SOCIAL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 4, 17 November 1863, Page 2

SOCIAL.

The events of the month have been, on the whole, of an uninteresting- character. There h s been no great influx of populfitim, and the cry is tha' we must wait patiently till summer has fairly set in before any great change for the better can be looked for. If, however, we have no very exciting events to record ; if our merchants sometimes confess lhat business might with advantage be a y little brisker, we have the satisfaction of knowing on the other hand, that our progress is sure. Both mechanics and laborers find no difficulty in obtaining work at remunerative rate«, and the amount of up-country business, both with the settlers of the Province and tliose of the southern part of Otago, is steadily on the increase. This is, perhaps, after all, a healthier state of affairs than would be induced by any sudden lush of people to our shores. It is nearly certain that a very large increase to the population willtake place in the course of" the next or three months, attracted here by the gold fields of the Lake District, but we have every confidence in the absorptive powers of the Province. There has, hitherto, been no sign of distress amongst the working classes, which is more than can with truth be said of some of our neighbors. The large works which will be undertaken by the Provincial Government during the course of the year, and the necessary improvements in the town which will have to be effected by the ifown Board, ensure the spending of very considerable sums of money, so lhat those who, from various causes, may be unwilling to try their fortunes on the goldlields, will have no, occasion to be idle. The steamers which ply between thi3 port and Dunedin have generally a fair quota of passengers each way, but the preponderance is in favor of Southland. The captains of these two boats (the William Miskin and Titani i) have lately been rather negligent in their duty to the public by both starting at once from the same end of the line, instead of so arranging it that they might cross c ;ch other midway. This has given rise to very great dissatisfaction, and it is rumored that another vessel of larger tonnage will be shortly placed in the same trade. Independently of the, Insane competition to^ which we have above alluded, a third steamer would now find ample employment, and we shall accordingly hail her appearance witb *reat pleasure. On a recent occasion, Capt. Jaivey, of the Titania, carried the spirit of rivalry so far as to placard the town with " posters," challenging his brother skipper, to race the boats for L-200 a-side. We are happy to say' lhat Captain Wilson had too much good sense to accept so very silly an offer. The Town Board, that never failing source of amusement or vexation, as the case may be, in all well regulated communities, have within the last few days been engaged in a lively passage of arms with their'surveyor, and we must say that the right was all on their side. The Town Surveyor, who without doubt is a gentleman of. considerable ability and experience, endeavored to increa.se the latter by an unique experiment — to show what effect mud would have if deposited in large quantities on the wooden sidewalks of Tay-street. He found that the t citizens, to a man, objected to the proceeding, and the. Town Board, without . consulting him, ordered the Clerk to have the nusiance removed immediately. A . letter of remonstrance from the Surveyor-fol-lowed, in which he. feelingly alluded to his past services to. bis country. The Board, however^ was obdurate, and, as we write, their employes are japidly reducing things

to their former level. Of course^* hy\ very,- sorry to " see any 0 S the Board treated with anjß approaching to disrespect, bntK present the blunder cow was so gross, and the necessity. f^p it rectified so uigent, that, we arefe to see how the Board could have M a different manner to what tS Before we, leave tho subject of qM Board, it is as well to allude i]X terms to the work they will' har«M form daring <th_e ensuing tw"el Te j The Provincial Government hail the present time maintained fIJ" one of oar principal thoroughfare^! repair, although it lies within the pality, on the ground thit it w 5 , linuation of the main North Itnj however, they propose handing ; t the tender mercies of tlie Town The Board have hitherto dccli honor unless the, Provincial Got, will at the same time supply th ( bucli an amount of' cash as* stial them to do justice to the Johabi ihe street. The question is not<t settled, but we must admit that,j large proportion of the Lake traffi through Dee-street, it being, in main artery leading to the Wakj opinion is in favor, of the Goverm, vancing a sum" of money for it tenance. Without doubt the « will be settled amicably - befbfji The subject of .the *NeffcZealand ■§ tion has met with -;very favoraljß sideration at, the handf of Soli people ; and, wheii the time coiM plucky little Province will not, w»| make a very bad show amongst" \ sisters. A meeting of the .members mitteefor the encouragement oft duction of articles from this Pro, be exhibited at the Industrial Ej in Dunedin, was held a short ti| in the office of the Superintem which there were present Messi* Chalmers, Jamieson, Watt, and h^ the Superintendent, who presidpl general conversation on the snHSj hand ensued. Mr .Heale— who, fi bye, is almost foremost in any ni $• having for its object the advance the Province — considered that the ij tions to be selected should r.ihj >' some one of the following heads, t $ — Firstly, pastoral productions, j * wool; secondly, limber; thirdli i rals ; and fourthly, machinery. ;j he would be most happy to take c f"f. the mineral department, and we at r| it. could be placed in no bettei 4 Since that meeting others have bei > and from the interest dispfa3e(?, *? no doubt of the success of the m 1* as far as Southland is concerned, y therance of so desirable an object $ of LSOO has been voted by the Pi ■■£ Council. In the agricultural dial i far as we have heeri able to obtains ? tion, the state of things is niostj 'M tory. A much larger area of gi * under crop this year than there 1 tl In the country, perhaps, the evid oi our prosperity are more strongly; j than in the town, and a sure mdi & thereby furnished that Southland iv altogether dependent on the advi 5 wealth to be derived from goldfiel ™ ever valuable, but may rely $ advancement on the surer, thon gi slowly developed prosperity, w| Q exertions of a sturdy r, fevmevs is certain eventually t( Rapid as are the strides which I gill has made within the last eig^Hp we are glad to state that this prOs«¥j shared by our sister town in the P«ie Itiverton. If our Custom ? s reve lit mounted up from hundreds to ijjj thousands, the returns for the ac Riverton show a wonderful incre Possessing if not the shortest !/-? direct road to the Wakatip Laked } &l it has a remarkably good natui M which the enterprising spirit of HthV chants has turned to the best Igel Purchasing a schooner of respeclftg, nage, to trade between Melbou j Riverton, they have established > on the] diggings, and secured ap« P?l \ trade tq Riverton. Buildings liav !3J* up with wonderful rapidity, and of refl able size and appenrance. A sti jyc milL erected on land immediatel] i t { insj the town, supplies the inhabitm^ timber at a moderate rate, T»Lj Spring Meeting of the Southiant°° held on a very fair course, aiff^ attended, evidences her "-portiajB 1 :^ The votary of pleasure, in the ftaJ billiards, can enjoy his passioqo»rj good table; while lie who thirst* %fc that which gladdeneth the beart j£ Q s can gratify it, without difficulty a -v dozen hotels,* if he possesses i , of the circulating medium. Wha ??. time since was but a straggling ooi presents now the appearance of a sta sea port town. TheHussack wh §m of yore to gracefully, wave in the j^ street, is now a thing of the past -. to give way to a more usefo ;<' picturesque appliance — gravel. 1 w fellows at liome will be glad to If ?M r their brethren have not heen inset fOy A branch of the Loyal Shamrocjpßai and Thistle JUodge was founded i<9xisl cargillj.between three and four Jflion; and the members now muster pljlj^ one hundred. The Society is '"m^i perous condition, and we underst^^? 11 good balance in its favor at t&*«^-& By way of commemorating itefo#ebp the brethern arc going to hold k'»j&ai some len days hence, and celelK^ event by a grand supper and baH-jlj£i: r We are happy to record thefe«jß|B following returns will substaotiw|t] the past month 'has not been ni«tj, e ', the commission of crimes in re^aw^j; to magnitude or number. new and mixed community suckL 9 have here — a community composKf^ classes of men, from all parts of wf*" 3 boring colonies— speaks greatl/Sop^ of a love for lawand order, and a '«e j great credit on the efficient S^|| police protection already efltabli^fl^gIt will be remarked that the &sb» the offences punished during th^g^ were drunkenness. This class of^te^ is always a nutuerousone inaneffWuafe place near the goldfields ; but ,J«ac more reasonable pastimes a^F'Stal the town progresses, it will, 3 . t «toi course, Very naturally dimi p Jjfjjj: following is the list of convic|i?j^p=r Resident Magistrates Court : ;^^^ ness, 33 ; damaging property, tU^ the peace, 8 ; breach sheep lf^^^ assault, 4 ; cruelty to animals, l^pjga" riding, f • obstructing the thor oll «(| ( exposing 'person, -.4 ; : n v isance on Wi^»j t 3 ; foul chimhevs. 5 :'diggingfi^p| breach harbor ragulations, 1 : ; a^^» cattle stealing, 7 ', using obscene«||!; I;—totali1 ;— totali 73. Thefbllowiiig $fflfi of the gaol'afc the present date to i hard! labor, 11;; r iihjpr |sonmenW|^ committed for tTial^3 ; debtors, 1 ; totalr!B. aieceiveiJ during 22 during the m °lll|§ij the twenty-two prisoners r ecel 'ffHi