The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5.

Southland Times, Issue 3316, 5 February 1879, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5.

Mr Conyers. — Further favorable accounts of the condition of Mr Conyers reached us yesterday.. - , , . f . Vital ■ Statistics. — The vital statistics for the month of January just past are as fol-,. lows": — Births — males, 26 ;■ females, 12. Deaths — males, 2 ; females, 5: Marriages, 10. „ , . Sale op Coaching Plant. — We learn that the sale of Williams' coaching l plant at Balclutha last week was most* successful, the horses in particular realising good prices. The proceeds of the sale amounted to over£looo. -* * ~ The Governor's Movements. — If the spbstance of the telegram we pviblish else? where is correct, the Marquis of "Normanby is not, 'to visit Invercargill after" all. However, we shall' take leave to doubt the accuracy of the information until, it is confirmed. We think it most unlikely that his Excellency will miss the "opportunity of seeing something of the great southern land before he -takes final leave of the colony. A Useful Invention. —An article that will, be found of great use to housekeepers is the patent solder, by which .tinware may be mended in the simplest manner possible. We have witnessed a trial of the patent, and can vouch for the success with which it may be applied in the case of utensils that leak, as well as for its simplicity . Messrs True and Hall are the agents in Invercargill. Waimea Plains Railway. — The following tenders were received for., the survey of the Waimea Plains railway line : — R. and A. J. Park, L4lB ; Taylor and McNeil, L 395 10s; A. Adams, L 295 ; Hately and Scott, L 259 ; John Aitken, L 259 ; D. W. McArthur, L 235 ; H. P. -Higgiason, L 219. Mr Higginson's tender, being the lowest, was accepted. Cases OF Trespass.— There are set down for hearing at the KM. Court several cases of trespass in which sheep farmers are concerned. As these* cases are calculated, generally, to occupy some time in hearing, a special day has been appointed for them, namely, to-morrow week. This was agreed to by Mr McCulloch yesterday, on the representation of Mr Wade and other members of 'the bar interested-. ;In two of the cases set down cross-actions have been entered. Bluff Postal Returns. — The following is a list of the number of /letters, &c, which passed through the Campbelltown Post Office during the past year:— Letters^ 64,878 ; postcards; ;273; books, ,3^ 43,725 : total, 111,958. The?e returns show a considerable increase on those of ; the previous year, which..were: Letters, -45,537 ; "postcards, 50 ; books, 506; papers, 9810; total, 50,903. ..■; .- „ ,-.;-,;,.._ An Eccentric— A person named Paterson was arrested yesterday on suspicion of being of unsound mind. v lt appears that special attention was first' directed to him at ihe Bluff, where he- was seen in a state of seminudity, rushing "into '<' the water. Hewas induced to desist, from this, but subsequently he, again. betrayed an eccehtneity of mind by running on the' railway, line in front of the train, so that he narrowly escaped being run over. The train was stopped and Paterson brought on to Invercargill, where the police took, charge of him and gave him accommodation in the gaol. Paterson is'agehtlemanlylooking.man of intelligent address. He persisted in declaring he. was sub-editor of the Melbourne Argus. It is suspected that he is a Mr Patersbn who ' some years ago was well known in connection with the" press of the North Island. Delay. in-Traffic. — With reference to a complaint from Invercargill, published in our' telegraphic columns yesterday, of delay in forwarding goods from the Dunedin station, we (Otago Tim<*-s) find on inquiry that Southland goods have never remained over one day at the Dunedin station ; nor have any complaints reaohed the head office there of any such delay. If the goods have not gone through they must/have been/df-layed at Clinton, 1 which is within the Invercargill manager's district. All -parcels and small goods are sent daily in a van attached to the express; flt is desirable that when complaints ate Tmade they should be ; specific, as on. several occasions, blame has been thrown bn fthe r raUway officials when the fault was -that of -the senders.' '■'•' 7 ; ./PRESEOTATiON.-^Afyery interesting ceremony'tools: place yesterday in, connection ' with the departure from our midst of an old resident of Southland, Mr Thomas Lowther Barnhill, he being about -to leave Invercargill for the North. It was felt that such an event should not be allowed to pass without some suitable recognition of the estimation in which that gentleman is held by his many friends and acquaintances in the district. With this object in view, a number of gentlemen met in the Club Hotel yesterday morning, ahd presented Mr Barnhill with a handsome gold watch and appurtenances. Mr McCulloch made the presentation, in the names of a number of old friends of Mr Barnhill, and delivered a brief address appropriate to the occasion, aud Mr Barnhill's' health was heartily drunk in champagne, all wishing him prosperity inf his new horae. Earlier in the week, Mr. Barnhill receiyed another mark of regard from his up-country friends, who presented him with a very handsome clock and a tea and coffee service, both bearing appropriate inscriptions.; Mr Barnhill has been a resident in* this district for nearly .20 years, and these voluntary demonstrations sufficiently show the in which he is heid.by„those who bavehad the best opportunities of knowing him. Mr Barnhill, who leaves Invercargill this morning, was at one time a partner of Mr Holmes in the Castlcock station. He has always been noted for his open-handed liberality and hospitality since the early days, and will be long remembered as such. ■ We are quite sure thafc ws shall but echo the sentiments of many people in Southland when we express regret at Mr Barnhill's departure, while wish*;ing him God-speed. . <.•' ' Law. Court Returns.— Some very inter* estinginformation is given in the annual returns .furnished by the chief officer of the .R.M. Court as to the' business done" for the year.^ We are indebted to-fchg.coijrtesy of Mr Henderson for some particulars in this direction, which will in many ways, we have no doubt, prove interesting to our readers. It appears that during the year 1878, the civil cases heard in the R.M. Court, numbered 757, involving claims to the total amount pf £8,311 8s 2d ; and of this sum the judgments recorded in favor of the -plaintiffs amounted i in the aggregate to £3400 3s 7d: Comparing with this result the returns for the year 1877, it appeal's that the business of the Court in 1878 showed a decrease to the. extent. of 300 cases, whilst the aggregate amount <>ued for' during the year, was no" less than £2000 below that of 1877. This is one evidence of the healthy condition of the place, or perhaps, its improved condition would more pioperly express the truth. It must be obvious that the increase in population during that period would, if. any thing, have a contrary effect to that which' we have pointed out. The fact is that there is more money in the place, and that .to a considerable extent the extension of public works, and \ consequent development of intercommunication, has given a J powerful impetus to trade, and generally speaking a more healthy tone '-pervades the commei cial atmosphere. So" that even out of the recoids :of om law courts we -may- glean satisfactory ' evidence of what is otherwise apparent to the ordinary intelligent observer, namely— that Southland generally, and Jn vereargill in particular, is making rapid strides, in advance* 'ffle»t''f*nd prosperity,

'iSoiiPw^There is ,-an interesting little anecdpjte'told of an auctioneer in--any city you . like;. jin' this colony. Let us call' him ' Nockemdown, to facilitate identification^ *-Now," : ifc happened that this gentleman adyertifeYd' I for private sale a beautif ul suburban : sefction ' within v few., hundred mileji7o£ InvexpSjirgill, and awaited;,t]ie\ result. v'Bu£.althpugb i Sfdck-* ' emdown-Jiad expended his^entire sfcjpck of poetry in the description of this property only two applications were received in regard* .to it.. The applicant8 r ,were v t3*?o .gentlemepf whom we may be permitted -to disclose as Messrs Burgoo and Thistledown. They were"! graciously '- received, and madje acquainted* withthe* locality of the property, which they expressed great_ anxiety to see, «being careful men; who liked --to -feel- their way. Nockemdown, delighted at the prospect of a big percentage, said they should see it, and was as good as his word. He brought them by rail, a good distance, to the " rising district" referred to in the advertisement, and put them up at, a -first-class hotel, and treated' themfihdeed most generously. Ah, but he was a knowing one, was Nockemdown. They inspected the' "allotment, and expressed themselves highly Relighted with its many advantages, and then' they returned to partake of recreation liberally placed at their disposal by yeKniglrt of the Hammer, .and it must' be said to their credit as hearty souls that Thistledown and Burgoo did amazing j ustice to . his hospitality. As night approached, Nockemdown' suggested' that they should- clinch the bargain formally, so that details could be completed next day. But neither Burgoo nor Thistledown would hear ' ot an interruption to their pleasant entertainment, sb it was arranged to meet on the morrow, at 12 o'clock, and the party then " made a night of it " at Nockemdown's expense. Next) morning, at' the hour appointed, the auctioneer proceeded to the place of meeting, and waited for the appearance of his " customers," but waited in vain. Somewhat astonished, he went to the hotel, and there he learnt — alasl for his pockefc and his hopes — chat Burgoo and Thistledown had departed by the morning train,' leaving Nockemdown to settle accounts. Moral "for gentlemen like Nockemdown — " First catch your bare." WtsE- Precaution.— A late ' Bombay telegram says: — With regard to' the supervision of Press telegrams from the seat of war, the Times of India publishes a despatch from its' correspondent atKohat, stating that stringent orders have been /sent from Simla to the Commandant ! of the column to supervise 'all telegrams intended for the Press,' which will now be submitted to the inspection of the General in command. Ifc is believed that , correspondence will also be placed' under control; Civilians acting as special "corres- , pondents who" may be guilty of indiscretion in reporting military matters will be sent to the 'rear, and military men offending in a I similar manner will be made an example of.

A New Pest:— The Timaru Herald is " sorry to learn that,what give?' promise of proving a very destructive pest has of late made its appearance in a number of potato fields ih "this district. It is a sort of half-worm, half caterpillar- looking insect, about half- atfinch long, and with a dirty-white colored body and black head. From all we can gather, it attacks the tuber of the potato just at the foot of the stalk, ahd gradually eating its way into the bulb, at last causes it to rot. One farmer, who was in town on Saturday, assured us that fully one-third ■of his entire crop: of about five acres have been all but destroyed by this pest. It seems to be the same insect which one frequently notices in peaches and plums, and which generally covers the hole it bores with '-a, sort of 'web similar to a spider's. If what we hear about the ravages -it is committing amongst the potato crops is true — and we certainly have not the slightest grounds for believing anything to the contrary — tliis pest new should be looked after as* carefully as the Colorado beetle. We shall be glad of -any further information farmers can give us : in this matter."

Revivalism.— The Dunedin Times has taken up the question of religious revivalism in connection with the current services held by Mr Varley :— " Can anyone point to any lives reformed or permanent good effected by Dr Somerville's visit ? And now we are asked to listen to another, and far inferior, man of the same stamp. We regard the social tendencies of this kiUd. of sensationalism asf.pernicious, both in the interests of religion ancl of morality. It will leave many an ardent young mind like a candle prematurely burnt down into the socket, and; disgusfc'so many more, that Mr Bright's f olio wers ': are likely largely to increase their numbers. Ifctraves"ties: the noblest truths of Christianity,: and trails sacred themes through the mire of coarse and grotesque charlatanism. People of any cultivation are apt to say, ' Well, if that is Christianity, we will never be Christians.' " The Melbourne Southern Cross, the organ of several religious bodies in Victoria, entertains similar views. It says : "Sensationalism then, in the pulpit, is not the innocent absurdity that some suppose ifc ; it is not simply a sin against good taste and common sense. It is worse than that, fol* its direct tendency is to stifle spiritual life in a congregation, and to weaken the cause it is invoked to stimulate and strengthen ;" and with these words .we cordially agree.

■ -J , . The dates fixed for the annual Licensing "Courts are .notified elsewhere."

Mr Kemp, candidate for the Bluff Harbor Board, will-meet the electors of the suburban municipalities at North Invercargill on Thursday evening, and at East Invercargill on the following evening,, . . ;. 7 7"

The Corporation of Invercargill invite tenders for ditching aud box drain through the park. Several bankruptcy notices are pubhshed in our advertising columns. " " 7 •■' ' A special meeting of fche County .Council will be held on Monday, 10th inst. At the request of the Reform Association Mr Joseph Schneider will address a public meeting at Appleby on Monday evening next. Subject : "The principle of political economy and social philosophy, and the intentions of fche present Ministry of .the colony. A meeting of the Railway Demonstration Committee will be held on Thursday evening, to close its business.

All debts due to the firm of Laidlaw and Barr must be paid before the Ist prox.