The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1875.

Southland Times, Issue 2115, 12 May 1875, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1875.

We have not yet seen the pamphlet issued by Mr James Adam, the specially appointed Immigration Agent for all Otago. There is in our hands, however, a letter addressed to a gentleman in this town, by a correspondent who has looked at Mr Adam's production from a Southland point of view, and we have pleasure in quoting some of his pungent strictures. " The pamphlet," it is remarked, " contains much interesting information; and, on the whole, is very entertaining Regarded from the political standpoint, however, it is not the thing for Southland. I presume Mr Adam went home as the agent for the whole province, but the perusal of the pamphlet almost drives me to the conclusion that he did not bear that in mind while writing it. For instance, it begins with a map in which Southland is shown as a blank space, and the details ot Otago proper only are tilled in. Under the heading ' Railways,' he mentions the survey of the DunedinClutha line, and the existence of the Port Chalmers line, and totally ignores the Southland railways. Now, to profess to enumerate such works, aud to omit forty miles of railway in full swing, was really too bad. " At page 99 the public are informed that there is ' a very large white pine buah near Invercargill.' True, but why call it a white pine bush ? " However, there is a small redeeming feature immediately after, where it is stated, within parenthesis, that Inverr.argill is the second town in Otago. Tn Mr Vogel's Handbook, Oamaru is called the second in point of population — the truth, nominally, but with its suburbs, luvercargill is nearly double Oamaru. I do not think that Mr Adam allude 3to the separation and reunion of Otago and Southland, but my memory may be at fault. But if lam right in so thinking, a map, purporting to be a map of Otago, and yet having a blank space within it, named the Province of Southland, must have a very confusing effect on the minds of strangers." We can add little to these apparently well justified and pointed remarks. They come, however, in strange confirmation of the suspicions aroused by the talk of the blacksmith (" harmonious" or otherwise) who came out by the Timaru, and who confided to Mr Pearson the advice of Mr Adam " not by any means to land in Southland." Mr Adam came among us in all seeming good faith, and made a round of the district, with the ostensible purpose of qualifying himself to speak to its merits. If he then formed such an opinion of its capabilities that he felt it his duty to warn away emigrants, it would have been better that he had said so ; and before this time, we daresay, we should have had an immigration agent of our own. But to leave us under the impression that he meant to deal loyally by us, and afterwards to carry out an apparently settled purpose of neglect and depreciation, is a kind of treason and injustice that we are not disposed to bear. It' our conclusions are well iounclecl— and there seems quite enough to justify them— valuable opportunities for representing the advantages of Southland have been lost already. It remains with our representatives in thp Council to say how much more time is to be sacrificed, and how much more of the money of Southland is to be wasted on a.n agent who seems to conceive it his business to ignore or malign her,

The WeATHEB. — Within the last month we hare experienced extremes of weather, the fine da^ a however largely preponderating. Since Monday we have had airs and skies worthy oi summer. So much good weather at this season is begetting the impression that a fine winter is before us. We hear also of Maori predictions to the same effect, and are inclined to put. great faith in them, the natives having a deservedly high reputation as weather prophets. The Invebcakgill Gaol. — On Monday afternoon, His Worship the Resident Magistrate, J. Turnbuli, Esq., visited the Invercurgill Gaol, through which he was conducted by Mr Frnser, the governor. Everything was ship-shape, cban and well-ordered, but the signs of scant accommodation wore numerous and unmistakeable. Mr Fraser pointed out, to His Worship hotv necessary it was that the accommodation should be increased, and also tho necessity which existe-i for the appointment of a night warder. Mr Turnbuli, while expressing himself satisfied with the manifestly excellent, way in which the J establishment was superintended, endorse i the j justness of Mr Fraser's complaints, and pro- j mised to make the necessary recommendations to : the proper authorities. MB YoGEL. — Our Wellington correspondent informs us that Mr Yogel telegraphs, under date April 28, that the arrangements for the submarine cable aro progressing satisfactorily, and are nearly completed with tho F astern Extension "Company. Mr Yogel is still suffering from severe illness, but he purposes leaving for New Zealand as soon as the doctors will permit him. Rule Volunteer Land Gkaj;t3. — Some time sinco a memorial was addressed to the Provincial Gover»ment by a number of the members of the local Rifle Volunteers, pointing out that they had not received the grant of £15 in lieu of land. We believe a reply wns returned to the effect, that tho vote had been expended. As the Provincial Council is no-vr in session, if the officers in command would interest themselves, no doubt the Council would at once acknowledge the justice- of the claim, but stepi should at onoo be taken to bring the matter prominently forward, Southland Building Society — The annual general meerincr of tho shareholders in the Southland Building, Land, and Investment Society will ho held in the Council Hall at 9 o'clock this evening. After the business of the annual meeting is disposed of, a special meeting will be held for the purpose of considering certain important proposed alterations in the rules. The contemplated changes will be found in outadvertising columns. Presentation.— The congregation assembling at Myross Bush, under the pastoral charee of the Eev. Mr Bethune, presented recently to Mr John Fairmaid a pilver watch and chain, in acknowledgment of his services as precentor for a period of two years past. The presentation was made on behalf of the congregation by Mr John Henderson. Southland's Natural Songstfb. — A Victorian correspondent, who happened recently to be on the banks of the Murray river, had the luck to fall in with our old friend Willie Steel. Our correspondent says that Willie looks capitailv, and appears to thrive as a " natural songst r." New BuldikGs.— The day of unsightly makeshifts, in the way of buildings, is fast passing away in Invereargill, and features of real architectural beauty are beginning to appear. The handsome structure containing the Atherjfiim, now rer.Jizes. so far, what hae long been before us in MrJlerr's photographed plan. The ornaments on the upper portion of the building are completed, and are tasteful and pleasing. The walls have still to be plastered, and the windows to be embellished, so we shall have to wait awhile betoie all the designed effect enn be pro lueeil. There is no doubt that the Athenaum Committee will be acknowledged to have made the most of the "corner." The Bank of NowSouth Wales, nearly finished externally, nnd already showing the full design, is a very tasteful though plain building, and is worthy of tho Colonial Architect. It is just questionable whether a wealthy corporation like the Bank, possessing in the corner of Dee and Tay streets one of the very finest sites, might not have done a little more for the beauty of the town by erecting a building of higher architectural pretensions. We have already noticed fully Mr Ko'lsrers' fine new buildinsr, designed by Mr Burwi-11. which is rapidly advancing to completion. How the great gap in Dee street is to be filled up is a matter of concern to every one who takes any pride in the appearance of the town. We ha.ye bet-n allowed to inspect a very beautiful design by Mr Burwell for occu pying the entire spac*, and it jb our eurnest hope that it may be adopted. If tho architect's plan be carried out, there will ba presented to tho eye, in this town of ours, a block of buildings that would grace any city, and that, we venture to say, will be unsurpassed in the colony. There ate different interests to be consulted, but it will be for the benefit of these that a harmonious whole should be created, and we can see nothing to be gained by conflicting nction. It is merely ior the sake of the permanent beauty of Invereargill that we venture to hope that all the proprietors whose lost bu ldings have to be replace^, will be able to agree upon Mrßurwell's design. It only remains to notice the progress of the ne-.v Government buildings. We aro glad to observe that tho foundations, which are of blue stone, arc well forward, tho top level having been reached over a portion of the line?. We underitand that by the end o( the week this part of the work will he finished and ready to recsive the first course of bricks. Atuenjkcm: Committee. — There wns an aojourned meeting ot tho Athenmurn Committee on Tuesday evening. Present — the President, Treasurer, and Secretary, and Messrs Kingsland and Tapper. The sub.committee appointed for the Mirpose submitted conditions to be incorporated iv the lease of shops in the new buildings. The conditions were approved of and adopted by the committee, and it was resolve;! to insert an advertisement in the local papers inviting tenders for a lease of all the shops, or for one, two, or three of the same, respectively, up till the 10th of June next, the conditions to be open to intending tenderers in the meantime. After having resolved that the Committee should hereafter meet on alternate Wednesdays, beginning on tho 19th instant, the meeting terminated. Dhath of Mes Hughes. — A telegram was received in town on Monday last, intimating the death, at Akaroa, of Mrs Hughes, widow of Mr John G. Hughes, late of Bluff and Invereargill. Mrs Hughes will bo remombered as tho daughter of Mr McLean, one of the earliest settlers in Invereargill. Mosgibt/Twerds. — We were shown yesterday, by Mr Jobn Waldie, a number of samples of the goods turned out at the Mosgiel Woollen Factory. They comprise twoeds of every description, blanket.', hose, stockings and worsted yarns. A great improvement is perceptible in the finish of the tweeds, and the variety of pattern and texture could not be excelled by the products of a home manufactory. Tho blankets hare a silky softness that indicates the purity of tho material out of which they have been woven, and the stocking?, &c, seem to have qualities of durability that will commend them to thrifty wearere. The Late Joe Small. — The Wellington Post states that Joe Small's widow and two children aro in distressed circumstances in Sydney. Mrs Small is an invalid, and the family would have been absolutely destitute but for the kindness of a gentleman who wag connected wirh Mr fel ■rial 1 in the mercantile venture on which the latter was engaged when he met his death. The Post suggests that amateur societies might get up benefits for the relief of tho family of one who never refused his services in the cause of char ity. TjJiAEtr G-BAIN- Teade. — At the present time there is an immense amount of grain in Timaru, I the storage Being quite inadequate to the aupplies daily received, grain haying to b,e stacked in the paddocks.