DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 236, 19 May 1874, Page 5

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q. Tho burly form of Mr John Barnes, one of the representatives of Leith Ward, will no longer be seen in tho City Council—at least as a councillor—that gentleman having been appointed Inspector of Works for the Corporation, and as a matter of course having had to resign his councillorship before accepting office. With all his failings, Mr Barnes has proved himself an able councillor, and has looked after tho interests of his constituents in particular and of the ratepayers generally in a manner eminontly creditable to himself and satisfactory to the citizens. As Inspector of Works, Mr Barnes will no doubt be placed in an entirely congenial atmosphere, and his valuable experience will be of good service to the Corporation. Poor Mr Macassey's troubles do not seem to have ended with his defeat in the Macassey v. Bell trial ; for notwithstanding the indignation expressed by him at the comments made by the Guardian upon the order made by His Honor Mr Justice Chapman authoris- ' ing Mr Macassey or his solicitor to inspect and take copies of telegrams having reference to the case Macassey v. Bell, the indignation aforesaid seems to have been considerably misplaced. Yesterday the affair came on in the Supreme Court, and His Honor very freely confessed that he had erred in granting an order ex parte, and that be had not given the matter sufficient consideration before granting the order. So that the correctness of the Guardians remarks have received confirmation at the hands of even His Honor himself. It i 3 not at all likely that Mr Macassey will screw his courage up to the point necessary to contest any more political elections, seeing the very many disagreeable circumstances which have sprung out of his last attempt to become one of the representatives of the people iu the senate of the Colony ; not to mention the pecuniary expense to which Mr Macassey must have been put. Very little idea can be formed by country residents of the enormous extent to which the building trade of the city has grown during the last year or two. The number of warehouses, shops, and dwelling-houses that a.re constantly in course of erection is really astonishing, and cannot fail to strike strangers visiting the city. No matter in what direction you may wend your way, houses in course of erection meet the eye, and a vacant section within the boundary of the city is positively getting quite a rarity. As a result of this, timber is. scarce to a degree that is teding heavily on the pockets of aU who are unfortunately under the necessity of building ; and to make matters worse, the timber trade, although carried on in different parts of the city and in the name 3 of different firms, is, I believe, with one exception, in the hands of one firm—a monopoly which is vevy oppressive to all who have any occasion to use timber of any sort, and which it is to be hoped will not be long in existence. The chances do not, however, seem in favour of the latter desideratum being accomplished, for I understand that overtures have even been made to the one opposition house. The monopolists know they have the trade pretty well in their own hands, and the consequence has been a considerable rise in the price of building materials of all sorts. There is really a splendid opening for some enterprising capitalists ; and a certainty of a very handsome return for any outlay that might be made. It i 3 next to impossible to procure what you want in the timber line, and properly seasoned wood is hardly obtainable at any price. Let us hope that Dunedin's vaunted enterprise will stand her in good stead in this matter. There was never a better opportunity for its display. It really does seem strange that there is such a large amount of floating .capital in the Province, and - such a sad want of perspicuity in the owner. . >• •

The prospectus of a new building societyhas just been published, and it gives promise of supplying a want which many have felt for a long time past. The new principle which is the feature of the proposed society, is that it is proposed to buy suitable freeholds and erect thereon houses suitable for all classes who may desire to avail themselves of the terms which are offered. These houses; and the freeholds will become the property of the members on terms of easy payments extending over a long series of years, and will only be equivalent to the payment of a moderate rent. There are many difficulties in the way of borrowing from the building societies at present in existence. Their prospectuses and rules lead people to imagine that there is no difficulty in obtaining an advance, but when it comes to the push and the cash is asked for, the legal technicalities which hedge round the unfortunate borrowers often prove insurmountahlo, aod very great inconvenience and disappointment are caused. There are a great many good names on the directory, and 1 hope and have little fear that the greatest success awaits the new society.