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Southland Times, Issue 1779, 12 August 1873, Page 2

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce is to be held to-day for the purpose of considering the new tariff. The permanent way of the Mataura railway is now laid for a distance of six and a half miles from the Invercargili Btation, Bix miles of which has the ballast under 'he sleepers, and the contrao tora are using every exe*tion to push on the completion of the line to Woodlands. The engine makes six trips per day, taking some ten trucks of ballast oach trip. The work, so far, appears to haye been performed in a highly satisfactory manner, as the train runs with a degree of smoothness which promises well for tha condition of the line when completed. Fencing has been erected on each side for a distance of 19 miles out of town, and the contractors at Edandale are pushing on as fast as the nature of their work will permit. It is expected, if the weather should be at all favorable, that the line will be completed as far as Wood'.anJs in about five weeks from this date. . Another package of letters has gone astray through the carelessness of the officials in the j Dunedin post-office. These repeated mishaps are intolerable, and demand a Btriot enquiry on the part of the Postinaster-Gdneral. As was the case with the bag which was lost some four weeks ago, we understand that the one now missing has also gone on to Melbourne. We suggested a short time ag) that, owing to the almost impassable ojndition of the Eist Road, the contractors for the M itaura railway might provide some little ac im;n > lution in one of the ballast trucks for the conveyance of passengers, churning any reasonable rate which they might see fit to impose. On enquiring into the matter we find that there are insuperable difficulties in the way of carrying the i-le* into effect. It seems that the wheels of the ballast trucks are made of cast instead of wrought iron, and are consequently liable to aoci lont at any time. Only the other day, we believe, a truck was completely smashed in the vicinity of the crossing at Clyde street. Since then, the Resident Engineer has intimated to the contractors that he does not consider it safe for passengers to travel in the ballast train, females and children being particularly debarred. Wo recret that it is impossible to accommodate the public 111 Uiv lUCautiuT', bulr faiuati lv Urn UUUI3D Uf a few weeks to sea the line opened to Woodlands. .Before this can be done properly., however, the ,neceß3&ry carriages, .&c, will have to ho received. As there is a surplus stock in Danedin, we hope that a sufficient number will be forwarded here without delay, in the.event of. those, .ordered for the Mfttaiiri line' na£ being* reoqiyedlih time. We have much pleasure in directing attention to the complimentary benefit to Mr L. J. Lucas, pi-mist, which conus ,off.. at tha Theatre this evening. -An excellent programme is' announced, and as Mr Lucas hus freely given his services in connection with the Beveral entertainments which, have recently taken placo for benevolent and other objects;, it is onferei^on ibl.a to aspect that this evenirfg r B per'formkncV^wrlf be*ibdrally pitronised. Mr M'Kenzie has now removed his collection of curiosities. and objects of natural history to the premises adjoining his shop, which have beoti specially r fitfced up for the purpose, with a separate entrance from Deo Btreet. The museum is to be opened to-morrow, and after a personal inspection we have much pleasure in testifying that it ia well worthy of a visit, a large number of additional exhibits having been added recently. . \sJie '"Minjstfir.of- Public Works, ia ; the' statement which he made in the Assembly on Friday evening, said" that " the Invercargill to Mataura line was not progressing, satisfactorily." We are a long way off from head-quarters, and perhaps that account? for the framer of the statement not being acquainted with the reason why satisfactory progression could not be reported. The absence of any explanation of the circumstances leaves an apparent slur on the contractors, which we think is not deserved, and it would only, have been fair to them if Mr Richardson hal stated that it unfortunately happened that permanent: way materials were not provided /or some three months after the contractors were ready to commence laying rails, and that when the rails did arrive it was impossible to lay them for one month for want of fastenings, which only came to hand in the beginning of winter. We know that everything cannot go on always as even the Public Works Department desires, but it is only fair that the saddle Bhould be put on the right horse. A. meeting of the residents in M' Master's estate, Sylvan Bank, and Bar wheys was held in Mr Jackson's sohoolroom, Sylvan Bank, last evening, when theer were about' forty parsons present. Mr A. M'Nab was voted to the chair. Mr A. Cross having explained that the Mayor of Invei oargitf had toli him that they should be cautious about joining the municipality, the following resolutions were adopted : — Proposed by Mr John Smith, aud seconded by Mr Robert Sloan, " That the Superintendent be petitioned to divide the InvercargQL Road District, and to make that part consisting of the M' Master's Estate, Sylvan Bank, and Barwheys Estate a district by itself," Proposed by Mr Shields aud seconded by Mr John Smith, " That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to our member of the Road Board, Mr M'Nab." Proposed by Mr M'Callum, ..and eoeqnded by Mr Hay, ' " That a committee, consisting of Meßsrs Sloan, 'Smith, and Cross be. appointed to get the petition signed, -to forward it- to the Superintendent, and to call meetings . when necessary." A motion to invite the people of Richmond Grove to join the new district was loßt.

In order that our reaiera may have a counected narrative of the'business traa3acte.l ia tb.3 Assembly, we intend, from time to titna, to publish a carefully compile! record, under the heading of " Essence of Parliament." The fi^st: portion appsara in this issue.

On Saturday la*t we inspectel a machine, invented by Mr W. Brunton, C.E., for adzing sleepers requir«d upon railway linss. by taking? out the notch to form the bsi for the rail . This work has been hitherto performed by hand labor, a good workman with an alze being able to prepare about sixty slespers por diy, with however the objaction that the required degree of nicety and exactness was not uniformly attained. The machine in question is workel by a small steam engine, and requires four men in attendance upon it. It is in character something of a planing machine, the difference bein^ that, to secure uniformity, the revolving cutters operate on the under surface of the sleepers, which ure brought forward upon a travelling carriage, and retained by their own weight in position for cutting. During our inspection the rate of progress was five in a minute, and with some delays 195 were prepared in three quarters of an hour. It is conSdently expected that the machine will be able to finish off 1500 in. an ordinary working day. Mr Brunton inten 1b to Bend a few sleepers to Wellington by way of sample, and from the superiority of the finish it is very probable that sleepers prepared in this manner will be required upon all the lines in course of construction throughout the Colony. The General Government some time since imported two machines intended for the samo class of work as that constructed by Mr Brunton, one of which has been for some time in Dunedin, but it is impossible to turn out a large number with it, as it depends to a great extent on hand-labor. A largo number of the citizens have already visited Mr Brunton's invention, and a personal inspection for a few minutes will do more in explanation of the principle of operation than all we can possibly write about it. On dit that a proposal is on foot to endeavor to procure the removal of that exceedingly handsome and remarkably useful erection in TayBtreet, known as " the market," to a site on the proposed " crescent !" We are glad to learn that Mr Fleming, the Rector of the Invercargill Grammar Bchool, who has been suffering for some weeks past from a serious illness, is now in a fair way of recovery. The returns of immigrants nominated at the Invercargill office for the quarter ending 30th June last are as follows : — Families, 20 souls, equal to 18 statute adults ; single men. 3; single women, 33 ; giving a total of 59 statute adults. The nominations from the lafc July to sth August instant, show a large comparative increase, there having been nominated during that period of families, 10 statute adults ; single men, 7 ; single women, 23. Total from Ist July to sfch August, 40 ; making in all from Ist April to sth August a total of 99 statute adult". At the meeting of the Wastelands Board on "Friday, Bth inst., the Chief Commissioner and Messrs M'Culloch and M' Arthur were present, A protest by Mr M. Holmes wbb put in by Mr W. H. Calder and read, against the granting of GOO nm. of l nn a to MV Stook, of which 303 had been previously refused to himself. Mr Calder requested the B >ard to name a day for the rehearing of the case, as to the question of granting Mr Stock's application, the land not having been yet paid for. Mr M'Oulloch objected to the . rehearing. It was, howevor, resolved that Mr Catdor's application be accede 1 to, and the ■rehearing wis fixed for the 12th inst. , The meeting adjourned to 2 .30 sane day, when the Chief Commissioner and Messrs Biker and M'Culloch were prosent. On the rehearing of the case of Messrs Bland ford and Johnston as ; resolved on 25th ult., Mr Macdonald appeared for Mr Blanlford, and Mr Harvey for Mr Johnston. The question being opened, discussion arose as to whether the rehearing should embrace Mr Blindford's application, considered at meeting of 20th May, as well as the application of Messrs Blantlford and Johnston, considered at meeting of 2nd ult., when it was resolved that the whole case be entertained, including the application of 20th May, Mr M'Cullooh dissenting, and upou the rehearing Mr Blanlford's application of 20th May 'was granted, the decisions of 20th May aud 2nd July being reversed. The Australasian Sketoher for this month oontainß engravings of the laying of the foundation stone of the Masonic hall at Sandhurst ; the prison establishment at Port Arthur ; the new Victorian Law courtß ; the disaster to the pilot schooner " Rip," and an excellent portrait of Sir Jamea Ferguason, Bart., Governor of New Zealand. At the meeting of the Otago Waste Land Board, held in Dunedin on the 7th inst., a tender ' for conducting auction saleß in the Invercargill Land District was forwarded by Mr D. Macrorje for approval by the Board. The price named was considered to be too high, so it was resolved to advertise for publio tenders. The Dunedin correspondent of the Oamaru paper, in referring to the dosing scene of the recent session of the Provincial Council, says :— i I believe there were only one set of resolutions strangled by the prorogation. They had reference to the land question in Southland, and were in the form of a Bill, to be afterwards submitted to the General Assembly. The Southland members had set their heartß upon getting these resolutions passed, and the Government on the previous day assured the Southern members that full time fo«- discussing and deciding the question would be given next day before the Council was prorogued. This promise, however, was not fulfilled, and while the irrepressible Kinross was upou his logs 'stoutly deolaring that the gentlemen on the Government side of the House would hot put him down, His Honor walked in and put an extinguisher upon the loquacious member by reading the prorogation speech. r By proclamations in the Provincial Government Gazette, 70,003 acres iv the Wairio, Wairaki, and Takitimo districts are temporarily reserved for the purpose of raising coal, and 1229 acres, being the unsold portion of block 4, Mataura hundred, are temporarily reserved for the purpose of a township and quarantine ground. The Timaru Borough Council is threatened with an action in which damages are laid -at £200, by reason of negligence on its part (leaving a grip open in North-street), 5 being the occasion of a man breaking his leg. . „-,;«. -, ;< „ „.;.■ S

The Griihfitaatown Masonic Lodges havo bold a solomn caremony in memory of the Earl of Zotland. / The Dunedin Municipal Council hag d(»ci te I to raise the Mayor's salary from £300 to £403. The Dutiedin Guarlian, in giving somp particulars regarding the Auckland Islands, eayei-r-It is, quite clear that-Dr Monckton has acquired a most valuable estate in the Auckland group. There are about 100,000 acres of opon land which would carry stooki The timber is valuable ; but as the land has not beau explored, the facility for sending it to market is unknown. The group is two hunirai miles from the Bluff, and will become a favorite report of pleasureBeekers. We wish the worthy doctor every success. We notice (say 3 the Wanganui Chronicle) Mr Finnimore has a bill in his window intimating the fact that his premises are for sale or lease. Perhaps he is getting tired of working for nothing for an ungrateful country, and is goin^ to seek for his missing clerk. En any case we hope where next he casts his lines that ho will think twice before he commits such offers to paper as those contained in his letter to Mr Uaughton, or his friends will begin to think it was time he was placed under restraint, as no man in his senses would leave himself so utterly open to publio condemnation. So far as Canterbury, is. concerned it appears that persona taking advantage of the prov isions of the Agricultural Produce Lien Act to raise money on the Becurity of their crops do not scruple to set the law at defiance by parting with the Beourity to the detriment of the lienor. In a case which came before the Resident Magistrate's Court lately, it was proved that the lienee had not only attempted to obtain possession of a portion of the grain whilst in process of threshing, but disposed of 100 bushels as part payment for a horse , asking the seller at the same time to Bay that the transaction had been one of exchange for seed.