INVERCARGILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 268, 20 March 1873, Page 6

INVERCARGILL.

(From our oivh Correspondent.) March 6th. During February we were favored with very fine weather, and* so far harvest operations have proceeded Batistactorily. Round this quarter most of the oat crop has been cut, and a portion secured ; but a few weeks longer of fine weather are needed to finish mowing, stacking, &c. Men have been scarce ; but owing to the continuance of fine weather and the number of mowing machines, farmers have not been greatly inconvenienced from this cause. Slight showers and heavy dews, combined with the warmth, have»been very beneficial to the green crops. A considerable area of turnips have been grown for winter feeding. . As the members of the Star Dramatic Troupe continued to draw paying houses, they prolonged their stay till near the end of February. On the 23rd, they played a cricket match in costume against 11 of the Invercargill cricket club, but the result was an easy win for Invereargill — the scores being Invercargill first innings, 105 ; Dramatic Corps, first innings, 28 ; second, 47— total, 75. Early in February, a public meeting was held to urge on the Government the necessity of providing rails and other plant for the Mataura Railway as soon as possible. A few days afterwards. Messrs. Maeandrew and Bastings visited Invercargill, and were waited on by a deputation. His Honor the Superintendent informed the members of the deputation that at every suitable opportunity he had urged on the General Government the claims of the Mataura line, and would continue to do so; he also stated that three miles of rails, &c., arrived by Zealandia. and that another shipment was expected to arrive shortly. At a late period, Mr. Carruthers, Engineer in Chief, visited the town, and was interviewed by a deputation from the Railway Committee, who deserve credit for bringing the claims of the district under notice at every opportunity that occurs. Mr. Carruthers said he expected the line to Woodlands would be finished before winter, but was not certain when an engine for it would be procured. He also thought tenders for 22 miles of the Kingston railway would be called for within a month. The annual meeting of members of the Invercargill Athensßiim was held on 19th ult. The report showed that the amount of subscriptions was not equal to the committee's expectations. A new committee was elected, and efforts are to be made to bring the claims of the institution more prominently before the public. It is rather discouraging to the friends of democracy that working men should so frequently prefer recreations of a sensual or trivial nature, to those having an elevating and intellectual tendency. The attendance of scholars at the new grammar school has been so good that the committee have appointed a second school mistress, The members of Municipal Council, not having received any satisfactory tender for debentures bearing 5J per cent interest, have advertised for tenders for debentures bearing 6 per cent, interest. A sad affair occurred on 56th ult., when A. Vallance, a dairyman residing about 6 miles from town, shot himself during a fit of temporary insanity. Vallance got married about a year ago, and I have been informed that he got rather behind in money matters, through expenses in housekeeping, &c, and had not been able to pull up. It appears also he had not experienced that felicity in the married state that he anticipated, as he seemed more depressed than formerly. From Mrs. Vallance's statement it seems he freqnently threatened to shoot himself; but on his return from town on the day named, he was slightly under the influence of drink, and became greatly-* excited on his wife making a remark' as to his state. He went for a pair of pistols, and Mrs. Vallance becoming alarmed, called his brother, who was close by ; on his. entry, Mrs. Vallance said, " He always talks about shooting himself when he comes - home like this." Vallance then said, " I'll do it now ; " and placing the pistol to his forehead, he sentthe ball right through his head, .causing instant death. Mrs. Vallance having recently been confined, adds to the sadness of the event. Car) Vitting, the husband of the unhappy woman who drowned her children, has been taken up by the police, charged with being a dangerous lunatic, and remandad for medical examination. The races commence to-day, and promise to be a success, the weather being very pleasant.