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Southland Times, Issue 1262, 7 June 1870, Page 2

The Woodlands Meat Preserving Company has fairly commenced operations, and from experience — sampleß of preserved tongue, beef, and mutton, having been courteously submitted to our inspection — we can say the meats are firstclass, and should command a ready market in Europe. The first shipment, 16 cases, was despatched to London by the Harvest Home, aad we trust the returns will be encouraging and satisfactory to the Company. The preserves, we may mention, have been tested by numerous townsfolk, and they all express themselves satisfied as to their superior quality. The brethren of the Loyal St. Gteorge Lodge j L0.0.F.,M.T7., will celebrate their second anniversary by a grand soiree and ball, to be held in the Theatre Eoyal, on the evening of Thursday 9th inst. The tickets are quoted at a very reasonable figure, to suit the times, and as the Lodge is pretty strong, and its former festival was a most j successful affair, there can be no doubt that the present entertainment will go off well; In addition to the tea, and the dancing, both strong' attractions for many folks, there will be a variety j of intellectual enjoyments, in the shape of readings, recitations, vocal and instrumental music, &c. The concert given by the amateurs on Friday evening, 3rd, came off most successfully, as far at least as the music was concerned, although it must be acknowledged the house was not so well filled as might have been expected, considering the high character of the programme provided. The dress circle and boxes were, however, well filled, and made up to some extent ' for the thinness of the pit. Several of the pieces were the same a» had been given on the Queen's birth-

night, and the benefit of the subsequent practices was plainly observable in their better rendering on this occasion. The additional selections were also first-rate compositions, and were rendered without exception most* artistically, as was testified by the frequent plaudits accorded. The " Kyrie " and " Gloria," from the 12th Mass, opened the entertainment, and both went off effectively, as did also " Quoniam/' from the same author, at a later period. The first full chorus, "The Heavens are Telling," was given with a precision and effect which must have rather surprised some present. Anlnvercargili audience has never heard it so well performed, and it is no exaggeration to say that the style in which it was rendered would have reflected credit on any choral society in towns much larger than this. A recitative and aria from Jephtha — " Deeper and deeper still," and Waft her Angels," sung by a wellknown tenor, and the delightful solo, "He shall feed his Flock," by a favorite soprano, were received with marks of appreciation, as was also rHandel's " Total Eclipse," by the conductor. The grand old "Hallelujah" brought the first part to a close. The second part — secular — comprised two popular chorusses — " Awake iEolian Lyre," and " From Oberon,'* both of which ran freely j the jolly old trio, " Mynheer Van Dunck " was very good ; the sweet duett, " Convent Bells," sung by two young ladies, the andience insisted on having repeated ; ascena, " Suivez moi," was something new, very trying to the singer, and slightly startling at the finish, bat took well, was encored, and substituted by a sonata. The solo and chorus, with "echo "behind the scenes, formed a pleasing terminal to the programme. ; We had almost forgotten to mention the instrumental selections, the first from Rimbault, and the second from Rossini — Tancredi. The latter, by Ist and 2nd violins and piano, was a masterpiece, and had to be given twice; A meeting of gentlemen interested in the flax industry took place at Messrs Hay and Mentiplay's steam mills on Friday afternoon, 3rd, to witness the operation of testing the relative strength of New Zealand and Manilla rope. There were present a good many of our leading citizens, and a sprinkling of nautical gentlemen, all of whom watched the proceedings with much interest, and ultimately expressed themselves very highly satisfied with the result, the comparison showing a decided superiority in the local material. The rope submitted to ■ the competition was of the dimension known aa one* and-a-half inch (in circumference, not in diameter, es erroneously stated by a local sheet) The - r Mfroillft piece was selected from a coil of soundnew rope, as perfect to all appearance as could be' desired, and the New Zealand was a piece manufactured by Mr J. Scott, precisely similar in .size and make to the imported article. The modus was a stout triangle, a strong wooden platform, or scale, and a pile of 561b. weights. Oapt. Green, of the " Harvest Home," was on (he ground, and fixed the ropes as they were severally arranged for the strain, taking care that each should be tied in the same manner, to secure equal justice. Two trials were given to each rope, without altering the result. The point at which the cord gave way in each case was as follows : — N. Z. rope, li inch in circumference, 12 cwt. Manilla „ „ >, 7£ „ The length of rope on which the strain acted was about four feet, and the "snap " was shorter if anything in the case of the Manilla than in the New Zealand, which parted with a long gradual "tear" rather than a'• break." The New Zealand was made from fibre dressed in the "mode" at present in xise" in this province, and generally throughout the colony, and it will be observed that it stood over a half more- weight ,than its rival. A number of other trials were made, all equally favorable to the local fibre. __ A piece of New Zealand rope of the same thickness, made from some old fibre, manufactured by boiling the leaf, which had been lying about for a considerable time, parted at a strain of 10 cwt., and another piece, also of the same size, made from fibre manufactured by the natives, and which had been rendered soft and pliable as kid by three years' wear and tear in a boat, astonished everybody by giving way only whenß cwt. had been piled on the board. A piece of If inch Manilla broke short with 14 cwt., only 2 cwt. more than the New Zealand rope of i inch less capacity. New Zealand advices (says the Melbourne Daily Telegraph) continue eminently unsatisfactory. The track of some conquerors is marked by ruined empires ; that of the marauding Te Kooti by overthrown Ministries. The Stafford Government was his last victim, and our latest intelligence informs us that the Fox Ministry is to be the next. Mr Fox took office pledged to reduce the war expenditure, and in sanguine hopes of annihilating Te Kooti. The expenditure, however, remains at its old rate of £25,000 per month ; and Te Kooti, however hardly he may be pushed, still carries his head upon his shoulders. The knowledge of these facts is more likely to make Mr Fox lose his head, for he knows the manner in which his opponents will * turn them to account. Parliament has been ' called to meet in June, and already members of Parliament are haranguing their constituents on his broken vows, and the newspapers are commenting on his unfulfilled pledges. We must confess to sympathising with an earnest and zealous Minister like the New Zealand Premier, who has to contend not only with a wily Opposition, which is the lot of all premiers, but a no less wily foe in the field. To please the South, which is in no danger, he must reduce the forces ; if he is to protect life and property in the North, he ought rather to increase them. We may sympathise still more with the impatience of our fellow-colonists, who see only a fruitless war eating up their resources. More heavily taxed already, as they are, than the inhabitants of any other portion of the British dominions, there is a danger of more taxes yefc to follow. It ia hard to sympathise, however, with a mother country which, by lending three regiments of soldiers, could prevent these sufferings without one farthing of expense to itself. It is harder still. to comprehend a colonial policy which will guarantiee a loan of £3,000,000 to Canada, to construct a railway, and refuse to guarantee a shilling to New Zealand for the defence of a people. Sir Robert Officer, of Tasmania, has received intimation that a first-class medal has been awarded him for his acclimatisation services by the Socie'te' Imperiale d* Acclimation. We have been requested to draw attention to an advertisement elsewhere appearing, headed "A day of special prayer for the children of Christian parents." Tuesday first is the day set apart, and the Presbyterian Church the place where the meeting will be held. The MarlborougH Express thus complains of the, excessive cost of governing that province : — "It must have occurred to many others besides ourselves that the £5,537 annually charged to this Province for General Government officials— we beg pardon — departments, is very largely in excess of its requirements, and we feel sure the amount is capable of being greatly reduced. This sum is outside the cost of Provincial departments, which last "year cost £4,553, without including anything for public works, roads, or education. £10,000 spent for government alone, in a province containing a population of 4371 souls !" From the official returns it would seem that the landed property owned by the Bank of Otago is valued at £29,813 ; while that belonging to the Bank of New Zealand is set down at £22,270. It is stated that at the time the Kakanui seawall was destroyed, a hundred tons of stone, in ponderous blocks, lying on the shore in readiness for shipment, were carried out to sea. The Dunstan Evening Star is informed that a gentleman at Lawrence (Tuapeka) has purchased, in the immediate vicinity of that township, 70 acres of land,, for the express purpose of planting the same with gum trees. ' * - • .

The Queenstown correspondent of the Dunstan Times, in noticing the temperance movement recently set on foot there, says : — " The consequence of drinking has been brought forward very prominently in the Resident Magistrate's Court ■lately. The police made a seizure at a shanty, at Arthur's Point, of some of the vilest compounds ever prepared to poison man. Brandy and whisky appeared to consist of raw spirits— from some illicit atill — spirits of wine and kerosene. So vile were the compounds that the Bench ordered samples to be retained for analysis. The delinquent, who very properly was fined £50, stated that she purchased the liquors from a highly-respectable house in Queenstown. But that is a palpable untruth. No tradesman ever sold such stuff. No wonder that men go mad from drink, and either commit suicide, or tumble into rivers and get drowned or live like beasts rather than men." The Wellington correspondent of the * Otago Daily Times, writing on the 28th ult., says : — We have lately been visited by a rather mysterious i craft in the shape of a pretty little schooner of about 90 tons, named the Water Lily. She had on board a crew of 12 men, and her cargo consisted of firewood, fresh water, a quantity of provisions, and a condenser. What her destination was at once became a matter of conjecture, especially as the object of calling here was announced to be a desire to obtain a fresh supply of water, and to procure a whaleboat. The most probable conjecture was that the Water Lily was going to the Auckland Isles in search of the General Grant's gold, but this the persons on board denied, and stated that the destination was Star-beck Island, an uninhabited island in the neighborhood of the Equator, and supposed to be rioh in guano deposits. The Customs authorities demanded an explanation of the use of the condenser on board, when it was explained that the expedition was intended to establish a station on Starbeck Island to work the guano, that a few of the men were to be left there, and the rest return with a cargo of the guano to Melbourne ; but that as there was neither wood nor water to be had on the island it was requisite to take a supply of wood and the means of making water for the support of those Robinson Crusoes who were to be left on the Starbeck. This explanation satisfied the Customs, but nautical men are rather puzzled to guess what brought the Water Lily bo far out of her way as this port when sailing from Melbourne for aa island almost due north. The Water Lily sailed for Starbeok (or elsewhere), on Thursday. The correspondent of the Otago Daily Times has written a strong letter to the Post denying in toto the charge made by Mr Fox at the meeting in Christchurch, of obtaining information by improper means, but acknowledges to often obtaining information which Mr Fox would if possible keep from him. He stated that had Mr Fox quoted the whole paragraph instead of from the middle, a different construction would have been shown. He concludes his letter thus :— " As to the choice epithets which Mr Fox made use of, I shall take other steps to vindicate myself ; and in the meantime I leave the public to judge of the conduct of a gentleman holding the office of Prime Minister, who, having made a false charge against a political opponent, not only refuses to withdraw it or apologise, but adds to the wrong by publicly accusing his opponent of felony, and of being a • double-dyed scoundrel,' who should be dismissed by all his employers. Mr Fox has made grave charges against me, and I shall take care he is afforded an opportunity of justifying them or of paying the penalty which may be exacted from these who falsely and maliciousty slander others to justify personal or political enmity." The bridge over the Shotover was opened for traffio with great eclat on Her Majesty's birthday. At the neremony, the Mayor (Mr B. Hallenslien) said he had great pleasure in congratulating the residents on ' the completion of so important a work. They had now a good and safe road over perhaps the most dangerous river in the Province. They had now great reason to rejoice at not having any longer to dread the green-eyed monster -which trailed its lengthened and treacherous course beneath. They were much indebted to Messrs Haughton and Shepherd, and to the present Government for the erection of the most beautiful bridge they ever saw. It was also a great credit to the contractor, Mr Aldrich, and all connected with it. Our gold resources were great, and the next escort would perhaps be the largest that had left the 'district for yean. The Wakatip would also be the great granary for the Northern G-oldfields. Our breadstuff's are acknowledged to be the finest in the colonial market. We had besides, other rising industries, such as lime, coal, &c, and should shortly be in a position to export many articles. It must also be a great pleasure to think that the lunch provided was from purely Wakatip production. A correspondent of the Cromwell Argus furnishes some particulars as to the state of mining matters at the Cardrona. The following is taken from his report : — The Chinamen who have come here lately, with the exception of about twelve, have all set in to work, and are getting satisfactory returns for their labor. They are working the old ground over again, and have spread into many of the small creeks that run into the Cardrona. The claims ara mostly all well supplied with water, and some of them are turning out splendidly. The bed of the creek is taken up for a distance of seven or eight miles below the township ; whilst the small adjacent gullies are being well and thoroughly prospected. As a proof of the success met with, I may mention that a nnmber of Chinese, working in a large stream, called the Branch creek, are netting from £6 to £10 per man for the week's work. Each man can hold an acre under his miner's right, so that there is every inducement to settle down when they obtain a good prospect. . The large extent of ground they are enabled to occupy assures them of long and constant employment, and also gives greater confidence for the investment of capital in plant and machinery. No district has benefited more than the Cardrona from the extended claim system. A large party of Chinese are setting in to the old ground, having taken up the old Homeward Bound and part of the old Pirate claims, both famous as being formerly the richest claims in the district. It is a heavy undertaking, for the claims are very deep, and full of water to within fourteen feet of the surface. If they succeed in opening the ground, they richly merit all the luck they may have ; and should they be fortunate enough to strike the old lead, there is no doubt they will be handsomely paid. The following resolution, introduced by Mr White, has been carried by the Westland County Council : — " That in proportion to its population and revenue, and to the extent of the representation enjoyed by other districts in the Colony, as compared with their popnlation and revenue, the County of Weßtland ia inadequately represented in the Colonial Legislature ; and that a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Harrison, Barff, and the mover, to draw up a memorial for presentation to the General Assembly, praying that measures be taken during the approaching session to place the representation of this district on a just and equitable basis. The Otago Daily Times regrets to learn that, in consequence of the now frequent recurrence of floods on the Taieri Plain, several farmers have resolved to abandon their holdings. A number more have, after considerable hesitation, decided to give it a trial for another year. Should the plain be again flooded before another harvest is secured, there cannot be a doubt that a consider- , able exodus, both of leaseholders and freeholders, will be the result. - A correspondent writes to us as follows : — " The subject of education has of late attracted the attention of the residents of Makarewa Bush, the want of a common school in the district being now severely felt. A public meeting of those interested was held at Mr Tait's house last Friday night, to take into consideration the best means of supplying this want, when resolutions were brought forward and adopted, which, if carried out in the spirit requisite, will, before many months, place the desired object in their midst." Several proposals have recently been submitted to the Otago Government for the construction of the Clutha Railway. The latest u one made by the

Manager of the Bank of Otago M followii—- " Danedin, 30th May, 1870 Sir—l hare the honor to snbmit, for the consideration of yoar Government and the Provincial Council now in session, the following proposal for constructing the Southern Trunk Bailway from Dtanedin to Balclutha, viz. :— First. That I will undertake^ on behalf of the Province, to raise a sum of money sufficient for the purpose, say to the extent of half a million (£500.009) if necessary, provided I«m .placed ia a position to offer my Mend* term* and conditions as follows .:— lnterest to be guaranteed on the money raised at eight per cent per annum for a term of not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) years, at the option of the Province! interest to be payable half yearly either is Dunedin, Melbourne, or London. That security for the money borrowed be given over the railway, plant, 4 7., together with land equal in acreage at 20s per acre to the sum advanced, or over land only, in which case the acreage would require to be double in proportion to the sum borrowed. I may take the liberty of pointing oat that, if the Province raised the money under the proposal above indicated, the Government would have in its power to control the expenditure of money in the construction of such a line at may be deemed advisable. I shall be glad of a reply at your early convenience. — I ami, 4c., W. J. M. Larnach. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago." The Wdkatip Mail of the 26th nit says:— " We hear that the Shotover dredge i* making on* pound weight of gold per shift. Here is a ohanoe for co-operative mining companies ; in (act, we learn that another party i» about to be formed, the cost of working machinery being estimated at £500."