INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 876, 12 September 1868, Page 15

INVERCARGILL.

(from: our own correspondent.)

Ist September.

During the last month we have had a most unprecedented dulness iv all branches of trade. We scarcely ever witness up-country drays taking away their usual loads. The hope is that we have now witnessed the vvorab month during the year.

For 14: or 15 days at a time we have not had any steamers arriving at the Bluff. The subsidy for carrying the mails to and from Melbourne ceases after the next trips of the 6th and 9th, when it is to be hoped that a more regular system of arrival and departure of steamers will be adopted. The outward mail via Suez always leaves here three days before the inward mail arrives ; consequently, such a system is perfectly useless to New Zeaand as a means of quick communication with England. I think the Postal authorities, considering the large subsidies paid to the Peninsular and Oriental, as well as to the Panama steamers, should so arrange the services as to give us a a fortnightly communication, instead of the wretched and untimely service now adopted.

The tidal wave caused some irregularities in the rise and fall of the sea both at the Bluff and New River. At Riverton, it was noticed as coming up in the form of a

large ware, and report Bay* the good people of Riverton took to the hills for shelter.

I am sorry to- have to report the death of Mr Cameron^ of your town, surveyor. This gentleman was sent by the Otago Government to- Preservation Inlet, to lay off a township*. He had been out shooting, and in retaining, after dark through dense scrub, whilst feeling his way with the butt end of his gun, it went off, and lodged the charge in his arm near the elbow. This- occurred on Saturday, the 15th. The whole party left the next day, in a small whale-boat, and arrived at Riverton on the Wednesday following, after being four -days and nights exposed to very severe frost and inclement weather. Mr Cameron was brought to In*< vercargill the same day, where he had the constant attendance of the medical men ; but I regret to say that he died on tho Saturday following — just one week after the accident.