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Otago Daily Times, Issue 189, 24 June 1862, Page 4

To prevent misapprehension, we have to state that tlie'iticetiiig for the election of a School Committee in South Dunedin Educational District does not take place till Friday, the 25th day of July next. The Education Ordinance, it secni3, requires a month's.previous notice to be given of such meetings; - ' ,

There are several prosecutions pending against, trespassers upon private property ; and the police authorities have received instructions to look up all proximate cases so as to have them fully and satisfactorily adjudicated next Monday. Our police report in this issue discloses the commencement of the campaign.

At the meeting, of the Town Board,-yesterday evening, Mr. Reid reported that Mr. Mitchell had not taken up his contract for the crossings at 14s per yard, nnd that the-work had been handed over to Mr. David Prondfoot, who had ' accepted tho terms proposed. It was also reported that Mr. Jamieson had declined the contracts for Hope anclj Walker-streets, and that 'Mackenzie-had taken them up at the rate of 7s. 6d. per foot. Miv Mollison moved that, after this Mr. Jamicson's tenders be not entertained or accepted, by the Dunedin Town Board; but the chariinan (Mr. Hardy), did not think it would be worth while adopting any resolution upon the subject. A majority of the tenderers, recently had been perfect strangers, and it was almost impossible to decide.

A preliminary meeting of shipowners and master mariners was held last night at the Provincial Hotel, Stafford-street, for the purpose of initiating the formation of a company, to be desiguale I. " The Port Chalmers and Dunediu Lighterage Company." A code of rules was disenssed ; sundry regulations affirmed, and Mr. Mumford elected agent. Considering the unsatisfactory state in which lighterage business has been hitherto conducted in this Port ; it is a subject of congratulation that a movement, calculated to rectify longexisting abuses and to establish a better system, lias at length been determined upon.

Complaints have readied us of the wanton de molition ofthe shrubbery and bush in the neighbourhood ofthe Town Bait, and it has been suggested by His Worship, the Resident Magistrate. that public and conspicuous warning notices should be posted up in the locality in question, cautioning, depredators, that by persisting in such practices ithey render themselves liable to a penalty of £50 on every conviction ; the fine recoverable by summary process. It would be well to cause the erection of similar notices in various parts ofthe Town Belt, as the nuisance promises to assume an aggravated character in course o't time, by tho reckless gpolhi ion which is now carried on among the ornamental trees in the vicinity indicated.

Tlie comedy of '• Time Tries All" was produced hist evening at the Princess' Theatre, and went off with great Ccllit. Matthew Bates was excellently played by Mr. Tom Fuwcctt, whose conception of flic manly, straightforward Matthew was a decided success. Miss St Clair, as Laura Leeson, showed considerable appreciation of the changes of feeling as the flighty girl grows in to the earnest woman, who finds that the man she had trifled with, was the only one that could seriously engage her affections. The honorable Mr. Yawn found n capital representation in Mr. Sanford I Fawcett His idea of languidly "popping the I question," and falling asleep before.the lady could I reply, was most amusing. Miss Ada Hart was. arch ancl lively as Fanny Fact, and as the " pai ternal parent," "or " loving father," Mr. Downey left little to be desired. The farce of, the " Fast | Train ; High Pressure Express," wliich concluded ,he evening's entertainment, afforded the oppor.

tunity for tho first appearance of a new actor on these boards, Mr. Perkins, who took the part of that particularly smart Yankee, Mr. Jack Delaware. Mr. Perkins is evidently not-a practised actor, ancl his appearance in so difficult a part as that of Delaware, was n mistake. He lias neither the volubility nor the aplomb ofthe busy, bustling, plausible Jack Delaware. Should he appear again, we would advise him to endeavor to speak louder, as many of his speeches were lost to the audience, with the exception of those who occupied front scats.

We have been informed, on reliable authority, thnt a nuggpt, weighing 3} ox., was obtained on Wednesday hist, in 6 feet" sinking, at Muhrdu's Gully. The nugget was quite solid and free from quartz.

This morning, at 10 o'clock, a number of applications for the renewal of bush licenses, will be considered, and disposed of, at the offices of the Provincial Secretary.

Mining is still continued at the Wakatip, and witli fair prospects of a regular gold field being eventually developed. The Southland JVeivs of June 14th says : —" Corporal Morton has sent in to the Chief Constable (Mr. Fraser) the following report, dated 'Ifokanui Police Station, 10th June, 1862,' respecting the present position, of matters at the Wakatip or Upper Mataura Diggings :—'According to instructions, I visited the Wakatip gold diggings on Saturday, 7th inst. I found 12 men, in five parties, sluicing iii a gully. The depth of sinking is about 3 feet, and the depth of wash-stuff is from Cto 10 inches. One party of two shewed me what gold they had got for the five previous days, which was about IJ ozs.—they also stated that they believed some' of the other parties were doing better. Mr. Stirling's party gave up the deep-sinking- They' have not bottomed any of the deep holes which they were sinking—they say it is for want of tools, wliich they ordered three months ago, and have not arrived on the diggings yet. I have made inquiries of the diggers about the Quartz Reef which is reported to be on the diggings ; they all said they knew nothing of.it.' I .also made inquiry of Mr. I-lowelt's storekeeper, who stated he knew of two in that district, but lie would not show tlicm to me.- The diggers state there was a heavy fall of snow on the .diggings, but it melted away in a few days off the low ground. The rivers are very high, and scarcely fordable."

The bullock reported by us in yesterday's issue as lying at Pelichet Bay, with one of its thighs broken, died, we are informed, on Saturday night.

We stated the other-day, with reference to the Female Emigration' movement, which is at present occupying much public attention iv England, that in the list of Colonies selected as suitable fields for female emigration, New Zealand seemed to have been overlooked. We are glad however, to find that we were mistaken, and that Otago is one of the places selected. We quote the following from Miss Rye's letter to the Times of the 4th April:—

"My hope is eventually to get into c.imuiunication witli persons of known energy and respectability nt other towns iri the colonies, by wliich means we sliallprovent overcrowding; for suppose that the work can—-aiid' I am sure it can— be safely extended tOjgertli, Adelaide, Newcastle, Geelong, the Murnfy'' 7River,. Brisbane, Hobart Town, Otago, Auckland, Nekon, Marlborough, Columbia, Canada, Graham's Town, the Capo, &c., we shall then have a circle round and round, which we may work both safely and continuously! " I bave also an impression, though all the colonies at'presenf are scarcely prepared to assist me in a pecuniary manner, tliat the day is not far distant when a certain sum will be devoted to the introduction ; of women into our colonial possessions of a class very superior to those now sent. Indeed a proposal to that effect is ,at present before tlie Melbourne Government, and I am very sanguine of its success." - .

To those" of our readers who' feel disposed to grumble at the humid climate of Otago we commend the perusal of the followiug lines, which we take from a Victorian paper, the Maryborough and Dunolly Advertiser :.: —• .

The genial rain has come at last, Our hopes have strengthened hour by hour, We little thought in days gone past What gifts-of gold wore in each"shower. ''Twos good " at home" to springing blade, To freshen earth in summer season, : M re little dreamt that pick and spado We e'er should use fov golden reason.. '- We ne'er thought we shiuld '.'sink a hole," " Put in a drive" along the bottom, . And as for rain ; why, bless your soul ! AYe feared the sheep lest it should rot 'em. Rain-wa-e:1, lassies said, was best For washing skirts, and nets, and stockings ; We little fancied we should rest,.... For lack of rain, our cradle rockings. We'd n" idea.of " washing dirt," Except from faces, floors, and druggets When putting on tiie" Sunday's shirt ..We .nothing knew of washing— nuggets. Our " driving''wa3 of different kind, It brought lis use {if knife and ladle, , . .We.dreamt. not we should ever find Quite a new use for tub and cradle. But now we hail the falling rain, For washing earth to golden ounces. Our matrons care not,-if it stain --■ -■ ■With clayey spots their heels and. flounces. A aolden'hurvest raay.it bring, '■< Fill dams and purses altogether, -.X-. ~.., .yy God bless the Queen, then, let us sing, And Maryborough and the weather.