DUNEDIN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 90, 9 March 1864, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

Diary op Augustus Fitzherbert Stiggins, Esq., F.P.B.S. and G.P.H.B. Bth.—Fine morning, aroused by Dick knocking at my door. He, as usua!, brought me some fresh news, and told me that dear old Mrs Witness and the grandaughter Miss Julius been very cruelly treated at the hands of provincial Dick. He is decidely a cruel and hard hearted man, and neither the tears of the old lady nor the fascinating blandishments of her accomplished grandaughter have prevented Mr provincial Dick from grossly wounding their own sensitive feeling, and what is worse, he will not even in the shape of the Government Advertisements, grant them a plaster to their lacerated feelings, this is certainly too bad, and old Mutton the prop of Mrs. Witness is very wroth, and threatens to retire to Queenstown on his recently purchased ground, and let the Land Office and the Provincial Government go to Old Harry* And Cogle threatens to give Dick (not my Dick) but pronounced Dick, a severe castigation when the Council opens. He also told me that Brode's establishment was a perfect success, crowded houses every morning, doors open at half-past ten, performance commencing punctually &t eleven. Policeman X provides seats gratis, change of performance every day, varying from the " Irish Lawyer" to the " Drunken Loafer/' interspersed with the screaming farce of the " Ticket-of-leave Dodge," or, "I'm a Young Man from Victoria," in which Professor Brode takes a distinguished character. Both off to the Government offices, found that the most punctual precision is used both by the heads and subordinates, in the time of coming and leaving office. Numbers of them not unfrequently arriving between twelve aud one, and departing about halfpast two. This is just as it should be, and it is truly wonderful the amount of work they get through: and it is essentially necessary they should have additional assistance or their constitutions must of necessity give way. It would be a great saving to the country if they rendered no other service than carrying the nobblers those gentlemen consume during office hours. None of them, I believe, visit an hotel, for the purpose of imbibing, more than four times an hour. No doubt that is why we are all such sober peoplegetting such valuable examples from the heads of society. What a lark! Met my barber, who made a most humble apology, but would persist in confounding my friend Dick with Provincial Dick—hang the Dicks, what a lot of them there are to be sure l I must have a chapter on them some day with variations. Barber tells me, that the servants of Abednego including Hamy, have presented him with a beautiful piece of plate of the willow pattern. On the one side, is the figure of a waiter in white kids, and got up for the occasion, while on the reverse side is an appropriate inscription. They intend also, to pro-' vide him with a letter of introduction to Mr Brode. What a blessing to be appreciated by one's servants. He also says that the last act of Hamy's official career was his holding himself up as a frightful example of temperance and devoted affection to Abednego. What attentive people we have in Dunedin. Dick slipped down, and, when assisting him to rise, I had a card poked into my hand, with the ominous words "We can do the job as cheap as any one." I looked at the card which ran thus—" coffins supplied 011 the shortest notice; stock of ready made always on hand." Dick followed the fellow and took his measure by planting him in the dust. Met St George Flanigan who complimented me, and said that he was very proud to find that I had given him such a prominent and distinguishd » place in my diary. He also said that the United Irishmen were in ectasies with me for the notice I took of them. We adjourned to the Clubhad a' pint of wine, and parted the very best of friends. Got to my hotel and to sleep, and dream I was a new policeman. 9th.—Morning all that could be desired, rain coming down in torrents, intermingled with snow and hail. I often think that people cannot truly appreciate this delightful climate of ours. What a pity we have no idle men amongst us ; I must see Fish, and suggest to him the advisability of introducing a few Chinamen, say 60,000, and after they were worked up they would serve as a substitute for pieuro—a stewed Chinaman highly seasoned —rather a uovel, but not at all a bad idea. Dick just arrived, and has heard that a nice legitimate little swindle has just been perpetrated in connexion with the Waitahuna water race. Fish and Mirthington are some way mixed up in it, but they are both too honorable to do anything but what is strictly upright and honest. It certainly might be another Ferron's Reef Dodge.—Daily News.