DUNEDIN,

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 441, 10 November 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN,

(prom our own correspondent.) October 31. A great public meeting, at which the representatives of the city in the House of Assembly were to give an account of their stewardship during the late session of Parliament, was to have been held yesterday in the Princess Theatre, but from some occult cause it has. been postponed till Friday next. Meantime some letters on the subject have appeared in the papers, and an attempt has been made to get up some, little excitement on the matter. But the public seem disposed to take things very quietly. Mr James Paterson, one of the city members, who was expected to take part in the proceedings, has published a letter in which he refuses to appear at the meeting, and gives very good and plucky reasons for it too. He has evidently not forgotten the very hot reception he experienced on an occasion somewhat similar more than a year ago, when the audience would hardly allow him to get a word out. Indeed, he may consider the sun of his popularity in Dunedin as set for ever. As yet none of the other Otago members have addressed their constituents, though it is said that several are about to do so, but wait the issue of the Dunedin meeting; The excitementmade by our local society in regard to the acclimatisation of trout has been so far successful that 724 young fish are in the boxes waiting distribution ; but having reached that stage, the society seem a bit puzzled what to do with them. Various streams have been suggested for their future habitat. But, after all, lam afraid there is something in this game of acclimatisation. Already the deer have disappeared from the grounds here to ornament the private park of some gentler man in Shag Valley ; and now it seems likely that the trout will follow suit, for sundry little rivers on various gentlemen's, properties were mentioned as favorable for this reception. After this, as a matter of course, will follow game laws, with all their attendant miseries. Better that there were neither fishes nor birda in the country, than that a system of that sort should be introduced into New Zealand. The City Council met on Wednesday. Among the business discussed was the establishment of a produce market on the reserve. A proposal had been made by a Mr Murray to erect all the necessary buildings, and to work the concern fop a nominal rental on a term of years, on the belief that the dues and fees would repay him for his outlay. But this proposal the Council rejected, and instead they propose to erect buildings themselves to a certain amount aa a beginning. The sooner this is set about the better, as there is no doubt that such a market will supply a great public want ; the farmers in the country having long cried out about the vsant of it, and the- loss and inconvenience con-* sequently suffered by them as a class in bringing their produce to town for sale. The theatrical company wound up on Tuesday night, and took their departure for Christchurch per Stormbird on Wednesday afternoon. Mr J. Bartlett took a benefit on Monday evening, and had quite a bumper. The Japanese Troupe opened their campaign on Wednesday evening to a crowded house. The performances of these singular people are most extraordinary, and quite took the audience by storm. Nothing like it has ever been seen here before, and wherever you sjo the questionis, "Haveyouseenthe Japanese?" After various attempts the s.s. Keera was safely floated off the beach at Pelichet Bay yesterday afternoon. Two large punts were so placed that when the tide rose they lifted the stern, and the increased , buoyancy thus given rendered her removal from the beach at high water quite easy. She is now alongside the jetty, and looks a very handsome craft. The ship William Davie arrived yesterday, after a fine run of eighty-six days from Glasgow. In addition to a large cargo of general merchandise she brings over two hundred passengers, all of whom expressed satisfaction with the arrangements for their comfort on board the vessel. — The barque Sampson has also arrived from Foochowfoo with a cargo of tea consigned to Messrs Oargills and M'Lean. The s.s. Taiaroa sails on Tuesday for Preservation Inlet, the site of the proposed coal workings. She takes a party of surveyors to lay off the township, &c. Very fine weather all week, indeed rather too dry.

" What does a man think of when he thinks of nothing 1" said a young lady to a gentleman with whom she had broken an engagement. "He thinks, miss, of a woman's promise."