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Southland Times, Issue 1749, 3 June 1873, Page 2

We are authorised to state that the meeting of the Assembly has been definitely fixed for the 15th July. Mr Tapper, it will be seen from our advertising columns, is in the field, in compliance with an influential requisition, as a candidate for the representation of the town in the Provincial Council, in opposition to Mr Lumsden. Mr Tapper's sympathies, we need harJly say, are with the Superintendent. It would be out of place for us, where Mr Tapper is so well known, to enlarge upon his business abilities, the deserved reßpect in which he is held, or the stake he possesses in the Province. Suffice it to say that we believe the interests of the constituency will be thoroughly well cared for by him, and that we congratulate the electors that Mr Tapper has been induced to stand, as his return will be a decided gain to the representation of tha district in the Council. In accordance with a numerously-signed requisition, Mr Thomas Perkins has consented to become a candidate for the representation of Waihopai in the Provincial Council. From Mr Perkins's long residence in the district, and intimate acquaintance with its requirements and its capabilities, not less than from his well-known personal energy, in lustry, and ability to muke his views heard and respected, we think the electors of Waihopai could Dot have made a more fortunata choice. At the same time, from the large circle of personal friends which Mr Perkins possesses in that part of the Province, as well as the high esteem in which he is uni« formly held by all who know him, we believe we are justified in confidently anticipating his return by a large majority. Seeing that Mr Perkins's views on the present aspect of Provincial affairs are those which we have seen it our duty to advocate, and point to the propriety of accord, ing a hearty support to His Honor the Superintendent in the present crisis, we heartily wish him every success. We are requested to state that notwithstanding the retirement of Mr Perkins from the contest for the representation of Invercargill in favor of the Waihopai, he will still, as alteady announced, address the electors in the Theatre this evening. It is announced elsewhere in this issue that Christopher Basstian, Esq., purposes again to solicit the suffrages of the Aparima constituency, which he has now represented for many years. Mr Basstian's sympathies are well known to be with Mr Macandrew and the present Executive, and from the satisfaction with which it is generally understood his representation of the district has been regarded in the past, we have every hope that he will be returned once more. Mr Basstian is now engaged in making arrangements to address the electors at convenient localities, of whioh due notice will be given. An accident occurred to the Danedin coach, at Woodlands, on Saturday evening, 31st May. The coach arrived, with four inside passengers, gentlemen, at that place about 8 p.m. At the post office the driver got down to light the lamps. It was raining and blowing hard at the time, and the horses started away slowly, but the driver, M'Doaald, ran up to their heads and seized the reins. At that instant, however, a dog rushed up and commenced barking furiously at the horses, startling them and causing them to spring suddenly forward M'Donald was knocked down by the pole, which ■truck him on the breast, and falling among tha horses' feet, was trodden upon by one of them. He was then dragged some distance by the front axle of the coach, and falling clear of that, the near wheels passed over hiß body. The coach upset a few yards further on, fortunately without very serious injury to any of the passengers, with the exception of one gentleman, who had his face badly cut. The coach being righted, M'Donald was picked up insensible, and taken into a neighboring house, where it was discovered that besides many serious bruises? one rib had been broken. He was, however, able to come to town by the coach next morning, and ia now recovering from the effects of his injuries. At the meeting of the Land Board on Friday, 30th May, there were present Messrs Pearson, Baker, and M'Culloch. The following applica* tions were granted : — W. J. M. Larnach, 1600 acres, Hokanui district, run 195 a ; Timothy Connor, 20 acres, Jacob's River hundred ; Robert Campbell, 320 acres, Eyre district ; J. H. Menzies, 938 acres, Jacob's Kiver hundred j New

Zealand and Australian Land Company (Limited), 480 acres, Oteramika hundred, and 1292 acres> Lothian district. On tho application of J. H. Menzies it was resolved that 30 acres of the open land in the Far Bush reserve, on the east side of the Bush, adjoining section 48, block 14, Jacob's River hundred, be advertised open for application on the 14th of July next.

The Australasian Sketcher for May fully maintains the excellence exhibited by the first number. The engravings are numerous and beautiful, ami finished in a style equal to that of the best London illustrated journils. Among others it contains a view of Lake Corangamite, after a water-color by Mr Gully, a series of illustrations of the Great Extended Husjlers Mine, Sandhurst, and a large double-page engraving of the Paria winter fashions.

The Gazette returns show that the imports of the Colony during the Marcn quarter amounted to £1,517,312, against £1,219,497 in the corresponding quarter of 1872. The exports amounted to £2,850,915, agtinst £2,411,787 in 1872. The tonnage of vessels cleared inwards was 72,416, against 72,771 lasl; year. The tonnage of vessels cleared outwards was 73,174, against 72,440 in the corresponding quarter of 1872.

The Otago ProvinciarGazette of the 28th May contains a proclamation setting apart from sale 70,000 acres in the Takatimo, Wairaki, and Wairio districts, as a coal-field reserve ; the appointment of Sergeant Fleming as Inspector of carriages at Invercargill ; and the usual statement of the Provincial Accounts for ths past financial year, ending 31st March, an abstract of which we publish elsewhere. A supplement contains His Honor's address to the people of Otago, and the official documents connected with the prorogation of the Provincial Council.

A Wellington contemporary says :— lf the present immigration arrangements be carried out, and the last telegram from Dr Featherston states that they will, the laboring population of the Colony will be materially increased by the close of 1873. 12,724 assisted immigrants have been ordered for the year, to be apportioned amongst the several provinces as follows — Auckland, 3500 ; Taranaki, 150 ; Hawke's Bay, 750 ; Wellington, 1250 ; Nelson, 100 ; Marlborough, 100; Canterbury, 2812; Otago, 4062. These numbers are exclusive of nominated immigrants, and of any that may have been sent out by Messrs Brogden during the current year.

The Queensland hairless horse Caoutchouc arrived by the last trip of the Tararua. There will be an exhibition first at Dunedin, and afterwards ih the other New Zealand towns. A Dunedin contemporary remarks that the adaptation of the Southland district for the construction of railways is exomplifiel in the fact that a twenty-two mile section of the Winton-Ringston line was taken for £12,700, while the same length of line, between Tokornairiro and Lawrence (Tuapeka), is estimated at a cost of £68,000. It is stated that Mr Murdoch, Inspector of the Bank of Zealand, has informed the Colonial Treasurer that the minimum fixed for the four per cent, loan in Australia, of £90 10a, was 10s too high. The tenders received in Sydney were for a total amount of £432,600, of which only £500 was tendered for above the minimum ; the remaining offers ranging from £85 to £90 ss. In Melbourne, tenders were received for £350,000, of which £4,000 reached the minimum. The balance ranged from £80 to £90, but between the dace of the opening of the tenders and the departure of the Tararua £25,000 had been taken up at the minimum. Heavy floods have occurred on the West Coast, and communications have been seriously interrupted. Mr Henderson, of the firm of Brogden & Sons, has married the widowed daughter of the Superintendent of Nelson. The Provincial Council of Canterbury have voted £1700 for a site for a college. In an article severely criticising the conduct of those members of the Provincial Council, who by their impracticable attitude contributed to bring on the late crisis, the Wakatip Mail says : — We fancy that contumacious members who hold that all things that came from Mr Superintendent Macandrew were vile until they had been purified by the fire and labor of a section of the Council, have reckoned this time without their host. The cry for a reform of provincial institutions, for a less costly system of government, for a liberal treatment of country interests, will be, we predict, stronger and more genuine than ever it was before.

It is stated on good authority that the successful tenderers for the Tuapeka and Tokomairiro railway are Messrs John and Norman Campbell. The amount has not transpired, but it is understood to be about £68,000. The nature of the work may be briefly described as twentytwo miles of formation over a rough tract of country. Two tunnels are also included in the work, viz., one 484 and the other 176 yards in length. For the Tuapeka line it has been stated that five tenders were received for the entire work, and eleven for sectional parts. The amount of the highest tender was close upon £130,000.

The Wellington Independent, commenting on an article in the Canterbury Press regarding proposed constitutional changes, says that the Press based its suppositions upon statements made by Mr Waterhouse and Mr Reynolds ; but that it (the Independent) has authority for stating that the Government hare no intention whatever of proposing to Parliament any measures involving constitutional changes. That possibly circumstances may render it necessary that the Government should submit measures for remedying defects in the constitution of Provincial Governments, but with the view of increasing, not impairing, their efficiency. The Spectactor speaks of New Zealand as " the fairest of islands, with the finest climate in the world." A gas company has been started at Hokitika. After commenting on the bad state of the roads, by which the prosperity of the district is retarded, the Arrow Observer remarks : — lt is, however, a matter for congratulation that we may look forward to the time — not wo hope far distan t — when this district will be placed within reach of a railway system. Even at the present time we believe, goods may be received by way of the Bluff and Kingston at about one-half the rates paid by the inland roads. Mr and Miss Enianuel, being on their way to Melbourne, will give a musical entertainment in the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening, 6th inst. The lady is spoken highly of as a vocalist by the Victorian press.