DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 318, 3 January 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

. . (From our own Correspondent.) January Ist, 1874. Barely n the new year ushered in in Dune- * din with euch demonstrations of rejoicing as were exhibited immediately the clock struck twelve last night. From the large crowds which had gathered in the principal thoroughfares, it was evident that fun of some sort ■was intended, and with the adven* of the year of grace one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, the demonstrations commencedThe vicinity of the Government Buildings and the Octagon were the principal centres '* selected by the quasi-larrikins — I can hardly call them larrikins proper, for among the - crowd were many persons who on ordinary -- occasions would not dream of indulging in skylarking in the public streets— for their pyrotechmcal displays and lavish throwing about of crackers. The Octagon was literally in a blaze for about an hour with Roman candles, Pharaoh's serpents, and other articles of this .description ; while the continuous letting-off of crackers resembled more than anything else volleys of musketry, with occasional intermissions of file firing. No respect was paid to persons passing. The approach of any one was the sure signal for making Mm the centre-piece of a host of jumping Lr crackers, to the infinite amusement of all * except"* himself. Eight along Princes-street bo far as the Government Buildings, hundreds of crakers kept pedestrians in a sort of comical terror, and at the Buildings a crowd similar to the one at the Octagon gave full -- play to their boisterous spirits in a similar manner. A brass band paraded the streets for about an hour, with a very large crowd of sheep following it, who were evidently enjoying themselves, if one can. judge from the merriment which prevailed. The fun was kept up in a style rather alarming to peace-ably-disposed citizens for about an hour, but * about one o'clock the crowds seemed to break ■ up, and something like quietness again prevailed — not, however, before some brutes had " amused " themselves by ill-treatiug a poor Chinaman at the corner of High-street. Being considered fair game for having a lark with, he was set upon by a lot of great hulk- . ing fellows, who tormented him with that offensive assumption of superiority which is a characteristic of the ignorant and vulgar, and then jostled him and knocked him about until they were stopped by a few of the more humane onlookers. Altogether, the inaxiguration of the new year in Dunedin was about as rowdy as it possibly could be. It certainly beat anything of the sort that I have witnessed during a rather long residence in the city. It is said that a number of publicans' and bottle licenses have been issued by the Superintendent and Executive Council, the issue of the licenses having been managed very quietly within the past few days. It was known in town that several persons who had hocn refused licenses at late '«ttfiigs of Licensing Justices were making efforts to obtain them from the Provincial Government ; — owing to the bungle in the licensing laws the justices considering that they had no power to grant new licenses, or even transfers. If it is true, as is reported, that the Government have granted licenses which had previously been refused by the Licensing, Courts in the interests of tie public weal, there will be much dissatisfa :tion, and reasonably so. The whole affair cc is to have been managed so quietly that t er was no chance oi' any pretest being locged c ther by the temperance bodies or others interested' in the matter. The various temperance societies in Duuedin, I believe, intended to take active steps to prevent any further extension of the liquor traffic in the city, and if their good intentions . have been frustrated by the action of tho G-ovcrmncnfc, the matter calls for strong protest. The flower show of the Horticultural Society, held in the grounds of J. H. Harris, F-3q., was not such a success as could have been wished, tfhe exhibits were not at all up to the mark, and the attendance during the afternoon was very poor. At night, 'however, a good number of visitors were present, making up in a considerable degree for the meagre attendance in the afternoon. Lady Fergnsson was present for a shoi't time during the day; but His Excellency the Governor did not attend, he having gone out for a sea cruise in his yacht, the Blanche. Large crowds of people wended their way to the Caledonian Society's Gathering to-day, and in the afternoon the attendance was variously estimated at from GOOO to 8000. His Excellency the Governor, and the Captain and officers of the Yire, a war ship belonging to the French squadron, at present at Port Chalmers, arrived on the ground at half -past two o'clock. They were received at the Grand Stand by the President of the Caledonian Society, Ilis Excellency briefly replying to the few words addressed to him. In the early part of the afternoon the games were carried on amid the rather discouraging influence of occasional slight showers of rain, but towards three o'clock the sky cleared, and the eun shone for the remainder of*the day. The only event worthy of particular notice was the two-mile walking match, for which there were four entries — Macgregor and Spcnce atscratch; Campbell. 75 yards; and Scott, a boy between twelve and fifteen years old, 220 yards. This was the most exciting match of the day. f- Campbell and the boy walked splendidly while Maogregor seemed to,. be up to his usual style. Spence, although W possessed of powers of endurance, is a very ugly walker, and the interest taken in him was only on account of the amusement which he afforded, especially when his huge frame was passed by his/plucky little opponent Scott. • The contest between the big and little competitors was so very marked, that people could not help giving way to_ laughter. The distance was generally considered too- great for the boy to have' any chance of winning the race, but as he pluckily kept up his stride, us lap succeeded lap, he was loudly cheered, and when he came on at undiminiahed pace - for the last time round, and won the tandicap with nearly all his distance to spare, lv came in for vociferous applause, and \ -was raised shoulder high and carried from 'the winning post. x