Dunedin.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1015, 4 June 1878, Page 5

Dunedin.

"♦» . (From our "own Correspondent.) Mr I. N. Watt, the somewhat eccentric Resident Magistrate who officiates at the. City Police Court, has been getting some rather hard knocks from one of the evening papers, and. he does not|seem to like it. He attempted a defence of his conduct from the Bench, hut did not sucoeed in improving matters, During the past, six months some of Mr Watts' decisions have given rise lo a good deal of' unfavourable comment, and his demeanour is not always calculated to maintain the dignity of the Bench. In my last letter- 1 told you that the electric light was to be used in connection with the harbour dredging contract, in order that work might be carried on night and day. A trial of one of these lights— Gramme's patent ' — was made on Saturday night from the roof of a building on the reclaimed ground, and the result was quite satisfactory, although I the five-horse power engine, hy which the j apparatus is worked, was not in jthe best

order, having only just been erected. At a distance of three or four hundred yards from the light it was possible to read very Bmall print. Six of these lights are to be used, four of Gramme's and two of Siemens. One ia to be placed at Logan's Point, another near the end of the Rattray-street jetty, where the retaining wall has been built, and the other four will be placed on the dredges. This is the first time the electric light has been used in connection with public works in New Zealand, although it iB in very general • use in England and France; An interesting discussion took place at the meeting of the Otago Educational Institute on Saturday, on the subject of the teaching of elementary science in the public schools. It is prescribed in the new Education Act that elementary science shall be taught ih the schools, and the object of the meeting on Saturday was to obtain the opinions of the members of the Institute upon the subject, and to decide as to the best means to be adopted for the introduction of such teaching. The question was first brought prominently under the notice of the public at the annual -session of the Otago Educational Institute, held in April last, when Professor Black read au able ' paper entitled " The place and treatmentof science . jn schools." The Professor read another paper -on the same subject at a subsequent meeting of the Institute, and on Saturday he -brought forward his views in the shape of formal resolutions. The members of the Institute almost unanimously decided that the introduction of science into elementary schools was • highly desirable, and they were resolved upon adopting means for carrying but the principle they approved. One of the most pleasant places in Dunedin wherein to spend an idle hour is undoubtedly the large cafe, at Watson's Commercial Hotel. Messrs W. and J. Watsonhave spared no expense in making their house one of the most commodious in the colonies, and the cafe", which has just been re-painted, redecorated, and re-carpeted, is now one of the handsomest rooms one could wish to see. It has also been furnished in a most luxurious manner with large cushioned library chairs, and as all the leading newspapers and periodicals — including the Bbuoe Herald' and ' Mataura Ensign ' can always be found there— the place ia one of the favourite resorts of the public. Those who have been long in Dunedin know that most of the clocks to be seen from the streets are not to be trusted, especially 'that eccentric timepiece over the old University building, now the Cblonial Bank. Mr Wat3on has furnished his cafe with a large clock that always indicates the railway time, so that travellers may sit there without fear of losing the train. There are a number of wild young men about town, whose mission appears to be to wear good clothes, and to accost unprotected females in the" 1 -' -streets. The other night a good looking and smart girl who earns her living as a domestic servant, was returning to her employer's home with a tolerably heavy load of groceries, and other provisions, when she was. accosted by one of the youths I have referred to. " May I carry that basket for you, Miss," saidthe, with the most insinuating of smiles. "Tes, if you like," said the girl, and the youth relieved her of her burthen, and walked by her side, trying to make arrangements for an interview on a future Sunday. While he was pouring his honeyed words into her ears, that girl took him round two blocks, and almost back to the place whence he came. Then she • asked him if he was tired, and he said, "rather." "Well," said she, " give me my basket, and let me go in, for I live just here. I'm not such a fool as I look." " The young man Js of the same opinion.