GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 286, 24 July 1873, Page 7

GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

The net weekly cost of each patient in the Lunatic Asylum during the past year was 8s 7£, or at the rate of L 22 7a 5d per year, which is below the cost of patients in many cithe Home Asylums, notwithstanding that the dietary scale of the Dunedin Asylum is more liberal than that of similar institutions in Great Britain. On Tuesday evening last, says the North Otago Times, a number of Mr Steward's personal friends met at the Northern Hotel in order to give Mr Steward a farewell greeting previous to his departure for Wellington to resume his legislative duties, and in token of theit appreciation of Mr Steward's efforts for the advancement of the district, they begged his acceptance of a purse of sovereigns. Mr Steward in reply said he would accept the testimonial without any hesitation, because, judging from the fact that amongst the gentlemen present he could recognise several of his political opponents, the plain inference to he drawn was that his past career amongst them had met with the approval of friend and foe, and this circumstance appeared to him to be one he ought to be justly proud of. Mr Steward left Oamaru for Dunedin, en route fer Wellington, the next morning. The number of immigrants nominated in the Colony is at present, according to the Wellington Independent, at the rate of 3,000 per annum. A barmaid named Stratford, living at Ross, has been committed for trial for perjury in connection with a case wherein she had sued her employer for alleged arrears of wages. Mr G. B. Parker, M.H.R. for Gladstone, addressed his constituents at Waimate last week, and at the conclusion of his speech the following resolution was carried :—" That this meeting has thorough confidence in Mr Parker as far as the interests of local requirements are concerned; but his systematic opposition to Mr Yogel is alike detrimental to the district and Colony at large." The Rev. Father Nivard, prior to his departure from the Thames for China, was presented with a "testimonial of a substantial character — a purse containing 200 guineas and an illuminated address. In acknowledgi ing the gifts he referred to the good feeling that had existed between other denominations and himself, and said, " Even the bell of his church was given to him by a Protestant." Mr Charles Cargill Kettle was on the 15th morning admitted by, and Mr Gerald Dyson Branson, member of Jesus College, Cambridge, a barrister of the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple, and likewise a barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria, was sworn in before his Honor Mr Justice Chapman as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Mr E. W. Butts, for twelve years post--master at Invercargill, has been appointed chief postmaster at Wellington. In noticing hi 3 promotion, the News says :— " Mr Butts has been a good citizen, having always been willing to take a full share in any scheme on foot for the public good, and will be missed by a number of local societies. In conducting the business of his department also, he has been equally energetic, attentive, and courteous, and will carry with him the good wishes of, we believe, the entire community." Mr J. S. Macfarlane, a candidate for the Auckland Superintendency, in replying to a correspondent of the Cross who criticised his address, says :—"I: — "I am aware that in thia small community there are many hundreds of political adventures and scheming politicians who live by politics, and, as not a few of these are lawyers, I must expect considerable opposition from that quarter. In reply to questions asked, I answer — The Education Act, I consider to be, like nearly all Provincial Acts, a sad bungle. I believe that one general Act for Education should be for the whole Colony, and that the rate should be a property rate, by which men worth ten thousand a year should have to pay an equivalent tax, and not the same sum as the laborer." The Evening Post contains a telegraphic resumi of that portion of the Chief Justice's charge which had reference to >ulli van's murder. Sir George Arney said he would not allude to the political aspect of the question, but the Legislature would no doubt treat the matter as a great crime, which must be punished. He believed that the time would soon come when the Natives would be brought to justice, and would learn that the law though slow is sure. The Government should endeavour to show the Natives that an appeal to the law is better than the barbarous mode of rectifying wrongs. He thought the Hawke's Bay Commission would tend to show that the Legislature is always willing to listen to Native petitions. He was glad that only one section of the Natives had resisted the law. The whole of the immigrants who arrived per ship James Nicol Fleming on the Ist inst. have met with engagements, with the exception of eleven families and one single man, a baker, who are still in the* Immigration Barracks. Ten times the number of females could have been disposed of without any difficulty. When it is considered that equal to 205 statute adults, numbering 226 souls, arrived by this ship, and that in the slack season of the year, it cannot be but gratifying to those who have the interests of the Province at heart, to Bee that the demand for labor continues so good. The immigrants per the Fleming, however, were altogether superior to the general class sent from Great Britain, being well adapted for the requirements of the Province. Three families who arrived per ship Cospatrick, and six families and four single men per ship Edwin Fox, from Lyttleton, are still in the barracks, and open for engagement. The rate of wages continues good, married couples being engaged at from L6O to L7O per annum, and found ; ploughmen, L 52 to L 55;5 5; farm servants, LSO ; female general servants, L3O to L 35;3 5; housemaids, L 25 ; blacksmiths, for tations, 40s per week, and found. A Catlin's River correspondent of the Bruce herald writes : — "This little outside corner of the Province— although much overlooked and neglected by the powers that be — is yet destined, in my humble opinion, to become a place of vast importance in contributing to the wealth and prosperity of Otago. It has an almost inexhaustible store of magnificent timber of various kinds, including black, red, and white pines, totara, cedar, mero, red, white, black, and silver birch, ironwood, goai, large manuka, broadleaf and ribbomrood, &c, By-the-way, the bark of the latter tree at a certain season is very sweet, and indicates the presence of sugar or some other sweet substance; the bark, when dry, would make good matting for packing furniture, &c, and would very probably make excellent wrapping paper. Rich and extensive seams of blue limestone are found at various points, miles aparc. Extensive beds of superior pipeclay, said, by practical men, to be the best yet found in the Province. I understand a company is at present forming for the purpose of purchasing some land here, and starting a pottery work on a large scale Such a work, having the raw material on the spot, abundance of the best kinds of firewood, and a navigable river adjoining its boundary, will have advantages rarely to be met with. It is to be hoped the Government will grant a subsidy for this new industry, and we may, ere long, see the proposed sew

work in a flourishing condition, and manufacturing crockery ware equal to any produced in Stafford." The following tenders have been accepted by the Government for the construction of five sections of the Tokomairiro and Lawrencerailway : — Tokomairiro section, Messrs J. and N. Campbell, of Invercargill, LI 1,023 ; Glenore section, W. Strachan, of Wellington, L 16.49 1; Round Hill section, Messrs Morrison and Irwin, of Dunedin, L 19.78 0; Tuapeka section, Mr J. Goodfellow, of Dunedin, L 13.84 6; Waitahuna section, same, L 12.414. The following tenders were rejected : — Tokomairiro section, Proudfoot, L 12.626; Hawkins, L 17.43 7; Connor and Mackav, L 15.187 ; GoodfelW, L 13.230; Morrison and Irwin. L 13.940; Snrith, L 14,14 1; Wilson, L 16,997 ; Watson, L 15,846. Glenore section : — For this, eleven tenders were received, and Messrs J and N. Campbell's L 15,334, was accepted, and afterwards thrown up by them : fresh tenders were called for, and Mr Strachan's accepted. The following were rejected :— Salmon and M'Kenzie, Dunedin, L 17.009 ; D. Proudfoob, LIB.OOO ; Morriion and Irwin, L 21.300 ; D. Kirkwood, L 17.729; Round Hill section, Proudfoot, L 22,25 9; Hawkins, L 27.282; Connor and Mackay, L 28,284 ; Smyth, L 22.047 ; Campbell, L 17.366 ; Wilson, L 27.944 ; Watson, L 26.813; Strachan, L 22 296 ; Kirkwood, L 25,361 ; Tuapeka section, Proudfoot, L 14.357 ; Hawkins, L 21,76 2; Connor and Mackay, L 23.124; Morrison and Irwin, L 15.930; Smyth, L 17.212; Campbell, L 12.741 ; Wilson, L 21,612 ; Watson, L 21 ,186 ; Waitahuna, Proudfoot, L 12.850; Hawkins. L 18.93 2; Connor and Mackay, L 17,772 : Morrison nd Irwin, L 13,770; Smyth, L 13.58 8; Campbell, LI 1,214 Watson, 15,982. The tenders of Campbell for the three last-named sections were declined, in consequence of the conditions not having been complied with. There is not a single civil case set down for trial at this session of the Supreme Court. From a private telegram, we learn that Mr J. M'Neil was on the 16fch re-elected Mayor of Balclutha, for the fourth time, without opposition. Under the able and energetic supervision of Mr W. H. Floyd, Telegraph Electrician, the third wire — Wellington cum Grahamstown—has been completed from Napier to Tarawera, and from Maketu to Grahamstowa. There is now only a distance of about 150 miles to finish the work. Operations have lately been progressing at the rate of seven miles per diem. It will be seen from our report of the proceedings of the Provincial Council that a motion was brought forward by Mr Mills, in reference to the necessity for a daily mail between Dunedin and Palmerston. The resolution was moved by Mr St-mt, and, after a few remarks from Mr Mills (who had taken his place in the meantime) the word "Oamaru" was substituted for "Palmerston," at the * suggestion of | the Secretary for Lands, and the motion was carried. In a private letter received by one of our (Auckland Evening Star) readers from a tailor in London, the following pathetic passage occurs :—": — " The winter has been a very dreary one, work has been extremely scarce, but the spring buds are bursting around, and a few gleams of sunshine occasionally appear. Beef is a shilling a pound ; mutton, elevenpence-half-penny ; potatoes, twopence, and diseased at that price ; and as for cabbage, the London tailor can get none ; and goose, even at Michaelmas, is beyond the reach of poor snip. There has been a great meeting at Exeter Hall, where some of the speakers spoke of New Zealand as a perennial Paradise. Of course there are no peor tailors in your city !" The letter is dated 9th April, 1873. The North Otago Times opposes the proposal of the Government to continue the " block sales," and ask who is to determine what "land cannot be used for other than pastora 1 purposes ?" It says the Maerewhenuablock was sold as "pastoral land." and unless the Council at once determinedly set its face against such sales as the new Executive contemplates, half the waste land of the Province may before the end of the year have been purchased by the pastoral tenants of the Crown, and the Maerewhenua blunder repeated in every district in the Province. This is a question of great public import, and it is to be hoped that the Council will definitely and positively condemn the policy of allowing Government the power to sell any land otherwise than by public competition. A schocking and fatal accident occurred on the Port Chalmers Railway Wednesday evening. As the five o'clock down train approached a sharp turn about a quarter of a mile on the Dunedin side of Burkes brewery, the engine driver felt a vibration, and having passed on a short distance, fancied he saw an object lying on the rails, but the speed at which the train was then going — about twenty miles an hour — prevented its being stopped. On arrival at the Port human hair was found on the buffer of the engine, which led to the surmise that some one had been knocked down by it. On the return journey a halt was made at the spot, and it was discovered that a man named Angus M'Pherson had by some means got on the rails, been struck by the train and instantaneously killed. The body was most horribly mutilated. Sergeant Golder, who came from the Port in the train, had the body placed in a truck, and, on reaching town, taken to the Hospital, where it awaits an inquest which will probably be held to-day. Deceased was a laborer, aged about forty-five or fifty, living close to where the accident occurred, and leaves a wife and child. Now that Mr Haggitt has > succeeded in convincing the Provincial Council that the Provincial Government Gazette, which most people have regarded as an unmitigated and very coßtly nuisance, is a necessary evil, we imagine that in future sessions the item will be passed without discussion. On the 18th Mr De Lautour was the principal objector to the continuance of this Government organ, and he wanted its heaviness relieved by a little light reading, such as was found in Reynold^ s Miscellany, if its publication was kept up, and a small charge made for it. Very few members appeared to be of the same way of thinking as the member for Mount Ida, and the item passed. Judge Johnston could not have been in a very amiable mood while at Napier a few days ago, when he opened the circuit of the Supreme Court there. First he lectured the Colonial Government on its parsimony in not advertising in the local papers the date of the Court sittings, then he charged the Press with mendacity, next his unspeakable horror and dismay were excited by the " state of things he had found at Napier, a condition of affairs quite unprecedented there or elsewhere, and demanding the most vigorous inquiry. Daring the number ef years he had presided over the Court he had never experienced such a series of failures of justice through neglect of the proper preliminaries." The most signal failure appears to have been occasioned oy the absence of a material witness, Mr Kirton, manager of the Bank ef New Zealand at Poverty Bay, which resulted in the breaking down of a charge of forgery. It was shown that Mr Kirton, could not, without gross neglect of duty, have attended earlier than he did, and that the irregular communication between Napier and Poverty Bay was mainly 'the cause of his absence, Nevertheless, the

forfeiture of LSO was impo?ed, his Honor refusing to hear a statement Mr Kirton wished to make. This appears to have been naturally regarded as % hardship by Mr Kirton, who remarked to the Registrar that he should pay the money "uuder protest." This unlucky remark involved the unhappy manager in another difficulty. He was at once brought into Court, and subjected to a terrific reprimand, coupled with the warning that he was liable to instant imprisonment for an indefinite period for such scandalous contempt of Court. The additional punish mentwas, however, not enforced. Tenders were opened on the 18th for LI 2, 000 Corporatien 6 per cent, debentures. Tenders were received for L 30.000, ranging from L 95 to LlO3, and tenders were accepted for L 12.000 at an average of LlOl 10s. Tenders were opened on the 19th for the construction of the new railway wharf and reclamation at Port Chalmers. Mr David Proudfoot Wcis the successful tenderer, and has taken the work for L 16.400 in round numbers. The members of the Otago Schoolmasters' Association met on the 19 th in Wain's Hotel to bid farewell to Mr Gardner, late of Milton Hall, Stuart street. The chair was occupied by Mr Stewart, North School, who was supported on the right by the Rev. Dr Stuart and the guest of the evening, and on the left by Mr Milne, Caversham, and Mr Stout, M.P.C. The vice-chair was filled by Mr Hislop, Inspector of Schools, supported on the right by Mr Park, South School, and on the left by Mr M'Kay, of Port Chalmers Grammar School. After wishing success and prosperity to Mr Gardner, the Chairman presented him with the following address, signed on behalf «f the Association by the President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Librarian: — "To Mr Kobert S. Gardner. Dear Sir,— As you are about to leave New Zealand for the Home Country, the members of this association cannot allow you to depart without j expressing their high appreciation of you as a public teacher, and their esteem for you as a man. The active interest you have always taken in the association as a member, your unceasing attention to your duties while secretary, and your urbanity and courtesy while president, have not only commanded the respect of your brethren, but also endeared you to every one of them who has had the pleasure of your acquaintance. They join heartily in wishing you a prosperous voyage and God-speed, with every happiness in your future career." Mr Gardner made a very feeling reply. A number of other speeches were made, and, altogether, a very agreeable evening enjoyed. It is only necessary to say that host Wain did everything in his usual excellent style. The Government got well on with their Estimates on the 18th, though the member for Waihemo and a few of his friends were unnecessarily obstructive. On the item ' ' goldfields," Mr Reid referred to a certain Warden of Goldh'elds having lately become a candidate for election to the Provincial Council, and who, it was given out, was still retained in the Government service, and wished fo- information as to whether he had voluntarily resigned, and on what conditions he had dene so. The member for the Taieri, drawing his information from Dame .Rumor, said that this Warden did not put in his proposition to retire until after he was put up as a candidate ; and that, if compensation was not voted him, he would fall back on his leave of absence, and be reinstated in his former position. The Goldfields Secretary gave a very full explanation. The Warden in question, he said, had made application to the Government for twelve months' leave of absence, and that application was backed up by medical certificates that it waa absolutely necessary he should have change of air, as his long and laborious services had rendered him unfit to attend to his duties. Upon these representations the leave, as asked for, was granted ; but shortly afterwards, the gentleman offered to retire from the service, and the Government, thinking in the first place that we had too many Wardens already, were only too glad to have this opportunity of reducing their number, and, in the second place, that if they had to pay the Warden in question twelve months' salary during his leave of absence, it would be much the same thing if they allowed him to retire with the compensation he was entitled to for eleven years' service. At a later period of the evening Mr Bastings contradicted a statement by Mr Reid that the Warden in question had resigned on a previous occasion and received compensation; the fact being that when he re-entered the Government service, he repaid to the Government the amount of retiring allowance then paid to him. The only other items on which there was much discussion were the votes for fees of members of the Waste Land Board, subsidy to acclimatisation and agricultural societies, and for printing the Gazette. On the first, the Government explained that they intended to pay the Waste Land Board Commissioners two guineas per sitting, with coach fares from home and back again. Gsvernment would be prepared to consider a special rate to the Southland Acclimatisation Society in recognition of its efforts to introduce sabnon, but could not extend it, because they had already placed L3OO on the Estimates for the purpose, it being understood the General Government would provide a sum of LBOO. The whole of the items under the heads of roads were passed, and progress , was then reported. ! A woman named Caroline Whitting, anative of Berlin, Prussia, convicted at Invercargill Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, on the 20th November, 1872, of child murder, and sentenced to death, but afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life, was received into the Dunedin Gaol, on the 20th, escorted by Constable t-ullivan. In the course of the railway debate on the 18th the Provincial Secretary alluded to the determination shown by Canterbury to push her railways south with the utmost expedition, and mentioned that it had come to his knowledge that that Province was going to the length of offering to the contractors of these lines a bonus of so much per day for every day the work was completed within the contract time. There are two foundries in active operation in Invercargill, and a third is to be established shortly. Labor, both skilled and unskilled, is exceedingly scarce in Southland — in fact, artisans, or laborers, can scarcely be obtained at present for money, love, or any other consideration. In view ©f the construction of the Winton and Kingston Kail way, Mr Webster, of Benmore, is making preparations for entering into agriculture on a large scale. Large buildings are to He erected, and machinery obtained at once for this purpose. When fully commenced, about sixty men will be employed An inquest was held on the 10th instant at the West Taieri, before Mr Fulton, Coroner, on the body of Andrew Bradshaw, who had been drowned while crossing the river in a small boat the previous Sunday. Deceased was a native of Heighglenlin, Wigtonshire, Scotland, where it is supposed he has a widow Bister residing, and was thirty years of age. A verdict of "Accidentally Drowned" was returned. In Committee of Supply on Wednesday, the Estimates were gone into, but opposed, at every step in the votes for Departmental expenses Mr Reid's chief objection to the much needed additions to various salaries of officers in responsible positions wan that, m *

the reductions some sessions back were made on a sliding scale, the increase should proceed on a similar principle. The Government dissented from the principle, and con sidered that amount of work and personal ability should be the guide. In consequence of the rain which prevailed all day, the match between Drake and Fox, which was to have come off on Saturday, has beeu postponed till Saturday next. The Southland Times thinks that the Suez mail contract has been framed for the benefit of Auckland exclusively; but, withal, the gain is an almost infinitely small item as compared with the serious and disproportionate loss to Otago and Southland. The service could not have been worse managed, and, in addition, the arrangement has not the advantage of economy, as it could have been obtained by the way of the Bluff as first and last place of call for the same money. There are good grounds for raising an indignant outcry, and the only solace under the infliction is that the period of the agreement extends over six months ouly. Who has the right to grant free passes on the railway, and to whom they are granted, was a question asked by Mr Wood, of the Government, on Wednesday, and answered by the Secretary of Works to the effect that he was the only person who issued passes, though his Honor the Superintendent had done so in a couple of instances. The only passes issued were to members of the Provincial Council during the session, and to a poor woman and her family who were being sent out of the Colony by the aid of charity. The Government were determined to make the railway pay as well as possible, and had refused to grant passes to General Government servants. Mr Reid, in his usual sarcastic manner, advised the Government as a good move, which was likely to have a ''soothing" effect, to grant passes indiscriminately to members of the Opposition, but had the laugh turned upon himself by the member for Oamaru Town, who recommended the Government to comply with the wish of the member for the Taieri, and at the same time try the "soothing" effect of heavily laden goods trucks at the rear of trains, by invariably attaching them to the trains in which the Opposition members travelled. The Port Chalmers railway occupied a prominent place in discussing the Estimates on| Wednesday, When the vote LI 1,000 for interest came on, Mr htout asked for information in reference to it, and pointed out that the taking over of the line did not look as if it were to leave a very large margin for Srofit, when the estimated revenue was set own at L 22,000, while on the other side were Lll,ooo for interest, and L 8.458 for salaries and working expenses. The Government answered that the Province would be charged with interest on the cost of the line at the rate mentioned in the Immigration and Public Works Act, the Province receiving all receipts from the line. The Government believed that the returns would exceed L 22.000, and had thought it better to put down theiull amount on which interest might have to be paid. But certain hon. members, Mr Reid and Mr Gillies in particular, were not satisfied, and pressed for further information, which was supplied by Mr Turnbull, Mr Bastings, and Mr Oliver, and, as given by them, was to this effect : — The cost of the railway to the General Government was L 175.000, i.e., they gave the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company L 75.000, and took up the company's debentures, which amounted to LIOO.OOO. Besides this, the Government took over a large and varied quantity ef contractors' plant, timber, piles (which would be used in the new jetty) extra rail", &c— plant which Mr Oliver said was well worth the money paid for it— which was valued and purcha-ed for LI 1,940, making the total cost of purchase as from the promoters L.186,940. But the purchase money, upon which the Province would pay 54 per cent, interest, would be close upon L 200,000, as the General Government were about to build a new wharf at the Port, at a cost of about L 17,000, and enlarged goods sheds, and these works would be added to the cost of purchase. When the idea of purchasing it was first mooted, the General Government, which thought it was necessary the line should become the property of the Government, asked the Provincial Government to negotiate for its purchase ; but the latter would not give the price asked by the promoters, and on the General Government rested the responsibility of purchasing it at the contractors' price of LI 75, 000. Then it became a question whether it was worth the Provincial Government's while, for a small profit, to take over the line ; but seeing that private persons had made liberal offers to work the line and pay the interest on its total cost, the Government thought they would not be doing their duty if they did not work it. But with respect to the grievance of the West Harbor Board, which grievance the Government admitted did exist, they had asked the General Government to retain in their hands LIO,OOO of the purchase money to be paid to the promoters, until the latter cleared up all matters of dispute between them and the Road Board. On this head Mr Oliver explained that the General Government had taken over the promoters' responsibilities, and it was for them to make matters right with the Road Board. The purchase of vhe railway was defended by Mr Reid, who, however, expressed his doubts about the policy of the Government managing the railways. Two other subjects connected with the railway cropped up. The first was referred to by Mr Stout, and he mentioned that competent authorities had remarked upon the danger of the praci tice of putting goods trucks at the rear of carriages, while Mr Reid, as expressing the views of the "timidly-disposed," objected to running any risk of being "telescoped" while travelling to the Port. Both hon. members appeared to have their fears | calmed by Mr Oliver's assurance that the placing of goods trucks at the rear of carriages on the Port line was of no moment whatever, as the ordinary running ra 1 c was only sixteen miles an hour, and the momentum acquired by the heavily-laden trucks at that speed was not sufficient, in the opinion of competent judges, to break up a passenger carriage. Considerable progress was made with the Estimates on Thursday, and up to the time progress was reported, a little after 10 o'clock, no alteration had been made in the items, though a reduction was attempted in two or three instances. First of all, Mr Stout moved the Superintendent's salary should stand at LBOO, as it did last year, but the proposition was negatived by fourteen against twenty-three. Then the item, "Secretary for Goldfields and Works, L 600" was opposed by members who wanted the salary to remain at L4OO, but they were outvoted by a majority of seven. The proposition to have two non-official members of the Executive was opposed by Mr M'Kenzie, because certain members of the existing Government had opposed Mr Reid having more than four members in his Executive, and by Mr Gillies, because there was no necessity for having two non-official members : officials whom, from his own experience, he regarded as more ornamental than useful — an unlucky remark for the member for Milton, because Mr M'Lean, amid laughter, reminded the Council that it did not follow that because such a good-look-ing gentlemen as the member for Milton could not be got to take office as a nonofficial member, one even more useful was not obtainable ; while Mr Turnbull expressed regret to hear that that hon. member found himself of such little use in the capacity referred, The vote was carried by seventeen

to nine. There was a short but meaningless debate (in which Mr M'Dermid attempted to say something witty) over the honorarium, which of course passed. On the police estimates, Mr Fish and some other members argued that the force should receive the same pay as gaol warders, but the latter found champions in Mr Stout and Mr Lumsden, and the vote passed as printed. The items i under the head of Education were passed, and progress reported. The timber trade of Southland is asauming gigantic proportions. Two years ago there were only two or three works in the vicinity of Invercargill, employing altogether about forty men ; now there are fifteen in full operation, employing in the aggregate about 300 hands, and the establishment of other mills is contemplated. The amount of timber cut weekly averages 250,000 feet, and it is shipped principally to Dunedin, the Northern Provinces, and Melbourne. Considerable difficulty is experienced in supplying the demand, and freight is not easily procurable. At the present rate the timber trade of Seuthland cannot fall far short in value of L 500.000 per annum. Most of the mills are in the vicinity of the railway, and every facility is afforded for conveying the timber to the place of shipment. The price charged for carrying timber from Invercargill to the Bluff is 6d per 100 feet. There is only one mill at present in the Western district, but three additional ones are in process of establishment. One of thestt, says the Bruce Herald, is owned by a Dunedin firm, and is to be on a very extensive scale. Brogden and Co. have gone into the saw milling busineis, their (establishment being in the Seaward Bush.