DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1311, 11 October 1872, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Octoberß. Mr J. Macassey, late member ot the Provincial Council for the Wakari district, addressed the constituency there on Monday evening. There was a good attendance, and the ex : member made v long speech in explanation of the course he took in relation to a number of subjects which came before the Provincial Council during the late session. He also explained the causes which led to his resignation, and warmly repelled the insinuations that he had only held the seat as a sort of warming-pan for Mr H. Driver, the former member, who retired on account of some financial troubles and a reconstruction of the firm of which he is a member. Mr Driver was present, and corroborated what was said regarding this matter, but intimated his intention of again asking their suffrage. • The event proved he was right. The writ had been out some days, and the nomination was fixed for Thursday, at the U3ual place. There wore not many electors present, but after the writ had been read and the usual preliminaries, Mr Driver was proposed by Mr A. Wilson, and seconded by Mr R. Mahoney. There being no opposition, Mr H. Driver was declared duly elected. Mr Flexraan, tanner, Kaikorai, was expected to come forward as a candidate, but declined.— ln other local political matters things have subsided to their usual quietness. On Tuesday morning, about half-past one, an alarming and destructive fire broke out at Duncan's mills, Water of Leith. The fire-bell rang out vigorously, and spread the alarm all over the town. The night was calm and very dark, and the locality of the fire was apparent at once. The fire seemed to have taken hold of the mill, and broko through the roof in a very short space of time, communicating immediately to Messrs Wilson and Maddox'3 Well Park Brewery, and the whole of the extensive premises were in a blaze in a minute. The flames rose to an immense height, illuminating the whqle of the nopth part of the town, the hills adjacent, and all the tall buildings — everything stood out as bright as day. About 500 ft up the smoke met a light breeze coming down the Leith Valley from the north-west, and it floated away before it across the Harbor and over the Peninsula to sea. The scene was grand. Meanwhile the Brigade with their appliances were not idle ; but the long distauce that intervened between the scene aud head- quarters' allowed the fire to get such a hold that when they ' arrived nothing could be done but prevent it from spreading, which was done, and the fire confined to the, two buildings named, which were totally destroyed. The mills were in two portions, with the large wheel of 40-horse power between. This was kept going all the time of the fire, and contributed not a little to the saving of the south mill, the north one being destroyed. Strenuous efforts were made to save the cellar at the brewery, which contained a large quantity of beer in casks, and they succeeded, for only a few

casks were destroyed, but all the working plant, empty casks, bottles, &c, were consumed. The mill burnt produced oatmeal and pearl barley. Insurances to upwards of L3OOO were effected on the buildings and machinery, but the loss is far beyond that amount. The remaining mill (flour) sustained but little damage, and has been working Bince 83 usual. .. ■ . The labor question, now so much talked of all over the world, has been fairly asked here. The carpenters employed on the Immigration Barracks, at Caversham (a very extensive suite^of buildings), have struck work for another shilling a day. They at present get 10s, and they want 11s. I have not heard how they are getting on ; but I am afraid the strikers have but a poor chance of succeeding, for there are far too many carpenters here, and generally a good many going idle, although all round town there are numerous new houses building or old ones being altered to suit the advanced ideas of the day, which are very different from what was the rule a very short time ago, both inside and outside the house. The Escort arrived in town on Tuesday evening, bringing the amount of 13,8600z from the various districts. A few diggers have left for the new rushes in Northern Australia, but from the tenor of advices published this morning, it is very unlikely thai any more will go. The weather has been rather changeable during the week, but it is such that we can hardly complain ; the few showers that have fallen are just the thing for the newly-sown seeds. The temperature, however, ha 3 been rather low on one or two days.