SOUTHLAND.

By the White Swan we have received a file of the Southern News up to the 26th ultimo, from which we. extract the following items of intelligence : — A reference to our shipping new will show that this has been a busy week at the Bluff Harbour. On one day, Monday the 21st, three large vessels, representing an aggregate carrying capacity of above 2,700 tons, arrived in that harbour, bringing 1 nearly 8000 sheep, besides horses and general cargo ; on the 24th another fine vessel arrived, with 3000 sheep ; and on the same day two of the first arrived vessels cleared out for other ports, afcer having landed their living freight with very trifling loss. Nor are all the contracts for sheep and horses yet fulfilled. The harbour steamer has been busily occupied in landing part of the sheep thus imported, and when her owners cau secure a regular supply of coals, she will prove a valu,iMe auxiliary in forwarding the quick delivery of cargo from the large vessels frequenting the Bluff Harbour and New River.— Southern News, April 26. Narrow Escape.— One of those escapes from sudden and violent death which are truly miraculous occuned in Invercargill en Wednesday se'night. Captain M'Keuzie, of Popo.tunoa, having been in town on business, was about to return to his station in his light American or Tasmaniati van, drawn by a couple of powerful horse.", aud was to be accompanied by a recent visitor named Brown. Prior to startiug Capt. M'Kenzie stopped at the stores of Me>S's C. .N". Campbell and Co. and Mr. f. J. White to make some purchases, the carriage being left in charge of Mr. Blown. The horses began rubbing their heads together, and got some of the harness entangled, which made them restless and suddenly start off — also breaking part of the pole. Mr. Brown endeavoured to check them, but the horses were 100 strong for him, and when Capt, M'Kenzie endeavoured to catch the reins, he could only get hold of the traces. The horses plunged forward,' throwing both Capt. M'Kenzie and Mr Brown between the wheels of the carriage. Capt. M'Kenzie was turned completely over, and having hold of the trace was dragged on by the horses (as they galloped down the erabankment towards Paul creek) for several yards, but happily escaped without further injury. Being without check, the horses galloped alongside the creek for about 200 yards, and then suddenly turned off as if to make for the street again, in doing which they capsized the carriage and all the stores into the creek, and severed the traces. Assistance was soon at band, the horses secur Jed the carriage, and, an its contents fished out of tLe creek — ihe carriage without further injury than had been done to the pole, but the stores not ac all improved by their saturation with salt water. Capt. M'Kenzie, however, had escaped so little hurt,

that ha was the" most active in getting the c linage on land again, and next day — the damage ' having beeu repaired by Mr. Nixon, the wheelwright, he was far on his road homeward if not already there. This accident by the way, < should not be lost sight of by the Town Board ;< in their desire to have this very needless and ; i precipitous reserve at the west end of Tay- ' street, dignified with the name of " Puplic Es- . i planade" (with a fall to the creek of about 1 in ■ 8 feet !) converted into some practical purpose by being handed over to the municipality, or ' leased for st-ires. As the carriage traffic increases in our town, the chances i/f similar ac- i cidents occuring, and with worse results, will 1 become so much the greater. — Southern News, April 26 ' The first of the two large sales of building j allotments just beyond the town bounds, to . which we alluded last week — namely, the Murihiku Brewery property and Sylvan Bank estate, by Messrs. Calder, Blacklock, and Co., ; came off yesterday when good prices were ] realized. The land was divided into 59 sec- < tions, the Dunedin-road frontages being quarter-acres, but the back and bush ones ranging rather larger according to circumstances. When purchased some five or six years ago from the Otago Government this land sold at 10s. an acre. The piesent vendor bought it second hand, still paying a very moderate sum ' for it ; he certainly improved it, and the erec tion of the Brewery gave it an additional value though nothing to be compared to what it has \ (ruined during the last eight months. Every fifth section was reserved by the proprietor, and the three sections making the Brewery acre, though offered, were not sold in consequence of the rather stiff reserve put upon them and the buildings. The number or sections sold was 44— the total realized was £1966, or an average of £44 13s. per quarter-acre section. The highest figure was £67 — the lowest £32. The successful purchasers were mostly parties wanting sections whereon to build bouses for their own occupation ; and, curious to say, the highest prices were not realized by the main road frontages but by back and bush sections — The sale of to-day is the remainder of the half-acre sections of the "Haiewood" estate, on the Dee-street, or North road. The new Post office and Custom House are now fast approaching completion. The Postoffice has a verandah for the shelter of the public when waiting their turn for letters on the arrival of each mail. Arrangements for private boxes will probably be the next improvement made. "What will be done with the old Post Office and Custom House? is the question now asked. One proposition is to have it pulled down and converted into a giand bonfire on the day the new building is open for business, in commemoratiou of the improved order of things which is now obtaining in Southland since Separation became a fact.