DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 244, 14 July 1874, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

. ' By 0. P. Q. .1 uly 9, 1874. This evening Mr J. L, Wiltshire commences the task of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours in a marquee which has been specially erected adjoining the Princess Theatre. Ho is also to have the company of Mrs Wiltshire, who is to walk 1000 half-miles in the same period. The time is five weeks six days and sixteen hours, and during the whole of that period the marquee will be open day and night, the charge for admission being one shilling. Mr Wiltshire is a middling-sized, stoutly-built man, and has what in horsey circles is designated great “ staying power.” He has before gone through the performance now announced, so that I suppose there is no question as to the probability of his again accomplishing it. It is, however, Mrs Wiltshire’s first pedestrian effort in New Zealand, and as a first effort is certainly an arduous enough one.

Following the example of the revival meetings of Great Britain, we have had, and continue to have, something of the same sort in Dunedin. The Masonic Hall has been taken by a number of the most prominent of our ministers and religious laity for the purpose of holding nightly prayer meetings for the awakening of a religious spirit in the community. The Hall has been densely crowded every night this week, and much earnestness in the cause displayed by those assembled. Last night the chair was occupied by Mr John Paterson, brother of the Hon. James Paterson, and an elder of one of the city Presbyterian churches. Prayer was offered up on behalf of a variety of tilings, those present being apparently most earnest in their supplications and thanksgiving. At the weekly meeting of the Waste Land Board to-day the proposed lease, of about 400 acres of bush laud on the West Coast of this Province to Mr J, Harding, being consideration desired by the applicant for the purpose of encouraging a proposed fish-curing establishment, was again brought under the notice of the Board. The application of Mr Harding has excited a good deal of comment in Dunedin, and the opinion has been more than hinted at that saw-mills were more likely to be the real means of employing labour than the curing of fish. How this may be I cannot positively say. Messrs Harding and Co. —for there is a Go. in the matter—may have applied in ah good faith for this large area of country for the purpose of spreading out and drying their fish upon it; but the Board have evidently thought the saw-milling rumour worthy of consideration, for they at their meeting to-day, when settling the matter, resolved that Messrs Harding and Co. should not have permission under their lease to cut timber for exportation or sale, but only for such purposes as their proposed operations in the fish-curing establishment would require ; and the proviso is also tacked on to the Board’s decision that the survey of the land must be completed in six months or the application abandoned. It now remains to be seen whether the proposed fish-curing industry will go on. It hardly seems a likely speculation, yet Messrs Harding and Co., who have doubtless gone into all the details connected with it, will no doubt be better able to judge of the prospects of success than those who have no information on the subject. The supply of fish that is obtainable is no doubt large, and to be depended upon regularly. Of this there can be little doubt, for in addition to any objections that were urged against the probable cutting of timber were the application granted without restriction, there came the following telegram from Invercargill to the Board “ Please protect sealing and fishing rights whilst granting lease to Harding. Locality asked for valuable and already worked. Complications already arising from Monckton’s lease of the Auckland Islands. — Joseph Hatch, Inver Cargill.”

Messrs Walter and Ramsay, the candidates for the Mayoralty, are now in the midst of their canvassing. It does not seem likely that there will be any other candidate, although Mr Reeves was for some time spoken of as being likely to come forward. The nomination is to take place on the 13th inst. It is quite possible of course that some other gentleman may be proposed, and the electors and present candidates taken by surprise, as was the case in the nomination of candidates for the seat in the House of Represen tatives rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Bathgate, when Mr Wales was brought forward at the last moment, and wrested the coveted honour from Mr G. E. Barton, who had confidently anticipated a walk-over. One thing is certain, there are plenty of people not at all satisfied with the choice at present afforded thein.