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Southland Times, Issue 1668, 26 November 1872, Page 2

Owing to the great interest which has been taken in the trial of Mrs Witting for the murder of ker three children, we regret that our issue of Saturday last failed to meet the demand. We therefore propose to publish on Friday a verbatim report of the speeches of the prisoner's counsel, the acting Crown Prosecutor, and the Judge's summing up, which our limits prevented us from producing at the time. . r . i The memorial in favor of commuting the sentence of death passed upon Mrs Witting has already received dVer 500 signatures, and the first portion of it has been taken in charge by the Judge, for presentation to the G-orernori The remaining sheets when, received will be forwarded to head-quarters at once. The prisoner, since her return to gaol, has exhibited a quiet and composed demeanor, and sleeps well j at night, although thoroughly understanding the nature of her position. She has been attended, in compliance with her own request, by the Rev. Mr Stobo. From advices received from a gentleman who hag recently travelled between Invercargill and Kingston, we learn that the crops all up the North Road ari» looking exceedingly well. Want of rain, however, is beginning to be felt. Captain Howell's cultivation at the homestead especially promises a heavy yield, something like 70 bushels to the acre being expected. Marking is now finished on most stations, and the lambing is understood to have been up to a fair average. Shearing has now generally commenced, and if favorable weather continues, the clip will be secured in first-rate order. Our advices from the eastern bank of the Matauraare up to Saturday la3t. The crops are reported to be looking exceedingly well, a greatly increased breadth being under cultivation this year, and the yield from land previously tilled is expected to surpass that of any previous year. The grub has made its appearance in some places, j bat fortunately its ravages have been circum— ] scribed. The settlers in the neighborhood of Menzies Ferry are anxiously enquiring when the bridge over the Mataura is to be commenced, and as this is the proper season for the work being prosecuted, there is no time to lose. We would direct the attention of the new Executive to the matter. A meeting of the M.ikarewa~ Road Board was held at the Junction Hotol on. Saturday last, when all the members were present, Mr DM'Arthur occupying the chair. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and duly confirmed, the chairman submitted a letter from Mr John Henry Menziea requesting permission to construct, at his own expense, a road from the Oreti to the railway line. The particulars of the proposed road were stated as follows : — 42 chains of ditching on the north line of the road from the corner of section 70, block 9, New River Hundred, in an easterly direction, the ditch to be 4 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 2 feet wide at the bottom ; the stuff taken from the ditch, a portion of. which will be gravel, to be spread ten feet upon the road. After some discussion, the Board agreed to permit Mr Menziea to construct the road in terms of hia application. The chairman was authorised to call for tenders for the various offices of engineer, clerk, valuator, and collector ; after which the Board adjourned till the 7th December. The Provincial Government Gazette contains a notification that a pound has been established in the vicinity of Invorcargill, and that Mr W. Ai Ijyon, of Jacob's River, haa been appointed poundkeeper. A correspondent requests us to call attention to the dangerous state of the roads leading into the Nokomai. Several accidents, more or less serious in their nature, hare recently occurred in this locality, and unless steps are immediately taken to put the road and fords into something like proper repair, a casualty, resulting mayhap in loss of life, will take place. Considering the amount of traffic, and the revenue derived from the population, the district in question is fairly entitled to expect that proper means of communication with the Main North Road should be provided. The following are the successful tenderers for the inland mails in the Southland district for the year 1873 : — lnvercargill aad Riverton, C. Humphries ; Flint's Bush, D. Campbell ; Oteramika, i D. Campbell ; Winton and Kingston, M'Kenzia and Jeffries ; Athol and Nokomai, T. Whitaker ; l Mataura and Switzers, E. Brennan ; Waimahaka and Fortrose, T. Rankin j Riverton and Otautau, J. Clark ; Otautau and Bellemont, J. Clark ; Otautau and Etal Creek, C. Dean ; Elbow and I Mavaroa, D. M'Lean. ' The appointments of the new Executive, viz., Messrs Tolmie (Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Land), Turnbull (Provincial Treasurer), M'Dermid, and M'Arthur, are notified in the last issue of the Provincial Government Gazette, in room of Messrs Reid, Bathgate, Cutten, Bradshaw, and Shand. The imports to the ports of Invercargill and Bluff Harbor during the quarter ended SOtb September last, are valued at £26,890. Tho exports during the same period amounted to £23,815. For the corresponding quarter of 1871 the imports were £18,671, and the exports £y3BB.

The absurd system of immuring important notices, calling for tendon for public works, in the pages of the Gazette, is still carried on, notwithstanding repeated protests Oh : the.subjeet. For instance, the laet copy to hand contains notices requiring tendera for certain worka on the Winton and Wrey's Bush road, as also on the roail fro n Winton to Kingston. The nonpublication of the necessary advertisements in "the local papers will, in all probability, have the effect of making the work 50 per cent, moro costly.tthan it need be ;•. but this is economy, as practised by the Provincial Government ! At the meeting of the Southland Land Board on Friday, the members present were Messrs Pearson and M'Arthur. The applications of John Blue, for 68 acres, New River Hundred, and John Henry Menzies, 640 acres, Oreti Hundred, were granted, llr Harvey appeared for James and William Spencer, applicants for 409 acres, Hokanui district, under the Green Land Claims Settlement Act, requesting that the same percentage for survey should be allowed in ; their case as in Mr Green's. The Board referred Mr Harvey to the Executive. Applications from j Thomas Brown for permission to cut timber for the Mataura railway, for the supply of Mr Ross, contractor for the fencing, in Seaward Bush, and from James Philips, to cut for the same purpose in Mjross Bush, were granted, subject to any conditions which may be imposed by the forthcoming timber regulations. We are informed that a 24-pouader brass howitzer for the use of the Invercargill Volunteer Artillery Company, and fifty rounds of ammunitioni including both shot and shell, may be expected to arrive from the north in a few days. The long Enfijlds with which a number of the corps have hitherto been armed are to be exchanged for the medium Enfield, thus securing uniformity of appearance on parade. The Provincial Government Gazette of the 13th contains notice of a number of reserves for educational purposes ; of certain land in the township of Winton for municipal purposes ; of section 6, block 6, East Winton district, for the use of the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association ; of 3 acres in the town of Biverton for the Western District Farmers' Club and Agricultural and Pastoral Association ; of 1769 acres in block 6, Campbelltown hundred, for the New River Harbor Trust j of sections 11 and 12, block 1, East Winton township, as a site for a public cemetery at Winton ; and of sections 19, 20, 21 and 22, block 54, town of Invercargill, as a site for a grammar school. Mr Hume, of the Southland Club Hotel, recently received three gold-fish from Dunedin, part of a large number which the Nebraska brought from Honolulu on her last trip. A special meetiug of the Town Council was held last night to consider what works should be constructed out of loans. There were present the Mayor, and Councillor G-irthwait e, Q-oodwillie, Jaggers, Luznsden, Pratt, Rosr, and Blackwood, and, at a later hour, Councillor Tapper. On the motion of Councillor Pratt, it was resolved that the question of drainage shou'd be considered previous to other worka. Councillor Lumsden moved, and Councillor Pratt seconded, " That a main sewer be constructed on the south side of Spey street, from JeJ street to the estuary." Councillor Pratt move 1, " That the engineer's estimate of £13 13a bo adopted for the Spey street sewer. The mover explained that while this sum was an estimate for a brick sewer of considerable sizu, he had avoided speciiying the kind of drain to be adopted, because if a better and larger drain could be had for the money he should consider it well spent Councillor Jaggers seconded. A long discussion followed. An amendment was moved by Councillor 1 Blaekwood, and seconded by- Councillor Luuasden, " That the Spey street drain be a timber box drain, 18 by 18 inches wide and deep." This, after further discussion, was lose on a division. A second amendment, by Councillor. Goodwiltie, seconded by Councillor Blackwood, in favor of & timber box drain 22 by 26 inches, was also lost. A third amendment, by Councillor Blackwood, seconded by Councillor Lumsden, " That the Spey-street drain be constructed at a cost not to exceed £10 25," was also negatived. The original motion of Councillor Pratt, in favor of a drain to cost £12 13s, was then carried. The Council then proceeded to the consideration of the Taystreet drain, which it was resolved should be a second class drain, whioh, according to the engineer's estimate, will cost £10 2s per chain. A main sewer in Jed street, from Don street to the' Puni creek, at a cost of £12 13a, was also resolved upon. The engineer's estimate of £303 12s for the Kelvin street drain was also carried. A second class sewer on the east and west side of Dee-street, from Spey to Esk-sfreeta, was also affirmed. 36 chains of second class drain for Esk-street, an d 33 chains of second clasa drain in Don-street, from Dee-street to Jed-street, were passed. A proposal to adjourn having been negatived, the following works referring to the formation and metalling of streets were resolved upon : — Tay street, entire length ; Jed street, from Tay street to- Spey street; Deveron street, from Gala street to IDsk street ; Kelvin street, from Tay street to Spey street ; Esk street, from Kelvin street to" Doon street ; Don street, from Dee street to Jed street ; Spey street, from Leven street to Doon street*; -and formation only of Forth street and Conon street, with bridges crossing the creek. The Council then adjourned. A series of letters has appeared in the Otago Daily Times, signed " Master Humphrey," criticising the financial position of the Colony, and as the writer seemed to evince a desire to make a careful examination into the public account?, the letters attracted considerable interest. But as a very decided political tinge was frequently imparted to some of " Master Humphrey's" productions, this impartial reader was forced to the conclusion that a strong political feeling was the inspiring cause of "so much labor and trouble. This deduction is confirmed by a very humble apology .which " Master Humphrej" has published regarding some remarka of his about the dismissal of Mr Reid from the Executive. In this communication the censor admits that " some of the expressions are rancorous and. uncalled for,' ' and regrets that " strong political feeling " should have led him into using them. It is worthy of note that the letter apologised for was inserted in the last issue of our local contemporary. A Blight shock of earthquake was felt in Dunedin and its vicinity on the 20th inst. A round robin is being Bigned by a number of members of the Provincial Council, requesting the Superintendent to call the Council together ' upon an early date.

At the race meeting recently held in Christchurch, the famous Nelson mare, Peeress,- was rather suddenly scratched, for the Cup, and a good , deal of dissatisfaction was consequently/expressed, the result being that the Canterbury. Jockey Club have disqualified the mare from over ran- --< ning at any meeting got up by them." The" following is Mr Redwood's explanation of the.matter: — "Having heard from various sources'" that the outside public think that the sale of Peeress to Mr Walters was a fictitious one, I beg to state that euch a report is utterly without foundation. The sale was in every respect a bona fide one, and this I am in a position to prove to the satisfaction of anyone. It was wellknown that all m f horses were for Bale from the day I arrived in Christchuroh, and Messrs Bird and Bennett were' instructed to sell them. The price I put upon Peeress was £800, and from various partiss offers of £750 were received and declined by mo. I abo stated publicly that any party giving £800 for her could have her as she walked into the saddling paddock, and^l a'aO frequently cautioned Banguine backers that ;Bhe was in the market, and might be sold at any moment. It must be well-known to Christchurch sportsmen, that I am anything but a speculative man on my own horses or those of others. I am now breeding a good many thoroughbred horses, and like any other breeder on a large scale, they are alwaya for eale at a price. Under these circumstances, although very adverse to rushing into print, I think it only fair to myself to state that I had nothing whatever to do in the scratching of Peeress, which waa done, 1 may say, very much against my advice j and ifc seema scarcely fair that I should bo accused of doubledealing because I sold my mare at my price." The annual show of the Taieri Agricultural Society takes place on the 18th December. The second annual stock show under the joint auspices of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral .Society, and the Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, takes place at Balclutha on the sth December. A telegram in a Dunedin contemporary regarding the recent fire in Auckland, says : — Great anxiety is felt by people here for an enquiry into the origin of the fire. No suspicions are entertained regarding the cause, but it is attributed to mismanagement. The disputes between the rival fire; brigades were scandalous The Government Building's were sacrificed while 2000 people were looking on. Not a ladder wm available in time. Hooping-cough is said to be exceedingly prevalent among children in Dunedin. As something that may be deemed incidental to the Cup Day (says the Melbourne Telegraph) it is worth noting that complaints have been made to the police by about fifty people that they were on that occasion robbed of their watches and chains. In some instances the chains had been cufc, so as to permit of the easier abstraction of the watches from their fobs. The London correspondent of the Leeds Mercury saya the : postal authorities have now under their consideration an invention by which the handwriting of persons telegraphing a message will be transmitted by the telegraph. From a Northern contemporary we learn that the Government have commenced some departmental reforms. The department under the charge of the Native Minister is the first to feel the now bdaorri. ~ Tne ' office '" ~ot~ Ih&pocbop oL Volunteers and Militia has been done away with. Colonel Harrington is to receive half-pay to the end of the year, during which time he will perform such duties as may pertain to his position or he may be called upon to perform. For the future, in all places where the armed constabulary are available, the duties of drill and musketry instruction will be performed by the officers of volunteers ; and whore no armed constabulary are stationed the Government will expect the honorary officers of militia and volunteers to perform the duties instead ; and if they do not choose to do so, they will cease to be allowed to hold rank any longer. The following appointments have been dispensed with : — Captain Humphries, now at Nelson ; Captain Macpherson, adjutant; at Waikato ; and Captain Dawson, who resides in Auckland. An explosion took place in the soap works of Messrs M'Leod, Robins, and M'Leod, Cumberland street, Dunedin, on the 19th inst., when the digester, a large pan used for melting fat and tallow, heated by steam, and capable of holding 900 gallons, was blown some 60 feet into the air, and was carried a distance of 50 yards before it fell. It is said to have turned a eoinersaulti pitched upon its top, and, striking a fence' scattered fragments in every direction. Singular to relate, only two persons were injured by the occurrence, the one being a man nameJ Archibald Graham, the cooper, who was working close to the digester at the time of the accident, and who was badly scalded about the arms and shoulders ; and the Other a boy, named John Mellon, ten years of a«e, who was playing at the time among some casks in the yard, and who had his arm broken by a splinter. The enquiry into the wreck of the City of Newcastle was held in Wellington on the 19th inst., when evidence was taken. The decision of the Court holds that " extreme negligence was shown by the captain in not paying sufficient attention to the distance run and the rate of speed, and in not making proper allowance for the tide, in consequence of which the ship's position was entirely mistaken when the light was seen. This appears to have been the chief cause of the disaster. Leaving the deck in charge of Bowler, who had never served articles before, for two hours before the ship struck, was an act of rashness calculated to involve the most dangerous consequences, although there is nothing in the present caise to show that the disaster was in any way brought about by him." The master's certificate was cancelled. The Provincial Council of Auckland was opened on the 19th inst. . Besides the Superintendent's speech, the Estimates were tabled. A refund of £17,000 by the General Government, for land improperly charged against the province, ia expected. The revenue, inclusive of everything, is estimated at £70,000. A tax for education is proposed of 10s for houses under £20 annual value ; of 20s for houses whose annual value is between £20 and £50 ; and of 40s for houses whose annual value exceeds £50. The General Government have promised to place £15,000, allotted from the loans for roads to the north Of the city of Auckland, at the disposal of fch e Council, for appropriation and control by it. The Otago Daily Times understands that the General Government have instructed the AgentGeneral to offer free passages to all suitable emigrants from Great Britain.

According to the local paper, Kaitangata coal bids fair to become a popular fuel in the Tuapeka district. „ . "Mr D. L. Simpson, C.E., reports "that an ayerage supply ofywater, amounting toforty-fire f^yernment heaJs, and a minimum (supply of tiof less than twenty-five Government heads in -extremely dry seasons, can. be brousht.-in from theManuherikia to Naseby (Mount Ida) without prejudice to existing rights, for the sum of JS2CTOGO, traversing a line of not more than fiftyfire miles in length, and presenting ho engineer* ing difficulty. It is said that the Colonial Government will imino Jiately caUfor^ tenders for the work. ...,,. In reviewing the members of "the present Ministry, while addressing his constituents in Oamaru, Mr Steward, M.ELR., said: — I now come to the bete noir of some^people, 1 Mr Vogel, with regard to whom I say honestly and distinctly that though at one time I had very little confidence in him — A voice : " Hare you I any now?" Mr Steward: I have. I am free i to own that I believe there is not a more honest statesman in New Zealand, or in these colonies (oh ! oh ! oh ! laughter and uproar.) Each of you is free to exercise his own opinion, but you must grant me the right of holding mine. I do not suppose that one out of twenty of the gentlemen present has ever had the »pportunity of judging of Mr Vogel personally. I do not suppose there are more than one in twenty who know him except by newspaper report. I have had for two sessions the opportunity of studying him and watching him carefully, and I say honestly, and I do not care though every man in this room were against me, yet I say that I believe Mr Yogel to be a statesman, and an honest statesman j an 1 more, that he possease* more ability than any other man in New Zealand.