed that a further shipment, to the value of £500, was now on its way out, a portion of whioh it was hoped this association might be able to obtain in exchange for fish, for the propagation of which the Dunedin Society had now really no appliancesWith regard to the project of forming a garden near town, the hon. sec. stated that he had written to the Government on the matter, but had as yet received no reply. Mr Wood informed the meeting that he had succeeded in getting a bill carried through the Council, empowering the Superintendent to lease the Invercargill Park Reserve, a portion of which it was that the Society wanted for a garden, and he had no doubt it would be obtained in due course. With regard to prison labor, howerer, he had considered it imprudent to take any action in 'the Council, as he found his colleagues either wholly opposed to the idea of getting hard-labor men down from Dunedin or so doubtful on the sutkject that he could not count upon their support. Indeed, he had had but little if any' assistance from Southland members in anything connected with the Society, most of whom seemed to think it an institution of no importance, .He also mentioned that he had got another bill through for leasing the racecourse reserves, and thought the conditions favorable, viz : — The lessees to lay. them down in grass, and the- rent to be expended in planting forest trees. On the motion of Mr . Hume, Mr Murchie was elected agent for the Society in the Western District. ;