DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 754, 29 September 1876, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

•. ,* v — O■■ • (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) September. The celebrated memorial, inspired it is said from Wellington, and iow known as the Cargill fishy manifesto, has exercised the local journals, and a large amount of ink is being shed. The Star is quite exultant, and the Guardian and news are speaking out in plain terms what is no doubt the opinion of 99 per cent, of the population, who are not hood-winkedby the treacherous action of a small section whose interests no doubt 'are, and have been, inimical to the general public. They have attended on the public estate, and are determined to 1 die hard. Messrs Macandrew and Stout return to-day. Meetings are to be held, when, no 'doubt their conduct will be fully canvassed. The party calling themselves the Political Association challenge the originators of the memorial to call a public meeting ; ‘this they wisely decline. The memorial mania has become quite epidemic. One inspired b‘y an aspirant for the Roslyn seat has been sent round Roslyn, containing the home amount of trash as the Cargill fishy one, and is addressed to A. J. Burns, the Sitting member, The cloven hoof of the pastoral is too apparent. Their foolish action, I doubt not, will recoil on their own heads. It is rather a hazardous proceeding to attempt trifling with the public in its present temper on matters political. Mr Pyke, in the debate on the payment of members, made a very trite and true remark when he said that the opponents of the measure reminded him of the tale of the Scotch laddie who, when asked what wages he wanted, said he did not want any, as he could pick up about the house enough to pay him. It is to bo feared that extraordinary individual who has a stake in the country and does not require payment for his time during the session, manages to pick up what costs the country infinitely more. Like the knight of Cashmere—no doubt makes a wry face, but is satisfied after al? with the crumbs that fall from the Ministerial fable. Constituents are quite a secondary matter, and like the Gentiles, are considered fair game for plucking. 'I he Indemnity Bill, or what should be called the Whitewash Bill, as suggested by J. C. Brown. There isageneral fueling that these indemnity bills are becoming too often resorted to cover illegal practices, thereby destroying all faith in political honesty. Mr Montgomery’s Disqualification Bill, if .it passes, will go a great deal towards avoiding the necessity for any of the above, as by its provisions no member can be appointed to an office of profit within twelve months of ids sitting in the House. There is considerable opposition to its passing, and it is possible it may bo strangled before it gets to its final stage. Mr Smythiea’ case is again before Parliament. It is strongly opposed by Mr Reynolds and a few of the barristers, who are trying their utmost to stop its passage. The Legislative Council have inserted an indemnity for all costs incurred by those taking action against, those who are supposed to have broken the law. It is said that most of the Otago members are in favor of only one county for the whole of Otago. Surely the citv of ironsides will rebel against this after the many rumors that it was to beebine a county town —vide the letter of Mr Manders to the Arrowites. Our Harbour Board and Corporation are having a small fight over the wharves and quays reserves ; both lay claim to them and each have sent their representatives to Wellington to do the wire pulling, and Mr St-out has introduced a bill to vest them in the Corporation. The squabble between the Harbour Board’and its engineer is in a fair way to an ami'-able settlement, the majority, who virtually passed a vote of censure on two of its members have had to swallow the leek by agreeing that what the minority wanted shall be carried out, viz , —that the opinion of another engineer should bo taken as to the reliability of the proposed improvements by their engineer, Mr Simpson. Mr Blackett is to be consulted in the matter.

A fire occurred in South Dunedin caused by the bursting of a kerosene lamp. A fourroomed house was destroyed, which was insured for L3OO, and it is said the occupant lost L2OO in notes, which were inja drawer. It cannot bo too generally known that when lamps have but little kerosene in them they are liable to'explode, for the simple reason, that even if the kerosene be of good quality it will thr6w off a gas on becoming heated to a certain point, this fills the space in the lamp above the oil, and if by a draft or current of air bringing it in contact with the flame it at once explodes, but if lamps are kept tolerably full there is little or no danger 6f them exploding. A simple and reliable tost for kerosene is to place a little in a saucer and heat it. if good it will not ignite at less than 100 degrees, but if of inferior quality it will burn like turpentine or benriue at a far less heat, and is highly

dangerous when used in damps which are allowed to get heated as all lamps will do if not'kept moderately full. Oh Friday we were favored with a smart gale, doihg h'n 'amount of damage to roofs, fences', eW ’’ 11 >r ' 1 •’

Of justice’s juffiie vfo have,had another' illustration. A few days ago ai the City Police Court, A mail was charged -frith not Uhdorsta|iding?KC«»i «nii tuum, inasmuch as he had taken a pair of boots < from an betel belonging to a lodger (but did not leave his own.) His exou*e was that in the grey dhfvii he took them fhr his own, and strange to say, the justices believed his story and discharged him, without even cautioning him against making 1 the same mistake, as did the Worcestershire jury who acquitted (), man and told him not to do it again. The Ringarooma with the Suez mail has 'arrived at the Bluff. She brings further details of the loss of the Dandenong. Thirty eight souls were saved, and forty-three perished. Those TfaVed were got on board a passing vessel, but nigbt coming on the rest hud to stay on board, and the steamer is supposed to have gone down bodily in the night. The Captain was on board. The Invercargill, with immigrants, is at the Heads. All well.