DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 143, 3 November 1870, Page 5

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent _ People nowadays are not true prophets. But yet, as Soloman, the wisest of men, said, " There is nothing new under the sun," I presume a prophet in Dunedin. would n< >t be a new thing — I don't nieau a false prophet ; I mean a true living one. I presume you will be asking yourself before now what lam driving at. Well, I shall tell you. Not long ago there appeared in your paper a telegram or prophesy to the effect that the people of Dunedin were beginning, or would soon begin, to take an interest in the land laws of the province, so far as they affect the occupation and sale of the public estate. Now, I look on the whole thing as a prophesy, for although Mr. Reynolds had addressed his constituents about th s time, there was no mention made in the papers of Dunedin of disapproval or appfcv.d of the notorious Regulation of Hundreds Act, 1889, Amendment Act, 1870. Now, either the papers suppressed all manifestation of puolic feeling on thi3 occasion, or we have a prophet in our midst. I should like very much to know whether the papjrs did suppress all references which may have been made to lane's on the occasion of Mr. Reynolds' meeting, and if they did not, then I should liLe very much to know jour friend of the tel - gram. What he said or predicted on. that occasion has certainly come about.

You are aware that a seat in the Prrvincial Council has been declared vacant consequent on the aboence of the Hon. Dillon Bell for two sessions of the Council. A seat appears to be of some value, for although it will be only for one session, and that a short one, thera were four candidates in the field. The name s of these gentlemen are Messrs. Fish, Bathga^e, Reeves, and Birch. The tlm c first have never sat as members of tre General .Assembly or Provincial Counci l , but the latter, Mr. Birch, is a Memb r for the City in the General Assembly '. Mr. L'irch was considered the mo3t popular man in Dunedin, he having been twice elected as Mayor of the City, and also a Member of the General Assembly; Messrs. Fish and Bathgate have addresssd large meetings, Both of them have condemned the financial policy of the Colonial Government, and both' of them condemning the Regulation of Hundreds Act, ISB9, and the Regulation of Hundreds Act, 1869, Amendment, 1870. They have both been well received, and have been promised support. Mr. Birch has not addressed a m-eting yet. r l he reason assigned is his absence in the country on private business. Before he left, however, he addressed the citizens through the columns of the press, stating that he was in f avoir of a Lberal land law, and that the province would never be prosperous without one. The cardinal matter which has been submitted by the candidates is a liberal land law, and it has been received with much favour. Mr. !?ire.h, I have little doubt, would have been the successful candidate, if M,me inconnately evil person had not put into Mr. Fish's hands Hansard No. It, wherein, at page IG3 to 109, th • proceedings in committee on tiu* notorious Regulation of Hundreds Act were recorded. At one of Mr. Fish's meetings he pointed out that Mr. Birelj had recorded his vote for the Act, and with the squatters, and against every amendment moved by Messrs. Mervyn and Bradshaw. The approval of the people was shown on the day of nomi-* • nation, when Mr. Birch did not receive a s.n^le hand in his favour, although there were three hund-ed persons present at the nomination. I hope the u;vcountry districts will be true to themselves iv tlnj ma.tter at the general election. T hear, A however, that the Dunstan district (opji Clyde) intend* to have a squatter repr^M sentative in the Assembly,