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Southland Times, Issue 1773, 29 July 1873, Page 2

The East Road being now in an almost impassable condition for several miles out of town, it would be a boon to the settlers (pedestrians especially) if Messrs Brogden and Sons would provide seats in one of the ballast trucks lor the conveyance of passengers. A small passenger rate would be cheerfully paid, and the arrangement probably would not occasion much, if any, inconvenience to the contractors or workmen. 8 hould this suggestion be adopted, it will be well to have a passenger truck attached on each trip, and intending travellers would of course require to arrange to be ready for the daparting train. The Builders' Association of the town of Invercargill held a meeting on Saturday evening last, at the Clarendon Hotel, eighteen members of the trade being present, when the following resolution Was passed : — " That this meeting asks for information from the Provincial Government why the proposed new bridge over the Makarewa river at Wallacetown has not been re-tendered for, the original contract having lapsed, and the site and construction altered, and that this resolution be forwarded to Mr Lumsden, the member for Invercargill, by telegraph, to obtain the information asked for." The business of the Waste Linds Bjard on JYiday lagt was confined to the issuing of sawmill licenses and matters of survey. A man named Robert Thomson, one of the Shetland Island immigrants recently located at Stewart's Island, was admitted into the Hospital on Wednesday, 23rd mat., apparently suffering from brain disorder. He was scarcely sensible during the time he was under treatment, and gradually sunk until his death on Sunday night last. A post mortem examination of the body was made yesterday by Dr Grigor, assisted by Dr Yorath, when the causa of death was found to be inflammation of the brain. He has loft a widow and two children. A token, of sufficient resarablinca in *iza and color to piss muster in a dim light or in baste for a half sovereign, has been taken for that coin in an office in town within the last few days, and its spurious character was not discovered until its presentation at the bank. It bears a fairly executed " Qaaen's He*d," with the inscription, " Victoria, Queen," and on the reverse a Prince of Wales feather on shield, the lettering being •• Prince of Wales, model half-sovereign." The material is a composition of which brass is the staple, with bronze for facing, and the edges are well milled. The " get up" of the token leads to the inference that it has not been designed for " smashing " purposes, yet tradesmen will do well to be ou their guird lest a few others of the same class should be in circulation. A wicked wag appears to have been perpetrating a heartless joke on the unfortunate News, that journal having announced in its issue of 23rd inst., under the heading " Telegraphic News," " The now immigration barracks at Carersham has been completely destroyed by fire, cause unknown." Our contemporary's frequent victimization by practical jokers should by this time have made him more wary. He is however taken in again, and however painful it may be to himself, it is fortunate for the province that the barracks hare not been destroyed, the extent of the destruction being that of a " wish-house," the re erection of which will be but a trifling matter. A man named Palantinium, a Cornishman' was admitted into the Hospital on Friday, 24th inst, having cut off one of the toes of his right foot -while chopping wood. The accident happened upon the railway works, near to Winton, on the Wintpn and Kingston line, and the singularity of the matter is that a middle toe should have been cleanly cut off, and the rest of the foot escape damage, the injury having been caused by an axe. However ail is well that ends well, and there is nothing ao bad but that it might have been worse, and the man is now going on well. We have received several numbers of The Guardian, a new daily paper published in Dunedin. The paper itself ia well got up and in

its editorial management displays a considerable amount of literary ability and talent. The political bias of the journal is in favor of the policy of the present Government, ani judging from its first number, The Guardian will prove a powerful rival of .the Daily Times. The prospetJVus of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited) appears as an advertisement in this issue. The enterprise commends itself both on account of the rapidly increasing trade ' of the Colony, and the continual development of its resources now in progress. The requirements of the Colony justify an adventure which fairly promises in its fulfilment to be better adapted to our necessities, and to furnish greater facilities, than can be expected from a foreign company, at best but imperfectly acquninte 1 with our wants, and whose interest it may be at any time to relinquish our service for another apparently more promising. A local company has moreover the advantage of being able to retain at home tho i profit of the undertaking. With a view of increasing the interest in the company, and of enlarging the basis of its operations, and thereby contributing to its success, it has been deciled by the directory to spread the shares of the company over the whole Colony, a certain number being allotted to each district. This plan will ensure a larger amount of co-operation, and will assure to the various districts a proportionate degree of influence in the management. Applications for shares'will be received at the Bank of New Zjaland up to 15th August. It was gratifying to find such, a crowded attendance at the Theatre last evening. The Oddfellows, who appeared in regalia, mustered strongly, with their wives and children, and the result must be highly satisfactory in so far as the object of the entertainment is concerned, namely, a complimentary benefit to one of their number, Mr G. Fisher, who was recently the victim of a sawmill accident. The Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr Stevens, added materially to the enjoyment of the evening by playing a number of selections in a very creditable style. Mr W. P. Porter delivered an address on the advantages of Benefit Societies, which was well received. Regarding the performance itself the space at our disposal will not admit of a detailed notice. It is sufficient to say that the audience teemed to enjoy the entertainment heartily, as was testified by the repeated applause accorded to Messrs Wood, Wotton, and others. Mr Lucas was, as usual, a very efficient pianist. At the meeting of the Invercargill District Road Board on Thursday evening, 24th inst., Messrs Angus, Brown, Brownlie, Burrows, Gilmour, M'Nab, and Hare (chairman) were present. Tenders were directed to be invited for ditching and forming side— walk on M' Master's estate. Some discussion on the laying out of continuation of the main road at the Bluff resulted in instructions to the clerk to guarantee the payment by the Board of the survey fee should the Government decline to pay the same, i the said road to be dedicated to the public . A ditch was ordered to be cut in Herbert-street, Gladstone, the roadway of this street being also required to be dedicated. The surveyor's estimate of cost of works in Avenal road being larger than was contemplated, the ! matter was allowed to stand over for the present. The valuation for the coming year was directed to be made the subject of tender, the successful tenderer to be allowed the use of the present roll. The Municipal Council having intimated their willingness to bear half the cost of certain work in Elles road, under the inspection of the Town Engineer, the same was agreed to. The tender of James Murray for culverts and forma- I tion on Crombie road, for £34 19s, was accepted, as was also that of Meaara Newall and M'Kenzie for culverts and formation on the Sea war d Bush I road. Messrs Burrows, Gilmour, and M'Nab were appointed a Finance Committee, being | i instructed specially to report upon the matter of ' absentee holders of property within the district, J and to advise with the Board thereon. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Riverton, before Messrs Cook and Menzies, J.P.s, on Monday, 21st inst., Charles Anderaon, charged with a breach of the pc ace on the 19th inst., was fined 40s. The same defendant was charged with an assault upon one John M'Farlane, and for this offence was fined 20s. On the following day, before Messrs Petchell ani Menzies, J.P.s, two civil cases were heard, namely, M'Phail v. M'lntyre, being a claim for £2 14s 7d, in which judgment was given for plaintiff with costs, 9s ; and M'Farlane v. Anderson, claim for £5 10s, judgment being lor plaintiff, with costs, 13a. The Provincial Council has agreed to vote the sum of £500 as a contribution to the lavercargiil Athenaeum Building Fund. At the meeting of the Otago Waste Land Board, held in Dunedin on the 24th inst., the appointment recommended by the Government, of Mr D. Macrorie as auctioneer for the Invercargill Land District, was approved. Some doubt having been expressed as to the route to be taken by the proposed railway to connect the Otautau with the Winton line, the following motion, carried in the Provincial Council, affords the necessary explanation : — " That a light line of railway, to connect the Otautau line with the Invercargill and Winton railway at Wallacetown Junction, a distance of 14 miles, be constructed at a cost of £20,000, payment to be made in cash or land, at the option of the Government." On the motion of Mr Lumsden, it was decided that the line from Otautau to the Nightcap coalfield should be commenced next year, and that in the meantime the Government should obtain the necessary survey and estimate of cost. Mr J. F. Jones, of the Dunedin Club Hotel, has sold the beautiful painting by M'Cullooh, which he was successful in obtaining at a drawing of the Scottish Art Union some years ago, to a resident of Dunedin for £300. The committee of the Provincial Council, to whom the Licenbing Bill was referred, have reported that it is inadvisable to make any alteration this session. The Bill will not therefore be proceeded with. In announcing that Colonel Harrington is a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives, a Wellington paper says that he would be about as much out of place there as he was in the position of Inspector of Volunteers. The Provincial Council has voted the sum of £2000 for the construction of a road from the Mataura Bridge to the Tois Tois. The game of golf is said to be increasing in popularity in Chriitchurch.J

The new Legislative Chambers (says the Wellington Evening Post) are certainly not a success in regard to their acoustic propertiesIn the Hoaee of Representatives it is almost impossible for the occupants of the gallery to hear distinctly what is being said below, while we believe the difficulty is even worse for those in the body of the Chamber, The same defect is apparent in the Council Chamber, and the members there complain aiso of the draughtOne member described it as almost sufficient to take the hair off hia head. The following motion, proposed by Mr Wood, has been carried in the Provincial Council : — •' That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place a sum of money on the Estimate, for the purpose of erecting new Government Buildings at Invercargill. Such sum to be spent for that purpose in the event of the General Government declining to erect such buildings." Under the heading " Musical Instruction," a Mr Knyvett advertises as follows in a Nelson paper: — "Singing voices made — ears tuned." The Nelson Examiner says : — The number of black swans in the swamps bolow Blenheim is almost beyond belief, considering the few birds from which they have bean bred, and the short time since their parents were imported from Australia. They literally swarm in thousands. House-moving is the order of the day in Westport. The Masonic Hall is being removed, bodily, a distance of one mile from its former site, and tho Wharf Hotel, another bulky building, is following in its wake— on rollers. Dr Carr was to deliver a lecture in Grey mouth one Sunday evening lately, his subject being, " The Grave, and after." We have to acknowledge the receipt of a batch of Parliamentary papers from the Government printer. We hare been requested to state that the new lodge in connection with the Good Templars will be opened on Thursday, 31st inst. The meeting of the music class will, in consequence of this i arrangement, take place this evening at 8.15. IBl _ aaal^ aaa^ Hansaaaa