Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1827, 5 December 1873, Page 2

We are given to understand that the number of immigrants nominated since the Suez mail left on the 23th ult. (just five working days) amounts to 224, making, with those sent by the Suez mail last week, 501 Of the 224 going by the San Francisco mail, we learn that 127 nominations were obtained yestetvluy. Whooping cough is very prevalent among children in Invercargill at the present time. The disease is said to be of a milder type than that experienced during a similar visitation some three years ago We observe that a new drain is being opened ia T*y street, along i"s northern side. A considerable portion of the drain has alreadj been dug to the required depth, and the bricks to be used in its formation are lying on the side- walk, ready to be bui'.t in. We are informed by the Immigration Officer that all the immigrants (twenty in number) who , arrived at the Bluff on Wednesday, per Wanganui from Dunedin, were nominated, with the exception of two — one young man and one single girl. The girl was engaged before she left the Wanganui, and the young man found I employment on arriving at Invercargill. The eighteen nominated immigrants were received by^ their friends. L. We are pleased to learn that there is every prospect of a cricket match being played between an Invercargill and Dunedin team, a __. challenge having been sent by our local Cricket Club some time ago, to which a response has been received that arrangements are being made for a Dunedin team to visit Invercargill, the friendly contest to com© off on New Year's Day. It is now some nine years since a similar match was played, an Invercargill team going to Dunedin on that occasion, where, it mast be confessed, they did not earn many laurels. It is unnecessary to add that if our chosen representatives hope to win the victory in the forthcoming match, that very desirable result can only be attained by constant practice. It is a subject for regret that there is not more, interest taken in " the noble game" by the rising generation in this neighborhood. Perhaps the excitement sure to be occasioned by the proposed contest will bring about a healthier state of matters in this respect. »- "-~ We have received from the publisher, Mr R. T. Wheeler, of Dunedin, Book IV. of Mr Vincent Pyke's Tery interesting and ably-written story, " Wild Will Enderby." The tale is now concluded, and we can confidently say that it is far from being deficient in real and peculiar excellence. It is a veritable history of Colonial life, wholly free from lackadaisical senfcimentalism, but possessing a great deal of healthy, manly feeling, and exhibiting besides very considerable descriptive powers, notably in the passages which describe the Dunstan Plain, Dunedin harbor, Dunedin itself, and the great valley of the Taieri, as seen from Mount Flagstaff. Mr Pyltf, in bidding adieu to his readers, Bays that he may hereafter resume his narrative, and further divulge the fortunes of Wild Will Enderby ; and we believe that many will cordially join us in saying that we care not how soon he doea\so, providing he continues to write as agreeably as he has hitherto done. We understand that Mr J. H Baker has been appointed one of the Commissioners under the new Southland Land Act, in lieu of Mr J.- T. Thomson, who, it will be remembered, resigned the office of Chief Surveyor after his appointment as one of the Commissioners. There was a large muster of the Artillery Company at the Drill Shed last evening, when, after a very satisfactory drill, Mr F. Brunton was elected sub-lieutenant, vice E. D. Butts, resigned.

From a Dunedin contempo-ary wo obtain some additional information respecting the gentleman recently elected Hector of the Invercargili Grammar School. It seems that Mr Miller was at one time headmaster of a large school in Edinburgh, and was also in Dunedin some time ago, but was sent for by Mr Morrison, of the Scotch College, Melbourne, in which institution he has been engaged in teaching for about the last three years. A licensing meeting was held in the Courthouse at noon on the 2nd inst., when Mossrs M'Cutioch and Perkins occupied the bench. Mr Longuet applied on behalf of Messrs Djke and Huffadine for the transfer of their respective hotel licenses to each other, which was granted. Liberty to transfer Mr Pdlling's hotel license at Wallacetown to Mr Powell was also granted. Mr Ranwell applied to get his license transferred from the Royal George to his new brick premises in Tay street. Liberty was given, the transfer not to take place till the new premises are actually completed and fitted up. The Star Mammoth Troupe performed for the last time in Inversargill at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening. There was a good house. Mr Searell presided at the pianoforte. Mr Bromley partly sang and partly recited " The wonderful history of Robinson Crusoe" with admirable effect, Misa Neilson sang " Joys await tomorrow^' with characteristic power and sweetness ; and Mr Margetts discharged his part of the programme with more than usual credit to himself and pleasure to the audience. Signor Ferrari's monkeys went through their wonderful feats, and apparently amused the audience very much. After the entertainment, the usual gift I distribution took place, when many useful articles were given away to such of the audience I as held marked tickets. Then a prize of £1 was i givea for the best local conundrum, Mr Wotton I being the witty winner. The company left Invercargili for Dunedin on Wednesday morning. j A full meeting of the committee of the Southland Horticultural Society took place at Colyer's Princess Hotel on Wednesday, the 3rd inst,, when the President, W. H. Calder, Esq., occupi d the chair. The Secretary, W. B. Scandrett, tendered his resignation, through press of business. It was unanimously resolved that the President, in acknowledging the receipt of the letter, Bhould convey the thanks of the Society to Mr Scandrett for his services as secretary during the past eight years, and express regret tnat he could not continue with the Society. Messrs Martin, Alex. M'Lean, J. Grant, Pirie, Preston, and Lennie were to be asked to act as judges for flowers, Messrs Walker, Swale, and Paterson for vegetables, and Mr Colyer for wines. It was resolved that the competition Tor the best kept garden be postponed till the March show, intending competitors to notify their intention to compete to the Treasurer, Mr Erskine, Dee-street, till 1-t February. Messrs Wau^h, Joyce, D. M' Arthur, and Cleave were appointed to judge t'ue gardens, and Mr Cleave was elected a member of committee in room of Mr Sangwell, removed from the district. The prospectus of the Union Shipping Company will be found in our advertising columns. At the meeting of the Municipal Council last night, His Worship the Mayor and Councillors Ross, Goodwills, Jaggers, Blackwood, Grarthwaite, Hall, and Pratt were present. The report of the Finance Committee was read. It showed that the Council had overdrawn on the Reserves Fund to the amount of £803. The report urged the advisability of the Council's reducing the number of laborers at present employed by the Corporation on the Reserves ; and further showed that the objectionable practice at present in vogue of paying two prices to workmen should be abolished. Acting on this suggestion, the Council resolved that all the men employe! in the gardens should be discharged, with the exception of the head gardener and his assistant. The report recommen led that Mr W. J. Moffett be requested to act a 9 Fire Inspector; that accounts amounting in all to £184 17s 6 i should be paid, and that the usual advertisements for leasing the jetty should be inserte \ in the local papers. The' accounts specified were passed for payment, and the repo 4 rt was adopted as a whole. The report of the City Surveyor was referred to the Public Works Committee. £36 4s was ordered to be paid for fencing and Otherwise improving the western recreation ground ; and a progress paym9nfc for tha formation of Don-street, amounting to £20, was also passed for liquidation. Two other sums, namely, £9 18s 10 J, for carting metal, and £10 2s 2d for stationery, were likewise passed. It was resolved that the Engineer hi requested to report as to the best means of enabling the thoroughfare between the railway station and the eastern end of tbe town to sustain heavy traffic. Resolved also that the Government be requested to have Tyne -street made up to the required level, and that Mr Nutter, as secretary to a meeting of residents in Tyneatreet, receive a copy of the last clause of Mr Harvey's opinion. It may be remarked (j^at Mr Harvey's letter of legal advice to the Council shows that the powers of the Government are limitless, and that the Council has no power to interfere in the matter of the Mataura railway passing through Tyne street, or in fact any part of the city. It was also resolved that a special meeting of the Council be held on Monday evening next, for the purpose of considering the best course to adopt in providing for the proper reception of the Governor on his intended visit to Invercargili. The Hon. Mr Richardson, Minister of Public Works, and the Hon. Mr Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs, arrived in Dunedin on i Saturday last. The Zealandia, from London, with 233 immigrants, arrived at Port Chalmers on Saturday last. The Jessie Readman, from Glasgow, with 225 passengers, arrived at the same port on Sunday, after a passage of 93 days. During the voyage of the last-named vessel, 10 deaths | occurred, six from whooping cough and measles, | two from consumption, one from hydrocephalus, and one from convulsions. Thirty cases of whooping cough and measles had been dealt with. The following are the names and ages of I those who died on board .—Mrs Johnston, aged |40 ; Mary M'Donald, 1 year ; Crichton Elythe, 1 year j James Twist, 2 years ; Alex. Urquharfc, 4 years ; Frank Urquhart, 2 years ; David Courtenay, 8 months ; R. J. Thomson, 10 months ; Ned Adams, 1 year ; Christina Brown, 1 1J year.

The Municipal Council of Wangmmi is considering tbe desirability of erecting gisworks in that town. It is expected that 600 burners will be in uee. At the races which came off in Forbury Park. Dunedin, on St. Andrew's D\.v, Mr J. Ward's Sir Tatton won the Hanlkup Hur lie Rice ; Captain Hutchison's F3a"l of Lynne the Mii Icn Plate ; and Mi J. Ward's Tarnbourini the St. Andrew's Handicap. . The Wanganui Chronicle siys that th« shearing season in that district is likely to be a late one owing to the ecarcity of shearers. The Tuapeka paper says it ia a noteworthy fact that tho Chinese and their families 81111091 invariably occupy the front soat3 at dramatic entertainments at Lawrence. The William Tapseott prisoners have been released. Our Tuapeka contemporary is responsible for the following : — lt is stated as an actu:i' tact that a young Highland woman recently carried a very young pi^ to Dunedin in the mail uoaeh, and that it was wrappe I up in a Paisley shawl, and received much sympathy from the other passengers, especially from a very religious old lady, who concluded that the carefully-concealeJ piggie was the bearer's first-born. The land sales in the Province of Canterbury for the month of November realised £63,013. The exhibit of minerals at the Nelson Exhibition is said to be the most varied collection in the Colony. The people of Timaru have determined to establish a Shipping Company. In the prospectus just issued it is state i that the Company is formed for the purpose of facilitating the shipping trade of South Canterbury, and to give shippers themselves an opportunity of controlling their own rate-* of coastal freights in lependently of the high rafcea hitherto charged, for which there can be no safety except by the establishment of a Company locally interested in its management. Tbe proposed capital is £30,0 X), in £5 shares, of which £3 per share is to be called up in nine months. The cricket match between the Auckland team and a Wellington eleven resulted in. a victory for the former, with three wickets to spare. At Nelson the Aucklanders beat the local team in one innings, with 55 paints to spare. ,In Ballarat a very successful plan has been adopted for dealing with larrikinism. The services of a constable ia private clothes are engage!, and it is his duty to arrest tho offender, conduct him to his home, explain his delinquency to his parents, and request that permission may be granted to administer punishment. The Hawke's Bay Herald, in quoting the traffic returns of the Southland railways, as published in our columns, aays : — " The Southland railway, from having been prov^^bial as a failure, now that it has reached the forests of the interior, bids fair to become proverbial as a success." Major Jackson, of the Waikato district, has disposed of some of his sheep. Four longwoolled rams fetched £60 each, and nin ty ewes of the same breed £10 each. A half-ca9te died recently at Tauranga through eating wax matches. The Tuapeka paper reports that the Good Templars Society is rapidly increasing in Lawrence. The value o f the imports at the several ports of the Colony during the quarter ended 30th September last was £1,473,261. For the corresponding quarter of lS7i, the value was £1,396,619. The escorts during the quarter were valued at £300,597, and for the corresponding porio.i of last year at £067,495. The postmaster of Gorman Bay, Akaroa, has (says the Lytteiton Times) for the public convenience, a letter-box placed alongside the public road. A vagrant swarm of bees, one day last week thought the box would suit their convenience, and without consulting either postmaster or pub.ic took up their abode within. The aatoni&hment of tho postmaster, and th c trouble of dislodging what were not FTor Majesty's mails, can be better imagined thin described. During last month 297 applications for nominated passages were forwarded through the Christchuroh office. It is stated that a Poverty Bay settler named Frazer has been committed for trial before the Supreme Court at Napier, for shooting a horse, the property of Mr Breingan, late of Havke's Bay. The cause was a boundary dispute. The horse, it is said, was shot while Mr Breingan was on his back. The Revs. Messrs Skinner, Anderson, and Henry have been appointed by the Colonial Committee of the Free Church to labor in the Presbyterian Church of Otago. Mr Skinner may be expected to arrive soon, as he sailed at the end of August, and Mr Henry may be expected in the course of a month, Mr Eugene Joseph O'Conor, M.H.R. for Westport, and a candidate for the Superintendency of Nelson, has .a penchant, it is said, for referring to his royal ancestors. A correspondent of one of the Nelson papers asks— Doea he allude to King Roderic O'Conor, who sold Ireland to England ? Possibly he is prepared to emulate the conduct of his ancestor, and sell us if we elect him. The local paper reports that the Oamaru harbor works are now beyond the reef, and with sufficient funds and plenty of labor further progress is a simple matter. A subsoil plough, which ploughs to the depth of 19^ inches, and which is drawn by two bullocks, is now at work at Elderslie, near Oarnaru. At the first annual show of the Olutha Agricultural and Pastoral Association, held on the 27th ult., the leading classes of stock were fairly represented, but tho feature of tho show was the exhibition of sheep — both merino and long-wo^lled — of which there were 91 entries.