AROUND DUNEDIN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5204, 11 December 1895, Page 2

AROUND DUNEDIN.

[BY SOOTOH MIST,] Contrary to the' expootations of Mr Paulin, our weather prophet, who pi-op li esied terribly bad weather, we had glorious sunshine all Carnival week. The Otago Agricultural Show, was an immense success, and over 14,000 persons paid admittance to the Show ground, the attendanco - this year breaking the record, Standing alone for a few minutes to try and catch the air which the Naval Baud wns playing on my right, I found it was an impossibility, as the merry-go-round was tootling its orchestrion on my left; in front of me, an organ-grinder was grinding out a few tunes. Then there was a woman with a concertina, singing and playing, and the machinery whistling, to say nothing of the melodious strains of the animals from all parts of the ground, and the babbling of the crowd, I thought I never before heard such a medloy. This Babel and confusion of sounds, was to my mind one of tho most important features of the most successful Agricultural Show ever hold here.

The Mayoral election caused quito a commotion, and over 2000 persons stood round the Council Chambers, to hear the declaration of the poll, which was announced by the Town Clerk, a quarter before 7 o'clock. Mr Wales topped the poll with a A majority of 351 votes. Mr Wales' <1 victory was a most popular one, although the most sanguine of his supporters did not expect such a largo majority. No ono was so nonplussed as Mr Pish, our late Mayor. Ho made a vory sorry speech, whon reluming thanks to his supporters. He said, "The peoplo of Dunedin had played him a very dirty trick, and now, as Mr Wales was elected, they would have no abattoirs, no conversion, no drainage scheme, no nothing! and he intended to retire at once into private life." This latter statement was received with much laughter and cries of "A jolly good job, too!"

The three days' race meeting drew crowds out to Forbury, Cup Day being the most patronised, when the lawn presented a brilliant appearar.co with the gorgeous costumes worn, For instance, one lady I noticed, wore rose-coloured satin, veiled with the finest of lace, a pink silk, shot with red, parasol, and a huge hat (almost tho circumferonce of the parasol) which was simply % covered with roses of every shade, from majenfa to pink and white; Efloves and shoes finished the costume. Another lady wore apple green silk, immense balloon sleeves; parasol, green shot with heliotrope, and a monstrous hat covered with lilac blossoms, Ac.

His Excellency tho Governor, was expecled to take part and be present at the Show and Races, and much disappointment was experienced ut his non-appearanco, but I suppose the bad weather in your part of the world, was the cause. Apropos of the races-A teacher in a school at Forbury, was endeavouring to explain tho meaning of the word " harness," to a group of young urchins. "Now, Joe," said he to one of them, " What does your father put on a horse?" " Well, Sir," was tho unexpected answer," ho generally puts on all ho can get bold of, if ho thinks it will win."

The Broiigh and Doucicault Company had excellent houses during' l their season here, which they brought to a close last Saturday night, The Rev, Haskett Smith has returned from Inrercargill, and is re-delivering some of his Oriental lectures this time to crowded houses. This gentleman is organising a party to take through the Land of the Pliaroalis, and a few of our townsmen are going under Mr Smith's escort through the Holy Lands, Tho Rev. D. Borrie, of tho NorthEast Valley Presbyterian Church, is one of them, and I hear on good authority that Dean Fitchett is also forming one of the party. They leave Melbourne, whore all are to meet, about the middle of January. The juvenile exhibition has caught on, and the management have decided to keep it open for a few days longer. It is in reality a huge bazaar in aid of the Trinity Weslcyan Church, which requires renovating, also the Wesloyan -Manso, Prizes have been offered for writing, drawing, singing, music, painting, modelling, cooking, blacking boots, making bods, and several other' things for children under 12, and ' lads and lasses under 25, and really there is quite a wonderful collection. The whole of the entries become the property of the stall-holders, and are turned into cash.

Some of the side shows are exceedingly good and might be copied with advantage at bazaars. One part was curtained oif for tlio performing bears. Tlieso bears were two-legged ones, and went through antics on all fours dressed in various kinds of skins, much to the amusement of both children aud adults. Tlio "bawbees " this side show alone has drawn must be something considerable, as tlio room has been continually crowded. The unfortunate beare had to beg for a rest. The cycling sports were licld on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday last, and wore very successful, but for the races and other attractions, there would have been a larger attendance.

I'ho Directors of the tram car service here really ought to be complimented on tlio wny tlioy coped with the increase of traffic during the last week. Every car in town was in use >J fit tbe same time, And tlioy were simply crowded. The cool way the gentlcmon have of keeping their seats, allowing the women to Btand huddled together in tlio centre, shows that the ago of chivalry is ctying out among Scotsmen. The following amusing directions for street-car etiquette for women, given in that delightful American magazine, The ladies' Eome Journal, are not with- • out point even in New Zealand, and are particularly applicable to Dunedin, says the author 11 always stop a car in the middle of a street, especially if it is in full speed. If the car is nearly full, and tliore happens to bo a small space between auy two of the passengers, even though itbe not large enough for you, makeyourway straight to it. Gather yourself together, you Lang over the spot, let yourself drop suddenly, and trust to providence for the rest. Thechances are greatly in your favour that the space will bo enlarged for your comfort. If there are no seats unoccu- t pied, select some man, stand before ~ him, and just glare. Ho will get up at last, unless he is Scotch; then'drop into the seat, it is his duty, Remember the rights of your sex always, a woman with a lot of packages iB always welcome to a street-car; she can amuse the passengers by allowing them to pick them up one after another as she drops them on the i floor. An umbrella with a woman

boliind it in a street-car is immense, as alio trips tip anyone either eohviug in or going out-, causing aI i ttlooxcitoment thereby by tho combination." Thero arc many other directions equally to tho point wltieli might be pasted np on Wellington trams, or failing that, perhaps a mission for the purpose of enforcing them might bo effective. A very sad case of suicide occurred Twyesterday, whon a highly respectable young fellow aged 29 years, named Tom Freeman, cut his llirout. For sovefal years lie had been employed by Herbert Hay flea and Co., drapers, of Princess-street, ami a couple of months ago they were obliged to retrench 6ome of their employees, Mr Freeman being one of those dismissed, Not being able to obtain any employment since, Ire fried rab- -* bitting at Moractu, and not being able to mako anything out of it, evidently became despondent and. took Iris life. It is a sad blow ' for his aged parents to whom helms always been the best of sons. Bazaars are the rage of this week. Besides tho Juvenilo Exhibition one, tho ladies of All Paints Guild are holding one, and the Anderson's Bay peoplo have also a salo lasting three days, Tho children attending the public schools will all have their holidays next week, Friday the 13th iust., being fixed as the closing day. The High School breaks np even earlier, wn Wednesday 11th. It is seldom •nlmt the public schools have closed so long before 'Xmas Day as they are doing this year,