DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 204, 28 December 1871, Page 5

DUNE DIN.

(Fr&m a Correspondent ■)

After a long leaden slumber, this city of the Dumps is at length making a feeble effort to cast off the lethargic incubus to which it has succumbed aud is making praiseworthy endeavours to assume a holiday aspect, and do honour to Merry (!) Christmas. Alas ! I fear it is but a spurt — the moraentarygflicker of dying greatness ; for the disease with which our city is aflicted*has become chronic, and after the holidays it will relapse into its normal condition.

During last week, the cheerful aspect of affairs was by no means heightened by a visit from that blustering, demonstrative old cuss, Boreas, who, judging from the speed with, which he flew, one could almost imagine had been on the spree, and was being chased home by Mrs. Boreas. In Ins mad career he played the very (I won't mention names) with property in various parts of the city, and endangered life and limb. You may imagine the force of the gale, when I assure you that I have scarcely any hair left on the top of ray head — Windows were blown in, roofs taken off, and part of the spire of the new Presbyterian Church was snapped off and hurled to the ground. His Worship the Mayor had a narrow escape of becoming a widower. It appears that Mrs. Pish was passing up Princes-street during the gale, when a large flagstaff became detached from the roof of one of the shops, and fell immediately in front of her. Had the pole struck the lady, the eil.y would now have been in mourning, but luckily she escaped with a severe scare. No ships di'agged their anchors in the bay during the storm, .the reason being, as far as I can ascertain, because there were no ships there. One diminutive schooner and a couple of tubs are all at present sleeping upon the bosom of our placid (save the mark ! ) bay. A' relief to the monotony of the past week was afforded by the irrepressible j J. G. S. O-rant. who uncorked himself on the Octagon, and • poured forth the his usual quantum of vituperative bumkum. At certain periods this savant finds himself compelled to do one or two things — either uncork or burst. The prayers of the people for the latter consummation are earnestly requested. The theme which he- chose on this occasion was the abuse of every-

body in general and the High School in particular. He characterised that in stitutiou as a school of immorality, and likened the scholars to a rising generation of peripatetic pumpkins, and delivered himself of hs much profanity aud •ibuse in five minutes as would have filled a bucket. He raised his hands aloft and thanked God that he was born a Highland man. I then left. A inongst the attractions for pleasureseekers during the ensuing week, the intercolonial cricket match takes a prominent position. Notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary, I believe the match will be closely contested and result in the victory of one side or the other. The Dunedin team have been assiduous in their pi*actice lately, and a marked improvement is observable in their play. Should our men prove victorious, I believe I shall be so elated that I shall be tempted to invite them all to the most fashionable hotel in the town, call for champagne — and ask them to pay for it. Downes, who arrived in town from Lawrence on Monday evening, will no doubt show his old colleagues that his former skill in the noble game has in nowise deteriorated during bis residence upcountry. I would much have liked to have seen Buck, of Lawrence, in Lhe Otago team, as I believe he would have proved a valuable acquisition.

What little business is transacted in the first commercial city of New Zealand is entirely suspended, some say on account of the holidays, and will be resumed, it is supposed, when the Clutha aud Lawrence railways are finished.