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Southland Times, Issue 1564, 16 April 1872, Page 2

At the meeting of the committee of the Provincial Hospital on Fri lay evening last, tenders for supplies for ensuing twelvemonths were opened and read. Tho following tenders were accepted: — Messrs Aitkin and Co., meat; A. Hay and Co., groceries ; R. Weir, milk ; J. Hani 'lron, bread ; and Juhu Smith for conducting interments. Two tenders were received for drug 3, which involved more labor in their decision than could be i;iren in an evening's sitting, and they were therefore remitted for comparison after plan proposed by committee during tho week, decision to be given at next sitting of committee. At the Mayor's Court, Dunedin, on the 9th inst., David Thompson, who, it appeared, had been imprisoned a month on a charge of assaulting the police at Tokomiirii-o, was brought up for assaulting Air James Harvey, solicitor, at Daero, Southland, on the 26th January last. Detecivo Farrell deposed that the prisoner, whom ho took , into custody on his discharge from gaol, on a warrant issued by tho Bench at luvercargill, ' answered the description of the man givon, and he believed him to be the same. The Com missioner of Police addressed the Bench, saying there could be no doubt that the accused was the man wanted at Invercargill, and he would a3k that he be remanded thither. The Bench remanded the accused to Invercargill. At the adj mrned meeting of the Southland j Acclimatisation Society, hell at the Prince of Wales Hotel on Friday evening last, Mr W. Wood was elected a trustee in the room of Mr John M'Pherson, who has left the colony. In consideration of the valuable services rendered by Mr Butts (the lion, sec), it was resolved unanimously to offer to him the life membership of the Society by way of recognition. A resolution was also submitted and carried, requesting the committee to consider the best means of dealing with the rabbit nuisance. The subject of the financial position and prospects of the Society was freely discussed, resulting* in an understood engagement amorg the subscribers to increased exertion during the coming year. Tho annual meeting as a whole may ba taken as an indication of increased public interest in the Society. The p.s. Charles Elward, which recently proceeded to Martin's Bay under contract with the Otago Government, returned to Hokitika on the Ist mat. She did not go up the river to Jamestnvn, on account of the heavy surf on the bar, but landed some stores in a boat. The West Coast Times adds :— " From a correspondent we hear that the settlers were very much pleasjd with the visit of the Charles Edward, and express a hope that the Otago Governin3nt would continuo to send them a steamer at regular intervals, so that they might depend on the time of her visit. The weather tliera for the last sis weeks has boon all that could be desire i. Tho crops are looking very fine, and things in general are looking up. A good number of old settlers have returned, and many more are expected shortly, so that if the Government carry out their promises, they expect soon to be in a state of prosperity." Our Long Bush correspondent writes : — Now that the important operations of the harvest are over, and the cold and wet weather has Bet in, people are beginning to cast a longing look to rh) fireside and its enjoyments. Winter evening amusements are spoken of, indeed a tueeting was held in tho schoolroom here on Wednesday evening for the purpose of taking the initiatory Btep3; Tho same meeting also discussed the postal arrangements, which ara felt to be very inconvenient, and the result was that Mr Smith was requested to lay the mitter before the Postmaster in Chief at Invercargill, with a viow to obtaining a separate lettjr-bag, which '"would obviate the inconvenience of the present arrangement. Studying positions andpractising some very intricate evolutions on tho " light fantastic toe" is all the rage, in preparation for a grand harvest homo ball which is to tike place ia a large barn at Mirehrmnt House, near Woodlands, on the 19th, and which is expected from the exertions of tho committee to be, like its predecessors, a great success. As I have not been favored with an invitation (a most unpardonable oversight), I shall not be able to send you a programme or a full and particular description of the ladies' dresses, or a brilliant account of the splendid galaxy of beauty and fashion which no doubt will adorn the assembly. We learn that the English mail via San Francisco arrived at Port Chalmers on Saturday last at 8.15 p.m. The Southland portion was despatched from the Dune lin Post Office at 11 o'clock the came night, arriving- at Balelutha about half-past four on Sunday morning. It loft again at five o'clock, and was reasonably expe.'ted by the postal authorities hero to arrive at eight o'clock on Sunday evening. Fin ling, however, that at half-past five that afternoon it ha I not arrived at Mitaura, arrangements were made to sort it at 6 o'clock next morning, si that an early delivery might be effecte 1. It appears, however, that the coach only arrived at Mat iura at one o'clock in tho morning, and did not leave again till nine, arriving at the Post Office eventually about 2 p.m. — taking altogether 33 hours to travel 86 miles. Considering that the Government had been at considerable expense in forwarding the mail from Dunedin immediately on arrival, to insure its delivery at tho earliest" date, and that all the mails from here yesterday were obliged to leave without the English letters, this delay appears inexcusable, and we trust the matter will be thoroughly investigated, so as to prevent a recurrence of a similar delay in future. Only a very few of the newspapors have as yet come to hand. A meeting of storekeepers was held in Colyer's Princess Hotel on Friday evening, to take into consideration the question of the proposed weekly half-holiday. There were over twenty persons present. Mr D. Macrorie was elected chairman, and briefly stated the object of the meeting, After some preliminary discussion, Mr L.Rodgers proposed, and Mr B. Ekensteen seconded the following resolution : — " That this meeting affirm by ballot whether a half- holiday is desirable." As an amgndment, it was proposed by Mr Thomas, and seconded by Mr Wotton : — " That this meeting affir.ns that a half-holiday is desirable among tho tradespeople of luvercargill. " On beinj put to tho vote, tho amendment was carried. Mr R. Erskine proposed the next resolution, to the effect " that this meeting pledges itself to support the decision of the majority with regard to tho day decided upon." Seconded by M.v W. H. Hall, and carried nsm. con. The next step taken was to " name the day." Mr L. Rodgers proposed thit the half-holiday should be observed every Thursday, after 1 o'clock ; seconded by Mr W. Barnaul. Mr M. Hyams