INVERCARGILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 223, 9 May 1872, Page 8

INVERCARGILL.

(From our Own Correspondent.) Ist May, 1872. April like the other autumn months, has been remarkably fine. Early in the month, we had Some showery days^and . wet nights that moistened tlje ground sufficiently to enable fanners to push on fencing, ditching, and ploughing new N land. . The weather then continued mild and pleasant up till the 29th, when rain set in again, ju&t as the land was becoming rather hard and dry. There has-ex-isted a considerable demand for long woolled sheep, the advance in wool, and the low price of dairy produce inducing settlers to depend leas on cattle, and pay more attention to sheej). In addition to the Meat Preserving Company, at Woodlands, the establishment recently erected at Winton is in operation, but the supply of cattle still keeps in advance of requirein 3»tS. , Mr. Hislop has been inspecting the school throughout the district. As some of the teachers took things very easy and wanted wakening up a little, his visit is likely to be productive of good." Soon after Mr. Hislop's arrival in Invercargill, he gave a lecture at the Town Hall, (formerly the Provincial Council Hall) on " Family and School Education," for the benefit of the Athenaeum, but the attendance w»s not so large as it ought to have been. Stimulated by the success of the soiree at Grove Bush Sehoolhouse, the Committee of the One Tree Point School —situated about 8 miles- from Invercargill — had a soiree in a"newly erected schoolhouse, at which, there -was a large 'atfendance, and a considerable amount realized. On the evening of the Bth nit., a crowded meeting was held at the Town . Hall, to consider the expediency of having a weekly half-holiday, and resolutions were passed in favour of closing places of business atl*p.m. on Saturdays; however, shopkeepers decided that Wednesdays would spit them better, and agreed that a half -holiday would be kept on that 4ay. . - On the evening of the ' 22nd ult., Mr. Dillon Bdl addressed a public meeting in the Theatre. The building was well filled, but not s.o. crowded as I expected. He spoke* at considerable length, but gave very little information. When seeking re-election, . he impressed . upon the electors the benefits they might expect from being represented by a member of the Ministry ; but now that the electors are gettiug impatient at the delay in commencing the railway, and many who expected employment on them at good wages, sec it is pail; of the policy to wait till cheap labour can be procured, Mr. B<ll said that, being Speaker, he had nothing to do with the Ministry. Although he visited Norway and Sweden in company with Dr. Featherston to inaugurate a stream of Scandinavian immigration, he said he thought sufficient iiiimigrants might have been obtained in Britain, if a proper system had been adopted. Alfhough every one who has paid attention to the land -laws of the proyiuce knows how he supported the infamous Hundreds Regulation Act, he repeated the farce of professing to be a friend to settlement. Evidently, -he was not so well received as on his last visit, and on the Chairman submitting a resolution favourable to him, amendment was moved,- That Mr. Bell's duct in the Assembly, andiiiß explanations had been unsatisfactory.. A majority of those present did not hold up their hands either way, and the number shown was about equal. The Chairman, one .of Mr. Bell's supporters, declared the motion carried, Mr, Brogden, after inspecting the route surveyed for the proposed Mataura Rail- - way, Visited luvercargill, and was interviewed by the Railway Commictee. but was not inclined to commit himself iv any way ; he left for the Lake District by way of the proposed Kingston line. As the. winter is commencing, probably there will not be any railways started this season,