DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 290, 15 November 1867, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) November 10. Do your readers ever think of the difficulties that beset "Our Own Correspondent," and do they ever feel any sympathy for him 1 There are in my experience two distinct kinds of difficulties in the way of a letter-writer. The first is, when he is without news to communicate, when ho finds that hci must invest an amount of " small talk" about the weather, and when he has tin pleasant (!, satisfaction of feel-

ing that his epistle contains nothing that its readers care to know. But he is in still greater trouble when his budget is full, foi - , as incident after incident creep through his brain, he gets confused, and knows not how to reduce to order the " waifs and strays" of rumor and fact collected during the week. lam in this fix now, and so, though having plenty of material, I cut the Gordian Knot, by having my say upon topics most engrossing. " Acquarius, with his watering-pot," has been giving us a benefit lately. For weeks and weeks our streets, despite Mr. Inspector Barnes's polite attention, have been anything but pleasant thoroughfares, and pleasure providers and pleasure-seekers look very blue, as the holidays are so quickly coming on, and there is little prospect of a change. But withal there is hope. "It can't last," eveiy one says, and those who cater for public amusement are making great preparations for the day on which the anniversary of the birth of the Prince of Wales is to be celebrated. There will be the Foresters' Fete at Vauxhall, Fete of the Band of Hope at the Water of Leith, excursions to Portobello and the Heads, Volunteer shooting matches, balls and parties innumerable, and last, but not least, the theatre. The theatre deserves a special line. The burlesque of Ixion is about to be produced, with Miss Harriet Gordon (said to be the best vocalist who has ever appeared here) in the principal character, and as the management has expended nearly £2OO in getting up " the man at the wheel" the which ought to turn, and in turn, prove a wheel of fortune to those most interested in its success. I regret to have to state that the honeymoon of the respected host and hostess of the Jockey Club Hotel, at Blackstone Hill, has been darkened by a serious accident. Mr. and Mrs. huff were married on Wednesday last and on Friday in company with two friends started for a drive to Port Chalmers in a pair-horse buggy. The horses took fright when near the Port and the buggy capsis'ed. All its occupants were hurt, but Mr. Duff suffered most as he got entangled with the harness and was dragged a considerable distance ho sustained a fracture of the thigh. He is now however progressing favorably. A piece of mismanagement somewhere in high quarters has produced much inconvenience. It is said that the Chinese interpreter, who came over from Melbourne, and was of good service at the trial for the assault upon Harbonl, was promised a permanent appointment, and on the strength of that promises has remained in the province, only to find his expections disappointed. On Saturday, when Le Ah Cheong was brought before the Resident. Magistrate, and charged with the murder of Ah Hang, the services of an interpreter were required. The Court was adjourned, the interpreter was sent for, but could not be found, and, after a long delay, a Chinaman was brought, who was evidently not up to the mark, and some confusion ensued. This is to be regretted. The interpreter is now a necessary officer, his services must be had, and the Government should at once take action in the matter. Mr. J. C. Thomson, late Gold Receiver at Lawrence, has been arrested on a charge of embpzzlement. He is remanded for seven days. His honor the Superintendent has been doing the popular this week. He was chairman at a popular entertainment given by the Grocers' Mutual Improvement Society, and at a dinner given to Mr. Percival Barker, on the occasion of the opening of the new Criterion Hotel. He is very hardworked , for evervbo dy seems to have a grievance, and day after day deputation after deputation wait upon him, and he has to say polite nothings, and listen to the long and earnest speeches of the pleaders. What with Road Boards, Education Boards, and meetings of Executive, his time is fully employed and he well earns his salary. Some of the inhabitants of Port Chalmers have been acting in a most absurd manner. A meeting was held on Friday, ostensibly to protest against the removal of Mr. Mansiord, the Resident Magistrate : but poor Mr. Mansford was almost forgotton. Some well - known orators spouted of their injuries, and at last an attempt was made to form a Port Chalmers Protectionist Chamber.