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Southland Times, Issue 1783, 22 August 1873, Page 2

The Committee of the Acclimatisation Society held a sitting on Wednesday last, when there were seven members and the Curator of the ponds present. The principal business was to decide upon the river for the reception of the young salmon, now about ready for removal from the ponds, and it was resolved that the Curator should at his discretion place the same in the Jacob's River. Several applications for trout ova having been received, and it being reported that the fish were commencing to spawn, consideration of the applications was deferred until next meeting. There being now about 2500 young trout in the ponds ready for liberation, it was resolved that after reservation for breeding pur poses, two-thirds of the remainder should be placed in the Makarewa river, aud tbe balance in the Winton creek.

We direct attention to tho alteration has been made in the time of closing sevoral of the mails at the Invercargill Post Office, and residents will do wisely to consult the time table. We publish in our leading columns to-dsny an abstract of the annual report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, andin another column reproduce in extenso a supplementary report by the same gentleman. The latter contains a number of suggestions regarding the direction in which alterations should be made in the Southland Waste Lands Acts. We were shown yesterday by Mr James Morton, taxidermist, a rara avis in the shape of a pure white native pigeon. The bird was shot in the Seaward Bush by one of Mr A. Sayers's sons. It measures 21 inches from the beak to the tip of the tail, weighs li lbs, and is evidently a young bird. It is a question whether the bird is simply an albino or the representative of a distinct species. Mr Morton promises to : furnish further information on these points. j We are pleased to learn that in arranging the \ promotion in the police force of the Province, the Commissioner has recognised the deserts of Mr Sub-Inspector Fox, who has had charge of the Southland district for some time past. Mr Pox is now raised to the rank of Inspector, and a sub* stantial increase has been made to his salary. Mr Fred. Clifton and Miss Fanny Sara announce that they will give a series of entertainments at the Theatre Royal, commencing tomorrow evening. From the criticisms of the press in the different places in the Colony where they have performed, we learn that Mr Clifton is a comic singer of great versatility and ability, and that Miss Sara possesses a contralto voice, and sings well. Considering the highly favorable manner in which these artistes are spoken of, we should imagine that their entertainments will secure the patronage of the public. At the meeting of the Municipal Council last evening, His Worship the Mayor and all the Councillors, with the exception of Councillor Ross, were present. The valuation roll was handed in by the valuer, and its consideration deferred until next meeting. The report of the Reserves Committee was brought up, advising that the prison labor upon the recreation ground ( was at present sufficient. The Jetty lessee j having requested to be allowed the use of a horse j or bullock for drawing the trucks, it was resolved that the same could not be allowed. Certain repairs to the Jetty, in value about £10, were directed to be tendered for. The Surveyor having reported that the footpaths in Dee and Clyde streets, crossing the Puni creek, would cost somewhere about £600, the Council resolved that the same could not at present be proceeded with. The roadway in front of the railway line, leading to the metal depdt, was ordered to be fascined, and consideration of the report for forming, gravelling, and metalling Dee street was deferred for one week. The clerk was directed to advise the G-eneral Government thafc the Council is of opinion thit the line of railway through the town should be protected by a substantial fence of sawn timber and palings. A number of projected works were referred to the Public Works Committee. The lecture upon China, by the Rev. G. Smith, at the Presbyterian Church last evening, was well attended. The handling of the subject included the historical, geographical, and political features of the country, a large number of characteristic traits being incidentally introduced by way of illustration. The opium war, and the concessions made by the Chinese in opening tho country as its immediate results, were dwelt on by the lecturer as having exercised a highly important influence on the present aspect and probable future of the conntry. In the portion of the lecture referring to mission success in China, the different periods t under which Christianity had obtained, = siuce its early introduction into the country, were reviewed, showing the periods of its comparative advancement, together with tbe seasons in which the vigorous efforts of the authorities had been exercised to stamp it out. The effect of prejudice, with the efforts of unscrupulous hostility, forming part of the difficulties with which the mission work had to contend, were very fully explained. The lecturer stated that one of the effects of the missions had been to introduce on the part of the Chinese a spirit of honest opposition or rivalry, by the erection of schools, and the establishment of hospitals, with other works specially designed to counteract the influence of the missions. The was well received, and afforded a large amount of interest, entertainment, and instruction. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Tuesday, 19th inst., the Chief Commissioner and Messrs Baker and M'Culloch were present. Tho application of Messrs Jack and Co. for a saw-mill license over 640 acres in Winton Forest, held over from sth inst., was considered and granted, a petition from resident settlers, sent in with, and in favor of the application, having weight in the decision. Applicants were directed to make a deposit of £100, and to pay the survey fees, according to regulations. The Makarewa Road Board met on the 28th inst. (Mr Trumble in the chair), when a few accounts were passed for payment. Correspondence was read, and held over to next meeting, owing to a small attendance of members ; as was also the election of treasurer, chairman, and all business in connection with the annual meeting. The meeting adjourned to the 30th inst. A meeting of inhabitants to consider the question of the propriety of a public recognition of tbe services rendered to the Municipality by Mr Wood, the late Mayor, was called at the Council Hall on Wednesday evening lasfc. There were about a dozen persons present, and His Worship the Mayor in presiding, stated the reason of calling the meeting. It had been thought (he said) by members of the Council, that some recognition of the services of the late Mayor should be made, but that it was desirable, as far as possible, that the public should have an opportunity of expressing an opinion, in order that the demonstration should have a public character. After a few remarks from gentlemen present, it was resolved that a testimonial should be given to Mr Wood to take the form of an invitation to a public dinner, as an expression of the appreciation of his services in the office of the Mayoralty. A committee was nominated from the meeting, and a sub-committee appointed to settle details. Ifc will be observed from our advertising columns that the dinner is announced to take place on the 3rd September. (

The annual meeting of the InvereargiU District Road Board, intended to have been held on Wednesday last, for the election of new trustees, lapsed on account of non-attendance, there being but two members of tho Board present, with the clerk. It is intended to call a meeting for Wednesday, 27th inst. We learn that the heavy weather experienced about a fortnight a^o shifted the position of the Rangitoto from hanging on a ledge of rock on mid-keel, and deposited her on a lerei bottom throughout in quite shallow water. The extent of the injury has beea ascertained, and tin shareholders feel sanguine of having another good thing in what was thought the ill-fated Rangitoto. It is said that Mr Arch, the English agricultural agitator, has written to the General Assembly that the New Zealand Government should attempt to direct emigration from Brazil and other alien countries to New Zealaud. The Wanganui ratepayers have refused to impose on themselves a penny rate for a public library. A WeUington contemporary says :— A number of railway trucks are now bein? landed on the wharf, and it certainly does strike one as singular that, in a colony so plentifully supplied with suitable timber, we should have to import the woodwork of railway trucks from home. We bave made some inquiries on the subject, and from all we can gather, these trucks could have been made in the colony for something less than they cost landed on the wharf. The Acclimatisation Society of Auckland has resolved to endeavor to acclimatise the brush kangaroos in that Province. Mr J. C. Stratford, of the Whau, near Auckland, preserves milk in a fluid state. He says he has severely tested the article, and that the milk is preserved without any chemicals, and will keep in any climate, always preserving its natural flavor and freshness. At WeUington, it is complained that the present immigration system is an utter failure as regards supplying the want of female servants, either in town or country. A considerable number of girls are sent out, but the bulk of them are of a class quite unfit to be admitted into respectable houses . The Auckland Gas Company declared a dividend of 7£ per cent, for the half year. A return laid on the table of the House of Representatives shows the total import of coal during tbe past three years to be — 1871, 93,048 tons ; 1572, 93,815 tons ; 1873, 105.523 tons, the year ending on 30th June in each case. The Wairarap** Mercury states that a chief named ICarauria, of Longbush, made a present to tbe feast which recently took place at the Native pah near Greytown, of 1 ton flour, 7 cwt. BUgar, 6 lbs tobacco, 10 twenty-shilling blankets, &c. ; but he was too proud a rangatira to attend the feast himself. This Karauria, on account of his strong common sense and economic habits, is one of the wealthiest chiefs in the Wairarapa; but some 30 years ago he was only too happy to work as a shepherd, having labored in that capacity for three years at the Huangaroa station, then in the occupation of Mr Weld, where he acquired a smattering of the English la nguage. The Hawke's Bay Herald regrets that the report of Mr Carruthers on the Napier breakwater scheme is unlikely to be favorable. The Sir Walter Scott Lodge of Freemasons in Grahamstown held a Lodge of Sorrow, as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Earl of Zetland, who was Grand Master in England, and the late J. Stewart, Joint Grand Secretary, Scotland. The hall was draped in black. Tho working tools, columns, and oth;r furnituro, were sraped. One hundred and fifty Masons were present at the service, which was exseed- | ingly solemn. An excellent choir performad the choral part. The catafalque was erected in tho centre of the hall, containing a coffin and other emblems of mortality, and the decease l's representative insignia. It was the most complete ceremony of the kind ever gono through in I the Colony. ____^______