Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1786, 29 August 1873, Page 2

We publish to-day in extenso Mr Brunton's report, laid on the table of the House of Representatives, as to the state of the public buildings in Invercargill with respect to repair and the efficiency of the buildings for the various purposes to which they are at present devoted. Mr Brunton Laving been instructed to offer an opinion as to the best means of meeting the wants of the district, has also dealt with this matter in his report to the Government. We trust the report will be read by such of our townspeople as feel anxious that public work especially should be done in the best possible manner, and we have no doubt as to the conclusions at which they will arrive. It is well to remember that it was at the instance of the inhabitants who interviewed Mr Yogel recently, that Mr Brunton's report was prepared. It must also be remembered that the report was laid upon the table of the Provincial Council as well as on that of the Assembly, so that Mr Lumsden ought at least to hare been aware that the project upon which, to gratify hia own fancy, he was rushing heedloss of the whb.es of his constituents, was directly intended to subvert action taken in accordance with their request, and tbe professional opinion consequent thereon. Much nonsense has been written about the " originial plan" as though we must infer that a mistake having been made, it must be adhered to, and that a mistake was made on the original plan, may be concluded from the fact that from the subsequent plans of the. town the crescent is omitted. Had Mr Lumsden*s proposal besn made in the interests of the town, he would have had no hesitation about conferring with the townspeople thereupon, instead of seeking to carry his point by covertly taking advantage of his position as our representative without warning to pass a resolution prejudicial to the public interest. The impolicy of the course proposed is so apparent, that its explanation must be sought upon grounds widely differing from those of regard for the public good.

We have been informed that the sea trout in the ponds of the Acclimatisation Society at Wallacetown are showing signs of s pawning. In addition to the enquiries for ova reported by the hon. secretary at the late meeting of the Committee, a demand is now being made for stocking by private enterprise some of the distant river* with trout. The Society will find do difficulty in disposing of all their available ova, and it is to be greatly desired that the present spawning season should prove successful. -„ :

The Clifton and Sara concert company's entertainment at the Theatre last night passed off with' spirit, although the attendance was not so good as usual. We have already expressed a favorable opinion of this company, and last night's performance was equal to any of the preceding ones. We may select for special notice Miss Sara's impersonation of Sims Reeves, and her singing of his well-known song, "My pretty Jane." which deserved the applause it met with. Mr Clifton, in " Betsy Perkins," was, as usual in his character songs, very amusing. " Old Sarah Walker" was repeated by desire, and did not fail to meet with due appreciation. To-night is announced as a " Grand Fashionable Night," when an entirely new programme is promised.

At the meeting of the Municipal Council last evening, His Worship the Mayor and all the councillors were present. Correspondence was read between the Council and the Railway Engineer, relative to the drain along the railway line at Tyne street and Elles road, in which the Railway Engineer had intimated that the matter was not of sufficient importance to the railway, as compared with the cost of the work, to induce the Government to undertake it. Power was given to the Mayor to take the necessary steps in the matter. The tenders of J. Colquhoun for 300 fascines for £3 15s, and of Thos. Connell for trenching: at £9 12s 6i, were accepted. The report of the Finance Committee, stating that after payment of existing contracts, £1140 only would be available for public works, and recommending that tenders be called for a loan to the Council of £3500, and that an Ordinance for vesting the New River in a Harbor Trust, composed of the Mayor and Council, be obtained ; and, further, that the new Building Regulations of the Chrisichurch Council, be in. troduced into the Municipality, was left over for a week. The matter of purchase of trees was referred to the Reserves Committee. The opinion of the Council's solicitor, advising that the Council has power to erect gasworks, and further that to increase the borrowing power of the Council, special legislation would be required, was referred to the Gas Committee. The account of J. Dickson for fencing the gardens, amounting to £100 ss, was ordered to be paid, with a number of accounts for metal and cartage. The surveyor's report relative to the northern part of Dee-street was referred to the Public Works Committee. Councillor Pratt asked His Worship whether the proposed

crescent had been authorised by the Council P Hi 9 Worship said he believed so, and reference to the minute book showed that in February of the present year, on the motion of Mr Lumsden, seconded by Mr Q-arthwaite, a resolution was passed recommending it. Councillor Pratt was not present. Councillor Boss said he also wa9 not p resent. His Worship and Councillor Garthwaite spoke in favor of the proposition for the sale. Councillors Blackwood and Ross condemned it, the former on the ground of its interference with the report and plan of the Government Engineer, tbe latter on that of the injustice to purchasers in block 75, the proposed crescent blocking up the approaches. Councillor Hall thought that sufficient publicity had not been given to a matter of this importance. Councillor Blackwood moved that the matter be considered by the Council that day week. Councillor Ross seconded the motion. Councillor Garthwaite objected to any further consideration. He thought the public should petition. His Worship said that the matter having passed the Council, he had the public at his back. What the Council did was the act of the public ; there was no hole-and-corner work. Councillor Goodwillie moved, as an amendment, that the Council proceed with the business on the order paper ; he thought time enough had been wasted in the discussion. Councillor Garthwaite seconded the amendment, which was lost. The motion was carried. After some routine business, the Council resolved itself into Committee on the valuation roll. The bitter easterly wind which prevailed here on Tuesday and Wednesday last has caused several disasters along the coast. At Oamaru two coal-laden vessels have been wrecked, and at Timaru a schooner was driven ashore. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Tuesday, August 26th, the Chief Commissioner and Messrs Baker and M'Culloch were present. Messrs Brogden & Sons' application for 960 acres in Seaward Bosh, being for 240 acres under lease, and 720 acres under the Sawmills regulations, for three years' cutting, for two engines of 16 and 8-horße power respectively, standing over from meeting of 12th inst., was considered . Mr Wade appeared for Messrs Brogdea & Sons, and explained that it was their intention to get a fresh engine and iron tramway to work the original application, and meanwhile to pay a year's rent in advance, pending the arrival of the plant, and to work the new application with the engine presently on the ground. The application was granted. Mr Wade appeared in support of Mr Thomas Brown's application for 1200 acres in Seaward Bush, for a 30 horsepower engine, under the saw mill regulations, standing over from 12th inst., and applied that the application might be altered to the name of the firm, Brown and Boss. Messrs M'Callum & Co. protested against the granting of the application, on the ground that they (M'Callum & Co.), were entitled to a portion of the land applied for, and the matter was adjourned until Friday, sth September. At the meeting of the Invercargill District Boad Board on Wednesday, the 27th inst., the following members were present, Messrs Hare (Chairman), Brown, Brownlie, Burrows, and Gilmour. The Clerk produced a list of rate defaulters, and was directed to enforce payment. Mr James Angus tendered (by letter) his resignation of office as a member of the Board, which wasjstceepted, and Mr Warnock was elected to fill, the vacancy. Four tenders having been received for tbe advertised work in M'Masterstreet, that of Messrs M'Kenzie and Newall was accepted, for the sum of £55, the other tenders for the work ranging from that sum up to £139. Mr Longuet was appointed valuator for the current yeai at the sum of £30, there being no other applicant, Mr Hare was unanimously re-elected chairman, and Mr Brown Treasurer for the current year, and the meeting adj ourned until Thursday, 11th September, it being resolved that subsequent committee meetings should be held on the first Thursday in each month. We believe that the Bills introduced into the Assembly as the Otago Land Bill (No. 1), and Otago Land Bill (So. 2), were both intended for the amendment of the Southland Land Acts. Bill No. 1 met with so much opposition from parties interested in keeping the price of land at £3, that it had to be withdrawn. On this subject a corespondent says: — "It is evident that by passing the £3 resolution the land reformers hare put themselves most effectually under the screw, and will have to be content with what concessions they can get. The Canterbury men are delighted, and protest that the price must remain as it is." We understand that Bill No. 2 provides that the deferred pay ment system shall be extended to the present Hundreds, and permits of land being sold in blocks of 300 acres at Is 3d per annum for ten years, or 12s 6d altogether, provided that the land has been seven years in the market, whioh is the case, we believe, with all the Southland Hundreds. Our Biverton correspondent .writes: — On Sunday evening, 24th inst., the Bey. G. Smith preached in the Presbyterian Church here, to a very large congregation. The account given of the progress of mission work in China was highly appreciated by those who were fortunate enough to be present. — A couple of boys, who reside in South Biverton, started into the bush on Sunday evening last for the purpose of amusing themselves by shooting birds with their shanghais, and being overtaken by the darkness, were unable to make their way home. The parents of the boys becoming anxious, a search party was organised, who, by the aid of lanterns, scoured the bush nearly all night, their repeated cooeying meeting with no response. The lads were discovered in the morning, about a mile and a half from their homes, by a gentleman and his son. The eldest boy stated that his companion went to sleep during the night, and although he heard the cooeying of the search party, he felt himself unable to answer. Fortunately the night was calm, and the youngsters are not likely to suffer in any way from the exposure.