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Dunstan Times, Issue 1036, 24 February 1882, Page 3

Yesterday the Dunedin autumn races commenced and will ho continued to-day and to-morrow. By all accounts the visitors in Dnnrdin awaiting the races are much greater in numbers than in previous years.

The t'ial of. reapers and binders at Abbotsford, under the auspices of the 0 ago Agricultural Association, resulted in a tie between the Wood and M Oormiek machim s. We understand that another trial will shottly take place between these two in a heavier field of grain.

All those who are fortunate enough fo be assessed under the Property Tax wi 1 do well to bear in mind that a tine of ten per cent, is added to the amount of tax if not paid on or before next March 1. An advertisement referring to same appears in another column.

The election of the new Licensing Committee, for t ho various districts takes p’aca during next week. The nnminati nof candidates for the district of Manuherikia takes place on Friday, tho 2-lth inst , and for the districts of Matakanni, Dnnstan, ami Alexandra on Saturday, the 2" hj inst. We hear o r little or nothing being done in the direction of selecting suitable candidates We give the hint as there is no time to lose.

Tun work of harvesting is very gencjO thron.hont the district, and is satisfaeto-y accounts are to hand of the results, hut the average yield is not executed to ho anything approaching former years A gentleman well versed in agricultural ma ters who has lately been through tho district informs ns that while there are some crops that look fully equal to between 30 and 40 bushels, there are many more that don't look ten to tho acre.

PkooKMs is being made with tho Alexandra Bridge; tho roadway is laid from side to side and the hand railing is being put up. In about a fortnight that part of the work is expected to he finished.

The Leviathan Steam Dredge (McQueen, McKersey, and Co.’a) at Alexandra has scarcely yet got info full work. The patent washing apparatus with whieh she was at first fitted has proved unsnited to deal with the quantity of dirt rais 'd, and accordingly has been taken out and a string of ahiiep boxes substituted. She is again at work but the results have not transpiiod.

A matter, which may iffect to snme extent the future revenue of our local bodice, watt, says the Tuapeka Virus, touched upon at the last meeting of tho County Council. After having discussed a letter from tho Lawrence Borough Council, re.Tohn Wallaces license, Mr Herbert eaid that, while on tho subject of licenses, lie might mention a matter of snme importance . In a telegram from tho lion. Thomas Dick recently, that gentleman had stated that for the future the auctioneers’ licenses would not go to the Boroughs but to the Counties, and that the hawker’s license fees would be handed over to Corporations. The Chairman said that he had telegraphed to Wellington that day for reliable information on the subject, bur, up to the time of tho Council rising no reply had been received, and subsequently the matter is in abeyance.

Mr a. FKfiOfSoN, late proprietor of the Tuapeka Times, on Saturday evening last was entertained by a number of his friends and admirers at the Railway Hotel, Lawmice. Mr J. C. Brown. M. H. K. forTuapeka, in an eulogistic speech said it had been intended to have entertained Mr Ferguson at a public banquet, but as the vesssel that was to convey .Mr Ferguson ami his family to the Old Country was to leave Port Chalmers on Iho following Tuesday time would not admit of it, and the present form of,leave taking had to he adopted. Ho referred to the stand the Tuapeka Times had taken in the land settlement question Other gentlemen also spoke, and Mr Ferguson returned thanks.

Scott's current-wheel dredge it Alexandra is completed and everything in readiness to make a start, but for some reason she is kept idle As the river is and his been of late, and the weather with all favorable, the timo may be considered as lost, the which is to he much regretted as there ia no saying when so favorable a season may' again occur.