The Southloand Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1063, 4 December 1868, Page 2

The Southloand Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1868.

In the Provincial Council yesterday afternoon the business, with but ona exception, was of an unimportant character. The House resolved to ! continue the New River service. A full report of this sitting will appear in Monday's issue. The motion by the Provincial Treasurer in tho Council last evening, recommending a grant of land for Railway purposes, was carried, 1 with a slight amendment, by a majority of | 12 to 4 ; other business unimportant. j On Wednesday evening last a few gentlemen desirouß of getting up a Regatta, met at the Clarendon Hotel. It was resolved to entertain the project. Several subscriptions weie promised, and a warm interest in the movement displayed. A sailing match was made between Mr J. Gr. Hughes and Mr Angus Maclean, to sail their boats Kiwi, and Petrel, on the occasion. It •will be seen from our advertising columns that a meeting of those interested in the affair will take place at the Clarendon Hotel, on Monday evening next. The Rifle Match between ten of tho Riverton Volunteers and ten of the Invercargill Company came of at the Rivertou Butts on Wednesday, the 2nd intt. The morning was boisterous in the extreme, and we regret to learn that one of the coaches conveying the Inverear^illites was upset oa the road, the driver, W. Campbell, having a narrow escape of his life, and all the passengers being severely shaken. The firing did not commence until past noon, and the wind was blowing with intense force, consequently the scores on both sides are below the average, although Borne i good tallies were made. The Invercargill men i were again the victors by fifteen points. Par. i ticulars of the match will be found in our Siver- < ton letter. j ]

The Biverton Penny Readings continue, and although Tuesday night was wild enough to have ensured a failure, it was very successful. Mr Surman opened the programme with an incident of the occupation of P^ris by the Allies — a well ! told and exciting story — well read and received. Mr Nicholson sang ' Land of the West.' The next reader on the programme not being at hi 9 post, Mr Hood was pushed up into his place, and recited ' Tell' 3 Address to his Native Mountains,' which was encored. The song following was 'Work Boys Work/ by Mr Rogers. An instrumental piece by Mr Schmidt followed, and an interval of ten minutes. An introduction on the harmonium, consisting principally of National airs, was played by Mr Wilson, and Mr Ireland came forward and read an Irish story, which, unfortunately, was rather long, and conscientiously read through without omission. Mr Lyon was warmly greeted as he stepped upon the platform, and sung one of his own style of Lyrics, which was received with great applause, and an encore called for. The Rev. W. F. Oldham then came forward and announced that he was about to vary the proceedings by reading something ' dry,' and accordingly read an excellent passage on ' Example,' firom Smiles' Self-help. He succeeded in stamping its fine lesson upon the memories of the audience, and closing the book before the first yawn. 'The Death of Nelson' followed, sung by Mr Aldred, who, in compliance with the wishesofthe audience, sang 'Mother be proud of your .Boy in Blue.' One more song depicting English, Irish, and Scotch National character followed, sung by Mr Rogers, and loudly applauded, and the evening wound up with ' Q-od save the Queen.' At the Police Court, Riverton, on Tuesday the Ist December, a man named Hugh Swan alias Sharky, was brought up before D. S. Lawlor R. M. charged by the police with stealing a horse, the property of the Ber. Mr Clark. Tho evidence was strong, and ha was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, at Invercargill. On Wednesday, the town was thrown into a state of painful excitement by the report that a boat known to belong to Mr Edward Hart, Invercargill, and who had only a few days previously completed a contract for the Bupply of posts for the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show Yards, had been found on the beach near the Kew Railway Station. It being known ! that Hart was working on the opposite side of I the estuary, fearg were entertained that, with the darine; for which, he was remarkable, he had attempted to cros3 while the gale was raging, and j tha boat had upset, all on board being drowned. Messrs. Coutta and Campbell who first discovered the boat, having communicated with the police, steps were taken to ascertain if Hart had left j Fraser's Saw Mills in his boat on the previous evening. A party proceeded to that locality, when the worst feara were confirmed. They learned that Hart and four others had left Mr Fraser's Jetty on the previous evening in the boat that had been found. The occupants of the boat were Messrt. B. Hart, Frank Bryson, Wm. I M'Oulloch, Wm. Nelson, and Henry Tremore. ! W. Fraaer stated that previous to tha boat leav- J ing he had remarked, "It was overloaded," to which Hart replied, he " Would rather have seven than five in it." Mr W. Tait, who was present, stated that he had watched the boat from the time it started until it was opposite Capt. Thompson's (ship builder) yard, up to which time all appeared safe. A heavy equall then came on, and the boat was lost to view. A careful search was then made by the police and volunteers for other evidence of the accident. W. Coutts found the oars at the breakwater on the line of the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill Railway, and Mr H. Pierce iound, at the far side of the breakwater, Hart's cap, together with a black felt hat, which has been identified by Mr Vale as that worn by one of the missing men. Yesterday morning a swag was found on the beach ticketed with the name of M'Culloch, and another, which, asyet,isnotidenfied. The search for the bodies was continued during the whole of yesterday by the police boat's crew, and three or four boats with volunteers, but without success. There can be now no doubt but that the whole five men have perished, and we regret to say that at least two were married men with families. The search for the bodies will be still prosecuted. This sad accident has thrown a gloomy cloud over the community. We are informed upon good authority that several parties of miners are located on the Waiau. Some are said to be sanguine of success, but at present no reliable accounts have been received.