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Otago Daily Times, Issue 165, 27 May 1862, Page 4

Yesterday, in honor of the Queen's birthday there was held a sort of Comunn na Feinnc on' a small scale on the Bell Hill; various Scottish games, such as wrestling, hurdle races, &c, were got up for prizes given by three private gentlemen. Possibly this may be the first step towArds the formation of a Caledonian Society, and the inauguration of annual games as in "Victoria/ William Morgan' Harris was liberated from gaol yesterday,- after six months' imprisonment, fora paltry liability of £7 15s. His Honor Judge Grcsson presided at a court, instituted for the first time in Dunedin, under the Imprisonment for Debt" Ordinance. The- following statement shows the condition of n. M. gaol on Saturday last. For trial before the Supreme Court,' 3, males. .For trial before magistrates, nil. Remanded to Melbourne, 1 male. Under sentence to hard labor, 67 males 6 females. Under sentence.to imprisonment, 3 females. Lunatics, 5 males. Debtors, 9 males. Received during thoweek, 9 males 2 femojes. Discharged during the week, 10 males 2 females. Total number in gaol on Saturday night, 85 males and 9 females ; in all, 94 prisoners. The Resident-Magistrates' Court and offices were closed yesterday. Tho path that leads round by the. beach to the gaol and Court house, is rapidly, falling out of repair, and indeed is already in a particularly dan-

gerous condition, being not only full of inequalities, but having several holes where the rush of the tide has undermined the foundation aud caused the wall to fall outwards, and the earth to sink in. One of these hcles is in the very middle of the path, and forms a very dangerous pitfall. Until the necessary repairs arc made, the public would do well to avoid the beach road after dark.

Much inconvenience has been occasioned by the beautiful arrangement by which the Queen's birthday was kept on Saturday at the ; General Government Offices, and on Monday in those of the Provincial Government. As an instance we may mention that several miners, who were going by the Eureka, which .was cleared yesterday at the Customs, were ifuable- to1 obtain their gold from the Gold Receiver's Office. On Saturday the Gold Receiver's Office was open, but the Custom House Jwas closed, so that when they were able to get their gold they could not pass their entries at the Custoni-liouse, and, when they could pass entries, the gold was not to be got—the Gold Receiver's Office being under the Provincial Government while the Customs belongs to the General Government. It is to be hoped that on the occasion of future holidays some arrangement may be come to by which all the Government offices, whether General or Provincial, may observe the same day.

We learn from our own correspondent at Tuapeka,' that tho chief interest at present, is centered on. the deep-sinking in the high range between the head of Gabriel's Gully and Muur oe's. One fresh shaft is bottomed, and the prospect is understood to be fair. All the ground about the spot has been marked off into claims ; but few show any disposition to sink, until theycan learn hour the lead is going to " shape." MrGabriel Reid —the original " Gabriel—h as been up. there lately, and it is understood that he is so well convinced of the value of the deep ground that he has joined a party for the purpose of testing it. At the Tuapeka River rush, there are now almost 1500 miners ; and a great deal ot work is being dons, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. Until the last two days, the weal ther has been wet and cold ; and it is only reasonable to expect a low escort for this week.

Many complaints have been recently made of the want of a lamp on thc_Dunedin Jetty, but as yet without having had any effect upon the obdurate ears of the authorities. We noticed the other day, in the Witness of 21st February, 1857, the following remark upon this very subject:—"We understand that the Jetty is to be lighted by a powerful lamp." Our readers may judge how the hopes of the too confiding writer havQ been realized!

At the Princess Theatre last night were performed the drama of Jessy Vere and the bur. lesque of Era Diavolo. The latter piece afforded ample opportunities for the exercise of Miss Harriet Gordon's power of vocalization, and we need scarcely say that she acquitted herself, as she always does—well: Although the burlesque was well cast, we scarcely considered the performance equal to the former efforts of the company—the piece is rather tedious. The opera from Fra Diavolo loses considerably in the transition to a burlesque!