DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 731, 21 April 1876, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Dunedin, April 16th. The refusal of the Superintendent to give any assistance to the Commissioners appointed by the Colonial Executive to ascert lin the state of the several Provincial departments, is being keenly criticised. The Superintendent’s manifesto to Sir Julius is lengthy, and contains some points in favor of Provincialism ; but these do not in any way counterbalance the fact that the refusal may be taken to arise from a fear that the real facts may be known, and hence used by the Government as a reason that Abolition should be confirmed, owing to the Province to meet its arrangements, being in an impecunious state. Breakers a-head ! is the warning note of mariners. So with our Executive, who, it is said, now see rocks on which they have for some time been drifting. To meet the deficiency, and to avoid being wrecked they cast their eyes on the land. This is the panacea for all the evils. Large blocks must be again sacrificed, and the farce of the Moa Elat affair bids fair to be re-enacted. But who is to be the fortunate agent to whom the duty of finding a customer may, or may not yet be fixed upon. A good allowance made for survey commission of agent, and possibly 2s 6d per acre compensation to occupant, fifty or one hundred thousand acres may fall to the lot of some fortunate capitalist for abont 10a per acre. Surely this will be facilitating settlement with a vengeance ! Verily the ways of the administration of the Waste Lands are tortuous! The lands of the people are fast slipping through their fingers, who—Rip Van Winkle like—are quietly dozing, to wake up by and by to find out that they should have taken action and prevented wholesale spoliation of the public domain. For such jugglery as is put forth as the necessity for selling these large blocks (which only a select few are able to purchase can be called nothing else). A spade is a spade, though some may call it an agricultural implement, and no doubt would do so if anything was to be got by mystification, lima de Murska (Mrs Anderson)condesoenda after all to entertain’the Dunedin public for six nights only. Foreign talent is the only thing that goes down with the colonial public. The English drama and tragedy have to give place to Signor Del Squiaki, or Herr Schleiterum ; bnt then you know that it sounds so nice in private, say an evening party, where the young ladies sing, and a nice young gentleman plays on the pianogreat judges of music and singing—co say that they have been to hear the Signor or Herr—plain Smith is awfully common you know. Therefore onr good actors languish for want of support. Foreigners arc not half so silly, and are not so easily taken with anything foreign, and laugh in their sleeves while a discriminating public fill their coffers to an unprecedented extent. Cook ton wrote Valentine Vox, and exposed the abuses of the law of lunacy, which have been to a great extent modified and the law clearly laid down. Still, there nre blundering idiots, who are perhaps M.E.C.S.E., or only M.D., who have the audacitv, without authority to enquire, to sign a certificate to deprive a man of Ins liberty, the only thing wanting to do so was the Justice’s signature. But, lo ! the designs of mice and men do not always eventuate. Mr V, Fyke, M.H.R., was the Justice applied to, hut was too old an one to be taken unawares, and believes in the proper legal forms of law ; and, tbanks to him, he commented strongly on the matter at the Police Court, stating that the man had been brought to his house iu a cart, and was told the Police had sent him there. Mr Mallard said he know nothing about it, but would make enquiries. Bravo, Pyke ! you deservo the thanks of the public, for had some inexperienced J.P.’s been applied to, a fellow-creature might have been incarcerated wrongly, and if not mad would soon become so.

Doctors disagree, and so do engineers. The Harbor Board have got an engineer ; hut then they must get Mr Gordon, ' from Victoria, and of course they disagree, so, instead of one report we get two. Tho Board’s engineer reports on Mr Gordon’s. One member facetiously asks if they want any more engineers. Mr Donald Iteid retorts if they do they will send farther away, perhaps to England. The Daily Times says anxious eyes are looking after the plums at tho disposal of tho Board. Air Davie comes in at tho finish and says he came to look after the plums the Daily Times speaks of. All but the Superintendent pocket their two guinea fees, and look much like Mark Tapley as jolly as possible under the circumstances. Thus the world wags on.

The two men charged with robbery connected with the Echuca elonemont are remanded tor a month, to obtain the warrant

of extradition from tho Governor.—Tho ease of 0. £. Bird v. Colonial Bank, damages LIOOO, has been a very dry affair—mostly legal arguments. The case is adjourned till Wednesdry, when the decision will bo given.