DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2396, 20 November 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[t'ltUM OUll OWN COUHICSI’ONII ICNT.]

The Dunedin NatidnalJlndustrial Association lias decided to hold an Exhibition next July, which they intend shall entirely■ eclipse that recently held in Christchurch. The support promised by the manufacturers and others is so great that the Committee have been at their wits end to obtain a building in which to show the exhibits, the Garrison Hall—our largest structure—being considered too small. In this dilemma Mr Bathgate came to Jthe rescue with a happy thought. He suggested that as no building in town was sufficiently large for the purpose and it would be folly to go to the expense of erecting a temporary shed, a substantial exhibition building should be constructed which could be of use afterwards as a winter garden and promenade. A public meeting was held at which the project was taken up with considerable spirit and I fancy that before many months Dunedin will be able to boast of a miniatmv Crystal Palace, which the citizens can visit every day in the year. Nothing definite lias yet been decided upon, but the idea is to lloat it as a company, with life membership and annual season tickets. The proposed situation is on the western portion of the Domain at the Water of Leith. Visitors greatly admire this little park, and -1 need not say it is largely patronised on (Sunday afternoons.

Another project before our citizins is that of a Colfce Palace Company (Limited.) Mr Hudson, of the Masonic flail, conceived the idea that such an institution was wanted in Dunedin, and erected a handsome five storey building in the front of his premises in Moray Place. Part of the ground lloor will be let for shops, and the remainder with the upper part of the building will be devoted to the Temperance Hotel and restaurant business. A large and inlluenlial directory have taken it in hand, and the prospectus states that the capital will be TdOOO in VI shares, of which £2OOO only will be called up. The furnishing and table will be first class, and best of all the lessee, Mr Hudson, guarantees a ten per cent dividend for the first three years. There is no doubt the company will bo floated, and if proper'attention be paid to the management a good dividend will reward the shareholders.

It is, however, a peculiar feature of the majority of temperance efforts that, financially considered,they area failure. For instance the Good Templars at Blneskin erected a handsome hall, wliich failed to pay working expenses, for the very good reason that the district was incapable of keeping it. Eventually the property was sold for the mortgagee, and the directors were called upou to make up the deficicnc}’. Another premature effort is the Xaikorai Good Templar hall, a very handsome building, costing £IOOO. This has been in existence two years, and is barely paying working expenses. Some £1 shares were offered the other da}’ for 9s. The Temperance Hall Company of Dunedin is a good property, well well situated, and with a long lease to run. About £4OOO has been spent on this, and what balance there may have been at the end of the year lias been applied to the redaction of mortgages. No dividend is expected till the next decade, but thu shareholders have the satisfaction of knowing that the property, if put in the market, would realise 20s in the £.

A rather uncommon tiling in the way of dividends must he credited to an Australian Insurance Company. The Directors have decided that not only the shareholders but those who arc doingbusiness with the Company shall participate in the profits, and a bonus of six per cent is being distributed to the insurers. The local Insurance Company —National—has been a remarkable success. With a paid up capital of .£d(),000 it has managed, in the course <>f its seven years existence to put aside a reserve fund of £IOO,OOO in addition to paying handsome dividends. At its annual meeting on Wednesday several of the shareholders expressed the opinion that the half the reserve fund should be capitalised. *• Captain ” Barry has delivered what ho called his “farewell” lecture in Dunedin. About 200 persons attended, and the meeting was comparatively orderh' ; now and then someone in the audience would question the veracity of the “ Captain’s ” yarns, but there was an absence of “ undeveloped chickens.” Of course we were treated to the Tichborne Claimant’s identification and the Queen’s letter. The Captain recited several verses of Bracken’s well-known verses upon himself, the cream of the joke being that he cannot see that they only hold' him up to ridicule. Alluding to the Timaru alfair, he threatened to say something severe of your town in a book of recent travels which he is now writing.

Some little fun is being caused in town by the proceedings in connection with the bankruptcy of Lottie Wilmot. This person, who arrived in Dunedin from Sydney three weeks back, has been giving Sunday evening lectures in the Theatre on “The Social Evil,” and kindred topics. She has not proved a success, and most people have been satisfied with a single visit. When Walter Reynold’s company were down here she essayed the task of impersonating Juliet, and a. very funny impersonation it was. Amongst he. creditors are the unlucky drapers who provided the dresses for the performance. These, amongst other effects, arc announced to be put under the hammer on Saturday'. The Lingards have been doing good business. Their best performances have been “ Stolen Kisses,” “ Our Boys,” and “ Baby Betsy.” A very good actor is Mr Overton, fresh to these parts, and your readers may look forward to some hearty fun when they travel North. Our bathing wants are being supplied by private enterprise. In addition to the Turkish bath and the Corporation bath at Belichet Bay' (re-opened temporarily) bathers can now enjoy a dip at the Ocean Beach. Mr Kingston has secured the right to use part of the beach, and has erected dressing rooms, and carried out ropes through the surf for the more timid. “ Correct” dresses are supplied, and great numbers of people—including several ladies —have alreadv takon advantage of the opportunity* thus aiforded them. Of course there is a certain amount of timidity on the part of the fair sex to _ venture out when gentlemen are in sight, but ere long they will enjoy their temporary freedom from pull backs and such like mysteries of feminine attire, and ignore the presence of lookers-on.