DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 711, 3 December 1875, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

—o—(from our own correspondent.) November 27, 1875. Mr Thomas Quelch Honywill (late of the Teviot) who, it will be remembered, was convicted of mal-pracrice whereby a person died, but was afterwards pardoned by tbe Governor, has been before tho Magistrate, charged with personating a detective, or rather, representing himself as such. The only motive, it any, was that he owed some small sums of money, and by so doing tiy to pacify his creditors for a time. The Bench fined him 40“, with the option of fourteen days’ imprisonment, remarking that it would not do to allow peop'e to go about personating detective officers with impunity. The outbreak of scarlet fever has caused some excitement. The Board’of Health has had several sittings, the result being that the house in Maitland-street, wherein are the fever patients, is put into a state of quarantine. It has been ascertained that the disease has been imported from Yio toria, where it has been raging for some time past. It is said that a case occurred on board the Ringarooma on her last trip. It was at first proposed that all eases of fever should be taken to the hospita l , but on mature consideration it was lesolvcd to quarantine the houses, and directions were given for the prevention of the disease spreading. It has been reported that two fresh cases have occurred in Walker-street. It will be well for your community to take time by the forelock, and see to the sanitary state of your town. Bad drainage, and want of cleanliness are, it is said, highly conducive to the spread of the disease. On its outbreak it is essential that isolation he, strictly enforced. Two fires have occurred during the week, one at Albany-street, a butcher’s shop and dwelling-house, which was totally destroyed. On Saturday night a portion of the Albion

Soap Works was burnt. The fire brigade succeeded in arresting the progress of the fire before it reached the main building, which contained a large quantity of inflammable substances, such as resin and tallow. It has been rumored that the Superintendent would stand for Dunedin in the election for the Assembly, but it is very d.oubtful if such will be the case, he is likely to again stand for this old constituency, Port Chalmers. The Hon. W. H. Reynolds will address the electors on Wednesday next; after which Mr Wales will give a resume of the past session. They being the first abolitionists of the metropolis to give their ideas of the Abolition Question, considerable interest is manifested. Mr D. Reid addressed the Taieri electors at Mosgiel. He goes to a considerable extent to follow out the programme laid down in the address put forth by the Superintendent, and clearly pointed out that the subsidies proposed as bribes to the Municipalities and Road Boards are purely chimerical, and could not be given. The Waste Land Board have granted the agricultural lease applied for by Messrs

Strode and Fraser. While the application was being considered by tho Board Mr Strode retired. The Board did not consider the objections of sufficient weight to warrant the refusal of the applicant's lease. A deputation waited on the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, re the Round Hill Tunnel. It is represented that by the action of the officials in not taking steps to have it properly secured. The contractor is fulfilling his contract according to specification, but finds that errors have been made by the engineers, who have not rightly calculated the strength of the brickwork to maintain the superabundant mass of earth above. This is a matter which deeply concerns all the districts above Lawrence, and pressure should be brought to hear to push the opening of the line to Lawrence, otherwise the little benefit to be derived from the railways by the up-country residents will be indefinitely postponed, therefore it is time your corporate bodi°a should be up and doing. The new To'ls Ordinance which comes into operation at the commencement of the year nwans an additional burden on the goldfields residents to the extent of about one pound a ton, therefore tho sooner yon get tbe railway open the better for you. The weather lately has been most execrable, almost constant rain ; in fact, nearly resembling the weather experienced on the West Coast at its opening, and quite unprecedented at this season of the year in Dunedin. On Tuesday our Spring Races are to be held. The late rains will render the course very soft. The sale of the booths, stand, etc., rea’ized over LSOO. It is expected there will he a good field of horses to compete for the various events.