DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 243, 26 September 1872, Page 8

DUNEDIN.

(From our own. Correspondent.)

The dead body of a man was found in the harbour on Sunday morning, within a few yards of the Stuart-street Jetty, and close to £he railway track. It was identified as that of Thomas Brown, a young man who arrived in the J. N. Fleming about, three weeks gince. He had been in bad health, and in a gloomy, desponding state of miud for some considerable time, and had come to the colony, in company with an elder brother, in order to see if the change of air and scene would have a beneGeial effect upon his general health. As no alteration for the better appeared likely to take place, the brother and he resolved to go home again, and had decided to leave by the William Davie, which sails in a week or two. On Saturday night they had been to visit some acquaintances in Grange-street, and after staying there for some little time, the deceased went away, leaving his brother behind. The "latter afterwards went home, and as the ni^ht wore on, and there was no appearance of his brother, he became alarmed, and gave information to the police. A search was at once instituted, and continued until about three o'clock on Sunday morning, but no clue as to the proceedings of the missing man could be found. The search was recommenced at daylight, and shortly before eleven o'clock, as John Brown, (the deceased's brother) and an acquaintance were proceeding up the railway line, they saw the body of a man lying on the beach, a few yards distant. On proceeding towards it, their worst fears were realised, for it proved to be be whom they were in pearch of. The body was conveyed to £he. Supreme Court Hotel, and at the inquest held the following day, a verdict of was returned. The ratepayers of Leifch Ward assembled the other evening, in answer to the call of an advertisement without signature, to take into consideration the conduct of Mr. L. Thoneman durjng tue time he has represented the ward in the City Council. No one seemed at all inclined to acknowledge the paternity of the advertisement calling the meeting, although it was pretty well understood that the object was to pass a vote of want-of-confidence jn Mr. Thoneman, who, in the opinion of some of the ratepayers, has not shown that diligence and activity in $he discharge of his duties which, he s.hould have done, and between whom and the other councillor for the ward — Mr. John Barnes — comparisons not at all flattering to the former gentleman have been drawn by ratepayers who consider the latter all that is to be desired «\a a councillor. Standing out pre-eminent as a "practical" man, visiting eyery nook and corner in the ward, looking after the gravelling of this footpath, and the asphalting of that,, of course Mr.' Barnes finds more favour with plenty of people than Mr. Thoneman. Individually, however, I am not partial ro the selection of councillors because they ace practical men, for. the Council has its City Surveyor and otl^er. officers to attend to the requirements of the citizens, and practical ■men- often have an unpleasant way of -. poking about and interfering in all . $oi;ts of -matters, and very often creating mischief in consequence. Mr. Thoneman very properly said at the meeting (in answer tq remarks that were made £o the effect that he did not second Mr. ■ Barnes in many of his efforts in the Council) that h.e. did not feel called upon. $o agree with all the hobbies which Mr. Barnes chose to take up ; and qnite right too, for the latter although he has . no' doubt clone good service for the rate- < payers who elected him, is quite as - guilty of holding wrong Heas on plenty pf subjects as other people, notvvith-". * ' his practicality. Mr." Tbonernan'iryiews seemed to be approved of I )>y thje meeting too, 'fon eventually, in--,stead .of a vote of censure being passed,

it was unanimously agreed that he - possessed the confidence of th,e rater '•payers,, ff r * J i?he" ship Hydaspes,' -from London, ""tint in her , appearance \n Pqpt on JYiday, bringing with, her about 200 Immigrant She has made a capital BftSSage, and. is described, as. th,e. largest

vessel th>V h.as ever anchored in Port',. Chalmers; ' •' * "^ ' ,' r ] ■• I hear ' the submarine' boat for the working of the beds of our auriferous rivers, for which Mr.- R. W, Nuttall is the agent, spoken of a good deal in town, and I do not think there will be much' difficulty experienced in floating the company, which is now in course of formation, for the purpose of giving the invention a fair trial. The undevtaking is oue which certainly deserves every encouragement at the hands of the public, as it. opens the door to a wide field of mining enterprise, if it proves successful.' No doubt we shall ere long: have one of these submarine boats at work in some auriferous portion of the Molyneux bed, and that it will prove as successful as its promoter anticipates, ' will certainly be the wish of all wbo have the prosperity of the mining industry at heart.