DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 119, 20 February 1872, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By O.P. Q. February 15. In the early part of the week the crew of stalwart oarsmen who have to represent this Province in the great Canterbury four-oared boat race (for £150) took their departure for the sister Province, taking with them also, and looking after with the utmost solicitude, their beautiful new boat, the “Otago.” They have been practising hard for some time, but not in their new boat, as she has only been a short time completed. They have, however, had a few' spins round the harbour in her, and pull remarkably well. It is not considered in Dunedin that they have much chance of taking the prize,—mainly on account of the very limited practice they have had in the Otago, and also because of the fact that one or two of the crew have not been accustomed to row in an out-rigger, rather a difficult matter to those who have had no practice at it. They deserve every credit for the luird and regular practice to which they have subjected themselves ; one member of the crew having positively come up from Port Chalmers every evening, stopped in Dunedin over night, and returned to the Port in the morning after an hour’s hard rowing. They have left Dunedin with everybody’s hearty wishes for their success ; and if they do happen to bring away the prize, they will be sure to meet with an ovation on their return. The two members who represent the city in the House of Representatives, Messrs Reynolds and Bathgate, met their constituents in the Masonic Hall on Tuesday evening for the purpose of giving an explanation of their proceedings in the Hodso during the past session. There wuis a very largo attendance of electors, who ail seemed to take considerable interest in the proceedings. Mr Reynolds’s speech—as the speeches of that gentleman always are—-was of a very mediocre description, and did not at all answer the purpose for which it was made, viz., to convince the sceptical and suspicious citizens of Dunedin that the orator had, in all his votes and utterances, acted purely with a view to further their interests. The aforesaid sceptical and suspicious electors did n’t seem to see it ; and the result was that, notwithstanding the rather good speech of Mr Bathgate, delivered in the plausible style in which that gentleman is so perfect an adept, no vote of confidence was passed in our worthy representatives, intensely to their d is.gr.st and chagrin, I have no doubt... Ungrateful citizens of Dunedin! this is indeed a sorry return for all the harassing days and nights spent by your conscientious representatives in the faithful discharge of their duty. The Cargill Monument knows its place in the Octagon no more. This week the last stone of the foundation was taken from its place, and on the following day the Maori prisoners—those useful beings ; they seem almost übiquitous, for you find -them in all parts of the city and suburbs’, actively engaged in some work tending to beautify or improve the locality,—were marched to the spot ; and, under the charge of one of the Gaol warders, speedily cleared the ground of ikhris and obstructions, and connected Princes and George streets by forming a good road through the Octagon. There is to bo a public demonstration on the re-laying of the foundation stone of the Monument, which is to take place in a few days. Tiie steamship Nevada has made,her second visit to our Port, having arrived yesterday. No doubt she will have numbers of visitors before she takes her departure with the mails on Sunday. The Princess Theatre lias been taken by Messrs Willis and G. W. Gcddes, who both have been connected with its management during the past few years. Wo are promised a dramatic company shortly ; hut I question whether they will do much business after the successful season o: the Opera Company.