DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2185, 19 March 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[from our own correspondent.] Dunedin is fast acquiring an unenviable reputation for crime and bloodshed, but the crime of last Sunday morning has no parallel as regards cold-blooded atrocity and cowardice. The night was exceeding!} 7 dark—so dark tliat the lamplighter, going his rounds at two in the morning, had to feel his way round at intervals—a cold sleet descended, and the wind blew with great violence. Altogether it was such a night that a murderer might have picked for his foul deed, whilst his unfortunate victims, thankful for the shelter of their roof, were sleeping in fancied security. It appears that the deed was committed about four o’clock in the morning, the man Dewar being killed instantly by the blow, for his face wears a peaceful expression, as if he never awoke from his slumber. Mrs Dewar, who died the following night in the Hospital, without recovering consciousness, bad managed to get out, for she was lying on the floor when found, whilst the infant was suffocated by the smoko, the villain having tried to hide his crime by firing the mattrass. The smoke issuing from the window attracted a neighbors attention, the time then being about G. 30 a.m., and lie at once awoke a lireman and others who rushed into the house. Worshippers on their way to places of worship were horrilied ■at hearing of this horrible affair, and dozens of rumors bearing upon it were flying about the town. The evening paper issued an extra, but after distributing about 700 copies the publication bad to be discontinued and the doors closed owing to the crush. On viewing the house and its surroundings one is surprised that nothing was heard outside, for the houses are built thickly together, and within twenty feet of the room used as a bedroom there are three houses all occupied, and with the exception of one, man (an expressman, who heard a fall as though his stable bad been blown down but nothing further reaching his cars lie went to bed again), nobody was aroused. It is worthy of mention that upon the block, about four acres in extent, and containing about 30 houses, nine cases of sudden and violent deaths have occurred quite x’ecently. Three children were burnt to death, Roberts, a horsedealer, committed suicide, Hayes, aud his wife, but a few weeks back, fell victims to an act of insanity, whilst the remaining three are made up by the Dewars, who from their sleep of Saturday evening, never again awoke. The police took the matter in baud at once and arrested on suspicion one Robert Butler, who had completed a', four years’ sentence in gaol, for robbery, a fortnight ago. Whether they have the right man or not is doubtful, but the police are pretty confident that they will be able to sheet homo to him charges of robbery and arson. Some property found upon him has been identified by Mr Stamper, whose house was burnt to the ground on Saturday morning, the inmates scarcely having had time to make good their escape. Numbers of attempted robberies in the neighborhood are also reported. It is to he hoped that clear evidence will be forthcoming, so that ’ the guilty may be prevented from again roaming at large, and our citizens able to feel secure in their homes once more.

Our standing army of unemployed promise to be a source of annoyance to the Government. Several meetings have been held, but the want of a John McLaren, to champion the movement is sadly felt. In reply to the first demands for employment, notice was sent down from Wellington that work would be ready, and tools upon the ground at once, and that the rate of wages would be such that married men could earn 2Ss, and single men 21s per week. Our unemployed, however, arc of opinion that Government should “upon demand ” find them work at the ordinary rate of pay, and, in a very few hours 800 signatures were obtained in the Octagon to a further petition, which has been sent ujp by Mr Stewart,

M.H.P., to Wellington. This petition sets forth that the Government propositions, “ as a matter of charity,” may be correct, but the terms are unfair. It is without doubt the duty of the Government to provide for the surplus labor it has brought into the colony, and the reduction in wages is considered excessive. The petitioners go on to suggest as follows;—!. That work should be provided immediately for those who like to accept it, at 7s per day. 2. That small sections should be let by tender, not at so much per yard, but for fixed amounts, so that no disputes about measurements can afterwards arise.

Hotel buildings arc yet rearing themselves up in the heart of the city. Mr Philp, of the Shamrock Hotel, is erecting a substantial building on the Harbor Board’s ground, opposite the railway station, whilst another solid structure lower down, by the steamer jetty, will be occupied by a gentleman now in business as a saddler. Host Baxter, of the Pier Hotel, in the same neighborhood, is carrying his house back to Bond street.

The building of new rooms for the Young Men’s Christian Association will be proceeded with at once on a site in Money place, facing the First Church. You will, perhaps, recollect that Dr. Somerville, the aged Evangelist, when here about 18 months ago, performed a great effort on behalf of the Association, and made a wonderfully successful appeal at a special service held in the Princess Theatre. The sum of £IOOO was then collected, and since that a further £IOOO has been either collected or promised, a stipulation having been made by the Dr. that an equal sum must be collected before the work should be proceeded with. To those who remember the stirring appeals made on that occasion, the renewed applications of the “ hat,” the singing by the choir, at the instigation of the Dr. when some heavy amount was handed to him, of “ Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” and the excitement felt by all present, it will be interesting to learn that these memorable efforts have been brought to a successful issue.

The “ Morning Herald ” and “Daily Times ” Companies have published their balance-sheets for the last year, but owing principally to the heavy cost for telegraph news, instead of declaring a dividend they have preferred carrying forward the balances.

As an instance of the tightness of the times, it is worthy of mention that no less than 107 applications were received in answer to the following advertisement inserted in the “ Star ” ; “ Wanted —Horae for a boy two years old, with respectable and kind person ; liberal allowance to suitable party.” A rather good story is told of the light in which some debtors hold those to whom they arc under obligations. A well-known carter, meeting a man in the streets who was on bis books for 10s, requested payment; whereupon the other felt insulted, looked threatening, bullied, and finally, calling a policeman, wanted to give bis creditor m charge for offensive behaviour. The crowd, which quickly assembled, got the benefit of a hearty laugh at the expense of the irafe creditor when the explanation was made.