DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 131, 14 May 1872, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q

Public attention during the past week lias been pretty well engrossed by the able lectures of Mr James Smith, a Melbourne gentleman, who is at present on a visit to the Province. Leaving out of the question the rather far-fetched and, to orthodox believers, extraordinary doctrines promulgated in his theological discourses, it may be truthfully said that for terse, vigorous language, freshness of ideas, and an easy, distinct, and flowing delivery, Ml' Smith stands very far in advance of lecturers who have hitherto addressed Dunedin audiences. His literary abilities, too, are versatile in the extreme. No better evidence of this could be given than the contrast between an admirable lecture on "Wit and Humour," given in the lower hall of the Athenaeum on Tuesday last, and an address in the Princess Theatre on the following Sunday evening on '' Spiritualism," the subject being divided into the two headings, "Love God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" ; and " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." '' Wit and Humour" was a genial, easy, mirthful, and mirth-provoking lecture, drawing forth rounds of applause, and producing uncontrollable laughter ; while the address on Sunday evening, although not delivered in a temple devoted to the preaching of religion, was couched in the most beautiful and reverential language, and, divested of a few of the rather peculiar ideas of the speaker, was a broad, practical lesson to humanity, which, were it accepted and acted upon by all men, would make this world what it never will be—an Elysium second only in point of unalloyed bliss and unmixed happiness to the glorious hereafter which is promised the faithful. Judging from the repeated bursts of applause, this lecture met with a responsive echo in the minds of a majority of one of the densest and most closely packed audiences that ever assembled in the theatre.

" Roluckingramism"—pardon the sudden transition from a lecture treating of ethereal matters to this very mundane subject—has become rife in Dunedin. Until lately, with the exception of occasional evidences of the presence of juvenile and comparatively harmless larrikins, we have enjoyed almost complete immunity from the pleasantries of these undesirable members of the community ; but within the last fortnight or so, they have been holding high carnival, and from pawnbrokers to City Councillors they have selected their victims, and indulged in their destructive proclivities. The last freak—though, in comparison with others which have been carried out, a comparatively harmless one—was kicking a barrel about Princes-street at the unseasonable hour of 2 a.m. In this case the culprit, unfortunately for himself, came under the stern and unrelenting eye of the myrmidons of the law, was on the following day brought before His Worship the Mayor, and received a salutary lesson in the shape of a forty-shilling line. Perhaps this will serve as a caution to others.

To-day (Thursday) is the day set apart f< v public thanksgiving for the recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and has been observed as a general holiday, nearly every shop in the city having been closed. Divine service has been held in several of the churches, and special prayers suitable to the occasion formed part of the services. The Provincial Council has also adopted an address assuring Her Majesty of the deep sympathy of her Otago subjects in the anxiety which His Royal Highness's illness caused the Royal family, and of their heartfelt congratulations at the Prince's convalescence. No doubt Her Majesty will be deeply gratified at this expression of loyalty from such a remote corner of her dependencies, although all interest in tlie Prince's late illness will have died out by the time the Otago congratulations reach England.

Haselniayer has been drawing splendid houses at the Masonic Hall, and certainly not without reason, for his performances are truly wonderful. He seems to possess an inexhaustible store of tricks and extraordinary feats of legerdemain, and goes through them with a dexterity which is quite sufficient to ensure certainty that the mode of their accomplishment will remain a profound mystery. He gives his closing performance "on Saturday evening.

A painful sensation was created in town this afternoon by the circulation of a report that a man had been shot at the Ocean Beach rifle range by the Volunteers who were practising there. The report received confirmation by the arrival of a horseman riding posthaste for a medical man, from whom d jtaila were gathered. It appears that the wounded man, whose name is Walter Young, was walking on the beach in company with his two brothers, and was suddenly struck down by a ball which entered near the groin on his left side. The Volunteers were practising at the l'ange at the time : and I am reliably informed that they had not hoisted the dangerflag before commencing practice. Assistanco was immediately rendered to Young by a

gentleman who was out driving on the beach in company with some ladies, and who promptly lent his buggy for the purpose of conveying the sufferer to town. Before reaching Dunedin, however, Dr SorleY, who was proceeding to the scene of the accident, met the conveyance, and immediately extracted the bullet. It is hoped that the wound will not prove fatal, although doubts are entertained of the man's recovery.