The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd 1882.

Southland Times, Issue 4492, 2 December 1882, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd 1882.

We had occasion not long ago to refer to the working in Southland of the de-ferred-payment land system, and to compliment the Southland Land Board on the manner in which it had dealt with selectors under that system. Our readers will have noticed the crisis that has arrived in the case of the settlers who have got into arrears of payment, a crisis brought about very much by the action of the Government, impatient at the due instalments having failed to reach the Treasury. No one can blame the Comptroller-General for the hard, official view he has taken of the matter, or the peremptorincss with which he*has called on the Board, through the local officer, to insist on immediate settlement of arrears. But to have put his behest in immediate execution would have been both impolitic and cruel. Anything like an iron hand laid indiscriminately and suddenly on the deferred-payment selectors would have meant ruin to some of the most industrious and valuable men in the community. It is quite right that there should be definite conditions of occupation, and power in the handa of the Board to insist rigorously, if need be, on their fulfilment. But if there is to be an inexorable system, taking no ac count of circumstances, and allowing no discretion to the administrators, then the case would be pitiable of many a selector. 3STo man would be justified in becoming a deferred-payment settler who was not independent of fate, and failure of health or a bad season would mean simply ruin. The object, as we take it, of the deferred payment system was to create settlement and not to destroy it, and it was policy to make tlie rules as flexible as consisted with settlement according to the broad meaning of the Act. A genuine settler, in temporary difficulty, is to be borne with and not crushed, both for his own sake and that of the colony. The object of the Board ought to be to carry out the spirit of the law, and, while enforcing discipline, to avoid tyranny. A manifest speculator and trader on the Act may be dealt without mercy, but not the man who is straining to fulfil the Act with all his might. And this, we are bound to say, has been the practice of the Southland Board ever since it began to ad minister^the system. Through the excellent supervision of its Ranger it has been put in the best position of judging how far the conditions of occupation were being fulfilled, and while, as a rule, there has been little slackness, there lias been no seventy. In the solitary instance in which a departure was made from the rule of judicious indulgence, the settler whose land had been forfeited, was reinstated, on a rehearingjjand a fuller understanding of hjs case. We are glad to know that in far the majority of cases of defaulters the arrears were paid up before the 29 th ultimo, the day originally fixed as the last on which payment could be taken. The time for those still in de.*

fault has been extended for one week longer. We trust that thie clas3 will take special note that the last clay ofindulgence will expire next Thursday, arid that the Board, will after that day be forced to take 'extreme, measures. .For those whose term of residence has expired, accommodation in more shapes than one is easy, and some will, no doubt, take advantage of" the capitalization provisions of -the amended Act. These are an undoubted boon to the selector, andliave already been to some extent taken advarftfg§"of. "The deferred payment system, In hen properly worked and when the settlers -under it are of the right sort, is capable of conferring immense benefits on the country. It has still some serious drawbacks which, m timg, no doubt, will be swept away. Among these is the system of auction, which lias wrought much mischief, and which we hold to be against the spirit of the system, one that rightly regards the settlement of the country on favorable terms to incomers as of greater importance than an enhanced land revenue. The ballot system and a fair valuation of the land would give a much better chance to a class that, after all, as experience has shown, is a struggling one. The adoption of this plan was a recommendation of the Southland Board, and has many advocates. Much has been done by the last Amendment Act to better the position of the deferred payment settler, and we^ have no doubt that, from time to time, as tmremedied defects are proved, legislation will be provided to wipe these also away.

Sudden Demise. — In Mr Elliott's Fortrose Hotel, on Wednesday evening, an elderly man, of whom little is known, expired after a very brief illness. His name was Edward Hughes.

To Farmers. — A notice of interest to farmers, especially those who devote considerable attention to dairying, appears in our other columns. Arrangements have been made for the shipment of butter and other dairy produce, in a specially constructed cold air chamber, by the steamer Sorrento. Further information may be obtained on application to the local agents — Messrs Carswell, White and 00.

South New Zealand Co. — The directors of this Association announce that they have postponed the date for closing the share-list owing to several returns from other places not having come to hand. Since their meeting last night, we learn that some of the lists have come in with satisfactory results. There is every probability of the society starting under very favorable auspices.

The Australian Circus. — This circus, largely augmented and improved since it was last here, and which has been winning golden opinions, and what is better, doing good business up norths will arrive in town on Monday, and perform oa the evenings of that day, and the following. Hence the entertainment proceeds to Riverton, Winton, and possibly the gold fields, whither Mr Woodyear has gone to spy out the land.

Immigration. — Up to date the immigration officer informs us that 323 nominations have left this office for passengers under the new regulations of 1882, The occupations of these are— general laborers, ploughmen, farm servants, and general domestic servants. We may hope to see all our immigrants brought out by steamships shortly. This will remove one of, if not the greatest obstacle to this colony's receiving a large addition to its population, and that of the most r espectable kind,

Assault on a Woman.— At the Balclutha Police Court on Wednesday, Wm. Wilson was committed for trial at Dunedin for indecently assaulting a Mrs Twaddell at Waitepeka. From the evidence of the prosecutris it appeared that the accused called at her residence and asked for some food. She supplied him with some, and after he had partaken thereof, he attempted to throw her down. She escaped, and soon afterwards informed her husband of what had happened. He followed accused aud o?ertook him some distance on the road.

Scotch Folks' Wooing. — The R.M. Courthouse, Balclutha, is stated to have been densely packed on Wednesday with curious spectators. A young man named McNeil was charged by a Miss Chirnside with having, shot at her with intent to kill. • it was expect°d that the evidence taken would have revealed some very interesting features, but the case was withdrawn without any evidence being taken at all ; and what was better, the parties, acting under counsel's advice, adjourned to the nearest registrar's office, and wera made man and wife before they were twenty minutes out of the couit.

Dunedin Spring Meeting.— Following are the acceptances for to-day's races : —

Hunter's Plate— Agent, 13st ; Mokarakara, lOst 101 b ; Wildboy, lOst 21b ; Gang Awa, 9st 31b. Novel Eace — Aurora, Bst 101 b ; Don Jose, 7st 101 b. President's Handicap— Tasman, Bst 71b ; Turquoise, 7s t 101 b ; Maribyrnong, sst 71b. Welter Handicap — Somnus, 9st 61b ; Turquoise, 9st 41b ; Gitana, Bst 61b; Nautilus, Bst 4b; Rangatira, Bst 21b. Grand Stand Handicap — Somnus, 9st ; Turquoise, Bst 121 b ; Gitaua, Sst ; Nautilus, 7st 121 b; Violin. 7st 101 b ; Miss King Filly, 6st 21b ; Stockflower, Sst 101 b.

High School" Board.— The ordinary monthly meeting cf the Board was held last evening. Present — Messrs Lumsden (chairman), Matheson, and Watson. The reports of the Principals showed an average attendance of 41 girls, and 51 boys. The advisableness of advertising for a second assistant teacher in the Girls' School was discussed, and eventually agreed to. The Board decided that the holidays should commence on the 15th inst., and last till the evening of the .■9th prox., both days inclusive, and voted the customary sum of five guineas to be esjended in prizes for the boys' and girls' schools, respectively, the chairman promisiig in addition to give three silver medals to ach school for the best scholar in each of the three classes. The secretary observed that hitherto the parents had aided the prizeuoney by voluntary subscriptions. After pissing accounts amounting to £173 4s 6d, tae Board adjourned.

Our Volunteers.— The monthly Governa<mt inspection of the lavereargill Voluntiers took place at Ramsay's Hall last night, ti°. officers present being Major Thomson, Captains Hannah, Felt! wick, and Scaudrett, lieutenants Kvans, Taylor, and Ashenden. There was a fairly good muster of all anni. .After a march, beaded by tLe Band, throuKh tie principal streets, the arms and accoutiements of the companies were inspected and mted in the store book; the officer commauting the district intimating that the arms of tlose members who were absent would be clavged to tbe company, and deducted from tie amount voted for capitation, unless the aisent members presented them to the drill instructor within the next few day3. The recently-gazetted regulations were then read oler, and the two batteries of artillery held a joint meeting to consider the question of amalgamating the two batteries into one compaoy under the altered conditions.

k Big Jump. — Most frequenters of Dee stiet will have observed a posveiful red dog of the greyhound species loitering about the pricincta of Barnslaw Chambers, the gentlemin whom he recognises as his master — although in reality he is not — having rooms there. During yesterday forenoon this dog wilked into Mr Gallacher's shop, being a privileged and frequent visitor. After survejing the retail department and exchanging recognition with the occupants, he made his wajr upstairs and into the front parlor. Mrs CkfllacheT and one of the children were in this room and noticed his entrance, but neither saifl nor did anything to suggest that he was an'nnwelcome visitor. He stood reflec lively inithe middle of the room for a minute or two, and then, having apparently made up his mind to it, he made one splendid bound through the window — a single pane — and landed on the pavement below, amidst a crash of glass, to the astonishment of several peisons near the line of descent. The dog landed on his feet, but, of course, doubled up with the concussion. He, however, instantly picked himself up and trotted off as if he bad done nothing remarkable,

Government Kegistry Offices.— The Otago Daily Times has lately had leading articles on the labor question, and has also published letters from correspondents who bitterly complain of unfair treatment received at the hands of the keepers of labor offices in DunediD. It strongly urges the establishment of Government labor offices in each centre of the population in the colony where decent people would be fairly treated and their wants attended to. This mode of procedure would be-most beneficial alike both to employers of labor and the unemployed., and the matter should meet with favorable consideration at the hands of the Government.

Tjttis , Peculiar Fatal Accident.—Additional particulars concerning the accident by which young Salmond, the manager of the Brush ware Company, lost his life at Maori Kaik, on Thursday, are to hand. They state that he formed one of a picnic party who went down in the s.s. Plucky. On arrival six of tho party went to to the hill, about 300 yards from the landingplace, and sat down under shelter of its bush. The soil here is very crumbly. Two horses above were grazing, and it is supposed that one of them shifted a boulder, which came tumbling down. The lady who was seated wilh Mr Salmond called his attention to the danger, but she had scarcely uttered her words of warning when a stone struck him on the head with such force as to i mpel him fully 15 feet down the hill. He expired five minutes afterward . Deceased was 23 years old, and unmarried.

Fred. Maccabe. — The Prince of "War Correspondents will no sooner have left the boards of Sloan's Theatre than he will be succeeded by an entertainer equally royal in his way, although the personages to whom he will introduce his audience will be creatures of his own vivid imagination rather than characters of real flesh and blood, who have themselves helped- to make history. But we shall probably find that at the conclusion of Mr Maccabe's season of five nights we snail be as familiar for the nonce with the fanciful creations of the inimitable mimic, ventriloquist, and character-sketcher. Mr Maccabe will open this evening at Sloan's Theatre, in " Begone Dull Care," an entertainment in which he has appeared to delighted audiences all over the world. Mr Maccabe has had a " run" of 15 months in the neighboring colonies, a fact in itself sufficient to prove, if it were required, of such a veteran entertainer, that his versatile and rapid characteracting is of the first order.

Feuxs. — Those who take an interest in botanical researches, and who like to accumulate specimens have an excellent opportunity of gratifying their taste, and securing choice representatives of New Zealand ferns and other plants just now. Messrs Leider and Angus, to whose labors as collectors we some time since referred, have now got their extensive collection in order for exhibition, and have opened a shop for the sale of specimens opposite this office. The plants are mounted io an endless variety of forms, all of them artistic. The collectors have been as careful and indefatigable in their classification and arrangement as in their field work, and the result is at once gratifying to the eye of the casual observer, and the scrutiny of the scientist. We heartily recommend a visit to the show room, if only for the purpose of seeing what can be done in tlie way of design and ornamentation with a few nn--o'iHivaed productions of the soil and sea. Messrs Leider and Angus intend making only a brief stay in Invercargill, being about to prcceed to England with their collection.

Extraordinary Punishment. — The Otago Daily Times Wellington correspondent wires — " A good deal of comment bas been excited by the; return, just completed, of the detention of prisoners beyond terras of original sentence. Special attention has been attracted by the case of oue mar; in Dunedin Gaol who received a. .sentence of Ihreo days' imprisonment for drunkenness. He was sent to the Dunedin Gaol on 2-ith January, but he did not come out till the 4th August, having thus been detained for nearly seven months, instead of only three days. The return shows that he received, from the visiting Justices successive sentences of " 14 days," "seven days,"" 21 days," "six weeks," " two months," "14 days," and " one month," for idleuess. It bas been remarked as an extraordinary thing thatP 'a' man sentenced to three days' imprisonment for such an offeace as drunkenness she u'd be liable to have his term in incarceration multiplied by 64 times, merely because he was idle in gaol. There are other cases of a similar nature, although much less extreme in degree. It is thought probable that the disclosures will lead to some review of the general powers of visiting Justices, as part of a general reform in the prison system of the Colony."

Invercargill Road Board. — An ordinary meeting of this Road Board was held last evening. Present — Messrs J aggers (chairman). Surmao, Clark, Middleton, Strang, and Johnson, The South Invercargill Town Council wrote asking the Board to pay half the cost of clearing the ditches on the Oteramika road. This the Board agreed to.— A letter was read from Mr rloss, Greenhills, rpminding the Board of a letter written by him some time ago, complaining about some damage done to his fences, of which the Board had taken no notice. If the Board took no notice of this letter, they would hear from his agent. It was suggested that Mr Ross should be informed that the Board was ready to hear from his egent, but ultimately the letter was ordered to be laid on the table. On the motion of Mr Strang the Board resolved to advertise particulars of tracks in the Waihopai Riding for sale on the 9th inst. The Board then proceeded to consider what action they should take with regard to the rating. The chairman pointed out that under the new Rating Ac i the annual value of property capitalised was to be assessed at six per cent, so that, if a property was worth £100, its annual value would be assessed at £6, and if they struck a rate of Is in- the £, this would mean 6\s worth of rates. At present their income on a Is rate amounted to £750. Ultimately on the motion of Mr Surman the Board decided to advertise the lepal notices prior to striking a rate of Is in the £. Mr Middleton called attention to the disgraceful state of the culverts on the Seaward Bush road, and it was resolved that the necessary steps be taken to have the Oteraraika road placed under the Roads Construction Act, Mr Bews being instructed to to report on the state of the culverts.