INVERCARGILL. (From our oxen Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 233, 18 July 1872, Page 5

INVERCARGILL. (From our oxen Correspondent.)

June has resembled a winter month in Britain. On the 10th it commenced to snow and continued till the ground was covered to a greater depth than ever known since the settlement of Southland. Frosts succeeded and the snow melted so slowly that all ploughing was"- suspended for nearly three weeks.

The Eastern District ploughing mate 1 !, fixed to come off at Long Bush, about eight miles from Invercargill, on the 14th, was postponed till the 28th which proved a mild favourable day. There were fewer competitors and a smaAer attendance than on previous occasions. In fact the farmers in the Eastern District show less public spirit now than they did a few years ago.

A session of the District Court was to have been held on the 10th xilt., but although Judge Ward attended, there was no business for him to do, the only case on the list having been arranged without coming into court. It is creditable to the community that we have very little litigation. I should like if the legislators of this young country would cast aside the trammels of ancient usage aud frame their acts in the language of ordinary intercourse, so th&t anyiinan of average intelligence cosld .. understand the law, without p^dueersfhaving to support a number of lawyers whose utility may be questioned. ' Major Atkinson, District Adjutant, having paid a visit of inspection to our local volunteers, was entertained at dinner by the officers of the Invercargill corps, on the evening of the 17fch ult. After the thirty gentlemen present had diuod, tlio night was agreeably spent with speeches, toasta, and music. The Supremo Court session was

held onthe26th ult. and two following days. Eleven cases were tried, and although this number is considerably over the average, yet there were few habitual criminals. D. A. Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted suicide; he is one of the cleverest tradesmen iv town, but unfortunately at times drinks to excess, and committed the act whilst on the spree. His brother promised to look after him, and he had only to give recognizances to appear wben called on. Robarfc Davidson, a boatman, who took Kee Chang to Stewart's Island, was charged with stealing £21 and a watch from the Chinaman, but was found not guilty. There were three charges against Kee Chang for selling base metal, representing the same to be gold. He pleaded guilty, and received two years imprisonment with hard labor. Ah Hoon was charged with knowingly receiving money unlawfully obtained by Kee Chang. There buing no evidence of a guilty knowledge, a Verdict of not guilty was returned. John Conner slept at a country hotel, and stole a pocket book and contents, belonging to the landlord, out of the pocket of a coat hanging up. He was found guilty and got 18 months. -John Bishop helped a drunken man home, who lost £9. Bishop was charged with robbery from the person, but found not guilty. John Christie, with six previous convictions got four years hard labour for horse stealing ; and two years for robbery from the person. H. G-. "Wheeler, groom, was found guilty of stealing a mare, saddle, bridle, and spurs from his employer, and got two years hard" labor. E. Hitchcock fancied a neighbour was " too great with his wife," and while in a state of excitement fired at him, wounding him in the back. Having a good character and being recommended to mercy, he got off with six months. E. H. lugpen, Registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, forgot to pay the fees received by him into the Government account, and was found guilty of embezzlement. He was sentenced to two j ears imprisonment. J. M'lntosh, a farmer, after selling and getting paid for his oats, otherwise disposed of them, and was charged with larceny as a bailee, but the Graud Jury returned no true bill. On the evening of the 2nd inst., his Honor Judge Chapman delivered a lecture on the " Triumphs of Science." There was a fair attendance, and the lecturer kept his audience interested for nearly an hour and a half; Of course most people hsre have been glad to learn that the Mataura Railway has been contracted for. £86,00 > for 39 miles of rail and 3 of isiulings, is greatly below the cost of railways constructed by the Southland Provincial Government. It is to be hoped there will be none of the extras and complications that made them cost so much more than the original estimate.