DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 707, 5 November 1875, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

—o— OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) The great topic of converse has been the Maoandrew Banquet and demonstration. The Provincialists have come in for a fair share of criticism The Abolitionists have done their best to neutralise and mar the proceedings, but these were ineffectual as the reception and banquet proved a success, in so far as numbers were concernc l . Still, there is a feeling of disappointment that none of the speakers foreshadowed the course of action intended to be taken by the Party. No programme or platform was proclaimed. The Provincialists say, and justly so, it is not advisable iat present to place in the hands of the enemy the courre of action they intend to take ; but they indicate that they mean to fight the battle at the Coming elections. It is rumored that Captain Baldwin and Mr Mervyn will contest Mr Bradshaw’s constituency, and if ycu can rely on gossip, a host are prepared to woo the sweet voices of the Dnnstan electors. Among those mentioned are T. L. Shepherd and Vincent Pyke The Banquet Committee committed a grave error in not sending the usual invitation to a portion of the Press, and very properly got a good rap on the knuckles for it, which they justly deserved f hut then you are aware that it o f ten happens that a lot of men that have no souls above buttons thrust themselves on committees, and succeed in not alone making asses of themselves, but. cast odium on the cause in hand. The Abolitionists are organising for the coming struggle, hut they prefer to work in the dark, and many think they are afraid to get up a counter demonstration for fear of showing their weakness. However, whatever the case may he, many are much displeased with their attempt to frustrate the efforts of the Provincialists, and no doubt those who are wavering will cast their lot with the latter. Sir George Grey has been seized upon by the Clerical Party to give a lecture in aid of one of the churches, which will, no doubt, be a great treat, as no one is better qualified or aider than he is to depict thestruggle of the early colonists Efforts are being made to establish a weekly paper in the interest of the working man. At the meeting, Dr Bakewell (the Trinidadian) occupied the chair. Mr J. G. S. Grant read a resolution quite a gem in its way—causing uproarious merrimen 1 - Still the enthusuwtio meeting of embryo journalists carried it. They wanted to start a daily, hut after some consideration it was resolved that it would cost too much, therefore, they go in for a weekly, which is to he the panacea for all the ills they complain of which, in the main, consists in the Dunedin Press refusing to report all the old worn out twaddle and stock arguments by the working men’s friends, such as the irrepressible J. G. S. Grant, Pavletich, and Co, There is no doubt that, if this high pressure arrangement gels a start, its fate will bo like the Yankee steamboat. Some day J. G. S. will, in his endeavor to keep up the pace, be setting on the safety valve, the result ■will be a slight dispersion of the component parts, and, like the American governor who came in with a great llourish of trumpets and went nut without even the sound of a penny whistle. The Zealandia arrived after a passage of IfiSdays. Though rather long the immigrants were all well. The Auckland arrived the same day, the two bringing upwards of 700. The whole were soon landed. A batch are to he sent to Pvivcrton, I am told about 200. The Comorang took all those nominated for Southland on her last trip. A large number have been engaged from the barracks.