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Southland Times, Issue 1662, 15 November 1872, Page 2

The Wellington, with the San Erancisco mail, arrived at Port Chalmers at 8.40 last night. The Claud Hamilton sailed at 5.40, so that it ia not likely the Southland portion of the mail was transferred to the latter vessel. If not, it will be brought on by the Wrllington, which may be expected at the Bluff either this afternoon or to— morrow morning. We are glad to hear that several parties intend to send specimens of Southland produce to the Chriatchurch Exhibition, and we hope that some of our products may be considered worthy to be transmitted to the International Exhibition at Vienna. It may not be generally known that the Government is understood to have applied, through the Agent- General, for space for New Zealand exhibits, and although it is too late for individual applications, intending exhibitors may feel assured that objects worthy of notice will receive every attention from the committee appointed to make the selection. We regret to learn that the unfortunate man, Xidd, who met with a serious accident on the 6th mot. at Messrs Jack and Sampson's sawmill, necesßicaiing tj^e amputation of liis loffc log. cLlocl at the hospital on Wednesday last. The deceased leaves a widow and seven or eight children, who, we are glad to hear, are not altogether un provided for. It may not be out of place in connection with this melancholy event to point out the desirability of having an entrance to the hospital made from the railway line, immediately opposite the grounds, by which patients brought into town by rail might be conveyed at once to the building without the necessity of carrying them a considerable distance through the streets from the station, as at present. The criminal calendar at the approaching session of the Supreme Court comprises up to the present time five cases, viz. : — Donald Aforriaon, wilful murder ; Caroline Witting, wilful murder ; Stephen George, indecent assault ; William Hoare, larceny j and Michael Carroll, placing aa obstruction upon the Oreti Railway. Masarß Pearson and M' Arthur were the only members of the Southland Waste Land Board present at the meeting on TuesJay. The application of Robert Taylor to have two blocks of 500 acres and 250 acres respectively, in run 119 b, Hokanui district, withdrawn from sale under the Bluff Jetty extension contract, was granted, subject to receipt of advices from the Superintendent. Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R., for Tuapeka, is to receive a public demonstration in recognition of his valuable services to the district which he represents. Mr Robert Stout, "M.P.O. for Caversham, is ■aid to have been appointed Provincial Solicitor in room of Mr John Bathgate, the Minister of Justice under the General Government. Shearing is now being briskly carried on in the Tapanui, Switzers, and Teviot districts. Shearen, however, are reported to be very scarce. According to the local paper, there is not now an acre of hind available for settlement in the Tuapeka district. A committee hai been formed in Westport to forward exhibits of coal, gold, and mineral ores to the Christchurch Exhibition.

The annual exhibition of the Northern ; Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held at Oamaru on the Bth inst ., and passed off very successfully. A report of the show, published by a contemporary, says : — The merino sheep were not so good as in former years, but the long- , woollcd sheep were magnificent. The exhibits of draught horses could Br>arcely be surpassed in the Colony. In cattle, Bhorthorns and Ayrshiree were well represented, the exhibits of Ayrshires being the fines c of their kind yet yarded in the Colony. The Tim^s (London) remarks that it must in fairness be confessed that the ballot, considered as a piece of electoral machinery, haa, according to the experience of Pontefract, confuted most of the criticisms to which it wan submitted by anticipation. Wbatever may be its effect as a measure of constitutional change, whatever the political developments for which it. may give the signal and furnish the opportunity, it is not to be denied that as a methqd for securing secret voting it has proved successful. At the same time operating in unison with the abolition of nomination days, it seems to have emancipated English elections, to a very great extent, from the turbulence, the factious passions, and the coercion which have too often disgraced them. It has not been shown by the experience of Pontefract that the ballot has kept away from the poll any considerable number of electors, while ( it has indisputably secured secresy of voting, to which, for good or for evil, the country is pledged, and has almost eradicated, bo far as we can judge from the experience of a single borough, some of the woret scandals which were wont to . disgrace English elections. " The admirers of Signor Mario," says a London paper, " will learn with painful interest that he has deemed it necessary to apologise for his engagement at the Zarzuela Opera-house at Madrid, in a letter addressed to the Correßpondencia. He says that necessity alone has compelled him to remain on the lyric stage ; he has incurred large losses by the failure of some firms in Florence with whom he had deposited his fortune. This is, indeed, a Bad ending of his brilliant professional life." The following is an extract from a private letter from London forwarded to the Melbourne Age: — " I send you the first photograph issued of Stauley, the African lion. He has quite snuffad out the Tichborne claimant, and for the geason we hear of the wilds of Africa instead of" Wagga Wagga. It is a relief so far, and the man-mountain of a claimant is dropping down in the "world's regard. The opinion seems to be that he will drop lower. He is exhibiting at music halls now, and sending round the hat in a very low style. Yet ever do these sort of peoplo get a good believer or two. Tb-ia fat fellow has befooled two M.P.'s, Onslow and Whalley, into wasting their time, eloquence, and influence for his benefit — -playing Prince Hal to this new Falstaff. Like as with Falstaff, however, there is to be the Chief Justice to nuefc yet." The Fiji Times of a recent date says : — We are informed by a gentleman j ust returned from the labor ground that Captain M >rseby, of H M.S. Rosario, expressed himself generally well satisfied with the mode of procuring laborers. At tirnas abuses occur, but it is rarely so, and then often the cases are exaggerated. The report he should send to the home authorities on this subject would embody these points. In referring*' to the Bill submitted to the Victorian Parliament to legalise marriage with a deceased wifo's sister, the Argus says : —We have already on several occasions discussed this j question both from a religious and a social point of view, and it certainly is not our intention at preseut to go over the ground again. Suffice it to say that some of the foremost statesmen, many of the most eminent and learned divines, and the great mass of intelligent people throughout the world, have pronounced in favor of the abolition of the legal Restraints which in some countries still continue to prevent marriage with the Bister of a deceased wife. Their consciences are not offended, neither are their natural i nstincta in any way shocked, by the proposal. We observed (says the Maitland Mercury), during a visit to the Coal-fields Office, Newcastle, the other day, that Mr Mackenzie, the new Examiner, was preparing a complete collection of specimens of coal and of the associated fossils, illustrating the coal-fields of the Hunter and of the Western and South Coast districts, the study of which will be facilitated by reference to the section of our coal measures published by Mr Mackenzie in conjunction with tho Kov. W. B. Clarke, some years ago, which is also exhibited in the office. We understand that Mr Maokenzie is making arrangements for the formation of several other collections of coal specimens and fossils, so labelled a3 to show both whence the specimens came and the nature of the rock or soil in which they were found. We trust that these and similar, but more general mineralogical collections will, before long, be open for public inspection, in suitable places, in the larger towns of each great district of the colony. According to the Argus, the price paid for a property at the corner of Bourke and Russellstreets, Melbourne, shows the market value of the land alone to be at the rate of £128,011 per acre. From a telegram in a Dunedin contemporary we learn that the cattle show held in Christchurch on the 9th Nov. far surpassed that of the previous year. Over 10,000 persons were present. £450 were taken in shilling admissions at the gates. The sheep shown are pronounced by competent judges to be equal to anything in the Colony. In this department there were 226 exhibits. Of cattle there was also a fine show, of 79 entries. There was a good display of horses, there being 123 entries. Local manufactures and dairy prodace were excellently represented. Tbe first prize for flax was awarded to the Waikuku Mills. It was far superior to any yet shown. Messrs M'Lsod, Robins, and M'Leod, of Dunedin, were highly commended for their exhibit of soap . Their scented soap excited much attention The tweed from Messrs A. J. Burns and Co.'s Mosgiel Factory was very much admired, and took fir st and second prizes. Some of the Natives in the Wanganni district have burnt the Kai Iwi and Ohehu bridges. It is believed that they have been more or less encouraged in this act by some settlers. An enquiry into the matter is to take place.