DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 660, 11 December 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our, correspondent.) Dunedin, Dec. 7th. The St. Andrew’s Handicap little swindle has been settled at last. That is, the' Jockey Club, at their adj oumed meeting on Saturday night last, after as careful investigation of the facts of the case as possible, decided to disqualify Mabel from running any more where the Dunedin rules are in force ; while her rider, Andrew Mitchellson, is condemned to an equally unenviable position in regard to “mounts.” With Captain Hutchison, the owner of Mabel, nithing to prove complicity in the matter of pulling the mare could be proved, consequently he was acquitted; he, however, no longer occupies any office in the Club, having resigned his position as President at the first enquiry into this disreputable affair, held on Tuesday last. This pretty piece of business has done more to brim horse racing into disrepute than any previously known circumstance that has happened in Otago, and it will be a long time before our little racing world recovers it. Such a bareface thing as willfully pulling a horse round at the moment of starting and holding it back is unprecedental in the annals of the New Zealand Turf, ami the expressed determination of numbers that they will from henceforth cease to support what is considered as one of our leading national sports is much to be deplored, although, at the same time, it is by no means surprising after what has occurred. With respect to the boy Mitchellson, he is by no means a young innocent. A glance at his “ physog ” plainly indicates that, although he may be new to Otago, he was by no means a novice in Victoria ; and I do not think that one single person believes that he pulled the mare solely on his own account, or that ho is anything approaching to a clumsy or awkward rider.

Mining speculations, I am very sorry to say, stand very low in public estimation at present. What with Shotovers’, Arrow Rivers’, and now the Cromwell Deep Lead affair, but very little confidence remains. It is a very great pity that such a state of things should exist, especially as the goldfields have arrived at a stage when the introduction of outside capital would assist to develop them so much. I have no doubt but, could anything approaching to confidence in mining ventures be restored, or that people could only feel themselves satisfied, that they would receive fair play from the hands of country managers and directors very considerable sums of money would find their way for investment on the goldfields.

Business in Dunedin, especially that counted with town and suburban supplies is very brisk ; but the same cannot be said with respect to the up country trade, which is represented to be deplorable. Wholesale traders will scarcely believe that the Public A,\ orks’ scheme has so denuded the interior of population that the wants of the remaining few has been the cause of reducing them to almost a minimum. It is generally considered that there vill be a great re-action in Dunedin when the large public expenditure ceases. This can scarcely be avoided, but at the same time it will assist the upcountry districts, as some of the numerous population ga herod together in town must, ere long, find their way into the country to seek employment.

The Harbor Board—a deputation of which waited on the Superintendent on Fri • day last—appear to bo laboring under difficulties in the shape of a commencement. The delegated powers invested in the Superintendent, which powers, so far as the Dunedin Harbor is concerned, must he resigned by him in favor of the Board, which will be required to provide all necessary’ funds for the management and improvement of the Harbor. This had been done by proclamation in the Provincial Government Gazette, hut it was unsigned, and the solicitors to the Board gave it as their opinion that the proclamation could not he acted upon even if it had been signed, as it re pares also to be published in the Genera! Government Gazette. The debentures for the L 200,000 loan to the Board cannot he issued until this matter is satisfactorily arranged, hence the anxiety of the members of the Board. His Honor the Superintendent promised to accede to tiro wishes of the deputation, so far as Dunedin Harbor was concerned, hut he could not relinquish more than appertained strictly to this.

A novel scene took place on August 21 at New Dalles, county of Limerick, which, for the past thirty years, has been notorious for faction fights, resulting in murder and other outrages. At the request of Archbishop Leahy, the Oblate Father hold a special mission in the chapel where all the factions attended and solemnly vowed before the alter never to harm each other again. The men also renewed babtismal vows holding at the same time a lighted taper in each hand. The majority likewise took the pledge for five years, the publicans undertaking not to open their houses on Sundays.

Goldsmiths’ Wokk. —The process of fine-art manufacture in this branch of trade is strikingly exemplified in a little work published by Mr. J, W. Benson, of No. 25, Old Bond-street, and of the City Steam Factory, 58 and 60 Ludgate-hill, London. It is enriched and embellished with designs, by Italian, French and English artistes, of brooches, bracelets, ear-rings, and other articles, suitable for personal wear, or for wedding, birth-day, or other presents, with their prices. Mr. Benson, who holds the appointment to H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales, has also published a very interesting pamphlet on the Rise and Progress of Watchmaking. These pamphlets are sent, post free, for two stamps each, and they cannot be too strongly recommended to those contemplating a purchase, especially to residents in the country or abroad, who are thus enabled to select any article they mayrequiroaud have forwarded in perfect safety.