DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 862, 2 May 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[from our own correspondent.] April 22. An approximate return of the population of the province (excluding Southland), as taken at the late census, has been published. From it I fiud that the population amounts to 60,597 ; the figures for December, 1867, were 48,577 ; so that the increase for the triennial period is 12,020. This is rather a slow rate of increase for a place like Otago, but it shows no back-going, as is attempted to be shown by some of our political doctors. The figures .for Dunedin city show a total of 14,851, an increase of 2158 over 1867 ; while the suburbs hfive a population of 6660, an increase of 1315. The total population of the city and suburbs amounts to 21,511, an increase of 3473, being more than one-third the population of the whole province, exclusive of Southland. A sitting of the Supreme Court in banco was held yesterday, when Mr Macassey moved for a rule nisi to compel Mr Strode, R.M., to hear the information in the case Barton v. Lemon (manager of the telegraphs). This is the case where Barton charges Lemon with handing to the Government a copy of the Stafford speech at Timaru, in breach of the Telegraph Regulations. It had been heard before the Resident Magistrate, but dismissed on a point of law. After hearing counsel yesterday, his Honor, it being vacation time, declined to go on with the case without consent of all parties. The yacht race, which was adjourned at the late regatta on account of the want oi wind, came off in the upper harbor on Saturday last. The course was from a flagship moored off the end of the Training Wall to a buoy two miles down the channel — three times round, a course of twelve miles. Of the yachts entered, one did not show, on account of the illness of her owner, and another (the Torment) was virtually out of the race, so that the competition really lay between three— the Anonyma (Guthrie), Spray (Hay), and Gipsy (Street). The wind was at first light, but increased afterwards to a strong N.E. breeze, which gave the vessels plenty of scope for manoeuvring. In the first round the Spray was first, beating the Anonyma by about a minute ; in the second, the Anonyma had the advantage of the Spray by about a minute and a quarter,— the Gipsy close up. In the third round, the Anonyma came to grief through carrying too much sail ; her mast snapped at the hounds, and all her canvas came down by the run. The race was thus left to the Spray and the Gipsy, and so closely were the two cutters matched that, after a splendid run home, the Spray managed to round the flagship barely a second, before the Gipsy, The second match at chess between Christchurch and Dunedin was played on Thursday night, in the Telegraph Office. The victory on this occasion remained with the Christchurch club, the Dunedin men having made a false move, which was at once taken advantage of by their opponents to pecure the game. A third game has been begun, which shows much better play than either of the first two ; but it is not yet finished, having been postponed for a week, to suit the convenience of one of the northern team, who lives out of town. The weather has been rather severe during the week, a stiff sou-wester having blown for a few days. The temperature is low, and there has been a good deal of rain. Thursday and yesterday were fine, though dull ; this morning looks threatening. There has been a very heavy sea running on the coast for some days.