DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 150, 24 September 1872, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q. The two locomotives of the Port Chalmers Railway Company have made several trips along the line during the past week, and have, I believe, given satisfactory proof of their thorough excellence. The laying of the remaining portions of the rails is being rapidly proceeded with, and the inaugural trip may fairly be fixed for next month.

We have had one of those pleasant swindles, a bazaar, in full swing for the past few days the real object at the bottom of the seductive glances and bright smiles of the fair demoi selles and mesdamos who have presided over the tempting and well-stocked stalls being the raising of money for the purpose of building an Episcopal church at Blueskin. It has of course answered its purpose, as bazaars always do, and the Anglican portion of the Blueskin community will no doubt soon have a comfortable place of worship erected. A clever scientific lecture was delivered by Professor Black in the Athenaeum Hall on Tuesday last. The subject—" The Place and Functions of Oxygen in the Three Kingdoms of Nature"—was most ably treated, and the highly interesting experiments by which the lecturer added to the knowledge he imparted to his hearers were all most successfully conducted. The important part played by oxygen in the animal, vegetable, and'mineral kingdoms was shown in a most interesting manner, the great knowledge of its peculiar properties and functions displayed by the lecturer establishing his reputation as a professor of chemistry of the very highest order. Once engaged in, chemistry is a seductive and engrossing branch of science to study, and the practical experiments in connection with it, increase in interest as they impart to the student increased knowledge of the power-

ful gases and other elements of which all matter is composed. These able expositions of Prof. Black, in conjunction with the knowledge gained by his students at the University, are calculated to promote a desire for further information among many who hitherto have had but very faint ideas of what organic and inorganic life are composed. The lecture was well attended, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Professor Black at its conclusion.

It has been currently reported in Dunedin that the Provincial Government paid the travelling expenses incurred by Mr Anthony Trollope during his trip through the Province, but the rumour has been denied by the Government through the press, although they admit that the offer was made to Mr Trollope, but declined by him. Verily, Governments do extraordinary things, and offering to pay the travelling expenses of a private gentleman on a pleasure tour is certainly one of those extraordinary things. However, if ever Mr Trollope has occasion to introduce Otago to the notice N of his readers in any of his literary efforts, he certainly can say nothing against the liberality of its Government, however eccentric he may consider that body. The South British Insurance Company, the shares for which were so rapidly taken up throughout the Colony, gives promise of being a very successful institution. In Dunedin there were applications for a large number of shares more than could be allotted,—in fact this was the case in nearly every Province in the Colony ; and shares are now quoted at a considerably enhanced value. With prudent and economical management, there is very little doubt that the investment of capital in this Company will be highly profitable. Of there being a large business in store for the South British there is very little doubt, and policies are, I understand, already pretty numerously applied for.