DUNEDIN.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 9, 2 April 1869, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

March 29.. The even &nor of events during the past week has been a good deal interrupted by holiday making. To use the pet journalistic phrase—business was entirely suspended on Tuesday last, in commemoration of the twenty-first anniversary of the settlement of the Province. The occasion was improved in the ' Times' by a leader, in which some rather ingenuous arguments were used to show that the primary objects of settlement had been fully realised, and that Otago was one of the most lawabiding,. Grod-fearing places, in the world. Altogether, the article was a novelty in its way, and its effect has been to make the folks about here quite proud of themselves. So far as holiday pursuits were concerned the day was a failure. The weather, for sometime previous, was threatenino-, and although the morning was bright, by mid-day the rain came down in torrents, and the excursionists to Pbrtobello, the Heads, &c.,had a miserable time of it. One of the events of the day was the induction-of a clergyman as' missionary to Heads. This; ceremony .; attracted a good number both of clergymen and laymen. After a pretty warm discussion the City Council? arrived at a decision respecting the amount to be voted for the reception of the Prince. The original motion was. that a sum of £SOO should be appropriated for that purpose. This was opposed on the ground that the pecuniary affairs of the Corporation would not warrant such an expenditure, and a cheap demonstration between the Corporation and the various friendly societies suggested. The reply to this was* that Dunedin, being the leading city in New Zealand, something more costly was necessary to preserve her reputation. The Council was likewise twitted with the fact that twelvemonths ago a tenth part of the amount asked had been voted as expenses forgone of its members going to Melbourne to invite,the Prince over to Otago. Ultimately, mutual concessions were made, and a- sum of. £250 voted for the purpose. To this arrangement there was only two dissent ing voices, namely, Councillors Driver and Wilkinson..

The latest intelligence to hand respecting the movements of the Duke is that he is starring it out in Sydney, where he will remain for a period of four or five or until the Galatea has undergone an overhaul. In Dunedin, a number of the principal hotels and business establishments have taken time by the forelock,, andat nights the cityrhas. become lively with transparencies, illuminations, &c.

The week has brought about further political changes. Mr. Eobert Mitchell, member for Waikouaiti in the Assembly, as well as the Provincial I Council, has tendered his resignation : of both seats. Mr. Mitchell's explanation is that the protracted sessions of the Legislatures drew too much upon his. time at seasons of the year when he could ill afford to be absent from his own private business. No announcement has yet been made of a successor. Mr. Gibbs, representative for the town of Oamaru, has also announced his resignation. This year the Tokomairiro races have been singularly unfortunate as regards weather. They were orignally fixed for Wednesday last, but the day was so thoroughly bad that it was deemed expedient to delay: the first day's racing until the following day. The attendance was very good, and despite the .rough usage the. ground must" previous, i the course wasfound, to be in magnificent order. JEW,.a similar reason the second; ; day's racing was postponed r till [ Saturday.. j At a, meeting of the Chamber :b£ the' irregularity in the arrival and despatch of the English mail was brought on for discussion, Avhich resulted in a conmiit-t-ee being appointed to: secure :a direct service by the Bluff. The proposal of the of Commerce for a uniform'jjEhißtem»;XMdik-vi|vß.-alßo

discussed, and rejectit was carried.

Telegraphicdespatches received from "Wellington on Sunday afternoon state that the G-overnor has received intimation from Sydney that the Prince will arrive in Wellington about the 16th of April, and leave Auckland for the South i about the 19th of May. The Assembly has been further prorogued to the 6th of May. A coniniuication, despatched from Napier on Sunday afternoon, at 4 p in., states that TaUpo, and the Waikato natives, have unsheathed their swords. The Eriendly Natives of the interior state that they have got a poor chance with Te Kooti, as he has got about 800 men ready for action. The danger seemed so imminent that a meeting of the Magistrates of Napier took place that forenoon, at which it was resolved that the Governor should be memorialised to convene a meeting of the Assembly at once. Altogether, matters look very gloomy at Napier, and further intelligence is anxiously looked for.