DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 402, 24 October 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.) Mr. "Wales, M.H.R., addressed bis constituents in the Temperance Hall, .Moray Place la3t night. The attendance was very limited, only abtfut 70 or 80 persons being present. His Worship the Mayor presided. Mr. Wales spoke at some length on the questions most prominent in importance, and explained that ho would have met his constituents before, but that he had made arrangements \ritii Mr. Reynolds, one of the other memters of the cifcv, to address the electors conjointly. As, however, Mr. Beynolds would probably not be in Dunedin before Christmas, he had thought it wise not to postpone his address, an:l had consequently calle.l his meeting for that evening. Tho questions of immigration, abolition of provinces, state forests, borrowing, the Licensing Act' the reform of the Upper House &c, were all dwelt upon. With regard to immigration, Mr. Wales expressed himself as being opposed to any further continuance of tho present unsatisfactory system, and with reference to the extensive borrowing policy of -„ the present Government, tho speaker stated it as his conviction that the colony had now reached the limit of safetj', when it was becoming only too evident, that the interest and sinking fund required to meet the loans would havo to be met by taxation tha.t would pres3 heavily on the community. Mr. Wales addressed himself maiuly to the other topics I have mentioned, but did not display any great originality of thought, or give more than very commonplace utterance to hia views. The musu-al portion of the commuuity are ou the <[Ul vivd in anticipation of the approaching visit of the world's greatest piant9te, Madame Arabella Goddard, who is to arrive in Dunedin by the next steamer from Melbonrne, her advance agent, Mr. Smythe, being already here making the nocessary preliminary arrangements prior to he? appearance. Fot? many years slio lias been recognised as tho first; pianist oi the age, and her appaacaaet's in Europe, Australia, and InJia, have always been tho signal for unbounded enthusiasm and delight. Dunedin is fond of good music, and the appearance of the distinguished artiste here will doubtless only give further evidence- of the high estimation in which her abilities are held. No further evidence, I understand, ha 3 been elicited vnt~,i regard to the mysterious Sro that 0.-eurred at Mrs. Schmidt's, iv Kattray-strecfc, Lint week. The very peculiar disclosure which was the outcome of the cridenco ar. the inquiry, had however the wlWt of alienhh'ng the large amount of sympathy which was expressed for Mrs. Solimidt before those particulars were known, and whether anything is brought to light tending to point to the incendiary or not, the affair will always have a most peculiar appearance to a dispassionate observer. Tho South British Insurance Co., have announced their half-yearly dividend to 31st AugUot last, at tho rate ot ten per cent, per annum. The per centage hardly comes up to shareholders anticipations, but considering the great competition and rivalry which now exists in the insurance, aa well as in all other business, 10 per eeut per annum is by no mean 3to be regarded as unsatisfactory. The dividend to Otago shareholders ia payable at the offices of Messrs. W. and G, Turnoull and Co., the Otago agents. Messrs. R. and T. Haworth, who3c premises were burned down on the occasion of the late extensive fire at the premises of Messi-s. Guthrie and,Larnach, are erecting new buildings on the same site, and are wisely allowin°^_ for the widening of Prince3-street south i' their operations. There is now no doubt that their much-needed improvement in Princes-street must tuke place, and although the fire in question did a very large amount of damage, yet it has no doubt been of some service in assisting those in power to make up their minis to the rather heavy expenditure which the widening of the street will involve.