INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1143, 20 January 1874, Page 2

INTER-PROVINCIAL NEWS.

OTAGO. The Southern Mercury says • —The companies mania that has been raging for some time in Invercargill is subsiding. "When the disease was at its height two companies were projected ; one, a coastal steam service, the other for direct shipping. These companies, although having no connection, so far as rivalry of interest is concerned, were antagonistic, and have ultimated in non-success The general public—those who were badgered to take shares —are quietly jubilant over the expected failure of both. A c®-operative store association in Invercargill bids fair to be a success, the share list filling up rapidly. Invercargill claims for itself the honor of being the first place in New Zealand where the Good Templar movement was introduced, and the movement is exercising upon the place socially an extraordinary influence. Drinking customs are on the wane, and many people who used to be a positive disgrace to their kind are gradually acquiring property—purchasing sections, and with the assistance of the local building societv building comfortable homes for thernselves.

The employment of European labor in mining operation in the Lakes District is falling off considerably. The more easily available ground has been worked out, the Chinese population hold the majority of claims, and in others still held by Europeans, mechanical power has superseded manual labor. In quartz mining the district has made little or no progress of late. The harvest gathering in Bruce and Clutha districts is delayed by want of hands, and the long continuing drought has burnt up the grass, and made the grain crops very short in the straw. The railway works south of Dunedin absorb immense quantities of totara and black pine logs, and the difficulty of providing timber is the greatest drawback to the rapid completion of the line.

At Kaitanga the coal industry is rapidly assuming importance. The coal occurs under the mest favorable conditions for working. Five or six seams, dipping very regularly at low angles, and associated with sandstone, conglomerate, shale, and fine clay have been discovered. The principal seam is 20ft thick. The lower part is very black and compact, and the top acquires a more laminated character.

One steamer is regularly employed in the trade, and another has been lately put on. WELLINGTON; The Waugauui Herald complains that the Superintendent of Otago has induced R W.Woon, 8.M., to use bis inlluence to send all available labor to Otago, promising shearers and laborers six months work. The Her.dd says:—■ The Luna has been sent up, and we suppose will shortly be in Wauganui, for the purpose of conveying away those whom Mr Woon may bavo succeeded in enticing to leave the district.

. A dividend of lis per sbare has been declared in the Wanganui District Building Society as the result of the first year's operations. The Hon Julius Vogel, C.M.G., has been appointed by His Excellency to preside at all meetings of the Executive Council in the Governor's absence.