DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 725, 10 September 1870, Page 4

DUNEDIN.

(FBOM OUIJ, OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Sept. 3, Things are very flat indeed here this week, and there is hardly anything occurring worth the trouble of chronicling, But yet one event has happened a little out of the regular run of things. The railway from here £to Port Chalmers has 1 actually been begun, After many hitches and many delays, so many that people were inclined to think chat a commence^ ment would never be made, the spade has at last been put in the ground and the first earth lifted, though it can hardly be said the first sod was turned, seeing there is neither grass nor turf on the line where hegun. There was neither speechifying nor display over the matter. All that took place -was simply this : When the first barrowload was ready to be tipped, the s-nb-otyn tractor, My Poavce, broke a bottle of wine over the wheel, and those present — workmen and lookers-on — gave three cheers. All hands were then treated, and the thing was done. The place where the work has beeu begun is on the beach to the north of the Stuart street Jettj', and consists of an embankment three or four feet above high water mark, formed of the stuff on the beach, and a nasty job it is for those employed. The line runs along the beach from the Jetty to Pelichet Bay, which it crosses partly on a bank and partly on a platform raised on piles, till it reaches Logan's Point, from which a series of sidelings begin, extending towards Port Chalmers. The rates of wages paid at this work are eight shillings and six shillings per day, for first and secondG)ass hands respectively. About 140 men have gone on to the works on the Tuapeka road, several parties are engaged on the new road to and others are at work on a bush track up the Water of Leith Valley. These, with others em/ ployed at various jobs in and about town, have pretty well used up the large number of unemployed who were so blatant in their demand for labor a few days ago. The City Council are busy, too, and hava a number of men hard at work repairing damages, gravelling paths, and sorting about generally ; and certainly not before it was needed, for the long wet winter has played sad havoc with the formations.

Much satisfaction is felt as to the passing of the University Bill, and Mr Macandrew's resolutions as to the mail service. The former is regarded as only clue to the Province for the strenuous efforts in the cause of Education which has always been made both by the Council and the people. If there is one thing more than another on which the people of Otago may indulge in a little glorification it is this matter, so it is only natural that a little elation should be felt at the copestone, as it were, being thus put upon one educational edifice. As to the mail route, it will be quite time enough to rejoice when some.thing definite has been done ; as yet things are too vague and uncertain. A considerable crowd gathered in the vicinity of the coach-office on Wednesday night, as it was known that the Dun a tan coach, due the previous afternoon, would, in addition to the Escort, have as passengers the two men committed for trial in connection with the Clyde gold robbery. But the crowd got "slewed," for the coach quietly dropped the prisoners and those in charge in the Octagon, f rom

whence they walked down Stuavt street to the Gaol.

The criminal session of the Supreme Court begins on Monday. There are ten cases and nine prisoners, about an average calendar. Except the Clyde case, there are no others very serious iv their nature.

At twenty-five minutes past 3ix o' o'clock on Wednesday evening, a smart shock of earthquake was felt here. It jingled glasses and crockery on shelves, slammed doors, and rattled things hanging on walls and the like, as well as caused the big bell in the Post Office tower to toll. The motion appeared to wave from a northerly direction, and was felt in many other parts of the Province. It is somethiug singular that about the same time a heavy thunderstorm was going on at lnvercargill, and a vessel lying at anchor there was struck wifch lightning.

The weather during the past week lias been very cold and showery, snow having whitened the hill tops two mornings. Yesterday, however, was very fine, and this morning also looks well, so we will hope for a continuance. Farming operations are very backward.