Our Dunedin Letter.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1164, 23 October 1896, Page 6

Our Dunedin Letter.

i [From Oub Own Cobbespondent.] The general election is beginning to be the topic of conversation and I suppose ere long we shall have every night occupied by a political meeting. Mr T. K. Sidey who intends to stand for Caversham opened the ball at South Dunedin last Frida}' evening, when he addressed a very large, meeting of electors in that portion of the constituency and was exceedingly well received" He gave a. capital address and displayed a great deal | of ability in dealing with the different public questions. He is the y wngest of the candidates for legislative honours, | but his views would do credit to politicians of more mature years. He has taken a very prominent part in local politics in Caversham, and in the position of mayor of that borough displayed a great deal of ability in the discharge of the duties apertaining to the office. He is a young New Zealander and was born in the electorate. The other candidates are Mr A. Morrison the present member who will be supported by the Labour party, Mr W. Barron an ex M.H.R., and Mr T. Begg a settler at Andersons Bay. For Dnnedin Mr A.' C. Begg will open proceedings in the Princess theatre on Friday evening. Messrs J. A. Millar, D. Pinkerton and W. Hutchison are the government candidates, and also the nominees of the labour organisations. The roll for the city of Dunedin will' contain about 19,000 names and it will take about 6000 | votes to put a candidate in. Judging from the names mentioned I should imagine, if nominated, they will prob ibly contribute some " coin " to the consolii dafed rovenue. The aspirants so far who it is said will " face the music " are Messrs Millar, Pinkerton, Hutchison, Begg, Fish, Earnshaw, Murray-Aston, Burton, \ Lester, Haynes, C. f?.. Chapman, Wathen, Muir, and Nichol. I should think only the first six named are at all " in it " and j j I should not be at all surprise to see the successful three Messrs Millar, Earnshaw, and Fish. At a special meeting of the directors of the Caledonian society Mr W. Reid was selected out of twenty six candidates to fill the position of secretary rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Clegs?. The choice is a very suitable one as Mr Reid is a very capable man and will be well and favourably known to Clutha residents in connection with the firm of ' Mills Dick and Co., of which he was a member for many years, travelling through the .vhole of Ofcago and Southland. Arrangements were also made for the annual gathering at the New \ear and a successful gathering is expected. The Burns Club held their usual monthly meeting on Monday night so as not to clash with the bands contest on Wednesday evening. There was a large gathering and the programme was a" a varied and excellent one. The telegraphic chess match between Wellington and Dunedin was continued on Saturday evening and the first win was scored by the former, Mr Mackay beating Mr Balk after the thirtieth move. The position of the other players is varied, Wellington having slightly the advantage. The cricket season was duly commenced on Saturday when several club matches were played but not finished, except in the junior cup match when the newly established Roslyn Club defeated the Oarrisbrook D by 41 runs. The adverse, weather vras detrimental to good play and

a number of matches were adjourned in consequence; The Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith for a quarter of a century has ministered to the wants of the Presbyterians at Naseby and evidently with great acceptation to them and engendered a kindly feeling' with other denominations. The completion of hie %t silver wedding " (if 1 may so use the term) with hia Naseby people wan mad<» the occasion of a great social and peoplo assembled from all parts of the Mount Ida district to do him honour. Visitors came from Cromwell and congratulatory messages were sent from all - parts of the country. Mr and Mrs Smith we're the recipients from their people of a horse, it, handsome couch, arm' chairs, and a sewing machine, while the Rev. S. Hawthorne on behalf of the Anglican community presented a congratulatory illuminated address. The function altogether was a great success. Since writing my paragraph anent the general election I notice Mr G. Clark of Hooper's Inlet has been addressing the electors of Waikouaitt at Kavensbourne. He has lived for 36 years on the Peninsula, and is evidently not a '"fin de siecle " candidate of the nineteenth century jiidg* ing "from the tenor of his remarks. He said politics wero next to religion, and no country could be great unless accompanied by goodness and quoted Queen Victoria's reply in answer to a foreign prince as she placed her hand on the Word of God, " This is the secret of England's greatness."