DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 479, 9 February 1869, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 30. The state of our mail services is producing a feeling of profound dissatisfaction in town, and the treatment by the General Government of the various endeavors to effect a betterment which have been made by the authorities in the Southern Province, has gone far to make matters worse. What can be done, is not very easy to say ; but the fact that two months' mail? are in Melbourne waiting till a third arrives before they can be sent on, is very aggravating. The writ having arrived for the filling up of the vacancy in the representation of Eoslyn in the Assembly, Wednesday and Friday, the 10th and 12th February, have been fixed for the nomination and poll respectively. Mr C. Allan, one of the candidates, has issued his address, and held his first meeting. ' It is not very easy to make out what are his political principles. Politics, as a branch of education, is one which Mr Allan has yet to study. Meanwhile Mr Driver is holding meetings at various parts of the district, and a pretty active canvass is going on. We are about to have another religious war. The telegrams of the Panama mail contain an item to the effect that Dr. Jenner, the Bishop of Dunedin, had arrived at Wellington, and was now on his way here, has stirred up the sleeping element of discord, and the war is likely to be the hottest and sharpest we have had on the subject. Several letters have appeared in the daily press, and last night a meeting of those opposed to Dr. Jenner as Bishop of Dutiedin was held, and resolutions adopted in accordance with their views. Another subject which is creating excitement just now is the proposed change of site for the Athenaeum. The present building being very unsuitable in various respeots, a committee was appointed some time ago to secure another building, or erect a new one. A section in the Octagon was selected after much deliberation ; but against this site being built upon, there is a strong and energetic opposition by a^ section of the members of the Athenaeum. ' Last night a long and stormy meetingwas held on the subject in St. George's Hall, Stuart street. After considerable discussion had taken place, it was moved by the Rev. Mr Stuart, and carried by twothirds of those present, notwithstanding that about 60 persons had left the meeting, that the action of the committee in regard to the purchase of the site in the Octagon be sustained. It is to be hoped that this will finally settle the matter, and that no time will be lost in pushing forward the building, so that the transfer of the large and valuable stock of books, &c, | from the present building, with its limited accommodation, risk from fire, and so on, to a permanent brick and. stone erection, which will be an ornament to the town, may soon take place. The anniversary of the birth of Scotland's bard, Robert Burns, was celebrated with due honour on Monday last. On the occasion there were two independent spreads— one in Wain's Hotel, under the auspices of the Caledonian Society ; the other in the Robert Burns Hotel, at which the Burns Club of Otago was formally inaugurated. Both affairs were well got up and patronised, the haggis and sheep's head formed part of the bill of fare at each, and neither broke up until well on in the "sma' hours." "Under the Gaslight," one of the most sensational pieces ever produced on the stage, was brought out in the Princess Theatre on Monday last. It has been very well got up as regards scenery and stage effects, while the acting has been much" improved. The manager deserves great credit for his spirit in bringing out such a piece, and deserves even better patronage than he has received, although the theatre has been well attended. The well - known cantatrice Madame Anna Bishop has arrived in town, but I have not heard whether she is to sing in the theatre or at Mons. Fleury's Academy, which is still pretty fairly supported. The Escort this week brought down 47170z5. of gold. The long spell of fine weather broke down on Wednesday, when we had a change of wind to S. E. , and about fourteen hours' rain. Since then the weather has been cold and dull, and last night and this morning both wet.