Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 1255, 24 May 1870, Page 2

We have to remind our readers of the concert at the Theatre Royal this evening. It is with regret we hare to record the sudden death. of the wife of ,Mr J. H. Perkins, settler, Tuturau district, and formerly of Invercargill. On the afternoon of Saturday, the 14th inst., Mr Perkins went out to attend to business on the farm, leaving his wife engaged at thesewing machine, and on returning shortly, was alarmed at finding her on the floor, apparently in a fit of some sort. Medical assistance, was at once • sent for, and everything possible done for the relief of the suffering lady. These efforts were so far successful as-to : restore consciousness, ani otherwise mitigate pain, but" she gradually sank and died the following day. Disease of th\e heart is given as the immediate cause of death. Mr Perkins will need, and no doubt receive, the < hearty sympathy of his neighbors and friends' under a bereavement bo severe, sudden, . and untimely. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, 23rd, a man named Bowers wasTbrought up on a charge of larceny, and application made for his remand to Riverton. Mr Harvey, on behalf of ' prisoner, requested that bail, might be taken for, his . appearance when wanted ; the case, he said, being a most paltry affair. The remand was granted, and bail accepted. , ■ By the " Omeo," on Saturday last, 21st inst., Mr Hugh M'Lean, one of Southland's oldest and most enterprising colonists,, took hia departure jfbr another land. From the time of his settlement in this province, Mr M'Lean has been conspicuous by his efforts at improving, the, quality~of local;, stock of all kinds. At groat cost, frequently we believe at great loss, he has imported horses, cattle,' and sheep of the very purest blood and pedigree, l from which nave sprung many of the best; studs, herds, and flocks now in the. district. It is to be regretted that, finding it impossible to realise' anything like a price for them hej-e,.he wasLCom^ polled to take with him to Victoria his two splendid draught sires " Thane of Clyde " and " Southorne." All who have been acquainted with Mr M'Lean,;, cannot .but wish him; better success where he has gone, while many hope that, as he leaves considerable property behind him, he may return and take up his permanent abode amongstthem. The arrival of the s.s. Omeo rather late on Saturday evening created,., an ...unusual, bustle!; about the railways station, and; the post office. When the special train despatched for the mails returned to town, the traffic of pedestrians and vehicles up and doJTn^Esk-street for spine 'half; hour or so, was quite refreshing, a tone of excitement even being imparted by the fact that it was carried on under cover of a pitch dark night, and by the aid of numerous lamps, lanterns, &c. The overland mail from Dunedm, due on Saturday last, had not reached Popotunoa when the* Southland mailman left. The Kaibiku had been too high, to cross. Our Birerton correspondent- informs us that L; 'M'Gillivray; Esq.-, -was • elected^as representa-' tire of that district in the General Assembly, in room of D. HanMnson, JEaq., resigned, on Thursday last, 19th inst, without opposition. On Thursday evening, 19th inst., a lecture was delivered in the Schoolroom at Long Bush, by Mr Perkins, of Inveroargill. Subject—" Long Evenings, and how to Make the Best of Them." The night was very unfavorable, ; being dark, and threatening stormy weather, and in consequence the school-room was not so full as it would otherwise have been. The notice of the lecture was also somewhat short, yet .there was neverttie- '; less a fair muster of auditors. The meeting wasi presided ; over. by the , Re.v. Mr Alexander, who! opened and closed the proceedings by prayer. The plan suggested by the - lecturer as most suited to the wants of a scattered country district in the : employment of winter evenings, 'was that of regular family readings, advising also the association of young men; and others without family ties, into circles for the same object. Some hints were given as to the nature of the selections - for reading, and the course to be adopted to render the plan successful. At the close of the lee- ' : ture, which, was most, attentively listened to,; a proposal, was made;bj Mr M'Kay, teacher in the public, schoolj for the .formation of a public library as being the meansjbest adapted to carry put the system proposed; during the evening. The favor ' with which this proposition was' received augurs < the probability that ere long a public library 'will be formed at Long ißush. ; . /(. j '■ Letters from Mauritius to the 14th of March state that a. severe hurricane had passed over the island, lasting for three days, but had done Very little damage to the, -plantations. The crop \ of sugar was expected to be but a bare average one, and. prices were likely to rule higher. Great efforts were being made to prevent the destruc- ' tion of trees, in the hope of saving the island from some of those severe droughts from which it pc- '~\ casionally suffers.' In the Cape- of Good Hdpe ; there had' been a splendid harvest of grain, but 5 no new discoveries of gold or-diamonds. A-cashier of the Oriental Bank, who had been seventeen years in ;tKe.. .service, has been apprehended for honoring overdrafts, by his son to the extent of £1500, to assist the latter in his business. . The son is also in custody. Emigration to New Caledonia, for the purpose of sugar-growing, was taking place.-^ „. : , >^- ■■ j