DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 217, 6 January 1874, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q. Few Year’s Day, 1874. >. The Royal horticultural Society held their ’Summer Show in the grounds of J. H. Harris, Esq., at Pelidhet Bay, on Tuesday, having had a large marquee specially erected for the exhibits. The show was attended by about I 1500 people, among the visitors during the! ■day being Lady Ferguason. The season’s show cannot be said to have been a good one, ■either as regards the number or the quantity of the exhibits. What the reason is, I do not know, yet it is very clear that the Society is not recognised as it should be by the public —for it is on the public in a very great measure that the success of the shows held by ■the Society depends, not only as regards attendance, but. as regards the sending of exhibits. I could name many of our citizens who could, had they the inclination, assist at very little trouble to themselves ; yet they are conspicuous by their absence. Tuesday’s exhibition was specially noticeable with regard to the absence of exhibits from persons in Dunedin who should from their position assist the Society in its laudable endeavours to promote the cultivation of beautiful flowers and shrubs, which give such a charm to our homes. Each succeeding exhibition, however, seems,to get more tame and less worth visiting than its predecessors. There may perhaps be something wrong in the constitution of the Society—a want of energy in the direction of its affairs, possibly,—as well as the other cause I have mentioned, which leads to its want of success. This, however, Ido nut know. One thing, at any rate, is certain, the Shows are not what they ought to be, and .what it should be the endeavour of the Society to make them. Seeing tlife Old Year out and the Few Year in aft’oMed congenial occupation to considerable crowds of people in our principal streets last night. The police would hatfb had their hands—and the lock-up—full,-had they attempted to take into custody a tithe of those who were creating disturbances which on any other day would have been cause enough to subject them to the pains and penalties of the law. But the Few Year- is a time of privilege, and those who are so inclined takeadvantage of it and go in for larrikinism. And they went in for it last night to an extent which certainly transcends all previous exhibitions of the sort it lias been my lot to witness in Dunedin, —in fact, to an extent not at all consistent with the safety of the. city, for burning crackers, and rockets, and Roman candles, and Pharaoh’s serpents, and other pyrotechnic mysteries were thrown about in most of the principal streets, and in quantities which were sufficient to alarm people hot addicted to the use of them. For about an hour the’noise and confusion, in various parts of Prinees-street especially, were most bewildering, and it was impossible to go half-a-dozen yards without being startled by the sudden explosion of a cracker at your heels, or some such pleasant incident to keep your nerves in a state of tremor. Rowdyism and noise reigned supreme till about one o’clock this morning, when people began to drop off to their homes.

The Caledonian Gathering to-day was attended by, T should think, about 7000 people. His Excellency the Governor and suite, and Captain Jacquemart and the officers of the French war-ship Vire, arrived on the ground between two and three o’clock. They were received at the head of the stairs leading to the Grand Stand by Mr Reith Ramsay, the President of the Caledonian Society, who addressed a: few words of welcome to the visitors, which were briefly acknowledged by the Governor'.’ The games were of the usual character, and were I suppose on the whole as successful as ’they generally are. They brought out a lot of old faces among the competitors, as well as others hitherto unknown to fame in Dunedin. One of the best contested events of the day, and one worth especial mention, was the two-mile walking match—the competitors being Macgregor, Spence, Campbell, and a lad entered in the programme as John Scott, the latter being between 12 and 13 years of age. ’Macgregor is of course well known to Otago people ; Campbell, is a capital walker ; Spence a big fellow with plenty of stamina, but whose peculiar style of walking created .considerable amusement; while Scott is a.thin slight lad, apparently- about 12 years old. The latter had 220 yards giveu him ; Campbell, 75 yards ; and Macgregor and Spence started at scratch. Little Scott went at it with a will, bat he sepmed such a slight little customer that no one ever imagined he would make any show in the race. His plucky, walking, however, as hip succeeded lap, was the theme of general admiration, and when it came to the last round, and he still maintained nearly the whole distance allotted to him ar, the start, he was loudly cheered. At the winning post the little fellow received an ovation, and wa carried in-triumph from tlie scene of his victory. He certainly must have astonished tlie big competitors with whom he was associated in the match.

There is v 'tb he a brilliant performance tomorrow evening at the Queen’s Theatre for the benefit of Mr Alfred Anclersdn, the pianist. The Caraudinis are to sing thenchoicest songs, and in addition to some fantasias by ( Mr Anderson, there are to be two or three pianoforte duos played by his lady pupils. The performance will be under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor and Lady Fergusson, Captain Jacquemart and officers of the Viro, and the Caledonian Society.’ Mr Anderson may reasonably expect to be greeted by a brilliant assemblage.