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Southland Times, Issue 1519, 5 January 1872, Page 2

The direct through-mail service with Invercargill and Switzers has been discontinued in consequence of the Government haying failed to make provision for the stage beyond the Pyramids. This arrangement, or rather Disarrangement, will necessitate letters from Invercargill going first to Tokomairiro, thence to Lawrence, and on to Switzers via the Beaumont. The direct through-route from Invercargill to Switzers is not more than 70 miles. By Tokomairiro and Lawrence it is at a rough calculation 200 miles, and as the Invercargill branch will ! be delayed at the intermediate stages to suit the convenience of the service direct from Dunedin, we shall not be at all ' surprised to learn that Invercargill correspondence reaches its destination three or perhaps four 'weeks from, the date of despatch. We read in a late edition of the contemporary print that we are indebted to reunion for the extinction of petty provincial jealousies, and the establishment of a wider commercial relationship with the interior. Our far-seeing contemporary must have had this wide circuit in his mind's eye,

and yet it is difficult to imagine' anything more presumptuous than his endeavor to palm it off as ' subject-matter for congratulation. A more ingenious device could not have been contrived for widening the breach of our commercial relations with the interior, and establishing them as a bond of union with Dunedin. The trade with Switzera was estimated by recent computations at a considerable tonnage per week. With no telegraphic communication to fall back upon, it is quite impossible that that trade can be maintained. Leaving the interests of Invercargill out of the question, a more glaring piece of mismanagement could not have been perpetrated in the interest of the Switzers district It was by recent enactment made part of the Invercargill land district, and now it is practically speaking cut off from postal communication with its own judicial centre. We feel justified in asserting that this state of matters will not be submitted to. Indeed the Chamber of Commerce has already had the matter under consideration as a threatened evil, and now that the evil has been perpetrated, we have no doubt but that further action will be taken. Meantime we must protest against the contemporary print at* tempting to defeat the public interest by lulling the public mind into a state of false security.

A whale, 54 feet long, was washed ashore a^ Hokitika on the 29th ult. During the two days of the Horticultural Exhibition, the sum taken at the doors amounted to £40 10s. During a recent gale in Wellington, according to the Post, showers of pebbles were driven with great violence along the streets. The total cost of the Wanganui bridge is £32,000. The interest on that amount, at six per cent., will be about £2000, and the tolls are estimated to yield £1500 per annumAccording to a statement made recently by some of the Upper Wanganui natives to Captain M'Donnell, there are five tons of gunpowder stored at Te Kuiti, in the King's country. The annual meeting for the election of an educational committee for the town of Invercargill 18 announced to take place in the schoolhouse, Tay street, on Monday evening, Bth inst., at 7 p.m. The Nebraska is to be allowed to proceed to Sydney this month, in order that there may be no break in the Australian line of communication, pending negotiations with the Governments of the different colonies. The interprovincial cricket match, played in Dunedin, has resulted in a victory for Canterbury by 10 wickets. Out of nine matches Canterbury has won three and Otago five, the remaining one being drawn. We understand that the bi-weekly mail service to Lake Wakatip has been arranged. It is understood that it will in future leave Invercargill in the afternoons of Monday and Wednesday, arriving on Tuesday and Friday. The hon. Treasurer to the Provincial Hospital requests us to acknowledge his receipt of £3 15s, collected by Mr M'Neill, on Merrivale Station ; £3 3s by Mr Jenkins, at Birch wood, and £1 5s 7d, contents of box at Mr Jaa. Wad.lel's, Bluff. Some anxiety is felt about the award of the arbitrators in the dispute between the Oreti railway contractors and the Government. It is a long time of coming. Considerable interest will be taken in the document when it does make its appearance. The Bishop of Dunedin, the Right Reverend Samuel Tarratt Nevill, M.A., of Magdalene College, Cambridge, had the degree of Doctor in Divinity conferred upon him on the 26th of October. The degree of Doctor of Divinity (Jure Dignitatis) was also conferred upon him. The duties connected with Mr Haughton's appointment were found to be so onerous that the Government could not accept his honorary services. He has consequently been appointed Under Secretary for the G.ildfields under the Public Works Act, and proceeds to Otago at once. A correspondent, who must possess a scientific turn of mind, asks us to suggest that some competent person should undertake to deliver a series of out-door lectures on astronomy, choosing some clear starlight nights, when practical illustrations could be given. This is an opportunity for some of our local savans to impart useful information. By the ship Christian M'Ausland, which arrived in Port Chalmers on the 28th ulfc., a machinery plant was received for stocking, shirt, drawers, and other weaving from native wool. The plant was made at Hawick, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, and is to be erected in Hanover street, off George street, Dunedin, where the manufactory is in the course of construction. It is said that news gains by travelling. So wo thought when reading the following telegram in the last issue to hand of the Wakatip Mail : — " Mitchell's large Btore at Invercargill was burned down on Saturday." Our contemporary would do well to correct the mistake into which he has fallen, by informing hia readera that although a fire was discovered in the building in question, it was Bpeedily extinguished, without doing much harm to the premises. Complaints are continually reaching us about small sums of money remaining unpaid by the Provincial Government for months, and in some cases yearß. How is it that such a state of matters is permitted to exist ? Surely it is anything but creditable to the Government of the day to allow the claims of creditors for small amounts to stand over for so long a time. Truly they must have found their way into the circumlocution office. Would that some one could hasten their passage through its dreary labyrinths ! The anniversary services in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Invercargill, are again announced. The annual treat given to the children attending the Sabbath school has already taken place, having been held on Boxing Day, in order to take advantage of the general holiday. In the morning of that day, the youngsters, to the num. ber of over 200, were taken in special conveyances to the residence of Mr W. Rusboll, Bay Road. The school teachers, with a few of their friends, accompanied the children. After being regaled with the usual Christmas cheer, the party spent some pleasurable hours indulging in the customary pastimes, and returned to town without any hitch occurring to mar the day's enjoyment. I

At the close of the Caledonian (James on Tuesday, a tilting match took place for the challenge cups offered by Mr H. Mayo. • In the first event 23 entries were made, when Leader and Raines tied each other with four rings. In running the off- match Raines carried two rings and his opponent one. The former was accordingly winner of the first cup. For the second cup, Leader, Lawson, Trumble, Bray, Stewart, and Marshall tied with three rinjs each. In running an off-match, Leader won, carrying three rings in as many rounds. The Auckland Southern Cross Bays that during a debate in the Provincial Council relative to the contemplated Industrial Exhibition, at Auckland, a statement was made by an honorable member that cannot, fail to be received with deep and general interest. It was stated that an English company is in process of formation, having for its object the preparation of phorinium and its manufacture into the various fabrics of which it is capable. It appears that the enterprise — which is already so far advanced that the requisite machinery is in course of construction — will be sustained by a subscribed capital of £50,000, and will have the seat of industry on the Wairoa, within this province. It was even stated that a portion of the machinery is at present being made in Auckland. The following is a description of a scene at a recent meeting of the Collingwood Borough Council, Victoria. Aru npus had occurre 1, and the Mayor had dissolved the meeting. He, with several councillors, having retired, ordered the town clerk to turn off the gas, whereby the four obdurate councillors who remained, and a crowd of ratepayers, were left in the dark ; but, with a determination which partakes of the heroic, one of the obdurate councillors advanced haif-a-crown, and candles were procured, and, in the gloom of this subdued illumination, a kind of funeral business was conducted, the dramatic effect being completed by several solemn spectators, at the termination of the business, taking the candles in their hands, and with, much show of pageantry, forming a line through which the councillors marched sadly into the street. Great complaints were made by exhibitors at the recent Horticultural Show of the ruthlessness displayed by some of the visitors — who must undoubtedly have belonged to the " larrikin" class, an undesirable element which, we regret to say, is making its appearance in Invercargill — in carrying away portions of the fruit exhibits. A well-known horticulturalist, who had been a sufferer in this way, expressed his intention of making it " rather hot" for these gentry at the next exhibition. He intends to put a plentiful sprinkling of cayenne pepper on his fruit, and we would advise others to follow his example, aa it is only by inflicting bodily suffering that persons who have lost all selfrespect can be at all affected. "We understand the experiment was tried on Tuesday evening, and that some persons were observed to be making remarkably wry faces. It should be very satisfactory to the perpetrators of this paltry meanness to know that they have been to a certain extent identified. The Dunedin livening Star of the 29th ult. •ays :— This afternoon the remains of the young men whose melancholy death on Christmas Day by the upsetting of a boat in the harbor, has cast such a gloom over the City, were interred in the Southern Cemetery. The request of the Mayor that citizens should close their premises upon the occasion was unanimously responded to, and along the whole route of the funeral procession every respect was shown the remains of the deceased. The cortege started from the respective residences, there being four hearses, the chief mourners following the hearse containing the remains of their deceased friend, and a long procession of the general public followed. Flags in all directions were hung half-mast high, and as the procession passed the Cricket Ground, the match now being played between Canterbury and Otago was suspended for a time. The scene in the Cemetery was very impressive. Four graves were opened ; the Rev. D. M. Stuart conducted the service over the remains of Alfred Prictor ; the Rev. Dr Copland at the grave of William and James Drew, who were interred together ; the Rev. George Sutherland officiated at the grave of John Bruce ; and the Rev. John Gow at the grave of Peter and William Scrymgeour, who also were buried together. Our Lakes correspondent, writing on the Ist inst., reports : — A heavy storm or rather a hurricane visited this district on the evening of the 23rd and morning of the 24th ult. The wind appeared to blow from every point of the compass at one and the same time, and was so destructive in its passage that nothing but the most substantial tenements were able to withstand it. The damage to building property was considerable. The Wesley an Church succumbed to it, and the front of the premises occupied by Mr Malaghan, also those of Mr Wilson and Mr Sloan. What added to the confusion was that during the height of the storm the alarm of fire was repeatedly raised, but serious damage from that pause was happily prevented. The anxiety caused by the storm was so great that many were prevented from retiring to bed during the night. — Christmas passed off very quietly. The new brass band inaugurated its existence by parading the town on the occasion. The Church of England held a bazaar in aid of its funds, at which a pum of £200 was realised. — To-day (New Year's Day) the steamer Antrim proceeds on a trip to the head of the lake, conveying a body of 50 or 60 excursionists. The chief attraction, however, is the return cricket match, Queenstown v. Arrowtown. A first match was played a few weeks ago, when the Arrow team won by four wickets. To-day turned the tables. At the close of a most agreeable and friendly match the scores stood thus — Queenstown, Ist innings, 106 ; 2nd do, 59. Arrow, Ist innings, 62 ; 2nd do, 37.