Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1656, 1 November 1872, Page 2

The railway station was the centre of considerable attraction yesterday afternoon, on the arrival of the train from the Bluff, bringing up Messrs Brogden and Sons' immigrants ex Bdbington, who arrived by the Rangitoto from Wellington, to the number of upwards of seventy adults. The members of the Railway Committee who had been deputed to attend to their reception, met them on their arrival, and saw them safely h6used in the Immigrants' Barracks, where tho materials for a refreshing tea had been thoughtfully provided by several citizens. The new arrivals comprise wheelwrights, bricklayers, carpenters, and laborers, and we understand that they are all under engagement to Messrs Brogden and Sons. We have had the opportunity of inspecting five stall-fed bullocks, fattened by Messrs M'Kay, of Bay Bush, Oteramika. The bullocks were taken ih about the first' week of May, in fair store condition, and kept since then on turnips and hay and straw, and are now turned out prime fat. We understand that they have been sold at satisfactory prices to Mr J. H. Smith, butcher, whose customers, we have no doubt, will be able to appreciate the superior quality of the meat so produced. ' Caroline Witting, charged by the police on Tuesday last with the wilful murder of her three ; children at Waikiwi on Saturday, 19th ult., *waa ; I committed for trial. The enquiry was held in the gaol, befo r e the Resident Magistrate. No new facts were elioiterl, the evidence being in the main a repetition of that given at the inquest, and already published in our columns. A meeting df the newly appointed Railway Committee was held in the Council Hall on Tuesday evening, at which Mr Wood was appointed permanent chairman, and Messrs Lumsden, J. T. Martin, W. J. Moffett, Matthews, Wood, and Blackwood were appointed a subcommittee to attend to the reception ofthe immigrants expected per Bebington. The next meeting is to bo held on Tuesday first. At the : meetingof the committee and supporters of the- Southland Caledotiiani Society, held at the Prince of Wales Hotel on Wednesday evening, there was a very fair attendance. The original committee was strengthened by the addition of the names of a number of gentlemen, and Messrs W. Blackwood, J. T. Martin, W. J. Moffett, Ot. Morrison, R. Powell, and the secretary (Mr N. Ferguson), wers appointed a sub-committee t<r draw up a programme of sports for the ensuing gathering; to be submitted for approval at a meeting to be held on Monday noxt. The terms proposed by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the U39 of the groun 1 were agreed to. It was decided that the sports should extend over two days, and as tilting at the ring has become a favorite amusement, a proposal was made that it should appear on the programme for eaoh day. This, however, was not definitely decided upon. At the meeting of the Southland Land Board on Tuesday, the members present were Messrs Pearson, Baker, and M'Arthur. Mr Thomas Brown's application for a sawmill license in Seaward Bush was refused, pending the rerision of the Timber Regulations, agreed on at last meeting of tho Board. A letter was received from Mr Macdonald, solicitor to tbe Board, stating that Mr Brown had paid the costs awarded against him for illegal cutting of timber, though under protest as regarded certain items, in respect Of which Mr Macdonjild suggested that some modification might be made. It was resolved to leave the matter to Mr Maoionald to arrange. The application of Duncan, Allan, and Alexander Carmichael for 74 acres, being, sections .4 and 5, block 16, New River Hundred, was granted. The application of Alexander Simpson to purchase 30 to 40 acres in the Waikiwi Bush Reserve (now denuded of timber) in ordor to be near a school, was refused on the ground that the land was reserved, but applicant was informed that on the land being put up for sale hia improvements would be valued in the usual way. I Mr Cowan, lessee of run 207 b, having, through f his agent, Mr Gibbs, objected to the reserve of 900 acres transferred to his run from run 207, on the 18th ult., it was resolved, that until it is decided on which side of the river the WintonKingston railway is to be made, the temporary raserve be removed from run 207 b, and the land in question advertised open for sale. Our Riyerton correspondent, iwritirig on the 29th, informs us that the schooner James Paxton, when crossing the bar on Sunday last, bumped rather heavily, which caused a slight i leakage, but it is understood that the damage is by no means- serious,- "The Nelly had arrived from Stewart's Island with somo 350 dozen oysters, which were retailed at 8d per dozen. Fish, * strange to say, is rather scarce in Riverton, although there is no doubt a good dem&nd would be found for a steady supply of that commodity. Mr Theophilus Daniel intends to establish a private museum in the town j and our correspondent has had the opportunity of inspecting "some specimens of ores, jasper, flint, Maori adzes, &c, whioh are intended to form the . nUcleus of the collection.

At the meeting of the Town Council last night the Mayor and all the Councillors wore present with the exception of Councillor Tipper. The report of the Finance Committee was read, showing that the Town account at the Bank of Otago would be overdrawn about £700 when all liabilities incurred up to the present date had been paid; that for ordinary expenses and maintenance of works to the end of July next about £900 more would be required, making £1600, which, taling the revenue on the same basis as last year, to amount to £2,200, would leave about £600 available for expenditure on new works. The balance at credit of the Reserves Fund was stated at £450, and the liabilities, including fencing and sloping the banks of the creek, amounted ta £539. The report waa adopted. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, £75 per annum was ordered to be charged upon the Reserves Fund, as the proportion of the Town Surveyor's salary due on account of the town reserves. The captain of the s.b. Wallace has telegraphed to Duuedin from Hokitika that he had visited Martin's Bay, and landed a large quantity of stores for the settlers located there. We learn that advices have been received from the Agent-Q-eneral to the effect that a vessel was to be despatched direct for tho Bluif about the end of September or beginning . of October. Mr Reynolds has joined the Ministry as Commissioner of Customs, Mr Bathgate's portfolio having been changed to that of Commissioner of Stamps and Minister of Justice. The total quantity of gold exported from New Zealand for the quarter ended 30th September, 1872, was 99,9560za., of the value of £389,278. The annual meeting of the Otago Meat Preserving Company was held in Dunedir on the 25th ult. The balance Bheet showed that some loss had beeu sustained on tbe earlier operations of the Company. Samples of meat preserved by an improved process invented by the managers Mr Loughnan, were tested, and highly approved of, the announcement b.eing made that patent rights had been secured. Since the first discovery of gold in the Colony, the quantity exported amounts ,to 6,639,5060z5., of the value of £25,852,477. The Stamp Duties Amendment Act, providing inter alia for a reduction in the duty on receip'.s and cheques, from 2d to Id, comes into operation on the l3t of December next, instead of tho Ist of January as previously stated. The annual meeting of the southern district of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference will take place in Christchurch early this month. A fisherman at Wanganui made a haul lately of 250 kawai, averaging 41bs each. The rooks have begun to build in some of the laller trees in the Auckland Acclimatisation grounds. The Act for the Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt comes into operation to-day. It provides that *' no person shaU be arrested or imprisoned for making default in payment of any sum ordered to be paid by a Resident Magistrate or Justice or Justices of the Peace." The Chronicle says : — We hear that the ladies of Wanganui have decided to cut auy gentleman seen smoking in the street. The practice of doing so has become so general, that the ladies' list of acquaintances will become very small. A. bailiff at Charleston, on the West Coa9t, lately inflicted upon a young gallant in that place the bitter mortification of being served with a summons fdr debt while walki-ig with his sweetheart. The Chatham Islands correspondent of the Southern orO3s contributes the following interesting item : — The Morioris of Owenga are now completing three colare or flix stem oanoas, such as were uaed by their ancestors in very ancient days. They are mosfc artistically put together, would stand heavy sea*., anl are objects of very great curiosity. Thes? cmods hive been ordered by a scientific gentleman from New Zjalanl, who has recently boon pursuing his researches in the Chatham Islands/ We (West Coast Times) learn from a private telegram that) the Q-overument have promieed to | grant £300 to aid in developing the Kanieri coal mine. ,