DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 306, 22 November 1873, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.) Accidents are still being reported thick and fast. Since my last letter to you the most painful and serious of several which have occurred has been that which happened to the unfortunate man Edwards, at .Guthrie" and Asher's steam saw-mills at Catlins River. He has very much improved since his arrival at the Hospital, and is making fair progress, although suffering much pain. Among other curious anomalies which are sprinkled through the statistics of this colony, one that was mentioned to me the other day deserves a passing notice. A gentleman travelling on the main North Road hist week had the misfortune to meet with an accident, which resulted in the partial smashing of his buggy. Being unable to travel-any further in it, he arranged with the driver of one of the down coaches to have it fixed behind the coach by the shafts, and conveyed to town. On arriving at the Waikouaiti toll-bar, toll was demanded on the disabled vehicle, and, although the coach-driver represented that it had already passed through the gate the same day, • payment was enforced, presumably in accordance with the law of the land ; and this process was repeated on a second toll-bar being arrived at. So that it appears a man may on his return drive a buggy and pair free through a toll-gate on the same day that he had already paid toll, but that if he happens to meet with an accident, and ha» occasion to get his buggy returned to town in the manner I have mentioned above, he must again put his hand into his pocket, and pay toll charges from which he should in all reason and fairness be exempt. The sum at stake in the instance reported to me was a mere trifle in itself, yet the utter absurdity of the thing was so glaring that the driver of the coach naturally resisted the imposition, but of course without avail. The Bey. Dr. Begg addressed a largelyattended and very enthusiastic meeting in the Headquarters Drill-shed last night. The night was a very wet one, and the very large attendance must therefore have been peculiarly gratifying to the Reverend Doctor, as affording evidence of the- high estimation in which he is held. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and during the course of his introductory remarks spoke in warm terms of the services rendered by l>jr, Begg to the founders of the settlement of Otago when the project for its establishment was first mooted in Scotland. His Honor then introduced Dr. Begg to the meeting. The Doctor, who was received with very hearty and prolonged applause, spoke at great length, and dwelt on many of the social and political questions at present uppermost in the public mind in the colony, also setting forth, in no uncertain terms, the energy, perseverance, and general high qualities characteristic of Scotchmen, as exemplified, among . other tilings, in the wonderful progress made in this settlement, in the comparatively few years it has been ia existence. The speaker was frequently and heartily applauded during -the course of his address, and at its conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. The shares in the various colonial insurance, companies 'are fluctuating in value very much in* the midst of the unsettled feeling in the mujds of holders Attendant on the starling and proposed starting of so many new companies. Shares in the South British "have receded .in .public estimation considerably, and

the same remark applies to Nationals. With regard ■ to the latter company, it is too clearly evident that the selfish proceeding of the directors re the allotment of shares has very materially damaged the prospects of the company, more especially in the North Island. The Standard Insurance Company, the immediate successor to the National, seems to be meeting with increased confidence, and a considerable number of shares have been and are still being-applied for., With regard to tho projected company of efcill later date, nothing definite seems to be known beyond the circle of promoters. They have, .however, had several meetings, and it is supposed that the company will be floated— or r^her that the attempt will be made to float it. That both the new companies can go ahead it is, I should imagine, absurd to suppose. Mr. James Stumbles, the contractor for tho Mussel Bay reclamation works, whose leg had to be amputated in consequence of injuries received through a fall of earth last week, has been gradually sinking for the past few days, and last night death put an end to the poor fellow's sufferings.