DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 198, 26 August 1873, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

4, ByO.P.Q. Otago will soon be well stocked with barristers and solicitors, even if she has not quite a sufficient number already, taking that of the past year as the average increase for the future. Within the past month three more young gentlemen from the Dunedin lawyers' offices have thrown off the yoke of articled-clerkship, and assumed the title of " barrister and solicitor," no doubt much to the gratification of themselves and their friends; and I understand that there are nearly forty more embryotic barristers still in the various law offices in town, who will doubtless from time to time emerge from their present probationary position, and enrol themselves among the already well-filled ranks of the "Devil's Own." Where they are all to find employment is a puzzle to more people than myself. There are now, I think, fourteen lawyers' offices in Dunedin, representing a total of twenty-four members of the profession—a very creditable number for a city of its size ; while every township of any size throughout the Province has one or two legal gentlemen to attend to its wants, and pocket the guineas of its townsfolk. It is certainly time that parents and guardians desisted from crowding their boys into these "genteel" employments with such glaringfacts staring them in the face. What is to become of all these lads, as they one by one serve their articles and emerge from the embryotic stage into that of the full-grown barrister and solicitor? It is utterly out of reason to suppose that Otago, litigiously inclined as its inhabitants undoubtedly are, can absorb all of them, it is as little likely that the firms with whom they have been under articles, can retain their services at salaries adequate to their new and important position, even were a course of journeyman lawyership practicable ; while their chances of success in other Provinces—with their youth, inexperience, and want of connection militating against them—would be extremely small. There is only one redeeming feature in the case, and that is, that the general public may perhaps eventually benefit by the severe competition. It has had the effect of reducing the price of all other things which minister to human wants, and why should it not in a similar manner affect a lawyer's "opinion ?" The conventional six-and-eight-pence has had a long and uninterrupted sway, and it is really high time it was reduced. Let us devoutly hope that the plethora of barristers and solicitors in Otago, may prove instrumental in bringing about a substantial reduction in that direction, and in the various other dreadful extortions which a lawyer's bill discloses. If so, some good will have been effected by means of what at present seems rather a serious question in genteel circles. The Masonic Hall dispute still remains unsettled. The motion for an injunction to restrain the agents of the mortgagee from further proceedings in connection with the sale of the mortgaged premises, came on for hearing at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, but at the request of the defendant's solicitor, consideration of the case was postponed for a fortnight. Meanwhile the

Masonic Hall Company, who, your readers will doubtless remomber, only regained possession of the Hall after a hard struggle with Mr Hudson's men, still keep their man in charge of the building, pending the result of the case which they have carried to the Supreme Court. We were unpleasantly reminded on Wednesday morning of the damages which travellers by rail are liable to. The 11.30 train from the Port, when nearing the Dunedin station, ran off the line on to a siding used as a standing place for spare carriages. The engine ran into and smashed a carriage which was on the siding, and also sustained some damage itself. The accident occurred through some carelessness in connection with the shifting of the points at the junction of the siding with the main line of rails. Beyond the injuries to the engine and carriage, and the fright which the passengers received, no further damage was occasioned. The journeyman boot and shoemakers have issued a notice threatening to cease work if certain demands which they have made regarding an increase of wages are not acceded to by the employers. They continue to work during the present week ; after which the strike is to commence, failing compliance with their demands. Trade is very brisk with the manufacturers of boot and shoes, and the absorption of a large number of workmen by Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen, who have recently gone very extensively into this branch of business, has made hands scarce. The first general meeting of shareholders in the Guardian Printing Company (Limited) was held in the Athenaeum Hall yesterday. There was a large attendance, among those present being a number of our most influential citizens. The report of the provisional directors was read and adopted. It congratulated the shareholders on the success which had attended the efforts of the directors since the Guardian was started, and was confident in its tone as to the future success of the paper. After the election of a permanent board of directors, the meeting was adjourned.