DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 402, 11 August 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FBOM OTJB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 1. The election of ratepayers to represent the Wards in the City Council are taking up a good deal of attention this week. There is opposition in South, High, and Bell Wards ; no other candidate having been nominated for Leith Ward, Mr It. Dods was again returned. In South Ward, Mr Griften, the retiring Councillor, offers himself for re-election, and is opposed by Mr Baxter. In High Ward, Mr J. Wain, who retires, does not again stand, and Messrs Hardy, Jago, and Wilkinson are candidates. In Bell Ward, Mr Bagley retires, and Messrs Mansfield, Smith, and Simpson are candidates. For auditors, there are six candidates. The polling takes place to-day, closing at 4 p.m. (The result of the elections was the return of Messrs Griffen, Wilkinson, and Mansfield, as Councillors ; and Messrs Sydney James and F. H. Evans as auditors.) The City Council have effected a loan of LIO,OOO from the Hon. Mr Clarke, of Victoria, so that it is very likely a number of new works will be inaugurated during the ensiling municipal j'ear. One of Appleton's patent stone breaking machines was started to work in town this week. It is situated on the reclaimed land south of Rattray street, and is driven by a six horse-power engine. It breaks any sort of stone at the rate of about 100 tons, or 65 to 70 yards per day. The machine is very simple, and the way in which the hardest boulders are crushed in its iron jams is really wonderful. A great many persons have visited it while at work, and all have expressed surprise at the speed the broken stone drops through. The machine belongs to Mr T,

Connor, the contractor for the graving dock at Port Chalmers, at which \qork a large quantity of broken stone will be required. In the meantime, the Corporation will take what stone they require for the streets from the machine, as a trial. By virtue of the powers given by Sec. 231 of the Municipal Corporation Ordinance, the Mayor has appointed two Fire Inspectors, Mr Brajiigan, Commissioner i of Police, and Mr Woodland, captain of the Fire Brigade, who are to have all the powers conferred by the Act. In connection with this matter, [ may mention that Mr Branigan has been served with notice of a claim, by parties owning a i house which was hauled down to stop tha progress of the late tire, for the payment of about L4OO. The appointments made by the Mayor will prevent any claim such as that in future. A soireo took place in the Baptist Chapel, Hanover street, on Tuesday evening, as a welcome to the Rev. Mr Williams, the newly appointed pastor. The Rev. Mr Connebee, of the Independent Chapel, is to be entertained at a similar fete, on Monday evening, previous to his departure for Victoria. The dramatic company have been performing in the Polytechnic Hall during the week to pretty good horses. A waxv/ork exhibition opens this evening. Two seals, one caujht on the beach at Green Island, the other shot in the Bay yesterday, are to-day on view. They are both large animals, with beautiful skins. The usual escort arrived on Tuesday, bringing 53140z gold, Fine weather is reported from nearly all the up-country districts, and the snow is rapidly disappearing from all but the higher lying localities. The rivers, however, are all pretty high, so that work in the beda and beaches is all but impossible,. Jt is not likely the Clutha will fall much now till summer sets in. Business is quiet. Stocks added to by the arrival of Elmstone, from London, with a general cargo.