DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 336, 7 March 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

{From our own Correspondent!)

~We are again, in the heat of an olectioriet-r-ing campaign, Messrs. E. B. Cargill, Reeves, -Banard Isuac, and C. R-. Chapman being the ■contestants for the seat rendered vacant by the resignation of the hon. John Bathgate. The candidates are addressing meetings nightly, .and. .their friends and supporters are using the usual exertions to secure the return of their particular choice. Of the result of the election I do not think there can be much doubt. Mr. E. B. Cargill has in reality no opponent worthy of his steel — if I except, perhaps, Mr. Reeves — and as he (Mr. Cargill) has proved himself well worthy of the -confidence which the electors' have from time to - -<J|s3pe placed in him, and a man who, In to 'the clear, common-sense views he possesses in political matters, gives weight to his utterances by the standing and position he oc- upies in the community, I have little doubt that he will be returned by a large majority. Mr. Chapman's candidature bos been the means of affording considering amusement to ' tho*se who have attended his meet-

ings.- Letters have appeared in the papers ■urging Mr. Chapman to come- forward, and •which, were they genuine expressions of the -writers' views, 'would certainly lead the young aspirant to believe - that he was gifted with profound knowledge and ability. They were duly inserted in a spirit of fun, however, and coupled with the urgent solicitation of apparent friends, they had the desired effect. Mr. Chapman delivered his maiden speech in the Masonic Hall or Monday night to a considerable' audience, and the meeting was what «verybody expected it would be — a treat. As <was ; *only natural in a first effort at' public speaking, the candidate had frequent difficulty in concluding his sentences satisfactorily, and •very fresh hesitancy was the signal for chaff «nd "merriment, the proceedings bemg at one time diversified by the inauguration of a dogfight in the back part of the hall, which created a great uproar. After the candidate had had some very ridculous questions put to nim by Sherwin, junior, and other promiuent attendants at political meetings, a vote of confidence in the candidate was proposed, and eventually seconded by the Chairman, two orth'ree hands being held up for the motion, and toid two or three against it. Amidst considerable merriment, the Chairman said' he "thought the motion had it," and Mr. Chapman's meeting then concluded by a vote j of thanks to the chair. Amongst the passengers for England by the Jessie Readman is Mr. C. Muston, whp, for a number of years, has filled the position of Bub-editor of the "Daily Times." Mr. Muston has been a valued member of the ' Times " literary staff, and the company he has so ably and unremittingly serve-l, arc conscious that they have lost a servant who ■ deserves their warmest thanks and best wishes. Of a retiring and unassuming disposition, Mr. Muston never took a very active part in public, matters, but he ■carries jrith him the regard of all^ho had the privilmge of his acquaintance. had the gratification of a p^rsond,af2quaintance with Sim. I *W beiilow^no^hat. he his left «r aben*, to add my null quota to the

general appreciation of him while he has-been resident, in Dunedin. , ThjJ. announcement that another ship had .arrived at Fort Chalmers this morning with diseases of % malignant character 'on board, and with the appalling number of 26 deaths during a short passage of 70 days, has been the topic of conversation of the day. It will certainly be a wonder if disease is not introduced into the the city some of these days by the immigrants we, are now receiving. Nearly every vessel that arrives is obliged to hoist the yellow flag, and have the passengers landed in Quarantine Island, in consequence of epidemics which have been raging amongst the passengers. There seems to be a gross neglect at the' port of embarkation in allowing the vessels to put to sea without a thorough inspection of the emigrants; and, in the absence of reliable information as to who is to blame, the AgentGeneral comes in for all the hard words which the public deem it necessary to bestow.

The Corporation and the Dunedin Water Works Company have got to complete loggerheads with each other, and the letters which have recently passed between the Town Clerk and the Company's Secretary are written in a style which is rather good as a specimen of the politely defiant. The Water Works Company accuse the Corporation of showing no desire to assist them in stopping the waste of water which takes place davy in the city, and also bring a complaint that the 'fines inflicted in the late Mayor's. Court against persons charged with wasting the Company's water were quite inadequate when the enormity of the offence is taken into consideration. This is rather a wide complaint, as the Corporation can hardly be expected to answer for the laches- pi all the Justices of the Peace who presided at the Mayor's Court when it was in existence. The Water Company decline to supply the Corporation with water for the proposed bath and other purposes, and are very independent altogether in the tone of their last communication. The result is that the Corporation have washed their hands of the Company, and are going to obtain their supplies of water from various springs which are known to members of the Council, and from which a regular and sufficiently large supply can be obtained ; while legislative action with regard to new works will probably be the upshot.