DUNEDIN NOTES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1901, 19 September 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN NOTES.

A CORRESPONDENT.] September 7. One of the most noticeable events since my last has been the fire in Princes street south, and at this distance of time it is only worthy of remark, to show the limited piessure of the Dunedin water supply, even in so low a portion of the town, and the utter inability of the Fire Brigade therewith in struggling against a large fire, when composed of such inflammable material, it was lucky the wind, slight as it was, blew as it did, or the loss would have been much more serious. It is cheering to note the generous donation to the brigade by Messrs Guthrie and Larnach ; in the face of such support any brigade might well be enthusiastic. There is a singular dearth of news about town at present. The promoters of the Working Men's Club have made another spasmodic effort to engage the sympathies of that class, but I fancy with very small success as a rule, " chips," the carpenter, and " Hob," the mason, prefer taking beer after their own fashion, and look suspiciously at any one expressing a wish to their social advancement. A proper quantity of municipal gushing came off the other evening, when the late Mayor was presented with " a nicely ■written address," as a recognition of his valuable services in that capacity. This generosity so affected the gentleman in question that, in returning thanks, he grew almost eloquent over "the humble endeavors made to rear a once comparative wilderness into a city which would some day be second to none in the southern hemisphere." I suppose he referred to the time when the present or any future loan which the Hon. Julius may negotiate is expended. It may be of interest to some of your masonic readers to know that the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C., has been re-erected, and that worthy and esteemed member of the craft, John Hislop, Esq., has been duly installed Provincial Grand .Master in and for New Zealand. A better choice of a gentleman well qualified to preside over such important interests the brethren could scarcely have made. «^he Dunedin Choral Society gave their l Tffst concert of the season " on Saturday evening, and it is gratifying to be assured by the local press that it was a decided success, although one feels rather dubious of the judgment of the reporter, who tells us that 'one of the performers "never appeared to greater advantage (in a solo) because he appeared to be suffering severely from cold and consequently had not power equal to some of the passages requiring expression." These musical •" nabobs" don't admit common persons, unless they can afford to speculate a guinea on an honorary member's ticket, a rather warm price for admission however illustrious the amateur talent. The Kennedy's and their "Scotch eccentricities" have departed, well pleased with their " weo stoup o' siller." I'll be bound. The boards of the Princess Theatre are now occupied by a celebrated combination troupe, the most prominent characters being Val Voae, a very clever ventriloquist, and a certain gentleman rejoicing in the title of " Airec, the King of the Air," who holds out nightly inducements to reporters for the press, that he will furnish matter for a sensational article, ' and— a coroner's inquest. The next excitement promised, is a " Canary and Poultry Show " on Friday and Saturday first, which after inspection shall be duly chronicled.