DUNEDIN

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1567, 13 August 1873, Page 2

DUNEDIN

[from our own correspondent.] August 2. The sittings of the Provincial Council were brought to a close on Wednesday, early in the afternoon, when the Superintendent delivered a short address to the members assenting to the various ordinances in the usual way, and reserving them for the assent of the Governor. The business of the session had been most assiduously pushed forward during the last two days, and the Order Paper fairly cleared of the Bills, motions, questions, &c, which encumbered it. The following abstract, which I quote from the Daily Times, will give you some idea of the business transacted : — " Duration of session, 32 days ; number of sitting days, 22 ; average length of each sitting, 8 hours 45 minutes ; messages from his Honor the Superintendent, 12 ; petitions presented and received, 57 ; notices of question given, 89 ; notices of motion, 298 ; Bills introduced, 44 ; Bills passed, 31 ; answers to questions inserted in journals, 98 ; addresses and resolutions presented to his Honor the Superintendent, 172 ; divisions, 65 ; committees appointed, 11; reports from committees, 41; papers (apart from above) laid on table, 44.; entries in journals, 645." After the various squabbles and fights over the resolutions introduced by members on their pet subjects are disposed of, it does not seem to be very difficult to do the real work of the session, viz., pass the votes of money for the different purposes, and pass the Bills introduced on so many subjects into ordinances, &c. Tt seems to me that the first thing the next sitting ought to do is to-pass a resolution that no member will speak longer than a certain time, or more than twice on any one subject. Were this done, I am sure the session would only last one-half the time they do under the present arrangement, of allowing a member to say all he has got to say when a measure is introduced, and then letting him say it all over again as often as he likes, when in committee. As a rule, too, the Council ought never to meddle with, matters beyond their own control, as it is only wasting time. In one thing this Council differs from its predecessors, they had plenty of money to deal with, and they have spread it liberally. Works of all sorts have been provided for— on the roads, in particular, about L 120,000 is to be spent during the year. But although thus providing for the wants of the settlers in this refpect, the committee took good care to look after themselves, for they passed a new Payment of Members Bill, by which they managed so secure that all the Councillors, town and country alike, should receive LI per day while the session lasted, the country members receiving mileage in addition. If they would only work whilst in session, and not spend 30 much time in fruitless talk, no one would grudge them their honorarium. Most of the members have already left town. The Episcopalian chief rabbi — Bishop Nevill — delivered a lecture on "The position of the Church of England " on Monday evening. In his lecture high ground was taken for his Church, the Apostolical succession being particularly debated upon, and kindred claimed with the Greek and Nestorian Churches, while such bodies as the Presbyterians and other in the Colony were completely ignored. Charity begins at home, Mr Bishop, and accordingly the lecture has been pretty freely commented on, various historical authors being quoted against the position. This has broughtjthe Bishop out a little, aud he has replied to his critics, but only to find them take up a still stronger position. The lecture was very well received by a rather limited audience, and was in support of the building fund of the Church at Port Chalmers, which is rather much in need of the contribution of the faithful of it in order to be finished.

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday to consider the proposed alteration in the tariff. The attendance of members was limited, but they entered on the discussion of the question with some spirit. After most of the members had expressed their opinions, and the Secretary had read a lot of figures bearing on the point, showing that the alteration must tend to a large increase in the amount of duty levied, Mr G. Turnbull moved the following resolutions, which were adopted :— l. "That iv the opinioa of this Chamber the proposed system of ad valorem duties is preferable to, and more equitable than, the measurementfduties hitherto in operation jin the Colony." 2. " That a Committee { be appointed, consisting of Messrs Oliver, Neill, Graham, Sise, and Low, to ascertain whether the rates proposed by the Colonial Treasurer will increase the amount received beyond what was levied under the measurement system; and should such be found to be the case, that our representatives in the Assembly be asked to endeavor to get the rates proportionately reduced." Most of the members seemed to think that a large increase would be effected on nearly every class of goods, averaging nearly 100 per cent. The election for Municipal Councillors came off yesterday, There were vacancies in only two of the Wards this year, the members for the others having been un-. opposed, In South Ward there was a very warm fight. Mr H. S. Fish, jun., being opposed by Mr E. Prosser (wellknown at Hokitika). The two held a great many meetings at different places, and generally s^eot half the time in giving each oiher a dressing down. A strong canvass was carried on, and both parties were very sanguine of success; indeed the Fish party were quite sure, and boasting about it. However, thanks to the ballot, ourjgreat municipal medicine-man sustained a defeat, and has had to stay out in the cold on a back seat, while Mr Prosser enjoys the much-coveted honor. Fish was terribly riled, and made a great display of temper when the poll was declared. The other contest was for Bell Ward, the Councillor for which is curiously enough^ 'returned by the Wesleyans, who pull together very well in general, and on this occasion proved their strength by returning their man Beck, by a considerable majority over his opponent, Patterson. The numbers polled were — For South Ward: Prosser, 271 ; Fish, 214 For' Bell^Ward: Beck, 322; Paterson, 225.

The auditors elected were Messrs Evans and James. The Choral Society had a very successful concert on SaturJay evening. Mendelesson's Hymn of Praise was the nrst part of the programme, and the second consisted of miscellaneous music. The whole went very well. Both theatres have been playing to fair houses during the week, the Queen's, however, getting the best of it. The Masonic Hall, the foundation of which was laid with such, a flourish of trumpets two or three years ago, has not proved a financial success, and after being in difficulties for a good while back, was sold this week by the mortgagees, and bought by Mr HudsoD for converting into a biscuit factory. Sic transit. Sporting matters were trumps on Saturday last. There was a well-contested boat-race on thebay between two amateurs in which a good deal of interest was taken. Boating shows some signs of revival of late, having fallen sadly from the position, it occupied as a means of amusement a few years ago. On the north Recreation Ground there was a series of foot races which caused some excitement. The stake was the. championship of Otago, backed by a small money, prize. ' The runners were Fox^ of Dunedin, and Drake, of the West Coast. The ground was in very bad order from the late bad weather, but there was a large gathering of specta=tors, over 2000. The result -was in favor ' of Fox, who beat Drake in the first two heats, and walked over for the third. In , the evening there was a rather novel ex- ' hibition for Dunedin, a sparring match, , at which there was a good turn out of , the lovers of Eistiana. The principal I artist was named Belcher, hailing from j Bendigo, or some other mining centre in , Victoria, and he was assisted by some [ local amateurs of the manly art. Belcher advertises himself as open to give lessons \ in the art to those who wish to learn it. j The weather during the week has been r a vast improvement on the preceding one, J and has been characterised by fine, mild, i bright days, with more or less of a frost during the night. a And now for a paragraph by way of "I valediction. This letter concludes my weekly correspondence with the Grey £ River Argus, carried on since its starting ; j now nearly eight years ago. During tfejc y g time I have endeavored, as far as lay ir>. g my power, to tell a plain unvarnished 3 tail about what was going on in Dunedin. j In doing so I hope I have offended no one, a lam sorry to learn that things are not so flourishing in Greyraouth as they have 0 been, but lam persuaded that this is only one of those temporary refluxes that Q happen every now and then in the history of youug settlements. I can see a prosg perous future before your town, Mr (r Editor. What with gold, coal, and timber, and other resources which will be de- £. veloped or encouraged by the railway now commenced, a large and remunerative trade will spring up with the other parts J_ of the Colony, giving employment to a 3 large population, and of course inducing n a corresponding impetus to business o generally. So, with best wishes for all, I ® wish you and your readers a kindly fare-