DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Issue 119, 16 October 1866, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our. own correspondent.) The threatening attitude lately assumed py the General Government towards the Provinces, and particularly towards Otago, is beginning to produce its fruit. The new Municipalities are all taking action, public meetings are being held, deputatf'jhs talked of, and the outlines of a powerful political association will shortly be completed, the membership of which, it is to be tioped, will include the whole population of the Middle Island. As yet, no decided action has been taken, though it was rumored that a deputation' was about to visit Canterbury, for the purpose of inducing reciprocity there. The cause is a good one, and if the Otago Association only play their cards well, they will raise such a storm about the ears of the Colonial Executive, that the political freedom of the Middle Island from such an incubus will be an easy undertaking. The dissatisfaction with the late doings in Wellington is very great, and pervades every class in society. The question of combining with the Athenseum a Free Public Library has been very fully and keenly discussed since the meeting last week. The paj>ers have been filled with letters pro and con, in which the matter has been . argued in all its bearings, not without a good deal of personality and recrimination. The ad- • journed meeting, held on Tuesday evening, was very stormy, Billingsgate and other unparliamentary language plentifully scattered out. The members did not seem to know very clearly what they were about, for the amendment which was moved was about as misty a bit of composition as could well be imagined. At the close it was found that no vote could be taken, on account of a number of strangers being present ; so a poll was ordered to be taken at the Library next day, when it was found that the original motion was carried by a majority of 52. The motion was as follows : — " That this meeting, while prepared to hail with satisfaction any really legitimate and feasible plan for the establishment of a Free Public Library in Otago, strongly disapproves of the attempt to originate an institute by the absorption of the funds, books, and other property of the Institute, and therefore expresses its decided opinion adverse to the employment of any means of obtaining from the Provincial Government a monetary subsidy with that object in view." But though this was carried, it by no means settles the question, for another meeting is to be held and other motions bearing on the subject discussed. All parties are agreed on the desirability of having a Free Library, it is only how it is to be got that forms the subject of discussion. The City Council held their fortnightly meeting on Wednesday afternoon, when about the usual amount of business was transacted. The only item of much importance was the suspension of Mr David Ross from his position of official referee Tinder the Building Ordinance, for certain irregularities in connection with an addition to a house in Princes street, for | which he was architect. Mr Prendergast being unable to look after the legal business of the Corporation, Mr James Smith was elected to the office by ballot. The Mayor read several letters he had iißßived from the Mayors of country towns on the subject of the proposed Association, all professing adherence to the programme. i The Resolute, late from Glasgow, still remains in quarantine, another case of small-pox having occurred, this time among the crew. The passengers are all on the Island, and are quite healthy and well cared for. A few days more, and they will likely be released. The Rowena, from London, has arrived out. She brings but few passengers, but has a full cargo of general goods. A cargo of sugar from Mauritius, per the Isabella, has also arrived, and is to be offered at auction next week. The well-known old schooner the James Daly has come to grief at last, having been lost, with all hands, oil" Waikava, whither she had gone for a cargo of timber. The particulars are not known. The weather during the week has been very unsettled, with a great deal of rain ; a cold S.W. wind having prevailed, vegetation has been completely checked. However, a few days of fine weather will put that all right, and the ground being thoroughly saturated, growth will be the more rapid. Accounts from the gold fields have been rather chequered, the weather and other things have been operating slightly against work. The Escort this week is rather under the average, 61270z. The Princess Theatre has this week been under the management of the players themselves, with Miss Dolly Green as Directress, and Mr H. Richardson as Stage Manager. The actors have exerted themselves in a way that merits much greater success than has yet rewarded them, in spite of reduced price to the pit, and a half-price to the circle. Mr 3 Poole took her farewell benefit last night, and had a good house. The improvements on the Arcade are now nearly finished, and a handsome new street is the result, to be named Fleet street. .