DUNEDIN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 320, 31 December 1875, Page 6

DUNEDIN.

[fhom a correspondent.] December 27, 1875. A shocking accident has occurred at the Ocean Beach to three gentlemen whose clothes and guns were found lying there, and who are supposed to have been drowned while bathing, and carried out to sea. The successes of the Provincial party at recent elections is said to be due to the splendid organisation of a Committee formed to promote the return of their candidates. The delegates from Christchurch to the Templars' Grand Lodge meetinghave arrived. They include S. P. Andrews, G.W.C.T., with the other officers of the Grand Lodge, and other representatives to the number of 18. They were received at Port Chalmers by the principal members of Dunedin Lodges and Bro. Symond3 from Arrowtown, and brought by steamer to Bunedin at 11 o'clock p.m. Bro. Hastings will scarcely be able to attend, as he is detained in Tasmania up to the 24th inst. The meeting will be held at the Oddfellows' Hall and it is expected that Dunedin will be the headquarters of the Grand Lodge. Either Bro. Jago or Bro. Adams will probably be elected G.W.C.T. It is expected that the balance-sheet will show a credit of about £SOO.

I met Mr A. Graham, formerly of Arrowtown, returning from the Palmer per "Ringarooma." He intends to try either the Nevis or the Arrow as he is quite disgusted with Queensland. He says that the large shipments of gold reported as from Oooktown are mostly composed from various reefs on the different fields from a thousand m>les of coast line. He only obtained about 4oz, and, fearing sickness, left. He saw Mr James Miller three months ago who was then working with Mr W. Aitkenhead at M'Leod's creek, but they were doing nothing, and Miller is likely to return to the Arrow. Aitkenhead got lowe gold some time back, but had been ill, while they both looked " thin on it." W. Colvil'e was bullock-driving from Townsville ; he knew nothing of Harry Eager. The Chinese were suffering as well as the whites from fever, &c. Altogether he would advise no one to go to the Palmer in spite of the "blowing" of the Oooktown papers.

A new evening paper is about to be started in Dunedin by some Auckland men, who have made a bad move by bringing down compositors from that city engaged for 0 months at £2 10s per week, current wages here being £3; so the " trade" is dead against the new paper. A large number of visitors from Australia are flying round the coast attracted by our scenery and cheap excursion fares.