LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 28 November 1862, Page 2

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

K gentleman connected with this office, started on Wednesday last for the Sho:river and Arrow Rivers, for the purpose of furnishing early and authentic information respecting the recent gold discoveries in that locality. If will he seen on reference to our advertising columns that ihe Banks will he closed on Monday nevt, in commemoration of St. Andrew's Day. It appears there is to be an interprovincial exhibition at Dunediri in Deeem I her, and we understand oil" government has heen requested to assist in the mntier. The time fixed, the middle of next month, •s 100 short! never<he!ess. w* hive no I doubt every endeavor will be in:ide to place Southland in as good a position a< «:irrnmstan<-es will permit. We haveseen a .«p!endid specimen of the lime stone recently discoved on ihe nnnh road, the first article as yet received for transmission. It consists of a solid block about a foor square, of what looks like first-rla*s building stone. Also some fossil shells, perfectly petrified, seemingly belonging to the mussel order. We understand that a gentleman recentlv arrived amon»-t us from Tasmania Mr. Hamilton, h about to put a steamer on the Wakatip Lflk".. in conjunction with the enterpiising firm of Messrs. C. ft. Campbell and Co. Mr. Hamilton brought over a steam engine for the purpose «f -sawing timber, hut on arrival, hearing «>t the recent gold discoveries to the east and north of the Whakatip Lake, he determined to lum the steam power at hh command to purposes more beneficial to the community. He intends starting sawyers and shipbuilders at once to the Lake to cut the timber, and consiructa vessel of dimensions suifable to the anticipated trade ; and in the mean time to alter the machinery to Miit the purposes for which it is now destined. He expects to have his steamer in sailing trim in at most two months. We may remark that, considering the Lake i> some sixty miles in length, and opens up a country hitherto in a great measure ut.explored, the advantages resulting from such an enterprise may prove incalculable. The north end of the Lake is not far distant from the west coa-»t, and, according to Capt. Stokes and whalers, copper pro- i mises to be abundant. A committee meeting of the Southland Agricultural Association, to make arrangements for the next exhibition, is advertised to take place on Saujrday next, the 2.9th inst., at the Prince of Wales Hotel. It 13 With pleasure we have to notice the existence of an Invercargill '• Mrs. Gamp.*' Our contemporoary, the Southland A'ews, has been good enough to favour ourselves and the world at large, with interesting traits of our early youih. Long may the old lady live to indulge in her little weaknesses and eccentricities. We understand that the raising of the Guiding Star is progressing in a favourable manner; already her decks are dry at lowwater, and Mr, Green informs us that he is in hopes that in a day or two he wii! have completed the necessary arrangements to beach her. when she w 11 be temporarily repaired, and immediately leave for Du»»edin; she will ther* undergo a thorough overhau ing. We may expect to see her running in about a month. Wednesday.ihe schooner Prompt.whilst coming up the river, unfortunately run I aground on the west hank. The cause; oC this mishap is attributable to one of tjlie beacons having been knocked down by $n iron lighter which passed the beacon sometin e previous. We understand that the Harbour Muster has called the attention of the parties implicated to clause 19, Harbour Regulations, which is as follows ; — " Aiiy person removing or willfully injuring or destroying any buoy, or sea mark, shall forfeit the sum of £-20." | We wish to draw the atention of the j i Government to the dangerous state of the ; jetty : several of the planks are in an unsound condition, and the width so exceedingly limited, that step* should be at once taken to remedy the evil. We understand that sometime since a sum was placed on ! the estimates with a view to enlarge and ' otherwise improve the jeity, but up to the present there are very little indications of any practical result having followed. Great inconvenience is felt by masters of vessels being obliged to waste valuable time from the inadequate means of jetty accommodation.

W ni^painndfi^ramaitlc entertaifjmi'ftt will heaven bv Mr. : J"l.pi::Hyde!» nntfjVjiss Harrietj^pfdnn, a&ftie "Victoria Hole^on Saturdjpy eveninff. ifFrora rthe successrwhich has attended these; 'talented artisiat in «■ milar entertainments in other Provinces, *e have no doubt th*»ir vfrit to Invercargill will prove an acceptable one. ■ ' ■■ m"