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Southland Times, Issue 3311, 30 January 1879, Page 2

Lowther.— Mr H. MtiCulloch visited Lowther yesterday to hold a Court there. City Council.— The Council will meet this evening in the Council Chambers, at 7.30 o'clock. Waste Lands Board. — A meeting- of the Waste Lands Board will take place at the usual hour and place to-day. Campbelltown. — We hear from the Bluff that the requisition to Mr Nichbl re his candidature for the mayoralty has received 36 signatures, . and that he has consented to stand. A considerable number of ratepayers outside' those who signed have promised Mm support. ■ ! ' . Ie Conyers. — Telegraphing, last night from Gore, our correspondent said:— Mr Conyers is better this evening than he .was this morning, but withal is weaker than he was yesterday. He has arrived, at.a most critical stage,' and the' next forty-eight hours will, it is anticipated, decide his case. The Crops.— The accounts of the crops •in the district are not so* good as could be desired. We hear frqin a gentleman who has been travelling through the country that the grain is short and light and somewhat late. Turnips have not done at all well, the first sowing having suffered from the ravages of a fly, and' in mauy cases a SgcQtjd sowing had to be made, and as it was followed by a spell of djy weather the crop has not flourished since. The area sown with potatoes this season is less than that of last, and will scarcely supply local consumption. Pasture is unusually luxuriant, as was to be expected after so much snow. Bluff Harbor Board. — The biennial election of members of the Bluff Harbor Board approaches ; the nomination takes place on Friday next. We ' are not at present in a position to say 'definitely whq will qome forward to represent the different institutions involved, but we think the following may be regarded, so far, as the " straight tip •" Messrs Colyer and Brodrickf it is understood, will not stand again. For Wallace County Council', it is probable that Captain Hankinson will come forward ; while as to the L,ake Counci} nothing is definitely known, althqugh it has been suggested that Mr McArdle *a\u11 allow himself to be nominated, and Mr Mitchell has been spoken, of as likely to. stand on behalf of the Southland County Goiincil. With regard t,o Invercargill Borough, it is certain that Mr Cuthbertsqn will.be nominated, and will most likely be associated with'Mr Mar-' tin. The suburban Boroughs, which contribute one member lo the Harbor Board, have, so to speak, clqtbed themselves in mystery; Mr Stock has'been mentioned as a posvibje cqn. didate; but it is whispered tbat the4.embcralic party have a "dark horse"' on. hand to brine forwaid-at the last moment. Gam pbeli town will be ■"•on tested by Me'sv Nichol and Warren. As" we hnve said, the nomination will .take .place on Friday, and Monday, the 10th of February, has been appointed tjj 9 c |^ Q f ih9^ta#ioii f

Important Sale7— Mi- Henry Driver will submit to auction to-morrow, at the Crown Hotel Stables, Balclutha, at 1 o'clock, the whole of Mr Williams' coaching plant, together with 640 acres land in the Forestall! district. The sale is one that should attract: attention. BAD Weather,— The weather threatened all day - yesterday, the barometer falling rapidly, and the wind variable and puffy. Towards midnight, a sudden. and heavy S.W7 „. gale came 6n, : and- \yas attended by squalls -of - -? almost hurricane, violence. Between noon and midnight the barometer in our office fell six-? ■' 7 tenths— overhalf an inch} '•: '■'■"-'..'- : 7. ; Childeen's PlCNic.%The annual Sunday . School picnic to connection with, the First and Second -Presbyterian Churches took place' yesterday. The children, who mustered well, proceeded to the Makarewa Bush, a paddock in that locality, haying' been r secured for the: occasion. Unfortunately the weather proved unfavorable, but the little ones were bent on "enjoyment, and their ybuthfnl spirits proved &iual to. tiie occasion. Tiie . clajr's" errtertairi.ment was wound up, on their .return, at the -Drill-shed.7 7 7;7 ,- 77 Domestic: Infelicity.— A man named McMarius was brought up .at the RyM.'s Court , (before J. Turnbull and" Thos.; Perkins, Escf.'s) ' on a charge of having neglected to comply with an order of the "Court for the support of his wife'ahd children. .'iThe /-family-, as they appeared in Court, presented a pitiable ; spectacle .of poverty arid; neglect. 'The defendant, it appeared, had contributed nothing to the support of his wife since the order was issued, and, in defence of hisjimnatural conduct,'was about to cast" reflections on 7; the character bf his spouses, when he was iriterrupted by the bench, who infoi-riied hitri that unless the order of the Court was complied with within the next 'hour, lie must .go to gaol for two months." This was the only business, and the Court then adjourned. ' the -measures on Crown land adjoining the Birch wood estate, 'Wairib,' were brought to our office yesterday. They were taken from the surface frpm a seam of considerable thickness, and present an excellent appearance, . being solid, of good color, and clean. The : coal has been tested at Birohwood station, and proved itself excellent fuel, burniug^freely, and being particularly free from-smoke and dust, and in this particular closely resembles the Kaitangata coal. Where the seam is cut is right in the line that will be taken by the railway from the Nightcaps to Waiau. With such prevailing high prices for fuel it is tantilisiug to have good coal so close at hand and yet not be able to utilise it. The connection of the Nightcaps district with Invercargillby jail is much to be desired. Quick Despatch. — As appeared in a local in Tuesday's issue, there only now remain in the Immigration Barracks one family, who leave for Christchurch. at the end of the week. There can be no doubt that Mr Lillicrap is deserving of a word of praise for the efficient manner in which he has performed the double duty of depot manager and immigration officer. The Western Monarch brought a very large number of immigrants, and to those at all acquainted with the work of the Immigration Department, it will be easily understood that the officer in charge had, in this instance at least, no mean task before r him. He, however, successfully placed the immigrants within one week after their arrival in the barracks, for which, considering the difficulties he had to contend against fiom the immigrants themselves, who were by no means anxious to go, we think Mr Lillicrap has displayed a great deal of tact and management. Scandalous Telegraphy. — We received this morning a message from Australia via Wakapuaka. It dealt with news from Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland, and was one of the mere unintelligible communications of the many of the kind that have passed through our hands. The Queensland news we could make nothing of. It ran as follows: — " Schooner Ariel from Frisco arrived Cooktown leading reports vain search reported Guinea Island Walter Phoebe Bo wen Mailer arrived Cooktown China seas — Storms Venice, Madagascar reports lost latter fifty days out Saigon fears Ocean reaching Hong Kong after damage ashore Thursday Island." We have made the best of the suspicious action of Surgeon Crooke in connection with a veal dinner at a Bourke street restaurant and also of the extraordinary proceedings of a bench of licensing magistrates at Sydney. Montgomery's sentence was repeated three times in the telegram, and the arrival of Sir H. Robinson's coirimission to the governorship of New Zealand twice, upon the principle we suppose that there could not be too much of a good thing. Whilst making light of the matter we must protest against such carelessness in the compilation and transmission of telegraphic news. The telegram bore the signature of the Press Association. The manager should see to it. Wesleyan Circuit. — The conference at at Auckland has appoiuted the following ministers to the circuit for 1879: — Auckland —Revs. W. Morley, G. Bond, F. J. Parkes, J. Hobbs, J. Wallis, H. H. Lawry, J. Whewell; Principal of Wesleyan College — Rev. T. Buddle;Thames— Rev.W.J.Watkins; Manukau — -Revs. J, Law and J. Warren ; Waiuku —Rev. T. Issitt; Waikato— Rov, H. Bull; Raglan — Revs. C. Scheneckberg and two native ministers ; Kaipara — Revs. W. Gittos, A. J. Brook, and a native minister ; Hokianga — Rev. Hammond and a native minister ; New Plymuuth— Revs D. McNicoll, L. Hudson; Patea — Rev. P. W. Fairclough ; Wanganui — Revs. W.Lee and Stannar : Rangitikei — Rev. S. Lawry ; Manawatu — Revs. W. B, Marten and C. Dewsbury; Wellington — Revs. W. Y. Kirk and J. J. Williams ; Hutt— Rev. J. L. Rishworth ; Greytown — Revs. M. G. Thomas and J. Dillow ; Napier — Revs. W. Oliver and J. Berry ; Norsewood — Rev. E. Neilson ; Gisborne — Rev. W. Salter ; Nelson • — Revs. R. Bavin and W. Rowse ; Blenheim — Rev, G. Can- ; Hokitika— Rev. J, Smith Greymoutb — Rev. C. Strange ; Kumara — Rev. T. W. Garlick ; Christchurch — Revs. A. *.leid, W. Banner, J. Aldred (editor of the Wesleyan), and J. Armitage ; Colombo Road —Rev. J. S. Smalley ; St. Albans— Rev, W. N. Richardson ; Lyttelton — Revs. W. Beck and Te Kooti ; Springston — Rev. J. Taylor ; Leeston — Rev. W. Walker ; Kaiapoi — Rev. J. Armitage ; Rangiora— Revs. W. Cannell and .H. Ellis ,- Timaru — Rev. J, H. Simmons ; Wai- . mate— Rev, T. Fe.e; Temuka— Rev. W. S. Harper; Ashburtpn — Rev. W. Keall ; Dunedin — Rev. J. Crump ; Mornington — Rev. J. J. Lewis ; Port Chalmers— Rev. W. Lursey ; Balclutha — Rev. J. W. Butler ; Lawrence — Rev, J. A. Luxford; Roxborough — Rev. P. Willis; Invercargiii — Rev. L. Bunn; Oamaru — Rev. H. Dewsbury ,- Tapanui — Rev. J. Gray. A Local Romance,— We have a little tale to tell, which will show, if demonstration on such a. theme.be heeded, that the tender passion flourishes with unusual vigor in this city of Invercargiii. It happened that there came along this way some two years ago a theatrical company, among whom was a young and lovely female. (It will have been observed that heroines always are young and lovely— but this by the way.) It also happened that on the first night of this company's performance in Invercargiii, a susceptible youth— of prepossessing appearance, tall, of course, and slight, with a noble brow and silky moustache — attended the theatre : .and he straightway fell in love with the heroine of the piece, the young, and lovely female aforesaid. They met. It does not appear how the gentleman managed it, but to a yqung and ardent mind, under such circumstances, how easy it we're to perform anything the heart is set on: They loved. The chronicler is not iv a position to say how long they took to finditout, but believes there must have been direct affinity. They married. All this was accomplished in a remarkably shore space of time, and the !' happy pair" left InvercargiU tq travel. Their happiness, however, was destined to be of short duration. Not very long after they had been united he fell sick, and died, ' Thus widowed, a second time the lady, possibly tq Jdivert her mind under such severe affliction, continued her travels. 'She visited all' countries, and, it may be "unnecessary to say, met with many admirers, but nq one to fill the vacant place iv her heart. It was a' good little heart, wo believe, and 110 doubt had been often besieged in vain. Finally, the lady finds herself again at Invercargiii, Now, whether "fond memories of the past," or anything ehe of a poetic character, was' to blame, or be applauded for it, is not known". But certain it is that another susceptible youth became enamoured of- the fair witfow,

declared his passion, which, singular to say, She returned. Aud they were married. Let us hope that the second venture will be more successful than the first. Making the Best of it.— A Melbourne paper says :— -Australian vintages have how acquired a character that protects them from being sneered out of consumption. Otherwise I would hesitate to repeat the covert and doubtless unintentional sarcasm of our black brother. Some sable sons; of the soil paid a rfriendlyrvisfib.to: :.'.:the T s£atrdn of ■; a well-known _ sporting squatter. He was, unfortunately, : : out of grog, and his visitors were accustomed to entertainment of that kind, and would, not be denied. . So he gave them half a case of Champion's: vinegar,; -upon which thev-com-menced a carouse. After 7his' ; tifil* ttt^bloTi-, the spokesman Of the' party,; riot without a wry face, politely said; "This budgeiy-— very good — often drink this. Know it well— -this - colonial wine." - - /. Virtuously Indignant.— A significant incident is mentioned by one of the Glasgow" papers in reference to the missing bullion ; from tiie City of' Glasgow Bank, which admits, of one or another of two.ariterpretations. At a meeting of the directors held in the bank some weeks before the stoppage, one of their numberinnocently suggested that .: 'the; stock of; ; bullion: should; -be:', coiinted. Thereupon the . chairman rose from his' seat and administered a severe rebuke to. his inquisitive and doubting brother. He characterised the suggestion. as nothing. short of an insult to their manager, who .was then. pre- . sent, and'iri whose probity /lie said, all • badreason to have the utmost faith. So. deadly aggrieved didhe personally feel .at the pro r 7 position. that he. found that.be could not contiriue ih- the position' he occupied - unless- .the-; offending and insinuating- member ; Of. the- ; board tendered at : once a most humble apology; The' gentleman referred to at oncemade the anwncle honorable, and. so the matter' dropped: ':' ■'"■'•"- ; ■iy'i i ' 7; ; papers, says the Lyttel ton-Times, are publish-;, iug a .series of letters by -a gentleman .bearing;, the name of Kwang Chang Ling, in which, there is much told, about China that has not" hitherto been generally known. The writer, says; for instance, that the population is only 7 100,000,000 or l.;20,6b0,000; instead of-, '150,000,000, as generally reported ; that the country has reached the limit of agri-. cultural development ; that its prosperity and population iha,ve been decreasing since. 17(51 ; that unless improved machinery and , methods ; are adopted, from the Western cou ntries the people will no t be able to support themselves, since they are already as poor r,s it is posssble to be,- and can only with great difficultymaintain existence ; that the wealth of the empire is in the hands of the. few, and that with a diminishing population and increasing wages at Home there can be no .great tide of emigration to the United States, so that Americans have no '; cause for anxiety on this point. Kwang Chang Ling does not explain why, if the population is diminishing and wages increasing, the people find it harder than ever to earn a livelihood ; but, if he is to be believed, the prospect of the Chinese is anything but a comfortable one, and it is not surprisiug that they emigrate; -y , Practical Joking.— The Wellington Post is responsible for the following :---An amusing incident occurred. a few evenings ago, in which a " Heathen Chinee " was a prominent actor. As he was passing a grocer's window in Willis-street his eye caught a large colored picture of a woman washing a negro boy in a tub. The proprietor of the shop seeing he was greatly taken with ifc, asked him if he would like to go through the same process of being washed white and made an Englishman. " John," with a beaming countenance, assented at once. So he was invited to enter, and ordered to unrobe. He set to work with apparent joy, and prepared for the ordeal. The propriefcer then bade him kneel down and cover his head with a towel, and: then some flour and water was applied with, vigor, and well rubbed in ; a second person next appeared with a large knife and saw, and told "John" 4p' be very quiet; as he was about to start . from his neck and take the yellow hide off him. " John " did not like ; the sound of the knife sharpening, so he jumped' up, and the sight of the operator's formidable appearance so terrified. him .that', he broke into a howl of broken English, and did not wait for the end'of the washing process. He was last seen with his coat, andwaistcoat under his arm making for the Wairarapa. New Tramway Engine.— The Yorkshire Post says' the Yorkshire Engine Company have made a public trial between Lady's Bridge and Tinsley, Sheffield, of a new tramway engine. Its performances were regarded : by all who witnessed them as extremely satisfactory. It is made to resemble as much as possible an ordinary car. The upper structure is of polished wood and glass, and there is a door at either end, each havingsliding windows. The lower portion, of the engine is surrounded by a fender carried down to within a few i.iches of the ground, so that it is impossible for anyone to be run over. The whole bf the machinery is concealed from view, and to an inexperienced eye there is little to indicate an engine. The rapidity with which it can be brought to a state of rest is remarkable, a space of little more than its own length being required for the operation. The driver in working the engine sits at the front end, and has a good view of the road. All the levers, &c., are placed compactly together, and by the working of these he has, with the greatest ease, , the engine under full control. The load seems to have but little effect on the engine, as the same speed is maintained on the inclines ; but the crucial test is starting on the incline from a state of rest.. It was the opinion of most of those present that the time is not distant when street cars will be worked by steam iv England. Electric Lighting. — "Atlas" in the World says: — "The state of expectation in which the public mind allows itself to be held with reference to the so-called ' clivisa^ bility' of the electric light by Mr Edison is somewhat surprising, seeing that all the time this disability is. a fait acsompli in England, as may be' witnessed and tested any night of the week at the Times printing offbe. Armed with an order for this purpose, I went there the other evening ; and this is what I saw. From gas-light we merged . into what seemed a flood of daylight, which came from six small lamps placed at intervals round a large room,-in which compositors and others were busy at work. These lamps were so* suspended as to be raised and lowered at will Ih compliance with the wish of one of the gentlemen present, one of these lights, selected at haphazard, was turned out by means of a tap, and it remained out without the slightest perceptible increase to the volume of light in the other lamps. Then another light at a distance was treated in a similar mariner, and with a like result; ; These two were then re-lit by a turn of the tap the reverse way, and turned on full power. Then one was slightly 'lowered,' so as to give about a third of its full light, as with ordinary gas. In short, we found there a useful, and agreeable light, which can be moderated and arranged to suit all circumstances. This is the Rapieff light.. ,1 am no electrician, and shall not attempt to .give a technical description of the apparatus employed ; but it seems to possess great simplicity. Mr Rapieff says he can burn ten lights in one ciicuit ; that his carbons will' burn, for ten hours ; that they can be easily renewed, and without extinguishing the lights. He further estimates its comparative cost with gas as less than a third. His statements may be taken for what they are worth 5 but judging from what I actually saw in the /nines office, I should say the sooner gas shareholders begin to ' hedge'- by investing in electric light shares the better." A letter addressed to " A.G." is lying at this office. Tenders qre called for felling logs at Croydon Bush sawmills ; for school -buildidgs at Otaria ; and for additions s to school' buildings at Mataura. . . Mr Arthur Hogue, of the" steam chafE mill and corn store, publishes a business announcement in another column. - The Queenstown School Committee advertise far a master arid mistress for the Main District School. ' , Several additions have been made o our "wanted" column.