DUNEDIN NOTES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1957, 13 November 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN NOTES.

. ♦- [FROM X CORRESPONDENT.] November 2. We have had a genuine sensation ir the shape of a railway accident on the Green Island line, fortunately no one was seriously injured ; but the numerous letters demanding investigation from "A sufferer in a small degree," "One who was severely shaken," and "One who suffered more than'he was first aware of," &c, &c, should tend to make the railway authorities very uncomfortably suspicious of actions for damages looming in the future. They are at present defendants in an action of the kind brought by the owner of the racing mare. Spritsail, and the individual who was so " severely shaken," ought certainly to follow suit. The Dunedin police are most Indefatigable, and the genius of the individual who directs their movements seems devoted to the prevention of our worthy Resident Magistrate having a tendency to ennui, they have first completed a raid against several well-known publicans for having a second bar or cafe on their premisesj which has resulted in a "drawn battle, "but to show there is no animosity against the "licensed," they are; ready with a long list of informations against the "unlicensed," who are otherwise known as "sly -grog sellers," and some of these gentry have, been made to disgorge -their; ill-gotten gains in the shape. of t L2O| fines.' In the present dearth of novel amuse*

ments, we are greatly indebted to our City Council for something piquant and lively ; . the debates of this " august body " have been particularly interesting oE late, owing to the " little courtesies "' exchanged between the Mayor, and a Councillor, who is said to be a whale " at talking, and who (according to the "Times ") is especially fond of a commodity known as "cheap popularity." Perhaps the newest thing out is the way in which the present occupier of the " civic chair " accepts the lowest tender.; It would be as well if your "chief magistrate in embryo" took a note of the same for future guidance. The majority of the clergymen here have "struck" against Sunday funerals, various are their reasons— one, however, should not be lost sight of, "their other duties being sufficiently onerous." Of course} however much we may differ about other points, this is not to be con tro-; verted. Is it not a well-known fact, that the heavy duties imposed on these gentlemen necessitate a change of air at least once & year?. No wonder they groan under the weight of their Sabbath work. ; Reform is the order of the d^, and the undertakers are doomed. The "Times " already advises these gentry to turn their hearses into express waggons, with the exception of a glass-sided' monster which, is to be kept as a travelling' aquarium. This, in consequence of a meeting held the other evening to abolish the present costly style of funerals which r haV become an abomination in the eyes of sensible men. The friends of cremation should rejoice at the steps taken by the Funeral Reform Committee. ; ; . '. A sad story is told by the "Mount Ida Chronicle," as to the sufferings, of families of immigrants sent into the interior in the midst of winter, with no covering but tents (and even these without flys), to seek work on some contracts, which it seems a portion of them got at the rate of 8a per day,; others got none, but even those who got work at the price found it little else than starvation, but they struggled on with their families under these wretched coverings until it was found vitally necessary to remove some of the women and children to the District Hospital, thoroughly reducedfrom want and exposure. That agreat n deal of mismanagement has been displayed in the matter of emigration, I think no pnewill gainsay ; but such a case as this is absolute cruelty. There is an extraordinary amoun^f mortality amongst us just now, moS^ children, and young persona, measles are prevalent, and in some cases inflammation of the lungs follow, such cases- .ending fatally. I presume the frequency- of the funeral cortege has suggested the idea of the reform above-mentioned.