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Southland Times, Issue 1888, 1 April 1874, Page 2

Masonic. — The usual monthly meeting of the local lodge of freemasons takes place this evening, at 7.30, in the Masonic Hall, at the rear of the Prince of Wales Hotel. Waste Lauds Boabd. — At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board on Monday, the Chief Commissioner and Messrs Baker and M'Arttiur were present. Mr A. Mackenzie applied to have his , land frontage to the Waimatuku shifted lower down the stream, in order to enable him t6 drain , his property. The applicant had previously sent the Chief Surveyor a letter, signed by his dearest neighbors, and showing that the proposed alteration met the approval of all parties concerned ; • and this being the case, the Board decided that it was competent for the District Surveyor to settle the matter. Mr Cuthbert Cowan wrote, • asking the Board to protect his license area from- > the encroachment of splitters. The Board resolved that if Mr Cowan required protection ! for his sawmill, he would have to specify his license area in terms of the Timber Regulations from Clause 14 to 23. The East Road. — Last winter this road had a ■ wide-spread and well-merited notoriety for mire, misery, and impassability j but during the approaching winter it is likely to become as famous for its facilities a3 it then was for its obstructions" j to traffic and travellers. When the contracts 5 now in progress between town and Halfway Bu3h are completed, £6JOO more or less will hava been expended on its improvement. There is one thing which is calculated to militate against its continuing in good repair, and that is the . inferior quality of the best of the gravel which 7 is, and has baen procurable for its making. I However, the Provincial Government, and the II road engineer and inspector, are doing all they 1 can to make it a first-class highway, and last > winter's impassability is not a thing which- is likely to recur again. r Oteb the Matauba. — From the eastern side of the Mataura we learn thut the weather has been very unfavorable to the ingathering of the crops. This is to be regretted, as it was confidently , expected that, in this district, a heavy ' yield- of grain would be secured. The wheat I especially gave promise of being an excellent > sample, but it is feared that the long exposure in stook will darken ita color, and otherwise p deteriorate its value. ; : Thb Matafba Railway. — The nptrt*™ nn the other side of the ittataura are already experieno ing the advantages of the Mataura railway. By starting from Wyndham at 7 o'clock the traveller \ will arrive at Woodlands in time to catch the 10 1 o'clock train for Invercargill, whore he will bt j enabled ;to. spend 4| hours in the transaction ol business. Returning to Woodlands at 3 o'clock, his horse in the meantime having been tho--1 roughly rested, he will reach'his home about 7 - p.m. •.'"'■ I School Committee. — We are informed thai f Mr Calder has tendered his resignation as £ I;,, Imemb.er'- of: the: Invercargill School Committee, y and that a meeting will be held thi3 evening foi II the purpose of electing a successor, and transactJ mg general business. " The WBSTBBif Distbigt Ba^:i,way3. — From • a private telegram received in town yesterday, }■ we learn on good authority that do ■ furthei • postponement of the date for acceptance oi J tenders for .the railways in the Western District i is coutemp I lat6d by the Executive. 3 The Omega. — It is announced id our adf vertising columns that the clipper barque Omega is now open for charter. We hope, for the. credit 3 of the port, that she will obtain freight of some ) kind. 3 Mobe abottt the Navvie.— ln accordance - with the resolution arrived at by the Railway . and Immigration Committee or* Monday evening , j the chairman, Mr John,.W. Mitchell, despatched the following telegram to Mr Yogel yesterday :— "Referring to your telegram, 20fch February , 1 that Navvie sailed for Bluff with immigrants in I Januivr7, please say whether name of '-ship it } correct. If any other name, please furnish it, v and say whether such ship comes to the Bluff o'--3 to Port Chalmers. Rumors current that no ship " has sailed for .Bluff, and that William Davie is • coming to Port Chalmers." The following reply l was received in the :course of the afternoon :— I " I telegraphed Navvie. because that was the j. name in the cablegram, but I believe the William Davie was meant, because I have since received a letter dated 23rd January, advising, .sailing ol 1 William Davie for the Bluff with 294 immigranta r on board, equal to 243 statute ad'lilts.^^JLixra j VoaEL." '-- j The Athen^uii.— A meeting of the Com- > niittee of the Athemeuin — -as held on Monday, a to consider the Superintendent's reply to the request thit the Athenaeum reserve .of 1077 a., 3 3r., 28p., in the Invercargill Himdredj made last ■ session of Provincial Council, in continuation of 1 a resolution of the Provincial Council of South--3 land, should be gazetted. The reply was to the effect that it had been decided to let the matter , stand over till next session. The President was requested to urge the propriety oi gazetting the 3 reserve still further on the Q-overnment, as it had . • been granted by the Provincial Council of Southland before re-union. x Bazaah. — A fancy bazaar, in aid of the y Primitive Methodist Church, was opened yesters day in the Exchange Hall. There were three i tables, each well and tastefully loaded with a 3 pleasing variety of useful and ornamental a articles. On the table at the* west end ' of the t Hall there was a large display of very beautiful t cut flowers.and pot plants, while the table at the 9 opposite end was covered with cakes and buns. 3 and various kinds of fruit. The tables which 1 wore placed lengthwise were, however, the moat a. charmingly attractive, aa on them and on linee a suspended- above them were exhibited roanj I things of beauty, intended for. personal female a adornmenfc and household embellishment. Masdames Westbrooke, Nicholson, Froggatt, Hum--1 phries, and Blaniford, and the Misses Westbrooke, presided at the different table 3, and appeared to receive an encouraging amount oi I patronage. The bazaar will be open again to- ■ day. ;■ . • k EffG/AGKEMTSNT OF ImJIIGBAKTS. — The follow- ) ing engagements have-taken place at the Barracks ' this week : —^One general farm servant at £60 per [ year, one carter at^SJ per week, one boy at 6s per week ; one general servant at £1 per week for twelvemo nths j one at 25s per week ; and " one at £65 per year j four laborers at9d per day, l a"d one at £1 per week and found.

The Wkstebn District. — Writing from Jacob's River on the 28th March, a correspondent says : — " We are all very busy at the harvest. A good week would secure the moat of it, but the weather haa been very backward." FnaEXOLOGtCAL. — Professor Bruce, mesmerist and lecturer on phrenology, made his first public appearance in InvercargUl at the 1 Theatre Royal ou Monday night. There was :a moderately fair attendance. Aa a lecturer, Mr J^Bruce faila tb^ make either a very powerful or "pleasing impression on his audience, but as a perceiver of character, his power and acauracy are undeniable. His mesmeric seance was '^ry amusing, and a pleasing trait in Mr : BrUce is itiat he does not take undue advantage .of the influence he acquires over his subjects. Last niglit, doubtless owing to the inclemency of the weather, and counter-attractions at the Exchange Hall, 'thelre .was no entertainment at the Theatre.