Our Dunedin Letter.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXI, Issue 1042, 13 July 1894, Page 6

Our Dunedin Letter.

«►— [FllO3r OIIK O\VN T CORRESPONDENT.] Tho usual weather prevalent in July lias been in evidence since my last communication —a little sunshine, a little frost, and a good deal of rain. As a consequence of the latter our streets and , footpaths are not in the best of conditions for pedestrianism. In the city proper the streets aro not so bad, being all asphalted, but in outside localities 'and suburbs it is difficult to get along. Notwithstanding the rates we pay, some of our roads, etc, are in a deplorable condition, as as a rule local bodies generally { commence to sort them up when winter is too advanced, and in many cases make things worse instead of better. I suppose as regards locomotion we shall not have any improvement until that universal road-maker — viz., summer, puts in an appearance. His Worship, being away at Wellington attending the Municipal Conference, wa3 not. present at the usual fortnightly meeting (.f the City Council, and proceedings were somewhat tnme and did not last long, but as Mr Gourloy has a motion relative to His Worship's action relative to Mr Dawson at a recent meeting no doubt things will be lively when next tho council meets. The usual half-yearly meetings of the various friendly societies have been taking place, and from the records published Foresters, Oddfellows, Druids, etc., all seem to be in a very satisfactory financial position, while affording sick and general benefits to all those members requiring the same. The monthly meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors was held on Thursday, when the following members were present — T?ev. A. R. Fifcchett (chairman), Messrs Gray Russell, J. R. Sind:iir, H. 01 ark, anrl M. Fmer. A irood doal of routine business was attended to. Tlip Education department has expressed willingness f.«r the Inspector-General to act in conjunction with a. primary schooi inspector in examining the high schools, and thft board now await a reply from the North Canterbury Board befo'e fixing f. date for such to take place. Several applications were made for reduced rentals on reserves, but no action was taken in the meantime. I notice that a fresh advertisement is inserted anent rector for the Balclntha District High School, and a salary is offered sufficient to induce a first-class man to apply, and if tho committee net judiciously in securing tho best applicant available no doubt in due course Balclutha District High School will be as urood as Milton and Lawrence, where, according to the last annual reports, excellent work in secondary education 13 being done. Dr Talmage, to use an Americanism, "struck ile " in Dunedin last week, his three lectures — " Bright Side of Things," "Big Blunders," and " Souial vScandlil" — in the Garrison Hall, drawing large audiences on each occasion, and all who ' h?ard him were well pleased with his interesting and instructive remarks. On Sunday evening he preached in Knox Church, ami notwithstanding the unpleasant weather the place was crowded \o the doors, hundreds being unable to gain admission. In fact it was so crowded that the service was nearly being like the play, of "Hamlet" with the Prince of Denmark left out, for it was with ereat difficulty that, Dr Talmage gained access to the building, and he was very neai'lv left out, Saturday was a fine day over head, and the footballers mustered in great force, although the grounds were very slopy and playing was very difficult. The Kaikorai boys were again the fore, and defeated the Pirates 36 points to nil. Their total score up to date is 230 points ayainst four points. The s.s. Gothic was the great attraction on Thursday last, and several thousands of people paid her a visit, and were highly gratified at their inspection. It should be very satisfactory to our harbour board, considering all the hard things said from time to time about our harbour, that such a magnificent vessel, second only in size to the Great Eastern, should be able to come and go without in any way being inconvenienced by want of depth of water on the bar. On Friday morning a lajrcre number of representative citizen* paid her a, visit, and, were very hospitably en*

tertained by Captain Jenrings, and a very pleasant morning eventuated. The teachers annual conference was held last week, and between 30 and 40 members were in attendance, several practical papers were read by different teachers, and no doubt the comparing of iH'tes, etc., will lead to ultimate good to a number in the future. An address by Mr Davidson on " Our Education System " was an excellent one, and he must have devoted considerable time in getting up statistics relative to other colonies as well as our own, and in the comparison as to costs, etc., we come out very well indeed.