INVERCARGILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 8 May 1873, Page 6

INVERCARGILL.

(From our own Correspondent. ) April 30th. During April we have been favored with a large proportion oi fine weather, very serviceable for the prosecution of load contracts and farming operations. For some time the east road has been wholly neglected, not a man being employed on it. A memorial has been circulated requesting the Provincial Government to take immediate steps for its repair, otherwise it will soon become nearly impassible. A sitting of the District Court was commenced ou the 10th inst. James Bryant pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. He was employed on the Mataura Railway line, and, whilst under the influence of drink and under the impression that Malcolm Martin, a fellow laborer, had made improper overtures to his wife, he struck Martin with a tomahawk, and inflicted a slight wound. Sentenced to six months imprisonment, Alexander M'Lennan, a settler, whilst intoxicated, went to the house of a neighbor named Stott, and struck him with a whip. The prisoner was found guilty of assault, and sentenced to three months imprisonment. From the 14th to the 18th, the Lottie Magnet Troupe (10 in all) performed in the Theatre to good house?. The performance consisted of comic singing, negro dancing, singing, dialogue, and gymnastic exercises by Miss. Lottie Angell and her two brothers, llie lady gymnast was the chief attraction, and she went through her evolutions on the trapeze, &c, with skill, ease, and grace. It appears to me, however, that skin tight silk is scarcely sufficient covering in public for the lower half of the female form ; but perhaps lam too straight laced. On the 10th, SirF. D. Bell addressed a meeting of the electors of Mataura in the Exchange Hall, which was well filled. According to his usual tactics of not committing himself, he distributed pi aise and blame pretty evenly betweed the political chiefs and their respective parties in the House of Representatives. He considered fresh taxation — probably in the shape of an income tax — imminent ; although he expected an effort would be made to prevent this by seizing the land fund of Canterbury and Otago. This he would resist, and thought it would be best met by demanding financial separation. As the business of the colony could not be carried on whilst parties were so evenly balanced, he thought a dissolution probable. After questions were asked, a vote of confidence was moved, on which there was the following amendment : " That, in consequence of Sir F. D. Bell's support of the Fox-Vogel party, this meeting has no confidence in him as a representative." , The show of hands being about equal, the chairman, after considerable hesitation, declared the amendment lost and motion carried. Sir Francis, having the fear of a dissolution before him, on the occasion of this visit to Southland condescended to address his constituents at Campbell town and Long Bush. As in other parts of the colony, many of the immigrants landed here have proved worthless. Six of them were recently charged in the Magistrate's Court with assaulting and robbing a hotelkeeper named M'lntosh, at Dacre (15 miles from Invercargill), and committed for trial. From the evidence, they demanded brandy, cigars, and money, and the landlord, after partly complying with tneir demands, was glad to escape into the bush, leaving them in possession of the house and contents. Some of the prisoners assaulted visitors to the hotel, for which they received two months imprisonment. No plans or specifications of the 22 miles of Kingston Railway^ for which tenders are invited, having been sent to Invercargill, a public meeting was held, and resolutions condemnatory of the action of the Government in the matter passed. In compliance with request of the Athenaeum Committee, the Hon. Major Richardson delivered the first of a series of lectures in aid of the funds of that institution, in the Theatre, on the 21st inst., to a large audience. »The subject, '• Paths to Success," was ably handled, and illustrated by appropriate biographical sketches ; and the audience

was evidently pleased with the manner of the lecture as well as the matter of the lecture. After deducting expenses, the Athenaeum would benefit to the extent of £21. For the financial year ending 19th April, 1874, the estimated municipal revenue (including £3,500 loan) amounts to £7,026 45., being a satisfactory increase. Before the union of Southland with Otago land sales had almost ceased. Since that time there has been a gradual increase .of revenue from this source. During the financial year ending 31st March last, the amount realised was £75,436, and land continues to sell at an increasing ratio. Although the railway tariff was considerably reduced, there has been a large increase of revenue, so that although Southland has benefited from the union she has not proved a burden to Otago.