INVERCARGILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 242, 19 September 1872, Page 8

INVERCARGILL.

(From our own Corresponde7it.)

About the middle of August we had a week of wind, hail, rain and snow, but the rest of the month was moderate ; September has come in fine and it is to be hoped will continue so, as in this month most of the oats are generally sown. Invercargill is well supplied with hotels, billiard rooms, &., but the only public amusement during August, was a dramatic and musical entertainment given by amateurs for the benefit of the hospital, in the Theatre on the evening of the 28th.

IJis Honor Judge Ward held a sitting of the District Court on 10th Aug. ; the only criminal case was that of James Macintosh settler, who was found guilty of concealing a debt with intent to defraud bis creditors, and sentenced ho one year's imprisonment.

On the 10th also John Christie undergoing a sentence of six years imprisonment, made his escape from the goal, but was captured beyond the Mataura on the 18th, having experienced more privation than pleasure during bis excursion. The Bite of Invercargill being nearly level, thp streets run in straight lines north and sQijtb and east and west ; some of the principal ones are two chains wide, the rest one chain. Nearly through the centre of the town as delineated on the map run,s a stream called Puui Creek ; aloqg each b,ank a strip has. been measured for pubjip gardens. The Southland Provincial Council had the channel of the creek straightened and widened for some (frtftuce, an 4 pm ,aU cjralfcs, goiftetimea.

,coTne up with fish, firewood, &. Sin?e the commencement of the present municipal year>the members of council [have accepted contracts for widening" and straightening remainder of channel ' to tfie boundary of the 1 town, and the work is now in progress. As many of tbe streets are still unformed, the ordinary revenuewould not have been expended on this object, but there is no place to go. for an agreeable stroll, and probably the amount received from the sale of frontage to Tay street, will enable the Council to supply this want soon, part of the gardens reserve now being cleared, levelled, and fenced. Some time ago Mr. Hutchinson of Dunediu,made proposals for supplying Invereargnl with gas, but the Council did not accept his conditions ; recently Mr. A- J. Smyth has offered to erect gas works and supply gas at 17s 6d per thousand feet, but his terms have not yet been considered. Under the new Road Ordinance, Southland has been divided into seven Districts, each containing three subdivisions, the nominations have taken place ; at about half the nominations the requisite number of candidates were returned^ without opposition, in the remainder the elections take place shortly. Most of the Districts being I large, attendance at meetings will entail a considerable journey on members residing near the outskirts. I'like to see direct taxation introduced here, as it will likely cause settlers to pay more attention to their public duties than they have hitherto done.

Yesterday was a great day in Invercargill, being the occasion of turning the first sod of the Mataura Railway, the weather was fine and nothing occured to mar the success of the demonstration. Prior to the event, the various 1 parts of the programme were entrusted to the charge of committees, and the occasion was observed as a general holiday. Proceedings commenced with a procession, composed of the Volunteers headed by their band, the cadets, the fire brigade with their engine, and apparatus drawn by three pairs of horses, the Oddfellows and Sons of Temperance, in their sashes &., the Councillors, and a large number of school childreu. After parading some of the principal streets, the members of the procession marched to the spot selected for performing tb© ceremony, where a large- conconrse of spectators assembled. Mr. Brunton the engineer read an addre&s, and Mr. Wood the Mayor a reply, after which the lattt- r gentleman filled the barrow, wheeled it along a plank, and tipped it in the customary fashion, then followed volleys from the Volunteers, and cheers for the.Queon, the Mayor, the Mayoress, the Councillors, Railway Committee, the Engineers, Contractors &c, from spectntors, and bumpers of champagne were drunk by the promoters of the demonstration and friends. I was amused to see the same persons cheering Mr. Wood who hooted and insulted him on his return from attending the special session of Provincial Council ; such is public life, popularity is often gained by chance, and lost without cause. - On the gardens reserve adjoining the Railway line, swings were erected for the children, and refreshments served out to them in profusion ; a liberal butcher had a bullock roasted whole, and with its accompaniments of bread and beer, was in demand for adults. The railway line at the station waa boarded across, and converted into a spacious ball room, where after the gentlemen had enjoyed themselves at a dejeuner, the ladies had their chief pleasure at a numerously attended ball, where dancing was kept up with spirit till morning. An amateur entertainment in the Theatre afforded amusement of a different nature, and was well patronised.

Messrs Brogden are sub-letting most of the work on the railway, and well informed persons express the opinion they will clear something handsome out of .their contract ; I hear it also said engineers will have to look sharp if they want to keep the work up to the mark. The heaviest embankment occurs where the railway leaves the terraces for the Mataura plains near the Company's station of Edendale, Woik has been commeneed'thero, and tenders are called for the formation from Invercargill to Woodlands until 16th inst.

Like most New Zealand towns there is not much of a national or democratic spirit here, local expenditure ef public money, being the leading principle of the majority; having secured the..railway the fate of the Ministry seems to excite but little attention.