DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 853, 21 April 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[JFBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Some of the returns of the late Census have been published. From these it appears that the population of Dunedin within the Town Belt, in February last, was 14,800, an increase of 2107 on the figures of the Census taken three years ago. The population of the suburban districts — Caversham, Mornington, &c.— was 4666, making the total for the Dunedin district 21,466, an increase for the triennial period of 3428. The population of the whole Province, not including Southland, is 60,570, an increase of 11,993. The figures for Southland are not made up yet, but are expected to 1 reach about 10,000, so that the united Province will contain about 70,000 souls. In the agricultural portion of the returns there is a very large amount of progress shown, both in the acreage under crop, the average produce, the number of the various sorts of stock, new and improved implements and machinery, and generally in all that goes to make up the wealth of a country. The increase of the crops of this year over last represents a money value of about LIOO,OOO. A Provincial Gazette published this week announces the resignation of the Reid Ministry — or rather that the Superintendent had accepted their resignation, for they wanted to resign some time ago — and the appointment of their successors. Rumor, with its hundred tongues, had assigned all sorts of reasons for the delay —that the Superintendent could not get any of the new Council to work with him ; that matters Provincial were in a very bad state ; that there was no money in the Treasury ; that there was no land selling; and so on. But all these have been put to silence by the fact that a new Ministry has been formed, and a pretty good one too, judging from the character of the gentlemen who compose it, though whethey they will be able to shape a policy sufficient to satisfy the strong opposition they will have to face is quite another matter. Their names are : — Mr E. B. Cargill, Provincial Secretary ; Mr G. Turnbull, Provincial Treasurer ; Mr C. E. Haughton, Secretary of Land and Works ; and Mr Duncan M'Arthur, who represents Makarewa — a Southland district — non-official member. The Council is .not to be called together so soon as expected, the 22nd of May being name<|. This delay is said to be owing to the backward state of the business, owing to the late elections and other causes. Easter Monday was, as usual, observed as a holiday. A good many inducements to pleasure were advertised, but the principal attraction was the Regatta at Port Chalmers. This was intended to come off while the Governor was here, but fell through for some reason or other. The races on Monday were very well contested, except the sailing ones, for which there was rather little wind. The pulling races generally created a good deal of interest, and the contests were all pretty close. The five-oared whaleboat race was a capital one, the crews being mostly Maori, and a native crew won. There was also a race in five-oared whaleboats pulled by Maori women, which brodght only two boats to the start, however, one manned by girls, and the other by women, and the girls beat their elder competitors. A race by the boats of the Otago Yacht Club was one of the features of the day, but, unfortunately, after the first round the wind fell away to a calm, and the race could not be finished. It is to come off to-day in the Upper Harbor. The .whole went off satisfactorily, without accident, and the weather was beautiful nearly all the time. Just before the last race, however, a smart shower fell, which had tho effect of driving all the ladies under cover. Immediately afterwards a magnificent rainbow shone out, forming a complete arch in the heavens, seeming as if sent expressly to wind up the day's proceedings with eclat. The weather has been very fine all week. Business generally very dull.