The Southland Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1873.

Southland Times, Issue 1725, 8 April 1873, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1873.

When the Intercolonial Conference, which sat at Sydney during the first six weeks of the present year, broke up, and the conclusions arrived at during its 1 deliberations were made public, there was a very general impression in the minds of those who paid any attention to the subject that no practical result would follow from any of the deliverances of that body. The news received by the Alhambra, however, shows that this was a mistake, and that one recommendation made by the Conference has already led to action on the part of the Imperial Government which may, in time to come, be noted as the first indication of a new l phaae in the relations between the Colonies and the Mother-country. The Conference having arrived at the conclusion that the various Colonies of the Australasian group ought to be allowed, in regulating their respective customs tariffs, to impose differential duties on imported goods, according to the locality in which such goods are produced, or whence they are exported, forwarded a telegram to that effect to Lord Kimbeelet, Secretary for the Colonies. This question, our readers may remember, had been previously the subject of correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governments of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. The Home Government was averse to granting the permission desired, and Earl Kfmberley, in a despatch of considerable length, set forth the grounds, based on considerations of Imperial policy, on which the objec tions were founded. At the same time it was intimated that if the demand were persisted in, it would ultimately be granted, and it was further not obscurely hinted that if, when the powers sought should have been conferred, the Colonies should make use of them in the way of favoring colonial or foreign products to the disadvantage of English goods, a very decided step would be taken in the direction of weakening the bonds which connect these outlying com munities with the parent state. Memoranda on the subject were published by officials connected with several of the Australasian Governments — that by the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, Mr Yogel, being remarkable for the able and exhaustive manner in which the subject was handled. The late Conference, as we have said, considered the matter, and having come to the conclusion that the concession demanded by the Colonies ought not longer to be withheld, forwarded a memorandum to that effect to the Colonial Office. To the surprise of all who know anything of the traditions and practice hitherto of that department of Hee Majesty's Imperial Government, a reply was promptly returned, by telegraph, that a Bill would at once be introduced into Parliament to give effect to the recommendations of the Conference on this subject. There is very little doubt that the Bill will pass through Parliament, as it is not likely that any considerable section of the House will take the trouble to oppose the Ministry on such a subject. When it does pass into law it will be time enough ' to consider what use should be made, by our own Legislature, of the opportunities, ' then for the first time afforded, of entering into reciprocal customs arrangements ; with our Australian neighbors. This power, it may be remarked, is not denied to New Zealand by our Constitution Act, but as the other Colonies have not hitherto been in a position to respond to any overtures which might be made by us on the subject, it has been practically inoperative. In the meantime, as the view i taken by Lord Kimbeblet regarding the

weakening effect of this measure on the bonds of connection between the Colonies and Great Britain is likely to be prominently brought forward in any discussion on the subject which the Imperial Parliament may hold, it will be very interesting to know how this part of the question is regarded in that assembly. For our own part we shall gladly welcome any decisive utterance tending to dispel the vague and unsatisfactory conditions whiehnow surround this highly important subject. What do these " bonds "at present amount to ? A legislative form — a sentiment — and how much more? That the power to impose differential duties, once conferred on the Australasian Legislatures, will at once be used by them, and in a way offensive to the ideas of commercial policy which prevail in the old country, is a moral certainty. Those who regret this tendency most are well aware that it exists. What then ? These shadowy " bonds" which form our connection with the Empire are to be stilt further weakened. If this proves to be the case, it will be for the colonists to look the facts in the face without delay. The federation of the Empire ia a grand political idea, but the time when it shall be accomplished as a fact may yet be far distant — may never come. In the meantime our present connection with Great Britain, if much further weakened, may become a source of danger, rather than of safety. The fiscal privileges about to be conferred on the Australasian Colonies may be regarded as a further step to Australasian federation. If the use which will inevitably be made of them shall have the effect of still further weakening the connection with the old country, it will be for the Colonies to consider whether that connection, and its dangerous but inevitable complication with European and American politics, is to be preferred to an Australasian Confederation, free from that ever recurring source of danger, and, even with its present resources, well able to protect itself from any aggression to which in such a position it would ever probably be exposed. Information has been received by the postal authorities here that no San Francisco mail will be despatched by the Nebraska this month. The Rangitoto has been chartered to convey the letters posted for the San Fraueiaeo route to Melbouine for transmission via Suez. The R mgitoto is expected to leave the Bluff on the 17th inst., to catoh the mail steamer which leaves Melbourne on the 23rd. It is stated in our telegraphic intelligence that a man who left Martin's Bay on the 22nd ult. reports that no vessel had arrived up to that time with provisions. It will be remembered that the Provincial Government arranged with the owners of the schooner Nancy, of this port, for that vessel to make a trip thither, and that she sailed from here on the 11th ult., so that relief must h ive been afforded before this time. The writ for the return of a member to represent Invercargill in the Assembly has not yet arrived in town. Notwithstanding the unceasing efforts of the police and others employed in searching for the body of the lad, William Trumble, drowned in the Oreti 'n the 30th ult., no tidings of it have yet been received. The District Court sits on Thursday next. The criminal calender comprises two cases — Alexander M'Lennan, charge I with assault, and James Bryant, alias O'Brien, charged with unlawfully wounding. There is also one civil case, Howard, appellant, versus Fitzgerald, respondent, being an appeal from the Warden's Court, Orepuki. Plate-laying has been commenced on the Mataura railway, at the Invercargill end of tha line. The new style of fastening, adopted instead of the old-fashioned " chair," consists of an iron plate at bottom, and two flat piaces, one on each side, of the rail, whioh are bolted down to the sleeper, and hold the " foot of the rail fast to the wood. This novelty may possess some advantages, but to the non-ptofessional eye it certainly does not seem either so secure or so durable as the oil style of chair, or so well adapted for being quickly laid. The form of rail required, " flat-footed" instead of " double-headed," precludes the possibility of turning the rails when the upper surface gets worn out of shape. Only one mile out of the twelve miles of fastenings required has yet been received from Dunedin, where, it is said, there are fastenings for upwards of seventeen mile 3 lying unused. Nothiag has yet been heard of the promise:! locom >tive. We are informed that Sir F. Billon Bell will a Idross the electors of Mataura in Invercargill, on the 14th inst., and subsequently those of Campbelltown and Long Bush. The shr»rt article published in our last issue, in reply to comments made by the Southland News, appears to have caused our contemporary considerable vexation, which finds utterance, in his last issue, in some very ill-nnture I remarks. If the conductors of that paper had the slightest idea of joarnilistie etiquette, they wou'd be aware that it is not customary for journals of any standing to refer to the authorship of articles published in the leading columns. As, however, the venomed shaft then shot ia entirely misdirected ia its aim, perhaps it ra-iy not be amiss to quote some re-narks, by the distinguished author of " Lord Tichborne," ona recent occasion : — " If the writer is not a ' true coward,' he will hasten to apologise to the person he has assailed, not only unjustly, but with a degree of grossness only equalled by the worst typas of Yankee rowdyism." The Hon. Major Richardson has consented to deliver the initiatory lecture of a course projected by the AthenEeum Committee in connection with that institution, on Monday evening, 21st inst. From tlie honorable gentleman's well kno,vn ability as a lecturer it may be confidently anticipated that there will be a largo attendance, and the committee may congratulate themselves on the prospect of an auspicious commencement of the series which Major Richardson's frank compliance with their request has secured. The monthly inspection parade of the Artillery and Rifle Volunteers takes place this evening in the drill-shed, when it it expected that there will be a full muster of both corps. Staff-Serjeant M'Pherson, having returned from Riverton, drill

will now be resumed as before his departure, for a few week 3 longer. Considering the progress which both officers and men have made since Serjeant M'Pherson's arrival in practical acquaintance with their duties, and the increased interest which has been shown in the local volunteer movement, we think it would be well worth while for the authorities to arrange that either he or some equally competent instructor should be permanently stationed in the district. The ordinary weekly meeting of the Municipal l/ouncil was held on "Friday evening, Thursday being the Presbyterian fast day. It was resolved to inform the railway engineer that the line through the town should be fenced, except ■where the line crosses the intervening streets, and that cattle guards should be placed on Tynestreet, leaving the intersecting streets free to their full width. It was decided to expend £24 10s in painting the cemetery fence j to repair the ruts in Jed and other streets with gravel ; and that Mr Fraser should be requested to employ the prisoners on the Leven- street footpath as soon as they have completed the work at the Grammar School. At the meeting of the Waste Land Board on Friday k the 4th inst., there were present Messrs Pearson, Baker, and Dundas. The following applications were granted : — William Blackstock, 396 acres, Aparirna Hundred ; James Fraser, 50 acres, Forast Hill Hundred. Edmund Gillow applied to know what the Board proposed to do lin reference to the Pahia run, the license of which expires in April 1874. It was resolved that the run be advertised for lease for ten years, under the Southland Land Act, 1565, delivery to be given on the expiry of the present license, the purchaser to pay the first year's rent in advance as a deposit, the lease being subject to - the right of the Government to take a portion for special settlement without compensation, sale of lease to take place on 2nd June nex<-.. The application of John Louttit for 50 acres at Halfm:>on Bay, Stewart's Island, 2 chains fro-itasje to the Bay, was minuted for favorable consideration on the coming into operation of the Special Settlements Act. The Oberon, with the salmon ora for New Zealand, sailed from London on 21st January. Mr Howard, curator of the Southland Acclimation Society, sailed in the Paterson yesterday for Dunedin, to receive the Otago portion of the consignment, which, it has been decided, is to be hatched in the Southland ponds. The following letter, addressed to Dr Featherston by Dr Youl, is interesting : — " Waratah House, Claphana Park, 20th January, 1873. I have the pleasure of reporting to you that the shipment of salmon ova to New Zealaud by the Oberon was completed yesterday afternoon, the ice-house filled and soldered down, and the ship may proceed to sea to-day so far as the ova is concerned. In consequence of the excessive floods there was a great difficulty in catching the fish, and at one time it was predicted by many who take an interest in the matter, that I should fail in obtaining a sufficient supply of eggs this season. However, I am glad to report that we have • obtained and shipped rather a larger number than heretofore, viz., about 120,000, packed in 227 bos.e9, and I was enabled to place 187 at the bottom of the ice-house — the best possible position for their safety — and only forty boxes on the top of the iee — a very insecure position ; but, having the ova at the docks, I thought it worth while to run the risk. These ova have all been taken and fertilised by the persons who did the sam.3 work for the ship, ments made toTasmanii, by the Norfolk, in 1864, and the Somersetshire in 1865, which proved so very successful, and the eg^s have, as they were by those ships, all been packed in the moss with my own hands, except some dozen boxes packed by Mr Buller. The whole operation has been, if possible, better done than in former shipments, except, perhaps, that by the Windera in 1869 , which turned out, however, a conaplet9 failure, owing to the vessel having maie so long a passage. Should the Obe-on make the passage in ninety day?, I feel confident of success, provided they have properly cons'ructed ponds, and the same careful supervision in removing the ova from the ship to the ponds as we have used here." Tha Illustrated New Zjalanl Herald for this month contains engravings of the Rangitata bridge, in the province of Canterbury, and the Devil's Boot, near Nelson, besides a portrait of Katnetiameha V., late king of Hawaii, and several illustration! of Australasian scenery and incidents. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of " Town and Country,' a recently established weekly paper, published iv Melbourne. It is well printed and appears to be carefully edited. The New Zealani Herali states that the following letter has been addressed to Major Gordon by the Hon. Julius Yogel : — Auckland, 20th March, 1873. Dear Major Gordon — I wish to give something to the value of 20 guineas to be shot for by the Volunteers of the Thames and Auckland districts in Auckland. I think it better to leave the winner to choose w!iat he would like to have purchased for the money, but I should prefer he would select somerhin i sub-' ■tantial, such as a cup, a watch, or a rin^, or a gun, or a rifle — something in short to remind him of his triumph. I leave to you, after consulting the Volunteers, to fix the terms, distances, &c, of the match. Mr Macfarlane has been good enough to siy that the Auckland Steam Packet Company will carry the competitors from the Thames free. — Yours, &c, Julius Voo-el. P.S. — I leave you to fix a day which will be agreeable alike to the Auckland and Thames Volunteers. The captain of one of the harbor steamers (says the North Otago Times) having a small piece of Oamaru stone aboard, put it into the furnace, where it was shortly reduced to a fine powder — the purest lime. He used this for whitewashing the funnels, which it rendered dazzlingly white, and he found that the coating stood better than any he had ever used before, without peeling, it being almost impossible to remove it ; he intends to use nothing else in future. While Messrs Peebles and Dunn were in Dunedin (says a contemporary), the question was often asked — where wai Dr Dunn'i diploma ? or whence received ? The answer to the first question was that it had been left in America, while as to the second a diicreet silence was maintained. On the authority of " The Spiritual Pilgrim, a biography of James M. Peebles," (recently reviewed by the Daily Times,) it is satisfactory to know that " Dr E. C. Dunn is duly diplomatised iv the medical schools of the spirit land !"

The Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes as follows : — The greatest display ever seen here occurred at Sir G. Bowen's departure ; not that much expense was incurred, but nearly all of this community turned out to see his Excellency off. There was a grand display of volunteers of all arms. Tho various Benevolent Societies, masons, &c, &c. &c\, wpre well represented. The triumphal arch was reilly a very beautiful structure. Flags, some of them resplendent with gold and silver, floated to the breeze in all directions. Dense crowds of goodhumored people filled Queen's wharf and all available sites where the proceedings could be seen. Many persons climbed the ringing and yards of the various vessels in port. Those who made use of the risking of the Bhips lying at Queen's wharf found out their mistake when artful sailors demanded a shilling from each of those aspirants ere they were permitted to descend to terra firma . The vice-regal carriage and horses I were decorated with minute flags of the Uni'n- ( Jack type. At five minutes past 3 p.m. on the | 18th March, the late Governor, Lady Bowen, I and their children, ascended the carriage, which conveyed them to the Hero. They were greatly affected, and Sir George virtually " brote down " •whilst trying to make a speech. Lady Bowen looked very sorrowful. The Hero left Queen's wharf shortly after 4 o'clock, and slowly steamed, stern foremost, down the harbor — a pretty conceit — as much as to say, you know — " Can Igo forward when my heart is here." It is reported that Mr T. B. Gillies declines to stand as;ain for the Superinten lenoy of Auckland. Messrs John Williamson and T. S. Macfarlane are spoken of as probable candidates. The Tuapeka Times says : — The prospects of th? Provincial Executive are improving. Numerous defections from the Opposition party are reported, and it is pretty certain that during the session factious opposition will not meet with the approval of members of the Council. Most of the members are sick of the wretched squabbles, log-rolling, and party ambitions which hare hitherto disgraced the Council, and have resolved for the future not to permit the business of the province to be impeded, or its interests sacrificed, to serve the private ends of individuals. The "responsible Government" found in Provincial Councils i» about played out ; any set of men that will honestly administer the affairs of the province will command the support of the sensible portion of the Council. A trout weighing lOlbs has been caught in the Derwent, Tasmania, in a net, by the keeper of the Salmon Ponds. The land sales in the province of Canterbury during the month of March produced £38,171 12s. The Melbourne Express says : — We commend to the attention of tha inhabitants of struggling mining districts the way Ballarat people have found out of prospecting that very promising district, Elaine. Small parties are formed in the city — of, say, ten. Each contributes about 5s per week to pay the expenses of developing the mine. This will not ruin the shareholder — indeed will be hardly felt by him — and at the same time is bound to result beneficially. Prospecting on too large a scale is very dangerous ; as in everything else, people should feel their way before they take steps for the expenditure of large sums of money. Especially where the reefa come out to the surface, as they do at Elaine, and can be worked, at least for a time, without expensive machinery, is this style of prospecting to be commended. Let us inform our Ballarat friends that it was precisely this style of working that was adopted in Sandhurst, and which was the baeis of that city's present prosperity. We hope to see Ballarat reap the benefit of this j udicious step. She went too far in the mad excitement of her golden times ; yet, let her not turn her back on the great source of her wealth, and all will be well. The fact above-mentioned looks as if more sensible ideas were prevailing. The Launceston Esiminer of a reoent date says: — Diphtheria i? just now rather prevalent in town, several of the m>, licil man having severe cases in han 1. In ona in3tano3 five in a family were affected by it, and there was one death. We had occasion lately to notice the prevalence of the drainage disease, and we called attention to the importance of a system of sewerage being carried out as effectively as possible. Without any desire to bo alarmists, wa thiik it necessary to reiterate the caution to our civic authorities to see to the proper cleansing of premises, and the removal of nuisances arising from the keeping of pigs, and otherwise. The miasmatic influences at work to engender dUe ise are not thought of as they ou^ht to be ; but the testimony of the faculty to the danger we are in from the exciting causes of low fever, diphtheria, typhoid, and other zymotic diseases should not be disregarded, and the authorities cannot be too strongly urged to attend to the matter.