DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 194, 29 July 1873, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

ByO.P.Q.

The Guardian made ita appearance at our breakfast tables on Wednesday morning, and lias been very cordially received by the public generally. Its proprietary is a most extensive one, shares in the venture being held by all classes of the community ; and in this the directors have certainly adopted a policy calculated to make the paper a success. Most of the business people of the city being numbeved amongst its shareholders, it now only remains for the literary department to be well conducted to ensure its commanding the confidence and support of the public. There are of course many defects observable in its first issues, but these were only to be expected until everything has been got into smooth working order. £15.000 or £IO,OOO of the capital have been already subscribed for. and the remainder of the shares in the company are. I believe, being rapidly disposed of. It is the intention of the directory to spare neither trouble nor money in the endeavour to make the Guardian a first-class journal; and the support which has been already accorded it argues well for its future; although it might at the same time be as well to say that it has evidently been started rather hastily so far as practical arrangements are concerned. The staff of compositors is anything but equal to the task of bringing out the paper, the type is too large, and the paper on which it is printed is wretchedly poor in quality. It would certainly have been better to have waited a month or two longer, and had everything in proper order for making a fair start. However, these are defects which time will remedy. Accidents never seem to come singly. No sooner had the remains of the poor fellow who was run over on the Port Chalmers Railway bne been interred, than another fatality occurred near the foot of Union-street, Dunedm. There is an old bridge over the Water of Leith near the locality in question, which was formerly used by the prisouers in connection with quarryiug operations carried on there some time since ; and while crossing tip's bridge on Monday night, a man named M-Leod, in an endeavour to save his hat. which bad blown oft', fell into the stream, and was drowned. The water is generally pretty deep at this spot, and at the time of the accident it was much deeper than usual, owing; to the long-continued rain which had beeu falling previously. The evidence adduced at the inquest was contradictory as to the man's sobriety, but it is presumed that he was the worse for liquor. The motion of MrMaclvellar in connection with the railway for Cromwell comes on for consideration in the Provincial Council iolvght, and in conversations I have had with one or two of our members. I have been informed that there is every prospect of it bernr* carrie 1. If so. it will not be such a very long time before Cromwell is connected by rail with, tlie capital of the Province. Mr J. L. Gillies has been elected by the! Waitouaiti omstiaieucy as their member ini ibe Bouse of Representatives by a very large majority over his opponent Mr Prait. the Mpyor of Waikouaiti. Mr Pratt p died a considerable majority in Waikouaiti proper, but at Pahnerston and Merton Mr Ci'lies's majority was very huge. This might have been expected, as during the coui"st for the Superioteudency Mr Gillies polled larger numbers than Mr Macaudrew at those j places. The coming City Council emotions are now exercising the good people of the city. There is no lack of candidates anxious for Municipal honours, and among the number is our own late Mayor, Mr Fish, who announces himself as a candidate for South Ward, for which his election is certain. Whatever may be sanl of his extreme bumptiousness, it must certainly be admitted that he filled the civic! chair during his long term of office with foe utmost credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of all. friends and foes. This is conceded f by all. Should our new Mayor. Mr Mercer, i be able to retire from office nest year with as I high encomiums as have been passed upon Mr I F'.sVs able administration of his municipal j duties, the ratepayers will have everv reason! to be glad of their selection.