DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 639, 22 February 1870, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

. (from ovr own correspondent.) •- Feb. 12. . There is really very little stirring' in' town just now. J hardly mind any time when things were so quiet ; the arrival of the long overdue home mails at the ber ginning of the week, being almost the pnly item which has occurred to cheer us lip a bit. I must, therefore, make the most oft the little incidents which have taken place. With many others I went out to the Acclimatisation Grounds to see the newlyarrived birds after they had been placed.) in the aviaries, but was doomed to disappointment; they were so carefully screened off by plenty of thick manuka scrub that there was nothing visible. No doubt the birds would be wild enough after their long voyage, hut this extreme measure was hardly requisite. The manager has began to distribute the birds in various localities already, A large portion of the smaller birds are intended for the Oamaru district. The surplus male birds are to be sold by auction on Saturday by Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn and Co. The hare is to ba sent to where the others are. Complaints about the hares entering anil destroying the crops are already prevalent, and the manager is to be sent to Ihe country to see into the matter. At the meeting of the committee on Thursday, a long letter was read from Mr Ewen, of London, detailing the steps taken to ship the birds an board the Warrior Queen, as. also the great liberality of the owners and agents of the ship in providing accommodation, &c. After paying all expenses, there is a fund in hand for further efforts in this direction. The harvest is now general, and from all quarters comes, the satne cry of a scarcity of labor — fifty shillings to sixty shillings a week, with rations, i 3 the average rate of wages paid in most locali-: ties. The weather, up till within the last few days, has been all that could be de-; sired for the farmer ; but a spell of wet has pome on which may do a deal of harm if it lasted much longer. There has been, almost constant rain since Wednesday. Messrs Macindoe and Barr, the repre-. sentatives of the Mornington district in the Provincial Council, met their con-, stituency in the schoolroom there on Tuear day evening. Mr Macindoe spoke' first, and gaye a, long address in elucidation of his views on the various subjects brought before the Council at its late meeting. The tone of his speech was rather apologetic than otherwise, and he wa^ hardly so well received as he expected. Mr Barr l s speech was, brief; but pointed. At the close, after some questioning^ votes of confidence were passed. The Masonic, Hall Qompanj- held theirannual meeting on* Monday evening. From the report which was read it appears that the company had no.t met with the support expected, and considerable difficulty was experienced in carrying the affair through to a completion. But there is little doubt that with strict econom,y, and a fair share of support, the Hall will yet yield a good return for the capital expended by the company in its construe-: tion. Though its ventilation and accoustic properties are not first-class, it is in an easily approached and central position, and cannot-fail to prove useful as a hall for concerts, meetings, &c. The annual meeting of the Seamen's, Mission was held in the First Church, on Wednesday. The evening being wet, the attendance was limited. The meeting was addressed by several clergymen and others, who advocated the claims of ihe mission for liberal public pupport. MrGilbert, the missionary, read a report detailing his operations "among those who go down to the sea in ships," showing that he is always well received on board the various vessels in harbor. In addition to his labors afloat, Mr Gilbert also visits the numerous population which are scattered among the bays on both sides of the harbor. In this way a great deajt of good is done, the " means of grace" being brought within the reach of many who would not otherwise have the chance of a " word in season." In regard to the gas question nothing new has turned up of late, though a number of letters have appeared in the papers on the matter. It is generally understood^ however, that negotiations are pending between the Corporation and the lessee, which may eventuate in something satisfactory to all parties. Two new building societies have been launched within the last few days. If they go on there will then be seven of these provident societies in 'operation in, Dunedin. As a means of investing savings there is no better or safer way open to the working man. The monthly subscription is small, and is never missed^ while it bears large interest, and the amount of the share is generally reached in about ten year? or so, when it is like so much found money to the investor. Great rumors of quartz discoveries. up country. Stone containing 33 per cent, of gold has been got. Something like a jeweller's shop has been dropt on. Last escort brought down 58200z. Thatcher and the Carandinis continue, to divide the audiences between them, but the weather has. sadly interfered with the success of both.