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Southland Times, Issue 1623, 23 August 1872, Page 2

The collection in the Presbyterian church on Sunday forenoon will be devoted to the Hospital. A few of our leading citizens are taking steps to communicate with the authorities respecting the proposed misplacement of the new bridge at the Waihopai, to which we have already drawn attention. The new bridge is intended to be a handsome and permanent structure, and if placed as proposed, on one side of the road line, will be an eyesore instead of an ornament, for years to come. Mr A. J. Smyth, agent for Messrs Brogden and £|pns } arrired in Invercargill yesterday, to commence wotk cm tfte Mataura railway. The necessary plant for the Edendale cutting will be on the ground to-morrow, and arrangements will be made for the formal turning of the first sod in Invercargill in a few days. Mr Brunton, the engineer for ttia line, with, hia •.assistant, :is now: in Invercargill for the purpose of laying out the work ; and Mr Thos. Calcutt, the Government valuer, who likewise arrived by the Tararua, is authorised to make arrangements with the owners for the purchase of the land required, being empowered to make a final settlement if he is met in anything like a fair spirit. ... We understand that the last mail from Melbourne brought 21 applications for the positions of teachers in the Invercargill Grammar School. From all quarters we believe there have been upwards of 50 applications received up to the present date. Christie was charged before the Resident Magistrate, on Tuesday, with the offence of being at large before the expiration of a term of penal eervitude to which he had been eentenced. The enquiry was conducted in the gaol, and the charge being fully proved by the evidence adduced, he was committed for trial. The offence comes under the jurisdiction of the District Court. The Resident Magistrate, along with Messrs Pearson M' Arthur, visiting justices of the gaol, were engaged for some hours yesterday in investigating the circumstances connected with Christie's escape. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, Michael Clear, settler, near Wfnton, was charged by the police with attempting to commit suicide, on the 15th inst. The facts, which have already appeared in our columns, were proved by the evidence of Patrick O'Shaughnessy, who found the wounded man, John Branchfield, his nephew, and Dr Grigor. The prisoner — who seemed suffering from great depression— stated that he was very sorry for what ho had done. He was committed for trial. At the meeting of the shareholders in the Old Wakatipu Deep Sinking Gold Mining Company, held last night, it was decided to suspend operations in the meantime, and to request the manager to attend a general meeting to be helel on the 29fch mat. The following notice of motion was given ; — " That SO preference shares be issued, of £5 each, the money to be paid on application, ! such shares in the event of gold being struck to be valued at £50 each, and that a dividend of 20 per cent, be paid to the holders of such shares Defore any dividend is paid to shareholders of previous issueß,"

The annual general meeting of the Western District Farmers' Club was held at Oummy's .Bush on the 16th inst., -Mr James Reid, President, in the chairr The Treasurer's report was read and adopted. The receipts for the year, including £23 16s (balance in hand last August), were £70 17s 9d, and the expenditure £57 0s 6d, leaving a Balance in hand of £13 17s 3d. Mr Reid, although again nominated for the chair, retires from omce for this year. The following „are, the office-bearers, viz. :— Mr Jpim.Milntyre, President; .Mr Fred. Sutton, Vice-Preeident .j Mr John Gumming, Secretary and -Treasurer'; Messrs W. A. Lyon, M. Fallow, Wm, 'Calder, James Cumming, Alex. M'Clymont, Wm. Hopcroft, Roas Robertson, George Arkley, and Alex. M'Naughton, members of committee. MoVed by Mr B>. Uobertson, seconded by Mr A. M'Naughton, and carried — " That thero be one contra! meeting place for the Club, the President "and Secretary to select and decide, on the place." Moved by Mr Robertson, I seconded by Mr Wm. Sopuroft, and carried, That the ordinary meetings of the Club be held quarterly from this date. A hearty vote of thanks was awarded to the retiring President. The treasurer to the Provincial Hospital requests us to acknowledge his receipt of £11 16s 1&, from MCr John M'Gregor, being subscription from Burwood station, and collections thereon. At the meeting of the Otago Waste Land Board, held; on the 14th inst., Mr William Brunton applied for six months' extension of his term for prospecting Bligh Sound for tin and copper lodes. It was resolved that the protection to Mr Brunton be extended fox six months, and that Messrs Daniel and Blacklock, who had at a previous meeting applied for protection over the same place, be informed of this, so that they might have an opportunity of bringing forward any claim they might have. A female ziphoid whale, believed to be a new species, waß caught in Lyttelton harbo r the other day. . . • A clerk in the Chief Post-office, Auckland, has been committed for trial for stealing money letters. He is a very young man, respectably connected, and. piously nurtured. Evil company, according to his own confession, has been his ruin, and blighted fair prospects. It is said that Messrs Brogden and Sons in tend to start a foundry in Wellington. The freemasons of Greymouth have resolved to erect a hall for the use of the craft. A I company is being formed with a capital of £1500 in 300 shares of £5 each. In the debate on the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, Mr Tairoa, one of the Maori members, suggested, reform in a new direction : — ln his opinion, it was absurd to wait till the death of a wife to marry her sister — the Maori custom wat infinitely-preferable ; he failed to Bee why honorable members should not have half-a-dozen wives. The Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, in noticing a public meeting held for the purpose of considering the proposed handing over of public works to Superintendents of produces, says : — Auckland is not enthusiastic for any particular set of Ministers, but does greatly abhor the idea of reviving provincialism in any shape or under any pretence. According to Inspector Broham, of the Auckland police, the ProTince of Auckland can boast of more ragrants and drunkards than any other Province of New Zealand. As, however, many of these persons have become insane or have died <from the effects of intemperance, the Inspector looks for a redaction in the returns of vagrancy and drunkenness. A Wellington telegram in the Dunedin Evening Star says' : — A powerful majority has been formed to carry Mr Stafford's motion. Nearly forcy votes may be counted upon. The majority of the Provincial party have gone over to Mr Stafford. A fire took place in Cashel street, Christchurchj on the 16th inst., destroying two houses. The total damage is estimated at £700, of which £260 ia covered by insurance in the Northern office, and £140 in the New Zealand office. Ths County Council of Wostland, has voted £500 for the disco very of quartz -reefs near Hokitika. It "seems that Mr Duffy, the late Chief Secretary of Victoria, received a communication from t the Agent-General of that Colony, Mr Childers, to the effect* that the Imperial Government approved of the contract entered into with Mr Yogel, and would be prepared, not only to pay all the American postages, but to grant a subsidy on account of the contract of £20,000 per annum, £10,000 to be paid to Victoria, and £10,000 to Now Zealand. The number of men ' in New Zealand under military training is set down as follows: — Militia, 4,263 ; Volunteers, 6,568 ; Armed Constabulary, 724; total, 11,555. It is rumored in political circles in Wellington, ,thatin the event of the Ministry bning defeated, a new Government would be formed, with Sir David Monro aa Premier ; Mr Stafford, Colonial Secretary ; Mr Fitzherbert, Treasurer ; Mr Curtis, Commissioner of Customs; and Mr Gillies, Native and Defence Minister. The flax industry appears by the official returns to have fallen off greatly in 1871. In 1870 there', were exported s47o^ tons of phortnium, of the value of £132,578, whereas in 1871 there I were exported only 4248£ tons, of the value of £90,611. It js not in the aggregate amount only, , however, that a decrease is apparent, but also in the average value per ton, which in 1870 was £24 4s B£d, and in 1871 fell to £21 6a 7*d. At the meeting of the Town Council last night there were present the Mayor and Councillors Lumsden, Goodwillie, Jaggers, Blackwood, and Garthwaite. The following te.egram, from the Colonial Under-Secretary, in reference to the Invercargill Special Rates Bill, was read : — Wellington, August 19. No. 560. Reply to your telegram of 6th inst. Superintendent being asked admits that by advice and consent of Executive Council, assuming that Province was bound to pay principal, he gave assurance to that Province would pay interest in question if decided to be a just claim by competent judicial authority. Both principal' and interest have been paid, the latter at request- of Provincial Council, without a judicial decision. G. S. Coopkb. The tender of Hugh Darbie for sloping the banks of the Puni Creek at the rate of £5 per chain was accepted. Mr Walker's account for removal of engine house, and construction of yard, amount-: ing to £76 ss, was ordered to be paid out of the general account. The Town Clerk's salary was raised to £180. It was announced tLat arrangements had been. made with, (he Bank oi New . Zealand for a temporary overdraft to the extent of £500, the ordinary "revenae at the credit of the Corporation, with the exception of the Reserves Fund, baring been exhausted.

Owing to the great pressure on our space, our I report of the Winton ploughing match, and other I matter in type, is unavoidably held over. [