DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) February 27th, 1865.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 54, 2 March 1865, Page 3

DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) February 27th, 1865.

The adjourned Public Meeting to hear the opinions of our representatives on things in general, and the Separation question in particular came off on Monday evening in the Princess' Theatre. If the Dramatic company which has just commenced a new season at this Theatre, could assure themselves of such an attendance as these actors on the political stage drew together, they would not go elsewhere to make their fortunes. No doubt a very large proportion of the audience on this occasion were made up of mere idlers, who had turned into the political meeting because the usual entertainments provided at the Princess' were wanting. But alter making all allowances for this, the character of the assembly was such as to show that the political life lately evoked amongst us by the energetic action of a few men, is strong and growing vigorously. There can be little doubt that if these agitators kindled the fire, they only did so by fanning into a flame a discontent which has been long smouldering. The central figure in the proceedings on Monday night was Mr T. B. Gillies, the late Postmaster General. He has resigned his seat as a member of the Assembly, " because he could no longer be a party to the injustice which was being perpetrated on the Middle Island." His speech was to a great extent devoted to a vindication of his own career, and to recrimination against those who have unsparingly attacked him. At the previous meeting, Mr. Reynolds poured over the heads of his bewildered audience innumerable figures in such a turbid, eddying flood, as has not been seen since his memorable financial statement of 1863. The gift of turning a series of statistical tables into an interesting speech, belongs only to a few favored mortals. Mr. Reynolds is not one of these, but in compensation he has a peculiar gift of his own of an opposite character. Mr. Gillies undertook to turn Mr. Reynolds' figures against himself. He certainly drew from them deductions the very opposite to those of the exprovincial treasurer, and though he has not Mr. Reynolds' gift of rendering a stream of figures utterly muddy, he cannot be said to have been as much more instructive, as he was less amusing. At the close of his speech he delivered himself of a sort of manifesto on the Separation Question, which he distinctly declared to'be that of the Separation League. I have seen a proof impression of a similar manifesto which is to be issued by the League. As you \,i\\ no doubt deal with this document for yourself in due time, I shall not attempt to analize it. It contains a temperately stated and sensible doctrine of Separation. Though Mr. Gillies wis the most prominent actor on Monday night, and occupied a large share of the time of the meeting, the most popular speech of the evening was that of Mr. Macandrew, which is fairly reported and at some length in the "Daily Times." And it may reasonably be doubted, from t^e temper shown by the meeting, whether, if the Anti-Separationists had had a leader, the resolution eventually arrived at would have been carried. Another opportunity was given on Thursday, when Major Richardson was brought forward to address his Constituents. This gentleman came out in great force and in his usual style. His doings as our representative he had very little to say about or " his \ iews on the political position and prospects of the Colony" which the ad\ ertisement calling the meeting led us to expect. His tactics are always to meet an attack, whether actually made or impending, by a counter atttack. He spent his time on Thursday afternoon in criticising recent speeches of his political opponents, Mr. Gillies, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Stafford. At the close of the meeting an attempt was made to carry a laudatory expression of the thanks of the meeting. Mr. Hastings however on behalf of the Separation League, was at his post. With a few remarks which told well, he proposed an amendment which was carried in a tumultuous manner. It was a follows, " That this meeting while thanking Major Richardson for his attendance, is of opinion that no gentJeman can have the confidence of his constituency who is not an advocate for Separation." Thus the Anti-Separationists lost the battle of the week by not striking whilst the iron was hot. In fact the chief men amongst them have no knowledge of — rather a contempt for — political tactics. If they had taken advantage of the popular feeling excited on Monday, more particlarly by Mr Macandrew, whose tongue seemed to have recovered some of its old eloquence, thiy might have made at any rate a very respectable demonstration. In playing Major Richardson as their great card, they shewed their inability to understand the popular mind. As that gentleman grows more vain and more testy with increasing years, the influence which his undoubted abilities gave him over a section of his fellow colonists is on the wane. He always by his tone and his manner shows that he is still the dissappointed candidate for the Superintendence, waiting in acrimonious impatience until he can once more measure his strength with his rival. The attendance at the Exhibition during the past week has-been very good. On Monday and Thursday (shilling days), large numbers attended^ including very many visitois from the country. The numbers were on Monday 527, Tuesday 203, Wednesday about 200, Thursday 370, and Friday 250. ( )n Saturday the attendance was also good — about 300, as far as L could judge. Tenders have been obtained irom various parties for lighting the building, but I believe a definite decision on the subject has not been made. The escort which arrived on Frida3' evening, brings an encouraging amount of gold, larger than for some time past. The improvement is chiefly manifested in the returns from the various diggings in the direction of the Dunstan. This is good news at a time when the Nelson diggings are again attracting so much attention, and I am glad to say that there seems to be verj f little disposition on the part of our working population toemiurate northwards. The work of reclaiming the harbour is at a standstill, the affairs of the contractors, Messrs. Lonnie & Co., having become embarrassed. This has thrown a large body of laborers suddenly out of emploj'ment, and it is to be hoped that some speedy arrangement may be made for carrying on the contract. There has been some talk of such a course being taken for the benefit of Messrs Lonnie and Co/s creditors, but I fear that from this quarter nothing is likely to be done. I am sorry to say that this is not the only failure that I might record. Several firms connected with the provision trade have lately stopped payment, including one rather extensive importer, and on Saturday the suspension of one of our principal Auctioneering fir us was announced. The ins >1vent court is now had recourse to in almost every case of this sort, its interminable delays bein<? preferred to the insecurity which attaches to private arrangement.