The Southland Times. SATURDAY, JULY, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 9 July 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. SATURDAY, JULY, 1864.

To trample on those who are down appears to be a law of nature, or, if not a law, an instinct. The wounded stag is driven from the herd, over -which he had formerly ruled, to gasp away his life amidst solitude and desertion. The fowls of the air peck at and destroy any of their number which may be incapacitated from defending itself by sickness or injury. To man, however, with his enlarged intelligence, superior faculties, this trampling process is a peculiar pleasure. In the brute creation, some desert their wounded comrade, simply because he ceases to be useful to them or has no longer the power of protection. Others take advantage of the inability for defence on the part of their fellows, to turn them to profitable account as food. Man has not merely a physical, but an intellectual, pleasure in glorying over the misfortunes of his fellows. It affords an opportunity for reading a moral lesson — for improving the occasion. As Mr. Pecksniff says, " "What are we, if we gtre not moral?" As it is with individuals, so is it with communities. Victoria glories over wliat she terms the decadence of the. New Zealand goldfields, should the escort returns fall considerably, and stigmatises the Colony as unworthy the attention *of buyers. Each Province in New Zealand abuses its neighbor, and all of tbem join in reading a moral lecture to prostrate Southland. We must, in justice, say that we are not surprised at this, and that under the circumstances, we, could not well have expected otherwise. A.s an integral part of the whole Colony, we must expect to have our mismanagement criticised — our

faults dilated on by those whose inter 6 !* 8 are compromised to a certain extent D J them ; and we must confess we have been treated in a not ungenerous manner by our critics in the neighboring Provinces. The true cause of our embarassments ascertained, the Otago Daily Times exonerates us of presumption in undertaking our railway works ; though it questions the wisdom of so young a Province attempting them. The manner in which the New Zealand. Herald rebukes us is amusing. It points its moral and adorns its tale by calling us the " little Province of Southland." The Province of Auckland itself is, in. available land, for either pastoral or agricultural purposes, considerably inferior in size to Southland, while its average quality can bear no comparison. We do not include, of course, the recently acquired Waikato country, which will be taken for military settlement, and be under the control of the Greneral Government. We must demur, therefore, _to being twitted by Auckland regarding size, while we are greatly its superior in being the natural outlet to and commanding a large portion of country, exterior to . the boundaries of the Province, thus rendering us, as far as Customs' Bevenue is concerned, little inferior in point of size to any Province in New Zealand. The Waikato country will find its outlet by the Thames, and probably, before five years are passed, Auckland will have a rival on the banks of that river. As regards natural resources, we have also considerable advantage over our critic, for the natural productions of Auckland, like that of Chatham in " Pickwick," seem tobe Q-overnment officials, soldiers, and sailors. If a large Q-overnment expenditure is to be considered the true basis of prosperity in a colony, Auckland has certainly that advantage over us. As to solvency, it is barely five years since the bailiff was in possession of the Q-overnment offices in Auckland. Setting aside, however, comparisons, we will endeavor to prove that Southland was perfectly justified in initiating the system of railways afc even so early a stage of her existence ; nay, that such a course was the most economical she could have pursued. One of the greatest drawbacks in connection with a goldfield, is the preßsnse brought to bear on the G-overnmerd; te expend large sums of money in keeping open the communication between it and the port. Although not possessing a goldfield of our own, we were the natural outlet to two or three belonging to the neighboring Province, and the pressure was exercised sufficiently to compel the Government to expend on roads about £140,000, the results of which, as regards benefit derived, are aboslutely nil. The only way of obtaining metal for roads, at a sufficiently reasonable cost to enable us to use it, is by making a railway to the quarry. Admitting, for argument sake, that the traffic returns of the North Railway, for instance, will not pay interest and working expenses for the first two years, does it follow we are unwise in making it? In estimating whether it will pay to construct a railway in a young country, other considerations besides those of mere traffic returns must he entertained. Sir William Dektson estimated, years ago, that the Government of New South Wales was warranted in borrowing five millions for the construction of horse tramways by the cheapening such would effect in the price of cartage. This in a country where metal was easily obtained, a dry climate, and where very tolerable roads already existed ; liow much more necessary is cheap traffic to a colony in our position ? The price of carriage is an indirect tax on the public, which materially affects the question. Estimating the population on the Wakatipu Lake and Nokomai goldfields at four thousand for the next five years, a not very improbable estimate, and that each member of this community consumes a hundred pounds worth of goods per annum, the difference between an average price of cartage, Bay at the lowest £11 per ton, on ordinary roads, from Invereargill to the foot of the Lake, and at the highest £3 10s. per ton were the railway completed from Invercargill to Winton, is no inconsiderable item to be taken to tho credit of the latter work — one which ought to be computed in considering whether it would pay or not to construct. The increase to the revenue derivable from the Customs' duties is also an item to be considered ; for, with the completion of the railway, any competition with us for the Lake trade, on the part of Otago, must cease, except through our ports. We say nothing of the opening up of the interior, and the increased facilities for settlement such a work will afford, rendering the lime quarries at Winton of use for manuring the lands in the vicinity of Invercargill, by so cheapening its freight down, as to enable it to be profitably employed. In the report on "Roads, and their Construction," recently laid before the Provincial Council of Otago, a valuable and interesting document, speaking of common roads in Otago, where metal is more easily obtained than in this Province, and where, consequently, roads can be more cheaply made and maintained, the report states that " The Commission finds that the total sum expended on the roads of the Province to present date is £435,000. When they consider how difficult, uncertain, and costly the communication still is between the various parts of the Province, they are convinced that the expenditure for the construction and maintenance of suitable turnpike roads will necessarily be enormous, and that by the time they_ are completed, and this great expenditure incurred, it will still be necessary to seek the greater facilities to traffic which well organised railways afford. They are, therefore, of opinion that the wisest and most prudent course will be to accept this position at once, and to regard all macadamised roads which may in future be constructed as mere temporary expedients." If, in Otago, after so large an expenditure, communication is difficult, and keeping in repair those roads constructed, so expensively, what shall we say of South-

land, where, after all our expenditure, we find Invercargill almost isolated as regards traffic with the interior. The Chief Engineer of Koada in Otago, Mr. Patebson, estimates that, to construct a road through the Tokomairird Plains, almost a dead level, would cost £3,000 per mile, the subsequent' maintenance of which would cost from £300 to £400 per mile. Supposing we had eighty miles of road in the Province, pitched and metalled, the cost of constructing which, taking it at £4,000 per mile (a low rate, in comparison to Otago), would amount to £320,000, while the cost of maintenance would be, taking the higher valuation for Otago, or £400 per milo, £32,000 per annum, without obtaining any return worth speaking of, and without lowering the price of cartage in any great degree. Notwithstanding the melancholy view which our friends take for us, we are inclined to the belief that our railways will not cost anything like £32,000 a-yearto maintain. As regards the North Bailway, independent of any expenses which may arise from the recent stoppage of the works, the cost of the track, including formation, bridges, culverts, permanent way, and ballast, is a trifle, if any, in excess per mile, of what a properly macadamised road would cost. "We will take, as an instance, the price of such a road as we possess, running parallel with the Northern Railway, viz — from the Waihopai Bridge to the "Waikivi.

This expenditure gives us a road of so temporary a character that the corduroy work (only eight feet in width) although hardly finished laying down is giving way, while drays are constantly slipping off it ; nor cannot it be widened without being taken up again ; the metalled part of 22 chains requires constant repairs also. On the other hand we have the Hailway. The track, including formation, &c, as above, costs, per mile £4,736 The 148 chains, therefore costs, in round numbers £8,761 As against £6118 0 6 The one for a permanent work, lasting years, and considerably reducing freight, the other for a temporary one requiring constant repair, if, indeed, it can be called a road at all. We have not, at present, space to dilate further on this subject; but will conclude with an extract from Mr. Fitzgtbbon's report to the Queensland Legislative Assembly : — In respect of railways, I would remark upon tlie habit which many peoplo fall into, of considering a railway of no advantageto a country unless it pays handsome returns as a commercial enterprise. It will be admitted that there are various public works essentially requisite to be undertaken for the benefit of the community generally, which in new countries are carried out by the Government. # * # I allude to the expenditure upon roads, bridges, harbor improvements, river navigation, docks, wharves, &c., no one asks whether such works pay, because the many advantages incidental to their construction, -which the community at large derive from them, render it a matter of small moment, whether the actual money receipts collected on account of their use, is a fair amount of interest upon the capital expended in their establishment. I cannot see why a railway should bo subjected to a more direct revenue test, in order to form an estimate of its advantages to a country, than is an ordinary road, a bridge, or a harbor improvement.

The Criminal Sittings ofthe Supreme Court will be opened on Monday first, tho llth instant, by His Honor Mr. Justice Chapman. Last night was announced as a "Grand Fashionable Night " at the Theatre Royal, but wo regret to say the attendance was not what might have been expected. The celebrated fiveact play of " Nell Gwynnc " was the great attraction of tho evening. Tlie notorious heroine was well personated by Miss Juno ; and the character of her particular friend, the Duke of Richmond, was well portrayed by Mr E. Holloway. Mr. Streeton played the part of Charles the Second, and Mrs. Holloway that of Miss Stewart, while Miss Fleming undertook the part of Queen Catherine. The perforniances went off very well, and were much applauded by the audience. Tho entertainments were concluded with the farce of the " Bath Road." To-night, tho famous melodramatic play of " Jack Sheppard " is announced. The hero -will be personated in the three acts by Miss Juno, Mrs. Holloway, and Miss Ada Hart in succession, and we have no doubt a full house will be present. The Daily Southern Cross (Auckland) mentions that Dr. Hector has paid a visit to the gold diggings at Coromandel, and that he confessed himself extremely puzzled to find from the nature of the country-, that gold had been found there in such quantities as it has been. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, an individual named Stevens, rosidhfig at the Oreti, usas bound over to keep the peace for six months, for violent and threatening behavior towards one John Walsh, who had been in his employment. Another man, named .William Ross, for creating a disturbance in the Theatre Royal, on the night of Thursday last,, and assaulting a constable while in the execution of his duty, was mulcted in the penalty of £5. Tho civil cases before the Court elicited nothing of public interest. The volunteers met last night for drill, in the store formerly occupied by Mr. Colin N. Campbell, at the corner of Tay and Dee streets. They turned out remarkably well, 'and are evidently entering with great spirit on their drill. A sample of the arms and accoutrements received this week, was shown, arid Captain Harvey intimated that they would be distributed on the evening: of Thursday next, on. which; occasion a magistratewoiild he in attendance for the purpose of .'.'swearing in" the 'company The'Captaih likewise intimated, that, as several of the employers of members had represented to him that seven o'clock was an inconvenient hour for allow^ ing tliem to get>wayTrbmhusm^ssj;drill,wbuld, henceforth commence at half-past seven o'clock. Wo understand that there aro now upwards of sixty members enrolled.

It mayse of yidmo interest -ifcyydhieaaep, 4glftb\ may be required to gireitheirl.'at^dancelbefOTb j k the Supreme Court, at the sittings ;>*rhich.. are about! .Jyy to commence^ [ to know the authorised '•seaJe.-H^^Kji? allowances to lwhich -they^iare entitled. Tf^ieT-aS'-'**"" follows :— For laborers, journeymen, Ac, per day, from ss. to 125. ; master tradesmen,^^pcr^^day,. from 10s. to 155. ; farmers and yeomen, per day, from 10b/ /to 15b.; auctioneers, per* day, novo/ [ 10s. 6d. to £1 Is.; professional men, per daj, ■ from 21s. to 425. r.*^.-*™-^.-^™^™^***--*. A, return is pubUshed Ui iri''the v NerrfJZedland Gazette of the names of all rebel hativeTwho Eave subscribed. » toi >. the \ Declaration of ABegiahce,! anil -. delivered up their arms, from the sth*February to the 31st May of this year .The. numbers whe have complied with tkese conditions are — &2 ia the Thames district, ,7 in the Waiuku district, ;38 in the Lower Waikato, 11 in the Upper Waikato, 33 in the Raglan district; 1- in Central Wanganui, 22 in the' Manawhatu district ; making a total of 154. The number of guns * that these rebels have brought in is 64, together with 1 pistol; and tomahawks, spears, and clubs are the arms given up by, such, of the rest as possessed them. .65 of them, however, had no arms of any kind, A very singular affair is thus reportedto tha : Havelock Mail by its correspondent at Canvas Town :— -" A party of, men werebuilding a canoe of about two tons weight on the side of tho cliff, about 400 feet above the stores on the landing place on the Pelorus. Having completed their task, they were launching it down thb -mountain side with flax ropes, and were progressing all' right until within 200 feet ofthe stores, when the ropes gave way, the canoe continued its way with increased velocity, and had it not been for a tree immediately in the rear of Messrs. Armstrong and Newey's establishment, the whole of their general Btore must have beon levelled with the ground ; as it was, the canoe glided off, took the adjoining store belonging to the above-mentioned proprietors, tore it to ribboni, sent a quarter-cask of ale five yards across the rood 7 smashed two or three ." cases of drapery to pieces, but luckily did n» material damage. At the timo of the accident, just previous to the ropes breaking, three men — Messrs. Newey, Dobbie, and M'Callum — were working about the tent. Upon the signal of danger they all made for their lives, the : two former being able-bodied men, outstripped the latter, who was just recovering from illness, when the canoe shot between them, almost grazing the head of the latter and the backs of the .former, giving them a fright which they will not soon forget. The ridge pole of the tent that was destroyed caused: the canoe to give a, bound -of twenty yards, which landed it in the rushes on tbe other side of the creek." We have been accustomed to hoar from time to time, from parties who have returned from tho Picton rush, that crime and drunkenness were almost unknown there. Wo have, at least, two proofs to the contrary, for which we are indebted to tho Havelock Mail, wliich states that—" On Wednesday last, a man of the name of Benjamin Thoree died suddenly at the Provincial Hotel* Lucknow-street, between the hours of eleven and twelve noon. Death was caused through excessive and prolonged drinking, which brought on a stroke of apoplexy. Deceased was an Englishman, and about forty years of age. It is stated by those who knew him that he had not been sober for a considerable length of time. An inquest would have taken place on Wednesday or Thursday , had a coroner been here. Yesterday afternoon tho corpse was interred without any inquest/ The samo journal also Bays that "John Allon, who committed a violent assault oh John Russell,, a few days since, was, in tho absence of a Magistrate's Court here, forwarded to Picton in charge of Sergeant Moore, and on Monday last was brought beforo the Bench. The evidence proved the ill-treatment Bussell received at the hands of Allen, and olbo the use of the expression byprisoner — ' If he had not already killed hhn. ho would do so the first opportunity," notwithstanding which fourteen days* imprisonment, with hard labor, was considered by the Bench sufficient punishmeut." An attempt to defraud the Customs at Adelaide is reported by the South Australian Register as follows : — " An attempt to defraud the revenue, by importing goods subject to the ad valorem duty ; on an invoice far below tho actual valuo of tbe articles, was discovered on Friday. Tho package contained watches and jewellery, and was imported from Melbourne. The entry was passed in tho usual manner, and the -value declared at about £9o. The landing-waiter, having, doubtless,, some suspicion that all was not correct, caused the package to be opened, and tlie contents valued by competent persons, and it was found that fche value was nearly double tho amount declared. The case was seiied, under tlie 62nd clause of the Customs.* Consolidated Act, the authorities paying the importer fifteen per cent, upon the amount of the invoice. The contents of tbe packages will, we ore informed, be sold by auction." r A few days ago a female named" Rosina Scott (alias Mrs. Martcr), was before the Resident - Magistrate on a charge of lunacy. I>r. Murraythen stated that she had been a week- in the Asylum, but he had come to the conclusion that she was not permanently insane, but that she was subject to epileptic fits, during which she was in. a state of temporary insanity. She was afterward* taken in hand by the .ladies' committee of tho Benevolent- Institution, and , instructions were given to Mr. Commissioner Weldon,; to have the woman placed-in-some-respectable-houso. -Heselected the British Hotel, .Esk-'street, for this purpose, and she was accordingly- removed-there. We understand,- he>wever, that hex " fits " ;aro such. ; that the keeper of that hostelrie intimated yesterday morning that she .rnuct change, her .quarters. It may be remembered, that * 'ihis , same "person, sometime ago attempted self-destruction while residing in Mr. PuettelkdVs. Provincial. Hotel. The intelligence from the Shotover is full of promise. At Maori many parties "are working grouhd ; that was abandoned, -arnlOare well recompensed. The Picton miners are returning daily, and most of ; them' are expected as soon as they can muster the wherewithal to pay their passago. The ' Perfect Cure Company, who had lost the lead for a time, have again got it, and the washing up is. expected to turn out as golden as before. The United Company, at Old Butcher's Point, are getting very good yields.* Last week thoy secured between 90 and 100 ozs.; and this splendid yield is expected again this week. ( There is considerable animation as regards water-races, which frequently, however, cause a temporary stoppage to operations. for this reason tho claims on Stapleton' 8 aro ata stand-still until the raco from the Deep Creek is completed, which, will not be for another fortnight. ■

ThefdUo^ring is the state of Her Majesty's gaol, Invercargill, for the week ending Bth instant :— ; Sentencod to harcl labor, 9; awaiting trial before! Supreme Couit), 23; remanded— (Resident Magis- 1 trate's Court, 1; debtors, 5; lunatics, 5; total 43 v j Received during the. week, 7 ; discharged, 12. j Decrease in number of inmates for the week, 5. We are informed that those tradesmen who are in flia'luiblt •"iif repairing guns, pistols, or other fire-arms, have received an official notification from J the Government," that henceforth they will be permitted to pursue such calling only under a special license, which license is to be paid for. The stoppage of the works set on foot recently by the Marlborough Government, appears to be causing a considerable amount of dissatisfaction and hardship oh the part of the workmen employed. Tlie Havelock Mail, referring to the subject, says:— "We regret to observe the stoppage of tho public -works, more especially as their progress 'was regarded with evident satisfaction on all hands. To whatever cause attributable, the effect will be most disastrous to a number of industrious men, who have remained in this Province on tho strength of being employed during the winter months. Reports are in circulation, which, if true, would place the Executive in no enviablo position as' regards tho good intentions of some of its members towards the township. We hope the cause of delay will be satisfactorily explained to the public, and that the men will be reinstated on the works as soon as possible. The completion of a road to the Deep Creek is of vital importance to the people of Havelock ; and its inhabitants should urge on the Government the necessity of carrying out a project which will add materially to the wealth of the Province at large."

£ c. a. Cost of construction prior to separation, bush cutting, &c, 148 chains...... 1,000 0 0 Formation of part in bush. 450 0 0 Drains 503 6 0 Fascines 1,600 0 0 Corduroy 1,603 10 -6 Extras 200 0 0 Formation 22 chains 35 4 0 Pitching do 412 10 0 Metalling do 313 10 0 Total chains, 148. Total cost, £6,118 0 6