DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 488, 2 March 1869, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OX7E. OWN COBUESPONDENT. ) February 20. The new Rector of the High School, Mr Stewart Hawthorne, late of the Ipswich Grammar School, was installed into office and introduced to the pupils and their parents and friends, on Thursday last,. by his Honor the Superintendent, as Chairnan of the E lucation Boaid. The members of the Executive, the Mayor, and a number of ladies and our leading citizens were also present. After prayer by the Acting-Rector, Mr Pope, the Superintendent addressed Mr Hawthorne and thosa present in a short speech, in which he stated the origin and purposes of the High School, and alhided to the fact that though the languages would still form the main object of study, the natural sciences were not to be forgotten. He concluded by hoping that hoth masters and boys would pull well together, and then cordially welcomed Mr Hawthorne, who stepped forward and was received with loud cheers. The new Rector gave expression in a short speech to a hope that all would go on well, and that masters and pupils would so work as to make the High School of Dunedin a credit to themselves and to the whole Colony. He also mentioned the very deficient space which was left in the grounds for the boys amusing themselves, there being no room for cricket or other of the modern athletic games, and hoped the Government, which had been so liberal in the cause of Education generally, would make some alteration in this respect for the benefit of the School. The writ for the election of a citizen to represent the city in the Colonial Parliament has been received by the Returning Officer, who has fixed Tuesday and Friday, the 2nd and sth of March, for the days of nomination and polling. As yet, however, the coming man is not known ; various names have been mentioned— Birch, Gleeson, Grant, and Rennie, but nothing positive can be said on the part of either. This apathy on the part of our leading men seems very strange. No doubt it is not every one who can afford to be away from his business for such a length of time as is now occupied by every session of Parliament, but surely some one will come forward in time. Let us hope that this time, whoever is elected, he will pull in the same boat as the sitting member, Mr Reynolds, whose sentiments on most of the leading political topics are well known, and thus prevent the anomaly of the members representing the chief town in the Province voting different ways on nearly every question brought before them, as was the case List session particularly, having almost the same effect as if the city had been disfranchised. The usual smoothness of two of our public bodies was this week slightly disturbed by scones. The City Council got its blood heated by some reflections which appeared iv the papers about something which, to say the least of it, seemed to be very like a job, perpetrated in favor of their Inspector, Barnes. On the subject a very animated discussion ensued, and some ventilation was let in upon it ; but the Mayor stopped the discussion by assuming the responsibility, and " hurling defiance" at all who dared to impute motives. Some articles have appeared in the papers on the matter, and they have done a little to increase the heai ; but it will soon cool. — The other storm in a teacup came off at the meeting of the Waste Lands Board, which lately seems to have adopted the tactics of the " How-not-to-do-it office." Mr E. De Carle has been in the habit of doing business at this Board for clients in the country, and for one of these he has appeared no fewer than 54 times. He naturally felt rather chagrined at being put off yet another time, and expressed his feelings in language which was perhaps more true than pleasant to the Board. This produced a reply from one of the members, and Mr De Carle made a reiteration in somewhat stronger terms, and so the scene went on, and ended byDe Carle retiring from the meeting, aud next morning publicly declaring his intention of abandoning all business of that nature— as long as the Waste Lands Board is constituted as it is at present. The annual meeting of the ' Water Works Co. was held yesterday afternoon. The report showed a very satisfactory state of affairs, and a probability that the Co. would very soon be able to dispense with the Government guarantee of eight per cent. The piping is being laid in several other streets, and a large quantity of additional plant has been sent for from home, so that in another year or so the whole town will be supplied. Madame Bishop's concerts closed on Monday, and the company left per the Alhambra on Tuesday. The Theatre has since been occupied by the Gonrlay family, who have been well patronised. — The Polytechnic is open for the exhibition of Bachelder's American Panorama, which also is receiving a fair amount of public patronage. The accumulated British mails were despatched per the Alhambra on Tuesday, so that they stand a chance of going straight this time. The Agate, the fourth wool ship of the season, sailed this week with a full cargo ,and a large quantity of gold. Business quiet — weather fine — iarmers busy harvesting.