INVERCARGILL

(From our own correspondent.)

The Riverton mayoralty election has gone off very quietly, with the result that Mr M'Gillivray has been returned, without opposition. Since tlie discovery tliat;' the; Government subsidy -would be at the small rate of ten shillings to the local pound, public feeling as to the desirability of local Government has undergone a decided revulsion. In addition to the question of funds and taxation, a variety of separate interests have sprung up which seem to be endangered by the existence of a municipality. First and foremost of these is, what is jocularly termed the ** cow interest " embracing the right enjoyed from time immemorial by all and sundry of grazing cattle ad libitum, and without restriction. Unfortunately, it has been the practice of the benefit holders, under this interest, to ignore all other interests. No wonder, then, at their crying out when the gross injustice as it seems to them is likely to be perpetrated, of putting this grazing privilege on its proper footing.

A sad accident fora fire occurred at Flint's Bush, on Friday last, (4th August), by which a little girl named Henderson, lost her life. Tho child in question being left in the house for a very little time, managed by some means to set fire to its clothes, and was burnt so badly, that death took place shortly after the discovery of the accid ent.

The earring clown of the largo quantity of grain which lias been exported from .Riverton during the season, has made the roads so | excessively bad, that to journey from place I to [dace with a load is almost impossible, and on horseback is attended with some peril. In the neighborhood of the Otiti Bush, the traffic must have been suspended, but for tlie kindness of Mr Stack, one of the settlers who allowed a deviation rhroagh his paddocks ; but, of course, this cannot last for ever, and tlie district Road Boards have plenty oi work cut out for them. You will very likely think tliis only the usual winter's cry ; but, the fact is, that it is believed the roads in this district were never quite so bad as they now are. In Invercargill there is little stirring. The projected municipality is engaging but a small modicum of public attention. There is, however, yet nearly a fortnight to the day of nomination of Mayor, Councillors, &c , &c, and there is a likelihood that, after all, there will be a strong contest for all the offices^ I expect the affair will be made in all respects a party question, and if so, the town will lose by it. Mr Lumsden has been "meeting his constituents," aud rendering an account of his Council doings. The meeting was as a whole anything but such as might have been de sired, abounding in personal and angry criminations and recriminations. One thing is only quite clear, being that a split between Mr Lumsden and quandum friends or mates, has taken place ; and, without identifying myself .with either one or other, I cannot help thinking that if an entire stranger to the district had entered the theatre during the meeting, and remained to listen, he wculd have been very likely to make mental application of the old proverb about "rogues i falling out " |