DUNEDIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 5, 5 January 1877, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] December 25th. One might write a very touching epitaph on the death of Provincialism in Otago. It has been buried completely, and is forgotten utterly. The County elections have passed over quietly, and everybody seems disposed to give the new regime a fair trial. Mr Donald Reid, as you would learn by telegraph, has declared himself on the side of the Government; and Mr Macandrew, although he still dates his letters from the "Superintendent's Office, Dunedin," has ceased to exercise any political power. Sic transit gloria mundil (Perhaps you have seen that quotation before, but never mind, it is very appropriate.) We are are in the midst of our holiday amusements. The day is beautifully fine, and everybody except your unfortunate correspondent is out of town, enjoying themselves. Last night we had a novelty here. Christmas carols were sung about the streets after midnight by members of the Church of England choirs, who amused themselves in this way. lam thankful to say that I did not hear them. Carols were also sung after service at S. Mathew's Church, at which Bishop Nevill is officiating, the living being vacant by the removal of the Rev Mr Penuey to Christchurch. To-day we had full choral services in S. Paul's and S. Mathew's. We are rather High here you know, and go in for surpliced choirs and all that sort of thing. The Fire Brigade competition takes place to-morrow. All the competing teams have arrived, and the streets look quite gr y with their varied uniforms. We had a tremendous hailstorm yesterday afternoon, and for a few minutes the scene looked quite wintry. A neat little job has been done re (as they say here) the Harbor Board. It seems that for some reason or other it was wished to exclude Messrs Fish and Walter, both exMayors of Dunedin, from the Harbor Board. Now, as they were both prominent members of the City Council, it was thought that this could be done by a proviso in the Act that no member of the City Council should be eligible for election by that body to the Harbor Board. On the day appointed for the meeting of the Council at which it was to elect two members for the Harbor Board, Messrs Walter and Fish sent in their resignations as Councillors, which were duly accepted. Immediately after, they, not then being members, of the Council, were elected by the Council to the Harbor Board. At the nomination for Councillors in the Wards rendered vacant by their resignations, both were nominated. Mr Walter was returned unopposed ; Mr Fish had two opponents, so a poll was demanded. It is thought rather a shabby thing to oppose Mr Fish, as . he only accepted a seat at the Harbor Board in the interests of the city. There is no ' clause to prevent members of the Harbor J Board being elected to the City Council. It is just possible, however, that there may be a question as to the validity of the resignations, as the meeting of the Council was not completed, and the minutes had not been confirmed,. December 27. lhe Fire Brigade Demonstration (why demonstration?) Game off yesterday, and was financially a brilliant success. More tban £000 persons were present who paid, and besides these were the members of the various Friendly ' Societies who marched in the procession, and swarms of children who did not pay. The management of the affair was very bad; so much delay took place, that out of ten events comprised in the programme only three came off. . These were the Hose Competition, the Engine Competition, and the Ladder and Hose Practice. The competing teams were the Dunedin, Ballarat, Hokitika, Timaru, and Auckland. The Ballarat was unquestionably the best team on the ground, although Dunedin took the first prize in the hose competition. This, however, was plainly caused by one of the Ballarat men falling.