DUNEDIN,

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 3 February 1863, Page 2

DUNEDIN,

Saturday, 31st January. The City of Hobart start* to-day, so I shall have to curtail my letter } indeed news of any kind 13 scarce with us just at present. For once you Southerners have got the itert of us in re the English mail. The coming election for the Gtajjo Stfperintendency is exciting a fair amount . of interest just at present. A requisition, largely and respectably signed, has been sent to Mr John Hyde Harris, asking him to become a candidate. Mr Harris in his reply oays : — 11 1 have much pleasure in at onoa assuring you of my willingness to accede to your wish, especially as it appear* that His Honor Major Richardson has publicly signified his intention not again to become a candidate for the office." I think that the Major would have a very fair show if he were *° como forward again. A friend of mine lately returned from the Lake district gives a very flourishing account of things in that quarter. He states that the diggings are gradually extending to the North, and that there can be little doubt of their gradually extending to the West Coast. Talking of the Lake there is a steamer here, the Jf ugget, which will, I am told, be sent up to tbe Wakatip with all despatch : from what 3 <ssm learn there will be plenty of work for her. There ia just at present, as I tjefcwre said, a dearth of interesting news. Things are, notwithstanding our large escort returns, decidedly dull ; even the Theatre, to which Dunedin folks took so very kindly, is not filled to the extent that managers could desire. The Otago Daily Times of the 30 th Jan., has the following, which would seem to indicate rather a loose system of management both in the Hospital and Gaol : — " Two charges of rape came before the Resident Magistrate yesterday. In one case the night watchman at the Dunedin Hospital was charged with the offence by a female patient named Catherine Bruce, but it beiii£ plainly made out that the woman was a consenting party, the charge was dismissed. In the other, which was heard in the gaol, the accused was a police constable, Pa trick Finnigan, and tha chargo was brought by a woman named Oliver, who was a prisoner ; and who alleged that the offence had been ' committed in a eellof tho lock-up at Oamaru. This case was adjourned for further evidence, but his Worship remarked that on the evidence taken tho charge could not be sustained." Quits a sensation has been created in commercial circles by the announcement that Mr Henry Jones, as compound of general merchant and land speculator, had absconded, leaving his creditors in the lurch to the tune of .£12,000, and with very little effects out of which to compile a dividend. At first tho report ,was Eet entertained, as it was generally believed that Jones was good for £30,000, (that his credit was equal to this I am quite certain), therefore it was asserted that the report was a malicious one, founded on a lie. But tho following day confirmed all rumors. Mr Jones had departed, taking with, him, it is said, a very iarge suru.ol money, and leaving very little behind for his friends to realise upon. It is stated that his losses have occurred through speculating. I have no doubt this is the case, and as little doubt have I that many others amongst us have been and are now speculating, and will many of them come to grief as Mr Jones has done ; although, unlike him, they may be honest enough to remain and face their difficulties. ', Trade cannot be said to bo on a healthy basis in Dunedin, in faot I am afraid that symptoms of an incipient crisis are becoming apparent. Hotel keepers are refusing to pay tho exacting demands of landlords, bills renewed are now of •every day occurrence, small houses are here and there closing up, assignments are being made, and things ire not by any means as they ought to be. Mormon, the celebrated Australian race horse, was a passenger per the City of Ho■bart. The Escort from the Lakes via Dunstau and Tuapeka, arrived^here on Friday afternoon with 25,208 ozs. of gold, obtained as follows z— ozs, dwts. Wakatip , 13,072 IS Dunstan „... 7,735 0 Tuapeka 3,223 15 Widtahuna , 755 10 Woolsaed 422 0 25,208 0 A very good return, considering all tilings.