DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 299, 23 October 1873, Page 7

DUNEDIN.

(Vwm our oyrii Correspondent.) Tour strictures of last -week upon the failure of the Dunedin team of pigeonshooters to carry out the arrangements entered into by them to- meet some country opponents, have called forth a reply from Mr. Smith (who had the arranging of the match on behalf of the Dunedin men), and which is published in Saturday's iss^e of the " Paily Times. 0 Mr. Smith's explanation is to the effect that he found it impossible to prooeed with the match owing to the fao,t of two of the best shots in his team finding it impossible to leav.e town, and hja Inability to find other two geutlemen to fill their places; and that he was therefore oompelled to telegraph that the matoh would not come off. Leaving aside the lights and wrongs of this particular case* it really does seem to ma that the spoji in question is of a nature which no true sportsman should encourage. From beginning to end it is one of the most barbarous, oold-blooded proceedings that can well be Imagined, and utterly unworthy of being called aport. The pigeons, are often so tame that they hardly move a yard from the starting point, and are brought to the ground by the so-called " sportsman" without the least attempt to escape from their impending fate being- made. One after one the poor tame creai ures are riddled with shot, and the owner of the deadly tube which is the means of their death applauded aa if he had done quite a meritorious action. In cpmmon with many others I have always held that this pigeon-shooting is one of the most miserable exhibitions of sport it is possible to conceive, and a reKc of barbarism which should be aboKshed and interdicted! bylaw. Ms. Bradshaw has- gained for himself the goodwill of all the girls in Dnnedin who work in the drapery establishments of the city. His Factory Act has had the effect of stopping the late hour system, so extensively adopted by our- leading drapers, arid of giving to the large numbtrs of girls employed by them the boon of a Saturday half-holiday. Instead of the work-rooms being lit up until nearly midnight on the Saturdays, as was frequently the case, darkness bespeaks the fact of their wonted oecn pants' being freed from the Saturday night toil which they were hitherto cpmpelled to perform. I believe the principal employers of this class of labour hay* 4urin«f the past Treelt left no stone unturned in their endeavours to devise means to evade the law. Solicitors have been consulted and plans suggested to enable them to exact from their employes the usual inordinate amount of labour, but happily Mr. Bradshaw has effected? by his shorfr and quietly passed Act what all other measures failed to, accomplish — the closing up at a reasonable hour the close and unhealthy workrooms in which numbers of girls had until lately to spend not only- their days, but not unfreqnently the evenings when they should have been at home with the other members of their families.! it is said that seme of the employers intend to introduce the piece-work system, in-, order to have ."satisfaction."' A testimonial to. Mr Bradshaw from- the girls who have derived -30 much benefit from the passing of his ' Act is mooted ; and it only wants a start to be liberally aud universally subscribed to. It is understood* that the directors of the National Insurance Society have all but completed the arduous task of allocating the shares, and that about Wednesday or Thursday- the result will be made known. Dr. Begg has- not been allowed much leisure on the Sundays since his arrival in the province, having readily complied With requests to preach in the various city churches at both morning and evening service. ' Yesterday forenoon>he preached at the Taieri, and in the evening at St. lAnd*e1 And*ew > s<phttrch, Walker street, at the latter place to a crowded congregation. He will have gained a good; idea, ©f • the Ofcago dimate from his experience of yesterday, for- it rained heavily- and incessantly all afternoon, and;' the worthy Doctor got drenched" to the skin during his trip- from the Taieri to town, the (-buggy itt which he was travelling being an open one. He leaves^for the North this week, and* w-HJ p»eac& at- Oamara on Sunday next; Th&public ofDunedin have been treated* for a few mouths past' to- some strange productions teemed u Eye-Openers. M These interesting effusions- are posted on the walls and" fences: of the city during the ndgfet, and? although the police- have been endeavouring ta find* the writers-attd printers, their efforts have p?o?e& mi-. availing,- Whoeve»the writers are, they certainly deserve to be punished, for more blasphemous, disgraceful publications are (seldom thrust before the public gaze-.