Mr John Cargill has resigned his seat as a member of this Town Board. His resignation was read at the meeting of the Board yesterday afternoon and accepted.

The Town Board met yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, for the dispatch of business. Several important discussions took place and a report of the committee appointed to Consider the provisions of the Bill for constituting Dunedin a Corporate City was read. A full report will bo found in another part of the paper. The Board did not rise until nearly seven o'clock.

.... Persons interested in sporting events, who have a desire to take shares in the" Sweep-on the Melbourne Cup, will be glad to learn that the drawing takes place at the Provincial Hotel, at eight o'clock this evening.

The Taieri weekly escort arrived in town last evening, but as the dispatches were not' opened last evening the exact quantity of gold is unknown. We are infortne.l that it is about nine hundred ounces, and three hundred more are estimated as being in the hands cf the banks there at the present time.. Public faith, which has of late been waning, in the productiveness of the ,Taieri, has been revived in consequence of some good finds in the neighbourhood of the township, and a fresh stiruilus has been given by the discovery of gold upon one of the ridges near Gamecock Gully, where some good sized pieces of the precious metal have been found. The discoverers have applied for a prospecting claim,

That inimitable. Victorian Jehu, " Cabbagetree Ned," has made his debut at coaching on the New Zealand roads. For the last few days he has been engaged temporarily to pilot the Molyneux coach to Tokomairiro and back. Ned is perhaps the best known and most popular of the Victorian whips, and his dexterous handling of the ribbons would doubtless excite surprise amongst the older residents, while his familiar face will be quickly recognised by most Victorian travellers. '< Cabbage-tree Ned" was the individual who drove the All England Eleven in the Leviathan coach with twelve greys to the Geelong cricket ground.

Ml- Warden Beetham, writing from the Dis(ricb of Wakatip, under date 14th November, says, " The weather during the past week has been slightly showery, not, however, resulting in any serious rise of the river ; operations, having for their view the turning of its bed, are progressing steadily. Several of the prospecting parties have returned from the West Coast, having experienced bad weather. Some of these parties are .intending to. return at once by a different route, keeping to to the westward and northward of the Lake. Opinions in. regard to the gold bearing nature of the country appear to be rather varied. A small rush has taken place on the banks of the Lake, \ about a mile from Queenstown. Soineoi the parties there employed are earning wages. The two Germans, who had prospected the ground, showed me : yesterday about half an, ounce of fine coloured gold.they had obtained since dinner time. They stated that they obtained the best sample of gold on the very edge of the Lake, some two pennyweight pieces having been picked up by themat the very furthest point they could ■ work into Tthe Lake. The gold was a very beautiful sample, round and of a very light colour.

The Nonconformist settlement scheme appears to ba extending considerably. We learn from the English papers that the ship Sciraetar was to sail from the East India Docks, London, on the 6th October with the first portion of the 3rd thousand of Nonconformist settlers for Albertland, iv the province of Auckland.

The New Zealand Examine)- (London) of the 15th September says :—" A number of privates, belonging to the different regiments in garrison at Chatham, have volunteered their .services into the 2nd Battalion 18th Royal Irish; 40th, 57th, 65th, and 70th Regiments, and also for the 31st, which regiment is ordered from China to New Zealand. A number of men from the different depots at Colchester have also volunteered their services in the above regiments. Deputy Assis-tant-Cornmissary-Geueral Ivan R. C. C. Graham, lately serving at Guernsey, is under orders to proceed to New Zealand." ' ' '

It will probably surprise New Zealand farmers to learn that New Zealand wheat of a very prolific kind has attracted considerable attention among agriculturists. The Worcester Journql says :—" There is now growing at Broughton Hackett, on land in the occupation of Philip Kea, near the Broughton Hackett turnpike-gate, some New Zealand wheat of an extraordinary kind. The grower received last year the corns of the wheat direct from New Zealand, and planted them a foot asunder, and the way in Avhich the plants ' tillered' out is remarkable. No single corn produced less than 17 blades, and some as many as GO, and even up to 65, straw bearing some 50 grains of wheat. The wheat was planted in. October, and is now beginning to ripen."

His Honor Mr Justice Richmond will hold a Sitting in Banco this n-orning at ten o'clock. .

Yesterday his Honor Mr, Justice Richmond received the examinations of "articled clerks and solicitors applying for admission. There were four, applicants,; and the examination was understood to be very severe. The result has not been declared.

The novelties introduced lust night into the performance at the Circus, .and the fineness of the weather brought together a good liouso The beautiful riding of Madame Tournear, in the* character of a flower girl, distributing bouquets as she careered round the ring elicited well deserved bursts of. applause, while the dancing feat of Mr Foley, in his clever management, and riding of three horses at the same time was greeted with vociferous and enthusiastic expressions of delight. Much amusement was caused by the clever " Trick pony," the feats of the Acrobats and the funny wit of Messrs Hall and Airey. A capital programme has been marked out for to-night, and to-morrow,. John-Hall, justly a favorite in Dunedin, will take his benefit. A local version of tf Nervous Cures" will be given by two sisters in burlesque costume of Leslie and Norton.

A public meeting for the purpose of forming a Property Investment Society, will be held at the School House, Tokomairiro, on Saturday next, at 6 o'clock p.m.

His Honor Mr Justice llichhiond will hold another sitting -under the Debtor and Creditors' Act on the 9th January, 1864. A notice is given in our advertising columns that meetings of creditors of certain estates mentioned will be held at the Court-house, on Monday.next, for the purpose of investigating the affairs of the respective insolvents and. for recommending trustees to be nominated by the Court.

The usual weekly practice meeting of the Philharmonic Society will be held this evening, at the Assembly Rooms, Princes-street north.

Notice is given in another column that, in consequence of the Masonic Hall being otherwise occupied, the members of the Choral Society will assemble for practice this evening, at Dr Burns Church, at half-past seven o'clock. .

A special committee meeting of the Caledonian Society will be held this evening at the Otago Hotel, at half-past seven o'clock. As the business is of importance, a full attendance of members is requested. ; P^om our .Lake correspondent we learn that the Hospital Committee at Queenstown met on the 19th inst. The proceedings were almost entirely confined to discussing matters of finance, and accounts amounting in all to £196 18s 9d were ordered to lie paid. A letter was read from Mr Grumett making a demand for £17 10s for expenses said to be incurred on behalf of the Institution and visiting Dunedin." Mr Grumett 'stated that" while in town- he had. spoken to the Provincial Secretary with, regard to the Government grant, and that he considered it was chiefly owing to him that the second thousand ; pounds was granted. ; This demand which caused considerable astonishment, was unanimously rejected on the instant. The Secretary was requested to have the Balance-sheet to 31st October, with a copy of the Bank-hook, forwarded to the Provincial Secretary, and the requisition for the grant-in-aid be made, the same to be made payable at the Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin. ■■.■■;•;

By the arrival of the paddle steamer City of Dunedin, Otago has received a valuable addition to the vessels employed in.the coastal trade of the

colony. Hitherto dependent almost entirely upon the steamer Geeldng,; the various ports between -Dunedin and Lyttelton will novy have the advantage of more regular communication by the addition of a vessel of considerable carrying.capacity, "of unequalled speedy and provided with accommo-

dation for passengers which, in; extent and style .is .^ not, * inferior • to1' < the 'accommodation afforded" in the" best boats : engaged in the inter-colonial trade. The' vessel which thus enhances the accommodation of oxir coastal traffic arrived at Port Chalmers on Monday evening; at Dunediii Jetty'yesterday afternoon ; and at .both places she became the object of considerable interest, large numbers paying her a visitfor : the purpose of inspecting her, and the various mechanical and engineering improvements which have been adopted in her construction and outfit. On proceeding alongside of .her, the City of Dunedin does not strike one as having been built with a view to much elegance of appearance, but . her generally handsome proportions, and: her "thorough adaptation for the trade in which she is to be employed, indicate her to be a most creditable product of her builders, the Messrs Denny of Dumbarton, who have a name as shipbuilders and engineers second to none in the United' Kingdom. On board, the visitor is first pleased with the fine open spar-deik which extends the full length of the vessel, and forms a pleasant promenade for the largest number of passengers she is likely to be required to carry. ;On this deck, forward, one of the novelties which . is first noticeable is the ship's windlass, which is constructed upon a recently patented plan, greatly . aiding the ready mooring and unmooring of the vessel. By the presence of very simple cogs and one or two levers, the delivery of chain can be carried on with the utmost nicety, the windlass itself revolving in the operation, but ceasing to act as soon as thrown oat of gear by the simple appliances attached. Aft, the wheel and steering apparatus stands, and they are also worthy of inspection ; the action of the screw, which is on the principle of an American invention, being

more ready and sure than the action of any of

J the ordinary descriptions of sfceeringgear. Seven ■, feet below this deck is the main deck of the vessel where access is obtained to the fore and after ;. holds, and to the engine room, and where no , Small freight of goods, wool, or stock, may be popveniently stowed. The principal denizen of this deck is Mr Munro, the engineer, who cqurteously informs the visitor of the powers and pepularities of the fine pair of engines by which the vessel is propelled. They are a pair of diagonal engines, nominally of one hundred horse-power bu£ capable, of course, of working up to a much higher mark, the pistons having a stroke of four feet six inches, in cylinders of thirty-eight inches diameter. One very pretty and peculiar contrivance connected with these is Allen's patent link motion, which is employed in the working of the

valves, regulating the einploymentof the st mm with

a nicety which is not accomplished by any of the ~ .appliances which have hitherto been adopted* There is a simplicity and accuracy in the working ' of the safety-valves, •which is also noticeable— perfect communication being had.with these from the engineer's station in the engine-room, where

he has also before him, in a remarkbly concen-

trated form, the means of directing the progress ~ and speed of the boat according to. the instructions of the captain,, as communicated to him from deck by telegraph. The steam, which is turned to the best account by these elaborate arrange-

ments, is produced by two tubular boilers,

heated by four furnaces each, and fed by a 4onkey engine, which, for compactness and finish, is in keeping with all the parts of the engine-room. The accommodation provided for passengers on board the Gity of Efunedin is very Superior, put of her length of 16 ; 0 feet, and her beam qf 33 feet, the saloon and its accessories of ladies! cabin, pantries, &ci, occupy an extensive gpace, the saloon, particularly, being a spacious apartment, tastefully treated by the upholsterer, the painter, and the gilder ; one effort of the painter's being the adornment of the skylight with two very pretty illustrations of local scenery. Including the state-rooms, which are large and well-provided, there are 28 berths, which are. exclusive of 12 in the ladies' cabin —an apartment superior in dimensions and outfit than the ladies' cabins even in the large intercolonial boats. -Lavatories, pantries, officers' rooms, &c. complete the accommodation aft, and in the fore part of the vessel there is a spacious steerage, with mahogany dining tables, 16 comfortable berths, and all conveniences. As a whole, the agents of the vessels, Messsrs Cargill and Co, may be proud of the City of Dunedin, as realising in her appearance all the expectations entertained of her, and with Captain Boyd as her commander, she will no doubt soon prove herself to be.in reality, as well as apparently, a most efficient yesselfor the particular tracle in which she is to be employed.

A notice in our advertising columns informs the ratepayers of the Southward that the election fora member of the Town"Board 'io supply the vacancy caused by., the resignation of Mr John Cargill, will he held on Wednesday the 2nd December, at the Imperial Hotel, commencing at 9 o'clock in. the morning, and concluding at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. In the event of only one candidate being proposed up till eleven o'clock, the election will at that hour be closed. The ratepayer's roll can be inspected at the dfice of the Town Board between the hours often and four o'clock daily.

The following paragraph from the Aryus will interest flock owners generally, and especially those whose flocks are infected with that curse to runholders—scab :—" The half-dozen sheep, which were on the 30th of October dipped in a solution of Allen's specific for scab, have remained ever since on the ground attached to the Government stores, King street, where they have been inspected daily by a number of parsons interested in the result of the experiment. i They were yesterday subjected to a re-dipping, although by some gentlemen who had seen them on the previous day such a step was deemed Unnecessary, and the disense was pronounced to be quite cured. To all who had seen the sheep prior to their first immersion in the solution/a very marked improvement was visible in them yesterday; the rapid disappearance of the disease, the growth of wool on the parts formerly quite bare and diseased, and the great change for the better in the general condition of the animals, were perceptible to the most cursory observer. The latter part of the effect—that of removing the sheep's disinclination for feeding, and allowing it to profit by its food—appears to be a very valuable result of the curative remely of Mr Allen, shewing that none of the ingredients in his specific are in the slightest degree detrimental to the general health of the animal. The sheep will still remain upon the spot for some days, and any persons who saw them in. their original state, by repeating their visit will be at once enabled to form their opinion of the effect produced by the remedy applied."

We have to remind our readers that the first monthly meeting of the members of the Dunedin Building and Mutuallnvestraent Society, for payment of subscriptions, will be held on Wednesday, the 2nd December, at the Masonic Hall, Princes street, until which time applications for shares will be received.

Tenants of the Municipal Estate of the Town Board will find a notice in another column to the effect that all arrears of rents due to the Town Board, under the " Dunedin Municipal Estate Ordinance, 1182," must be paid on or before the 10th December, failing which, legal proceedings will be taken. ; •