DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 10 July 1873, Page 9

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.) The excitement attending the Provinvincial elections has no sooner subsided than we have the candidates for the Mayoralty keeping ns "alive with their orations. These gentlemen are three in number — Messrs. Mercer, Thoneman, and Barnes — and public opinion is of course divided as to the respective chances of election. It will, however, doubtless lie between the two first-named, and it is expected that the contest between them will be very close. Home people incline to the opinion that Mr. Barnes has a good chance of election, from tho fact that the votes will be so split between Mr. Mecer and Mr. Thoneman, while there is a certain clas3 will support Mr. Barnes without any division. I must say that I have not met with one of Mr. Barnes's supporters yet. His candidature seems to be looked upon by most people as very ridiculous ; aud doubtless the result of the polling will testify that such is the verdict of the electors. With all due deference to Mr. Barnes's practical attainments — advanced as a reason why he should bo elevated to the position to which he aspires — I think he would be doing a wise tiling were he to retirs from the contest, for even were he to be elected, he is totally unfitted to fulfil the duties that would be required of him. Practicality is all very well, but we require at least some measure of refinement aud education in a person who is to occupy tho position of our chief citzen duriag his tonui"e of office : and it is really not absolutely essential that he slxoiild Ictio-.v liow to fill rt. dray or mortsuire a heap of stone 3. Besides, there are other reasons why Mr. Barness should not for one instant be thought of in connection with the honorable position of Mayor, of which, however, I will refrain from any further mention. Notwithstanding his vaunted victories when contesting elections for vacant scats in tho City Council, it i 3 sincerly to be hoped that such practical jokes os his elevation to the office of Mayor will never be perpetrated by Dunedin ratowtyers. Among the items of home intelligence brought by tho mail steamer was the gratifying announcement of the safe arrival at Gravesend of the Otago, for wiifse safety gravo fears were beginning to be entertained. Her supposed nonarrival had become the common topic of conversation, and the telegram announcing her arrival was therefore a most welcome piece 1 of news. Captain Logan, of the J. X. Fleming, which arrived a few days since, has made a splendid run home and back again. It is only about six and half mouths since he left our shores on his homoward voyage, so that he now stands in tho position of having made the crack trip of all the regular traders owned by Messrs Patrick, Henderson, & Co. — rather a coveted distinction, I understand, among the captains in the employ of that well-known firm. The corner stone of the new Episcopalian Church in Stafford-street, is to be laid by the Bishop of Dunedin on Friday next. The building ia to supply the want of church accommodation which has been felt by the residents in the south part of the city, and will, when finished, be a very creditable looking building. Wellington telegrams published this morning contain a notification of the the .appointment of the Hon. Dr. Pollen as Colonial Secretary, vice Mr. Reynolds resigned. This will give the Colonial Executive an able coadjutor in the Upper House, although Mr. Reynold's resignation of the Colonial Secretaryship seems to be a surprise to most people in these parts. Poor Ilickey, Kawarau's brilliant representative injthe last Provincial Council, aeetns to have come to grief. He is said to have been brought down from one of the northern districts of the province in an unsound state of mind, and is now

lodged in the Lunatic Asylum. It i-» to hoped that it will piove to be only a temporary djiwngement. Tho " Otago News" Company are actively eugaged working \ip affairs in connection with the new journal ; and I believe that Messrs Fergusson and Mitchell are to be tho printers until arrangements can be made for procuring the uecessary material from home. Dissatisfaction hns for a very long time been expressed with the " Daily Times," and if the new paper is at all up to the mark, it will command a very large amount of support. The production of a paper like the "Sun," which through mismanagement had such a 'short existence a few years since, would, I am confident, ensure success. Otago should certainly be able to support a second daily paper, aud it is to be hoped that the one which is shortly to be issued will prove worthy of liberal en-coiu-agement.