OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 452, 19 November 1880, Page 2

OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Dunedin, November 15.

As usual on such occasions, the citizens of Dunedin observed high holiday on Tuesday last, and sports and pic-nics afforded no lack of amusement to those who were inclined to give their patronage. The most striking part of the

day's performance was undoubtedly tho procession of the Ancient Order of Druids, which began to march through

the city at 10-30 o'clock in the forenoon. First of all came a vehicle drawn by four

horses, and containing an oak tree, under whose branches sat a Druidess and four bards. In the rear followed the members of the Order, led by the ArchDruids ,of the various local lodges. They were dressed in long, flowing white gowns, and wore beards of corresponding color reaching, down to their waists,

formirg an amusing yet impressive spectacle. The city and suburban fire brigades also took part in the procession, which was witnessed by nearly 3,000 spectators.

Some excitement has been caused here by the discovery on Saturday morning of a woman's jacket and dress ', on the reclaimed land. In the pocket of the dress the following letter was found :— November 21st. Dear father and brothers, and dear little Bister, when this reaches you I shall have past the river death, for, father, I tired of life and the world's cold care, and

friends are false, for friends have been

my ruin. I have been made to suffer more than I can bear, and while I existed

every one all have been my bitter foes, father forgive your wicked erring child, teach my brotherand sisters to walk in God's ways, that they may never do the sin that I soon shall do. speak of me with pity, and not with scorn, father forgjve me, and mourn not me, far father it is better so, for it is better to be dead than mad ; and I hope you will never find me, for it would be pain to you to look at the face of me, who took the life god gave her. father give all my clothes (this sentence is uncompleted) ; tell all my brothers to forgive me, and, doar sister, forgive i, your wicked child,.Maka PnKscorr-.

In tho same pocket there was also a purse containing a brooch, an ear-ring, a gold locket, a silver locket, and two solitaires. These articles were taken to the Police Station, where they have, been identified by two friends of the missing girl as the property of Mary Prescott, a young girl of abbut 21 years of age. The dress is a drab one, and is said to be the one she was wearing on the evening previous to her disappearance. The police have dragged the bay for some distance round the spot where the clothes were lying, but as yet they have found no trace of the young woman, who appears to have on several occasions expressed her intention of committing suicide. 13e that as it may, there is no doubt but that the, circumstances are those of a love affair, and that this mode of action has been taken with the object of securing a successful elopement. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that another dress had been removed from the place at which the unfortunate girl was last staying, and the whole affair is likely a hoax.

" . In theatrical matters there is nothing " fresh. The Lingard Company are still * playing at the Queen's, but intend tak- * ing the Princess', as they Avill then have more, room for a change of programme *to the'evcr popular " Our Boys." Tho Lydia Howardc Opera Bouffe and Bur--1 lesque Company closed their season at the Princess on Saturday evening, when there Avas a good attendance. They in- ' tend proceeding to Christchareh. In connection with the Canterbury Cup a knavish attempt at roguery was perpetrated here on Messrs Lyons and Hart.*, tofcalisator. It appears that the proprietors of the machine were not aware of the hour at Avhich the race would be run, and consequently several persons in Dunedin vrere acquainted with the result before the time for closing the totalisator had arrived. These, to their disgrace be it said, immediately applied their information to cheating other investors and their efforts were not without success, for they succeeded in obtaining several tickets after they kneAV which horse had won. At length their vociferations for " chances " aroused the suspicions of the proprietors, who speedily brought business to a termination. '. ' - * Again the time for thp election of our Mayor is approaching, and only two candidates, Messrs H. S. Fish and A. H. Ross, have been nominated for the position. During the past year our Mayor has, owing to cliqueism in the City Council, been drawing the handsome salary of one pound, whereas he is entitled, according to the salaries of | previous years, to £400. Ho will now \J~ soon retire from office. Surely the citi- *'»■ zens will not permit him to say that he has been an abused man. The second session of the fifth Synod of the Diocese of Dunedin w..s commenced in the City Council Chambers on Wednesday last. The attendance was large, numbering over forty, clergymen and laymen. On Friday the Rev. J. Hobbs was brought to his feet for the first time although he has been a member for 25 years, and on the same day the Rev. C. J. Byng expressed his disapprobation of " tea; meetings "by describing them as " those greasy demonstrations of Christianity." The weather here has been very * changeable of late, and its sultry state, alleviated only by occasional heavy

*diti\vei'K, render-i it somewhat disagreeable. The crops in the country districts uic l.'iikin-; very well notAvithstanding, niid again promise an abundant harvest.