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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 12, 19 December 1862, Page 2

Why don't the General Government provide some one to cairy the mails from the jetty to the post-office ? The postmaster or his clerk can hardly be expected to do it, and we imagine the captain of a steamboat might have sonic little objection to acting Government light-porter " on the chaap."

At the la.st meeting ot che lown JUoard we were glad to perceive a marked improvement in the attendance of membeis, there being) with only two exceptions, a full muster.

Two much needed appointments nave Deen recently made. Captain Thomson has accepted the office of Deputy-Harbour Master :uid Chief Pilot for the Bluff ; and Mr. Robt. Guild lias been appointed Assistant Pilot for Xcw lliver. We understand that tin offer was made to a gentleman to act as Pilot for the Upper Harbour, but declined.

A committee meeting of the Mechanics Institute -was held at the Town Board office, on Tuesday evening. Present : Mr. Betiven, president, in the chair ; Messrs. Ileale, G. M. K. Clarke, Loekhart, and S. M. Clerke. The Chairman said the principal business of the evening would he to take into consideration the plans proposed for the building, and lie would be glad to hear any suggestions on that subject. After di^c ussing several plans pioposed. it was moved by Mr. C>. M. KClarke, and seconded by Mr. Loekhart : — "That the plan suggested by Mr Ileale be adopted. th<; size of the hull to be ">2 x 26 feet, and should the funds of the institute allow, the building to be enlarged by reading rooms, «£c. It was also decided that the Secretary should call for plans and specifications forthwith.

ThelnvereargdlTown Board is not singular in giving expression to their sense of the want of more extensive municipal power. A deputation -waited on the Supeiiiitendent of Otago, consisting of some of the principal rate-payers of Dunedin, and presented the following memorial, which we copy from the lhiilq Times: — '-That the con-titution and powers of the 'i own Board of Dunedin are not commensurate with the present requirements of the city and Province, and the means at its command are utterly inadequate totheexecution of public works most urgently needed. That, the comfort, health, and prosperity of this city and Province, greatly depend on the immediate establishment and efficiency of municipal institutions. That your memorialists consider a large loan is demanded for the accompli.-liment of public works required by the rapidly extending interests and rising importance of this city anil Province. That the appropriation of the ordinary assessment will be adequate to the maintenance in good and eflieient order of the -works thus completed, also to cover the interest on the capital borrowed, and to pay by instalments the loan in question. Your memorialists respectfully request that your Honor will, on an_carly day, convene a public meeting of the ratepayers and citizens of Dunediii, in order to obtain arj expression of public opinion upon the views advanced, and to adopt those measure* which the meeting may deem requisite to facilitate the important object in view."

I\. Stuart, I-sq., Speaker ot the Provincial Council, has returned to New Zealand and may be shortly expected in Southland.

Among other signs ol the healtny advance of Southland is to be noticed the. projected erection of a new church in the New River district, to he called " All Saints, liyal Bush/" The church will be situated on the cast side of the bush, on a site presented by W. Marten, Esq. A large number of settlers have already taken up their residence in that neighbourhood ; and it is a gratifying fact that churchmen have come forward with the greatest liberality. The contract ha 9 been taken, and hopes arc entertained that it may be sufficiently advanced for inauguration by the Bishop of Christchurch upon his Icrdship's next visitation to this part of the diocese. The style is the early English. Part only is to be elected at present, but it is intended to be a model of church architecture, when the full design is carried out.

A telegram, which appeared in the Melbourne Herald of 3rd December, referring to the tire at Inglewood, says: — The fire was burning all night, but has now burned itself completely out. The appearance of the town is most desolate. It is expected that the loss will amount to nearly L.1 00,000. Unfortunately very little of the property -was insured. The scarcity of -water and the inflammable nature of most of the buildings, caused the insurance companies to demand a higher rate than owners of property felt disposed to give."

Mr. Lee's Cafe is now opened near the Union Bank, Tay-street. The establisnment, appears to be very well conducted, and the " victualling department," must be tested to be properly understood. The rooms are large and Avell furnished, and altogether the affair is very creditable to the proprietor. The Geelong correspondent of the Ballarat Star, in speaking of the supposed loss of the steamer Citizen, which left Melbourne for Dunedin some considerable time back, and has not been heard of, says : — It is very currently spoken of among seafaring men that the Citizen steamer was utterly unseaworthy, and should not have been allowed to have gone outside the Heads. They say such was her condition when she left the Clyde, now many years since, that the home authorities insisted upon her being strengthened with strong beams from end to end, and further, that hei machinery was by the same authority distributed about the vessel. It is further asserted that there was a flush deck, and that she was in every way a much stronger vessel than when she last left Melbourne. Men of considerable experience declare that her plates were so eztremely thin that a hole could have been made in nearly any part of her with one's finger, and that it would not take very heavy weather either to double her up or split her. All this and much more is commonly spoken by men who know something about the subject, and if there is anything in it, the subject may be worth inquiring into by those concerned. If vessels are in the condition this one is said to be or have been in, the cupidity of owners should not be allowed to have full swing here any more than in the Clyde or Thames, where they would appear to be looked a little more sharply after." An Escort started early on Tuesday morning for Lake Wakatip diggings. A fine sample of well scoured wool was brought to our office yesterday. It is -worth at least 2a. per lb, and the manner in which it was got up reflects great credit upon Messrs. Crowtherand Co., Felmongers, from whose premises it came. The Launceston Examiner, of 22nd Novembar, anxious no doubt to prove that Tasmania possesses gold-bearing quartz, has the following curious story: — "During her last whaling cruise the brig Victoria touched the rocks of Port Davey, and on her arrival in port was placed on the slip. The rudder had bumped on the reef several times, and in it was embedded a piece of quartz, which upon examination was found to contain a considerable quantity of gold. This discovery has led to the conjecture that in the neighbourhood where the vessel touched at Port Davey, there exists an auriferous quartzreef." The Argus, on the the subject of Colonial defences, makes the following remarks : — "It has been for some time a matter of consideration whether our protection henceforwaul should consist of a volunteer force, or whether a militia should be substituted, or whether mixed anangements should be instituted — a sytesm which would place a certain portion of the volunteers on the footing of a militia. Our military authorities have just now on hand a series of reforms and experiments, intended to produce a more uniform efficiency among the volunteers; and there is going on at the present moment a detailed examination of the various eorjDS, to ascertain the actual amount of efficiency which has been already attained. "Until the operation of the reform is in some degree tested, and until the trial thereby of the existing system is one way or other concluded, we can hardly be in a position to judge of the expediency of embodying additional companies on the purely voluntary principle. Meanwhile, it would be undoubtedly well to include among the current reforms the imperativeness of a necessary extent of attendance at drill, and to adopt the recommendation in this despatch, that all members who habitually neglect their duties and learn nothing should be dispensed with."