DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1347, 22 November 1872, Page 3

D U NE D I N.

[from our own correspondent.] November 16. Oar first holiday for the season — the Prince of Walos' Birthday — Monday of this week, vaa very successful in every way. However, I can't say that it was altogether onr loyalty that caused the population to be so enthusiastic in the matter. Mainly, it was the first holiday after the long close winter season, and also it was really a magnificent day, as ifar as the weather was concerned. So everybody donned their " go-to-raeetin' " clothes and went in for a day's enjoyment, for which there wore several competing affairs. First in point of time were the trips on the harbor, for which three or four steamers were advertised, and all started crowded in a most disagreeable and even dangerous my, so much bo that in my humble opinion (and I only saw them from a distance) pleasure or even comfort was entirely out of the question. On the Samson there were over 700 people, old and yonng. She was advertised to go to Purakunni or Waikouaiti, calling at the Maori Kaik, bat she only went far enough outside the Heads to make most of the freight jolly. sea-Bick. The Golden Age carried a nearly equal number to Portobello and other places, as also did the Peninsula, &c. But the great attraction of the day was the joint fete between the Volunteers and the Foresters on the North Recreation Ground. This was rather a novelty in its way, comprising not only the usual athletic sports bat a volunteer review, which latter was the first business on the programme. The Volunteers mustered in the Octagon and marched out to the ground, where they were placed in position, and after some preliminaries, the Artillery fired a royal Balute, and the Rifles the usual "fewdejaw," as one of them called it in my hearing. After this the Artillery competed, gun against gun, in rapidity of dismounting the pieces, putting them together again, and then firing three rouuds, which was a very interesting sight. Then the sports proper began, most of which were very fairly contested. But that's all the praise lam going to give them. There was a dread- j K ful want of order on the ground, the ring was never kept clear, and long intervals occurred between the different items, so that people's patience was worn out, and large numbers left long before the programme was concluded, at which time it was dark. The joint-committee did not manage' well, and did not pall well together. During the late Ministerial' squabbles 'in Wellington, Mr D. Reid, the Provincial Secretary of Otago became one of the Ministry for the time. This was deemed incompatible *with the proper discharge of the duties of the offloe by his Honor the Superintendent, also a member of the Legislature, and he wrote to Mr Reid requesting him to resign, but this was refused in a rather contemptuous way. A lengthy correspondence ensued between the. two, and at the time it wes going on plenty of rumors were floating about town as to what was to be done nnder the circumstances. The whole correspondence has now been published, v and it certainly does not reflect much credit on either, though Mr Beid has certainly the worst of it, and has shown far more temper than he, as a public man, should have done. In the meantime, Provincial affairs aro more or less in a state of disorganization on account of the Executive hitch. Mr Tolmie has been entrusted with the duty of forming anew Executive, but bas not succeeded so far. It is thought by some that the best way to get over the difficulty would be to call* the Council together for a short session; but the present is a most inconvenient time for most of the country members, so that it would not be easy for them to come to town. The Bishop of Dunedin with a number of clergymen of the Episcopal communion, arrived from Lyttelton on Thursday evening, having come out from home in the Lady Jocelyn. There are now two of these ecclesiastical dignitaries in our little

.community, so we ought to be well f looked after j though it is talked of that British Moran is to be raised a step, and to live mostly at Wellington. Bishop Kevill has got a fine large stone house bailt for him on Eaikora Hill, behind the town— -a great castle of a place, which looks down on everything around it. Hero he is to have a sort of college or . seminary for the education of young ecclesiastics. A special service takes place to-morrow in St. Paul's, at which the Bin hop is to be the preacher. The Rev L. Mackie, of Victoria, is to preach in First Church to-morrow. He » the first of the ministers who are to give temporary supply there during the vacancy. Villaine's submarine boat for goldmining is at length about to make a start, as many shares having been subscribed for as will enable one ot the arrangements \q be built and fairly experimented on. The weather has been very fine all the week, with one wet day, Wednesday, which was very much needed, the ground having got very hard and dry. A prisoner in the gaol named Gallagher received twelve lashes yesterday for insubordination.