DUNEDIN

Dunstan Times, Issue 362, 2 April 1869, Page 2

DUNEDIN

(from our own correspondent.) March 28. Intelligence to hand from Wcllington thisafternooustat.es thatdespatches were received by the Government from Sydney that HR. IT. the Duke of Edinburgh would arrive in Auckland about the IGth proximo, and that he! would in all probability leave for the south about the 19 of May. It is also stated that imnndiately upon reception of thisannounceinent subscription lists were corned in "Wellington to defray the expense of asuitablo reception. In Dunedin the subject was broached in the city Council, at its meeting on Wednesday last. The original motion was that a sum of 5(!0Z. should be voted for this purpose. That motion was opposed, on the ground that the funds of the Corpora-1 thin would not warrant it, and, after I the usual amount of discussion, mutual j concessions were made, and a sum of 250/. agreed upon. Already private enterprise has been at work and a number ot the more prominent buildings been provided with transparencies, illuminations, & c. In fact, the town at night has got quite a lively appearance in this line. The latest intelligence to hand from Napier is most discouraging. Taupo and the Waikato natives are reported to have unsheathed their swords, and the danger to the settlement become so alarming, that a meeting of the Magistrates of Napier had to be held this .(Sunday) forenoon. In view of the danger by which the place is menaced, it was agreed that the Go'■ernor should he memorialized to convene a meeting of the assembly at once. Te Kouti is*said to have got 800 men ready for action, and against such a force, the friendly natives state that they have no chance of coping. Altogether matters look very gloomy in this quarter, and further intelligence is anxiously looked for. The past week has brought about a few more political changes. It was the boast of lust session of Council that not a single change had taken place during the prorogation. The coming session will see a different state of matters, and some old faces will be wanting. Mr. Robert Mitchell, member for Waikouaiti, in the Assembly as well as the Council and Mr. Samuel Gibb, member for Oamaru, have each announced their resignation. Mr. Gibb’s reasons for the step had not transpired. At a meeting held at Waihouaiti, Mr. Mitchell made the following explanation: “I am induced to take this step, owing to the protracted sessions of the Legislatures, occupying nearly six months in each year, and at seasons which I have found it exceedingly inconvenient to be absent from home for a lengthened period.” A successor toeither of these gentlemen has not yet been announced. Business during the past week has been a good deal interupted by holi days. On Tuesday last the twentyfirst anniversary of the Province was celebrated. One or two excursions took place down the rivet, but the day turned out the very opposite of a good one for holiday making. Good Friday was also observed as a holiday, but the weather on that occasion was cqmdly bad. Tokomairiro races advertised to take place on Wednesday last, had for a similar reason to be adjourned till Thursday. The second day of the races the events took place on Saturday. The attendanc was good, the racing first-classs, but the weather on neither occasion was favorable to the purpose.