The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY AUGUST 18 1863. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 82, 18 August 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY AUGUST 18 1863. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Wearily and drearily the winter drags its dull length along, with but few incidents to relieve the monotony of Southland existence. The writers of those handbooks for intending emigrants who dwell so much on the magnificent climate of New Zealand would have assuredly found their statements at fault during the past four weeks. Rain, hail, and, latterly, snow, have been the order of the day ; and the wind, — never of the gentlest down here — has done its best to render life uncomfortable. The consequence of all this bad weather has been the floodiug of the rivers to an extent unequalled for upwards of two years. The Mataura, (at M' Neil's) Swanston's, Morton's, the Pyramids and M'Gibbon's, was for days unfordable, and a great deal of delay and loss of money was caused thereby. At one point (Swanston's Ford 1 ) the river in one ni^ht overspread three-fourths of the plain, and we heard of several very narrow escapes from drowning. We are glad to observe that the new punt at Morton's, a short distance above the Long Ford, is completed, and, as soon as the wire rope is obtained, will be put into permanent use. It might, with advantage, have been built a size or two larger, but will, nevertheless, be of * great service to the travelling public. The time has arrived when Otago and Southland should combine and build a substantial bridge to connect the two provinces. The up-country mails have been several times delayed in their transit by the flooded state of the rivers. The latest accounts from the country speak of continued rainy weather, but the rivers have in a great measure subsided. After so unsatisfactory a report on the proceedings of the "clerk of the weather,'' it is not surprising that we are compelled to add that the roads and streets are in a frightful state of ruin. Were it not that on the condition of the highways the prosperity of the Province depends in no small degree, we could scarcely find an excuse for again noticing s, subject which has been talked and written about usque ad nanseam. Long before the wet weather set, in both the Government and Town Board were urged strongly to exert themselves in the matter; but little attention was paid to these remonstrances until the wet season set in, and since that time the task of road ma king and mending has presented almost insuperable difficulties. We will do the Government and Town Board the justice to say that they have unquestionabiy put their shoulders to the wheel latterly ; but the favorable opportunity had been lost, and we may safely say that the commerce of the Province has suffered in a very material degree. Unfortunately the supply of good stone for road metal is very defective, and the gravel — of which there are large beds — is too fine and sandy to answer well as a substitute. The authorities have, in consequence, had to make use of fascines of flax and brushwood as a sub-stratum. This plan has. no doubt, been of great service in some respects, but the stench which arises from so much -vegetable matter undergoing the process of decomposition can by no means be conducive to health. On a still night, the smell is sickening in those streets in which the fascines have been laid down. We alluded in our last summary to the arrival from Victoria of Mr Davies, C. E., who is the patentee of a wooden railway. Its principal merits consist in the rapidity with which the permanent way can b» constructed, and the inexpensiveness' both of that and the rolling sti ck as compared with the kind generally in use. The patentee has imported from Victoria 'one of the locomotives made expressly for the wooden railway. A alteration of the tramway guage on the New River jetty, and the removal of the iron rails, enabted the engineer to make a trial of his plan on a small scale. The locomotive appeared to do its work well, and a speed of some twenty-five miles per hour was attained, the shortness of the line not allowing any greater rapidity. The general impression down here is, that Davies' Patent is exactly the sort of thing which the Province is in want of, and that the Government should undertake the construction of a trial line — say, of a mile, or even less — in order that the plan may be thoroughly tested, and then, in the event of it [answering the expectations which have been formed of it, that they hould at once proceed to lay dowa

about forty miles of ■it along the main road to the Wakatip goldfields. Abundance of timber can be obtained at various points along the proposed linei and the. engineering difficulties are "very small, the country for the most part being level. The Provincial Council meet in October, and no doubt the subject will receive all the attention which it deserves. The following brief description of Davies' system may not be uninteresting: — The pro Dosed plan consists of wooden rails 6x6, sunk into transverse sleepers, and fastened in a simple, secure, and inexpensive manner, which in their turn are embedded in ballast, then making a complete, permanent way. The carrying or bearing wheels of the engines and carriages are as broad as the rails, and have no flanges, but are kept on the line by means of guide wheels ; each wheel of the engines and carriages (except the driving-wheels of the engine) acts indetotally unconnected with its opposite wheel, and by this improvement the great torsional friction, concussion, oscillation, and abrasion produced by the arrangement of the wheels in ordinary locomotive engines and carriages is entirely obviated, and allowing them to traverse curves of much smaller radius, causing less wear and tear, traction, &c, &c.

With regard to the Bluff acd Invercargill railway, the tender of Messrs. J. M'Kenzie and Co. for the construction of two Jetties, one at the Bluff, the other at Mokomoko, has been accepted, and the two works together will cost £40,000. The contractors have deposited £2,000 and have further entered into a bond for £8,000.

Durinjj the month the cutter Aquila, which lefr this port for the purpose of exploring that part of the west coast, south of the juncion of the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago, has returned with all hands in good health, although they have undergone many hardships from exposure and the want of an adequate supply of the necessaries of life. The Aquila visited most of the bays and harbors which lay in her way. No gold was discovered, and the party give but a poor account of the country as a field for future immigration. The growth of timber is described as magnificent. The last point visited by the expedition could not have been many miles distant from the western shore of the golden Lake Wakatip, so that it is not improbable that a further search may be mad<» by the miners of that locality. The following particulars concerning this trip were supplied by Captain Austin: — "The cutter Aquila, Captain Austin, left Invercargiil on March 25th, with a light air from N. At midnight fell in with a heavy gale from S.W., accompanied by thunder, lightning, and rain. Put into Port William and was there detained thirty days by heavy gales from the S.W. and W.N.W., accompanied by thunder, lightning, and rain. On April 27, rounded the West Cape with light breeze from the N.E. April 28, fell in with a heavy gale from the N.W ; bore up under close-reefed canvas from Brachsea Sound. When within two miles of the land it fell calm. Got out the sweeps and pulled the ship into the Sound at six p.m. Came to anchor and lay there thtve days, with heavy gales from N.W., snow, and rain. Left the Sound on Msy 2nd, with strong winds from the S.W.. with rain. May 4th, anchored in Mil ford Haven in Freshwater Basin. May 1 3 r h , left Milford for Master Bay. May 15 landed passengers and went back to Milford Haven with strong winds from N.W. When within four miles of the Haven it fell calm with heavy swell rolling in from W.N.W. Vessel driving on the Big Rock. Let go the anchor in eighteen fathoms Water about half a mile from the Big Itock. Saw two other rocks with heavy sea breaking over them, which are not on the charts — one bearing S. by W. distant half a milt: from the Big Rock, and one off Yatte's Point distant two miles, bearing from Yatte's S.W. by W. and S.E. * K from Brig Rock, distant oue and a half miles. At daylight strong wind came in, with heavy sea rolling in from W. Hove short when the cable parted at thirty fathoms. Made sail and ran into Milford Haven and anchored again in Freshwater Basin. Some of my passengers who came overland from Martin's Bay saw part of a. wreck painted light stone color, also a square log of American timber. Sailed from Milford llaveu on Saturday, 30th May, and arrived at Martin's Bay on Ist June. Found seven fathoms at low water and went in on the 2nd. Sailed up the river about four miles, and then came into a lake about ten miles long and four miles broad. The passengers took the boat and went up the lake and found another river, and beyond that another lake running E.N.E., went to the head of the lake and could get no further for snow. The passengers returned June 20th, anoJ the ship came down the lake to the mouth of the river, but finding the sea running too high over the bar,

did not get «ut to sea till July Bth, when we left with a strong gale from the N.W., at nijrht the gale increased to a hurricane. Hove the ship to under close reefed storm trysail. July 9th, put into Dusky Sound with a heavy gale from the westward. Barometer standing at 28.30. Left on the 15th, with strong wind from S.W., and put into Port William on the 16th with strong gale attended by rain. Satur day, July 18th, weighed anchor with a light wind from S., and made the port of Invercargill about 3 p.m. 10th July." It was naturally to be expected that immigration to New Zealand and more especially to the Southern portion of it, from the Australian colonies, would receive a check during the winter months ; such has been the case though certainly not to the extent that some

anticipated. From Home there has been one arrival of emigrants. The New Great Britain arrived at Blutf Harbor on the 9th hist., bringing 150 passengers. The news brought by the last mail from England to th& effect that small - pox was raging in England, caused a considerable amount of anxiety in the colony, aud the arrival of the New Great Britain showed that the feeling of alaim was not altogether without foundation. Small pox in a mild form made its appearance on board the New Great Britain during the passage out ; there was one death and several other cases, which providentially had not a fatal termination. On her arrival the vessel was placed in quarantine and all necessary precautions taken. No cases of sickness have Occurred since she came to anchor, and the passengers will be relieved from durance vile in the course of a few days.

Whilst on the subject of immigration, we may mention tha.t there is a great difficulty in getting respectable unmarried females for general service. Boys from twelve to fifteen, also can very readily get employment at good wages. A short time since, there was published in the Gazette, a memorial to the Governor of New Zealand, from certain Girvan handloom weavers, praying for assistance (o enable them to emigrate. The project has not met with much sympathy* in the colony, for ihe simple reason that it would be unfair to afford help to one particular locality, especially when it has certainly not been shown that in that locality there exists more distress amongst those desirous to emigrate than in other places. It is doubtful moreover whether the memorialists possess in any hi sin degree those qualities which are essential to the formation of «ood colonists. In any case, the funds required should be obtained from the Home Governmentanclfrom piivate subscriptions. We are sure that our remark* on this head embody th« opinions of by far the larger section of ihe community.

The price of provisions generally and of meat in particular is sti/1 high in iuvereargill; wiih rrgard to the latter it is thought probable that unless the Provincial Government remove some of the existing restrictions on the importation of cattle, there will be serious inconvenience felt after the lapse of a few months. A dread lest pleuro-pneuinonia should find its way into Southland herds has caused the authorities to make some rules, which are inflicting a very great injury on the meat-con-suming public. We cannot in this place discuss the subject at large, but will merely state the fact that ports from which the Province of Otago is at present deriving a supply are closed to Southland people, and that there is nothing to prevent cattle from those ports being landed in Otago and driven across the boundary into tit's Province. We do not go so far as to say that cattle have been so driven, though even there we should be backed out by rumor, hut the thing is feasible and certain to happen, the result being, that our consumers will have to pay the difference of carriage between the two ports, and also the expense of driving, to say nothing of the loss entailed in various ways by the increased, length of the journey ; and then, after nil, run a greater risk than would be the case if the importations were made directly to the 13 luff or New River. Of a verity we have several Daniels come to judgment! Our land regulations also stand greatly in need of reform, acting as they do in a manner very detrimental to the interests of the slockowner, whilst they offer no particular advantages, but rather the re verse to the agriculturist. We look forward, however, lo a far better state of things in the future.

Messrs. M'Meckan. Black wood & Co., have entered into a contract with the Provincial Government of Southland, to the efFect that the screw steamer Gothenburg will be run once a month between the New River and Melbourne, carrying mails and passengers. She ought to be in the New River on the 19th or 20:h of each month, must remain twenty-four hours, unless pern.ission for a shorter stay be accorded by the Superintendent, or the English mails for other Provinces are on board. Fares will be charged at the rate of Ll3 saloon, and L 6 steerage. The following is a most important clause of the contract : — li That the said ship shall not at any time be required to wait off the Port of New River aforesaid, in the event of there Ving no pilot in attendance there, ready to take her into the said port on her arrival abreast the Heads of the said port, and in that event she shall be at liberty forthwith to proceed to the Bluff,and thence to any other port or place in New Zealand.'' It will be in the power of the pilot to exonerate her from entering the New River, should at any time the navigation be dangerous. The contract is for six months. Messrs. Henderson, Bonar and Co., have been appointed agents for Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., in Invercargill.

The increasing importance of the Province is drawing attention to the pilot service which has been, and still is, by no means on asatisfaoton footing. Our pilots are very mv li underpaid, besides which there are not a sufficient number of them. Rates of freights to the New River have been afFecfed thereby. There are many difficulties to be overcome in the establishment of aii efficient pilot service. There are not many really suitable men to be found the moment they are wanted, and the salaries which government is enabled to offer are hardly large enough to tempt good men from the other colonies. Allied to ihe subject of pilotage is the buoying of the harbor, and there again the Province is altogether behind hand, though recently some important improvements have been effected in this respect. Our youthful Chamber of Commerce has commenced its work with spirit, and will, no doubt, prove of great service to the Southland public. At the quarterly general meeting, held on the sth int., the Secretary read a memorial which had been forwarded by the Chairman to his Honor the Superintendent, on the subject or " contracts for public works." The document was most respectfully worded, and the memorialists had certainly just grounds for complaint. Amongst other points it was urged that " serious and unnecessary delays have arisen in carrying out several of the most important public works of the Province, and such delays are, to a great extent, attributable to the system at present adopted in inviting tenders for and accepting contracts ;" that a tenderer is ignorant of the percentage of deposit which may be required of him, and that invidious distinctions may be made between different tenderers. The memorial prayed that some well defined system might be adopted, as is the case in other colonies. His

.Horior'sreply; was barely courteous. The Chaml>erjs)it>sequently adoptea?;th'e fo'lC lowing resolutions: — &ff

Iha^the Chamber bavin j matureljiS considered^ the circular issued by his Honor the Suoerinten^ dent, to ,the merchants and traders .jpKlnvercar-ij pill, dtrtgd^3fch May, are of opiniorijitliat :;tKe Rr<K v vidihg an ajjeribV'for purch-vin» the ? - material for? the construction of the lavercarjjiir and Bluff ]taihvay, without aubmittinjj the same for competition within the colony, is an act of discourtesy to j the merchaDtscif ■Inverc'argi^ ing a responsible person or persons in the colony to whom the Government lni^bfc iqoKfor j;he)rlue r fulfilment of its orders in this matter," fch'e most exnonsivo plan has been adopted. That the public funds Of this Province having " been thus ? exclusively placed afc the disposal of parties beyond the immediate control of the Government, they arfi rendered liable of being injudiciously, if not recklessly dealt with. )

In the way of amusements we • have had the English Opera Company;; among us for some lime, and notwithstanding all the obstacles with which they have had to contend, in the shape of muddy . streets and cold and rainy nights, they have succeeded, with perhaps one or two exceptions, in drawing full houses. Thatcher, the well-known Australian comic singer, passed through Invercargill en route for Victoria, where he intends taking •' a spell" after a lengthened engagement at Queenstown. Liberal offers were made to induce him toremnin fora few nights, but the all pervading mud appeared to have utterly disgusted him. We learn it is his intention to return in the spring.

Buildings public and private continue to be erected in Invercargill with a persistence which evinces at any rate the faith of the inhabitants in its future. Amongst the new erections, that of Mr. S. Beaven deserves the most prominent place, for the reason that it is by its overtopping dimensions the building the most striking. It is situated at the corner of Kelvin and Tay-streers, and may be entered fro.m both. The first floor is to be devoted to the store the second to a showroom, 44 x 18, and extensive offices, the third to warehousing uses. The dimensions of the whole buildin™ are — height, 42 feet, length 66. This is the largest business establishment which has yet been constructed in Invercargill, and reflects much credit on the architect, as also on the well-known contractor, Mr Maharg. The Union Bank in Tay-street is another building of which, by reason of its size, Invercargill may b? justly proud. Jfc occupies a very considerablearea.andcombines four orders of architecture, two Grecian, ride the pillars, a soupcon of the I alian, and a mild effort at that form of Turkish, which is to l>e usually found in Mosques. The Hospital situated upon the Government reserve is the next building which catches the eye of the architect. It is neither large, nor very handsome ; it is of brick, square-shaped and has not an unp'easing appearance. In close proximity to the Hospital is the gaol, shut out from the world by a high wall of galvanised iron ;it presents the grim susrgestiveness of most prisons. The building is an ordinary one — differing from the hospital only iw greater size, and a plenitude of bolt and bar. Estaping from grave to gay, we find ourselves next at the Royal Princess Concert Hall, Deestreet, which hall was opened by the English Opera Company ( Madame Carandini. and Messrs. Sherwin, Small, and VVhyte) on the evening of Saturday the 7ih inst. The hall is large and well appointed, having at one end a raised stage, with side doors leading into the retiring rooms ; the decorations are simple but appropriate, and the great e;ire taken in the construction of' the building with regard to its acoustic properties, a point too often neglected, renders this place of public amusement peculiarly well adapted for concerts, etc. In connection with the Music HaU is a commodious Hotel, having smoking, coffee, and waiting rooms. The spirited proprietors are Messrs Julius Rosenthaland Co. There is another new Music Hall in Tay-street, attached to Murdoch's Hotel, where the Opera Company drew good houses before the completion of I he Royal Princess, Murdoch's Concert Room has since been taken possession of by *' the gods" for free-and-easy purposes. At the back of the Criterion Hotel, an additional Concert P*oom and Theitreis being erected, with a view, we understand, to afford to the public, a faint reflection of the Alhambra Singing Hall in Leicester-square. It is contemplated to have at the Criterion Hall, the trapeze, dancing, sinking, bounding brothers and brandy and water. Straying back into the stern realities of business we come upon a site between the stores of Messrs Morrison, Law and Co. and Messrs. Buttner and Hallenstein in Dee-street, where will shortly be a large exchange and suites of business offices which premises (imported by Mr Watt of Melbourne) were first offered to the Government for a Supreme Court, and, perhaps, unwisely declined, with thanks. Of this Exchange, &c, (cast iron) the dimensions are 58 by 74 ; there are three flats, and the height of the third story is 36 feet from the ground. The architects of the building were Messrs. Bell and Miller, of Glasgow, and the manufacturers, Messrs. Robertson and Lister. It is gratifying to find that,notwithstanding ihe refusal of the Government, the town will not be deprived of an edifice which, judging from the plans, cannot but be an ornament to Invercargill. Hard by, there is being built for Mr Rout, under the auspices of Messrs. Greville and Whiting, a neat and commodious store; fanfier up, and just beyond the Princeof Wales Hotel, to which hotel extensive additions have recently been made, are the new stores, stables, and auction premises of Messrs. Carey and Gilles. These are all very extensive ; the auction room is excellent of its kind being furnished with the usual rostrum, &c. In this neighborhood, MrMonkman has had a n-^w auction room built. Its dimensions are 60 by 25. Messrs Hughes & Littlewood were the contractors. Nearly opposite, and at the corner of Spey and Dee-streets, Mr Monkman has recently had a very large timber yard fenced in. An extensive and handsome Horse Bazaar is bing built in Tay-street, for Messrs Robertson and Co. from designs by Mr Sanders. The Bazaar will run about 200 feet anl have a width of 42 feet. The front entrance will be through large gates, having offices at each side. The roof will be of galvanized iron. Accommodation will be provided for 80 or 90 : horses. In regard to prospective commercial buildings, we may mention, that new and handsome stores are about to be built in Taystreet for Messrs. Calder, Blacklock & Co., and Messrs. Maning and Whittpn. A large hotel is in progress near the jetty for MrSeyler.lt has a frontage of about CO fee;, is on the main road to town,!and besides many lesser appartments, has a monster bar. Inverfiargill is at present rich in hotels, almost every street having now its one or two, and in some cases half a dozen taverns. The scarcity of private lodging accommoda'ion, within the pale occivilization, that is to say out of the bush; and the tendencies of the floating population towards bar life, have done much for hotel

speculators. i^f&j^|ihdr^rd to tendencies. :.it wadl4|sSßraßtlrat the J^jyeediest mo!He|of realising a i ftency^inj this ;^s||^jß|cc-;,th'i Mtb^ajpiatbj gibU ti^§toijji, and scasfes|o| spirifei^ltH^ot-ppssible wi limi^ed^space Hd|i^t|ee|iali the bo flatly-built, or in course of erection unmentioned ; for it wo useless to attempt to keep japw,ith a ; i ng ' nia hia^!tgr eat . though i the ad vj may be. -that are ■expected" fron raaniaitqfaccrue ti^ihe^town. With to private hpuses,.they. are sprino on all sides,' in --every a conceivable style ( of larcliiteclure. in 1 place -villas! in another, fa wigwams in the bush— do wn-south dahs in the North "Road ; and.lhey so scattered,ithat:^vere^ "» gre'atjday ( come when Invercargill should bf up, the town would have an area e< that of London. ; {