SOUTHLAND.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1728, 27 May 1862, Page 3

SOUTHLAND.

(From the Dtibj Tim^s correspondent.) luvercargili, 7th May, 1862. I will begin after the manner of the English nation, with the weather, which at last shows slight indications of breaking up, the last two or three days having been wet. The whole of April has been very fine with the exception of five showery days, — bright sunshine, southeast winds, &c, towards the end of the month fn sty nighls— which has enabled Boad Contractors to push on their work, more particularly the gravelling of the roads. Towards the Long Ford Mataura, the Bluff, and Rivertou, forming and bridging have also not been neglected. The road from Invercargill to the Long Ford Mataura is now easily passable for drays ; the few old culverts needing repair are in course of renewal by stone ones. It is a pity the Otago Government does not construct a road from Pupotuna to the Long Ford, which would pass through a better country as regards facilities for road making-, oue which, instead of passing through country useless to the agricultures!— such as the present road through the Gorge— would open up a fine country, both pastoral and agricultural. When the village at the Long Ford is laid off, and a punt is established on the river, this will be by far the easiest and best communication between Dunedin.and Invercargill, and no doubt will be adopted ultimately.

The Bluff road is now passable for vehicles, so much so, that the Government has called for tendeis to run a mail cart weekly between Invercargill and the Bluff, to meet the mails and passengers, if any, by the Inter-Provincial steamers, as also the Australian mails. This is worth the attention of owners of light spring vans and good teams, about Dunedin, as it is expected that the passenger traffice will be pretty fair, even at present, while the certainty of good and easy communication between the two places will doubtless induce persons from the Northern settlements to visit the South by steam. The natural facilities for road making are so great on this line, that it is expected in about six months the permanent road will be completed at a cost of not more than between eight and nine thousand pounds, from Invercargill to Mokemoko, inlet; and some four more from there to Campbell Town. The. greater part uf the road is at present easily passible for vehicles at low water or half tide. The North road, Invercargill to Riverton via Wallace Town, is also being rapidly pushed on— the bridge over the Waiopai is finished, and the approaches to it will be completed in a Sew days. This will be a great convenience to settlers on the new river. Hundreds between Makerewa and Oreti, the road being passable for horses and bullock drays, The Makeiewa will soon be bridged, and a bridge over the Oreti is in contemplation. This road will open up a very fine tract of slightly undulating land, well grassed wiih the finer description of grasses, indicative of ja good warm soil, while the large bush reserves in Spar bush, on the north, and Waiinatook bush on the south (each of easy acces*, by good natural roads, the reserration of which is the particular duty of the surveyors) insure unlimited timber for all purposes—sawing or splitting, both of the bushes being of considerable size— the Spar bushes in pavticnlar containing some of the finest timber for sawing purposes, in the Province. As regards roads the system at present puisued by the Survey Department, is admirable. Thou&h roads as at present laid off do not in the map look so symmetrical as the due norUf,: south, east, and west system, the gaiu in cheapness of, construction aud convenience to the public, by^ stnyding the natural features of the,oouiitry, is very considerable,

The land at present in the market is not raucb* owinjj to un3urveyed land not being open for application, the greater part of that surveyed beiog sold, while the fine weather we have had, by keeping the surveyors in the field has retarded the mapping of the work dons. In two months however, there will be at least 20,000 acres ef first class land in the Oteramika and Jacob's Biver Hundreds for sale, bush and open, with as usual, plentiful timber reserves, and carefully selected road lines. The Survey staff 13 pretty strong, with an ad?

fflirable head of unbounded energy, and singular common" sense. The work accomplished sinc3 its organization has been considerable and \V..-i executed} and gives promise of the survey keepl ing pace with the demand. The Provincial Government and Post Office areiu course of completion, haviug been detained beyond the proper time by the uon- arrival of the contractor from Melbourne. A tender has been accepted for a brick gaol, and tenders for a commodious Hospital, at Invercargill, are called for. The Court House at Campbell Town aud River ton, are in course of erection as also the Episcopalian Church at the latte, place, the school house there being nearly comr pleted. The advantage of an energetic and | competent harbor master, and efficient pilot at i tha New River is already showing itself. Several vessels of considerable tonnage from Melbourne have lately entered the New River. •Two are lyiug at present alongside the jetty; one the Mary Ann, drawing 9 feet 10 inches. Were the jetty in its proper place, lower down, vessels of greater draught might easily discharge alongside it. Already the absence of sufficient accommodation in this respect is felt, and either the present jetty must be enlarged, or what would be better, a new one built in. the proper place. The channels in the Ne-y River upper and lower, are being rapidly buoyed off, which, with the present efficient pilot and staff, will preclude the possibility of any accident similar to the Oscar. Several large vessels have lately landed stock at the Bluff, sheep aloue amounting to more than iifteen thousand. The steam tug Aphrasia has been busy bringing round large numbers of them to be landed at the N W bank of the New River Estuary.. It i s intended to erect a flag staff on the top of the Bluff Hill another on high grouudat the New River beads and one at Invercargill, so that regular communication by signals can be carried on. The commanding position from the top of the Bluff River will enable vessels passing through the Straits to be spoken, and should the assfstance of the tug be required for any vessel entering or leaving the Bluff, the intelligence could be at once telegraphed to the New River. The time, however, is not far distant when Invercargill and Campbell Town will be connected by railway, and its usual concomitant, an electric telegraph. The level nature of the country will render such a work easy and cheap, while the road at present in construction will answer admirably as a • floor on which the rails can be laid. As regards immigration, the first vessel direct leaves the Clyde some time in May, the next from London, probably in the latter end of September or begiuing of October next. A good number of applications have been made by residents in the Province, desirous of bringing out their friends ; no doubt the vessel from London will be full both of passengers and cargo. The Gazette, showing the last quarter's accounts ending March 31st, proves that the "destitute" Southland has not as yet realised the friendly prophecies of its northern friends— the balance in hand, £20,400 odd, looks wholesome, and gives promise that the Province will not be bankrupt lor a week or two at any rate. Ihe salary department is refreshingly small, which shows an amount of fine feeling and patriotism, on lue part of officials, worthy of commendation ; no doubt a grateful people will insist on a rise. The White Swan did not call at the Bluff, being a day behind, and wanting to make up for lost time, it is to hoped, will not occur again. It is rumoured, and, I believe with correctness, tbat small parcels of gold are finding their way to Invercargill from the Wakatip Diggings, one a very fair one of 15 ounces ; those up there seem to be satisfied, have erected winter hut. anu look forward with great hopes to spring.