DUNEDIN

Dunstan Times, Issue 314, 1 May 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN

(from our own correspondent.) Dunedin, April 20. The proceedings in the council have during the pa*t week been particularly interesting to up country residents. The independent members have shown that they will no longer allow Dunedin to monopolise everything, but that the mining community, from whom all the prosperity and wealth of the Province mainly springs, shall have their fair share of the revenue expended upon them. The squatters and the Government may oppose, but the friends of the people are too strong for vhem. The two country members who habitually support the Government are Messrs. F;as3r and Main. The latter gentleman arrived in Dunedm just in time to rescue the Government from its impending fate, his vote on the question of Hundreds giving them a majority of one. Mr. Donald Reid, in a clear calm and earnest speech made on that memorable question, challenged the Government on their Land Policy, and stated that the present Executive had no inten tion of seeing the land in the interior settled upon by the people. I hear that Mr. Reid and the Opposition members bad several meeting* duvmg the past week. A match against time took place the other day between two well known parties. It was for £lO a side, to ran sir miles in forty five minutes. The affair came off on the Blueskin Pond- the winner coming in by six seconds less than the time spe cified. The libel case, Peeves and Murphy versus the "Evening Mail," was heard in the Police Court on Friday Inst Mr. Besemeres, the proprietor of the offending journal, was filly committed for trial. The Court was crowded during the hearing. However, I think, that in thesa exciting Ames, a jury will not convict. At the Akatore Bush Saw Mills a man named George Fraser met with a serious accident the other day, a file being forcibly driven into his abdomen. At the nomination for Mayor on Wednesday last, Messrs. Thomas Birch, Henry Driver, and J. G. S. Grant were nominated. The latter gentleman made one of his usual speeches. He said "that the electors require a true born Briton. In him flowed the purest blood of the Stuarts He thought that the title of" His Worship," being conferred upon James Gordon Stuart Grant, Esq. would sound equally as well outside the colony as within it. The Government intend giving the miners of Switzers an opportunity of [ settling upon the land. A large area, eight miles from the Township, is to be immediately thrown open for occupation. The Manager of the Independent Water Pace Switzers, paid a visit to Southland, with the view of raising funds to complete the race. His mission was crowned with success. The necessary amount, £1,250, was subscribed by the business people. In Dunedin he would not have got one penny. The people down here are prejudiced against e mining speculations and the miners as a body. A petition is going round for signature to support the residents of the Lak«s District in opposing the sale of the Wakatip Runs. As signing a petition don't cost any money, the Lakes people get assistance freely. Mr. Charles Hoyt took his departure by the Tararua steamer for Sydney en route for Japan. The Election for Mayor took place to-day. The polling was as follows: Birch, 403; Driver, 377; Grant 57. Mr. Birch was therefore elected. Dunedin, 27th April. Great interest is still taken in the proceedings of the Provincial Council and inquiries are made day by clay, have the Government resigned 1 The great question of the day is, the set. tlement of the people upon the lands of the interior; much credit is due to the Opposition members for the bold stand they have made. Messrs Haugh thn and Shepherd have lought the people's battle admirably, however, if the present Executive do succeed in

retaining office for anotheryear, which in all probability they now will, they will recollect the lesson that has been taught them, that they must not neglect up-country interests. In reply to a question from Mr. Shepherd, the Secretary for Land and "Works, stated that the Government were in treaty for a block of land at Black's, for pur poses of Agriculture and commonage. Mr. P. C. Simmons has been ap pointed to the Head Mastership of the college at Nelson. Mr. J. G. S. Grant, it is said has sent in an application to the Superintendent to fill the vacancy at the High School here. The splendid returns from the Mt. Ida Quartz Mining Company, have caused the shares to rise rapidly in the market, before the result of the crushing was known, £lO scrip were unsaleable at £5, now they are at a premium. It was only two weeks agone, that the Directors had met in Dunedin, and resolved to wind up the( Company. Dunedin people are apoor chicken hearted set ; there is more speculation in one gold miner than in a score of our so called liberal minded merchants. It was reported on Thursday last, that the Celestial Queen, having the Salmon ova on board had been sighted. At the Council meeting the same afternoon, the Provincial Treasurer asked for an adjournment, stated that a Steam tug had been engaged, and in vited members to take a trip to the Clutha. This, the Opposition gracefully declined, thinkuig it another move of the wily Treasurer to secure his seat: some said that the Treasurer intended putting the Opposition members into the boxes instead of the Salmon ova. A large number of families and others, are anxiously waiting the arrival of an Immigration Agent,expected from South America; the liberal offers held out there for immigrants, will I think, cause a great number of people to leave the Province. The Chilian Government offer land for little or nothing, besides pecuniary assistance to cultivators: what a contrast with Otago! Mr. Hume, late Postmaster at Clyde, sends very favorable accounts from the Fiji Islands. At the horse sale of Messrs. Wright Robertson & Co. held on Saturday last, draught stock fetched improved prices; hacks however, went? very low. I hear it, on the best authority, that the Runs in the Wakatip district will not be sold. Great indignation is felt by the Ta'eri settlers, respecting the attempt made by Mr. Geo. Shand M PC. to have a road made at the public expense, to suit his personal convenience ; he has succeeded in getting the Government to build a bridge at the Silver stream, one mile and a half from the road now in use. The Government have awarded to Mr. Rey. nolds, Speaker nf the Council, .£3OOO for his Bonded store ; Mr. Reynolds makes a capital sale of his property to the public. Mr. C. Wilmot, the popular actor 1 , took a benefit on Friday night last at the Princess Theatre, the house was crowded in all parts. On the previ. ous Wednesday, Mrs. R. Heir, had a, benefit at the Polytechnic Hall, which was highly successful. An amateur performance will shortly be given on behalf of the funds of the Benevolent Asylum ; Mrs. Heir has kindly volunteered her services.