DUNEDIN GOSSIP.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1360, 14 May 1895, Page 4

DUNEDIN GOSSIP.

* [I’HOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Dunedln, May 10. There is really a more cheerful spirit prevalent in business circles in Dunedin, and indications that enterprise is not quite dead yet. It would be idle to say that there is any improvement in business. That, at this period of the year, would bo too much to expect; but, so far, there has been no increase of deadness which was expected to follow. It is too early in the winter yet to speak with much confidence, but the indications are hopeful. To show enterprise is not dead, one instance may be given. It is selected because it is something novel. One of our largest hardware houses finding, as

the principal thought, a tendency on tiie part of general merchants to out into his particular business by selling nails, etc., has retaliated, and gone extensively into the tea trade. Just fancy, going to your ironmonger for your tea. One other instance may bo mentioned. For years past, there has never been less than 20 vacant shops in George-street, at one point or another. The number is now down to 11. The trustees who administer the affairs of the Benevolent Institution are beginning to be about “full up.” The duties are, at all times, unpleasant, and very few care to go out of their way to be brought face to face _ with misery and poverty. But when, in addition, one is liable to be attacked in the most unreasonable manner, and denounced in the public prints as unfeeling monsters who grudge charity, or as incompetent squanderers of the public funds, the position becomes unbearable. Every year, when rates have to be struck, a howl comes from Roslyu, and Mr A. C. Begg was to the fore again this year. He not only denounced the whole system, but proceeded to show his peculiar idea of charity by urging that some of those in receipt of relief should be called for in return to work for the Borough Council, by cleaning out the offices, etc. Mr Begg, looking on only one side of the question, fails to observe that if such a plan were generally adopted, it would be creating a new class of claimants. Many honest, hardworking women, who do not care to receive charity, subsist and rear families by doing such jobs, and Mr Begg’s scheme would deprive them of their living. Mr Begg’s attack was followed up by another from South Dunedin ; but, as in this case, the leader of the attack has had the audacity to tell the chairman of the trustees that they should pay no attention to what they said it may be as well to follow his advice. But when next a howl is raised at South Dunedin, the press will probably refrain from giving it publicity. As in your last issue you dealt with one phase of the VVaiareka case aud your telegrams may probably convey some news concerning it, the case being still sab judice, it may be as well to refrain from comment, save to draw attention to the undoubted strong feeling prevalent that members of the Board are not capable of j ndgiug the case dispassionately. Party feeling was allowed to enter at a very early stage, aud recent events have deepened that feeling to such an extent that, however anxious members may be to throw it aside—and although they may succeed, the general public will have no confidence in the decision however it goes. in this connection Mr J. J. Ramsay has shown himself unexpectedly strong as a controversialist. He was. usually set down as a mere echo of the Hon. J. Macgregor, but his letters on this subject have quite taken those, who have read them, oy surprise, and Mr Cohen, journalist though he be, will have all his work to do to reply to him. It is stated that our licensing committee, in their wisdom, have decided to continue 10 o’clock licenses and refuse to issue conditional licenses. It cannot be said the reform, if such it be, has had any material effect on the sobriety of the city, and, so far as can be learned, the publicans appear to be doing as much business as ever. No doubt the reduction in some of the houses has had something to do with this. There is no gainsaying the fact that the 10 o’clock closing is highly inconvenient, but whether it is sufficiently so to induce a public agitation remains to be seen. It was hinted nearly 12 mouths ago that publicans had resolved to strictly observe the law as the annual licensing meeting approached, so that an expression of public opinion which would have an influence on the bench, must follow. Possibly they are observing the letter of the law, but one only hears a growl occasionally from the inconvenienced, and that usually from strangers. It is occasionally very convenient to have a professional name, and to insist upon using it on every occasion except in legal matters. The result may be that if the individual happens to be brought to court to answer a charge which does not redound to his credit, the true name only is given—unless it be a police affair, in which case they would, no doubt, add alias —with the result that the unthinking public who have allowed the real name to slip from their memories, are none the wiser for the escapade. A professional man in Dunedin has just had this experience. Strange to say there is such a superabundance of cheek and such an entire absence of shame, that he has the assurance to invite the public to publicly support him in an undertaking to put money in his packet, aud this, after figuring in a case, which on the face of it should cause his banishment from the society of decent, selfrespecting persons, and especially women.