DUNEDIN GOSSIP.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1372, 13 August 1895, Page 4

DUNEDIN GOSSIP.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.! ,' Dunedin-, August 9. The raciest correspondence published for some time past is that m which Messrs Riley and Hudson, two of our flourmillers, were principals. Mr Hudson, it appears, told a clergyman all about the so called "wheat ring. Mr Riley, learning this publicly, challenged Vlr Hudson to the proof, but Mr Hudson failed to furnish it. Mr Riley's next letter was about the warmest seen in print for a while. He indicated that instead of making the handsome profits he tried to make Mr Hudson was actuated by spleen and spite ; that the man who tried to pose as a philanthropist and enemy of rings was the man who had tried to make a corner in wheat; and that his conduct in connection with an auction sale of wheat was sufficient to secure his expulsion from every auction mart in the city. Mr Hudson's reply to these spirited charges appears to be weak. It is to be hoped the correspondence will go a little further, and we shall have some interesting light on wheat rings and the like. But Mr Riley (better known as the Rev. . Mr Riley) appears to carry too many guns for his opponent. As to a wheat ring, it is more than doubtful if it really exists. Millers bought up every bushel they 1 could secure when the market was rising. Then, at the weekly auctions, when millers like Mr Hudson, who is understood to have secured but little wheat,/ attempted' to purchase the small parcels offered, those who held stocks run these parcels up to an unprofitable , price; hence the charge of a wheat ring. Dr Belcher's resignation of the rectorship of the Boys' High School was a surprise and not a surprise. He has for some time past told his intimate friends that he intended resigning at the end of the year, but, as no reason was advanced, the statement passed without attracting much attention. There has been some trouble lately between himself and the Board of Governors, but this, it is believed, has - nothing to do with the step he has taken. These is no doubt that under Dr Belcher .therb has been a wonderful improvement in th«|. High School. He established a love ariam esprit de corps, which previous reotorsf||fr had completely failed in .doing, v.."-But§fl| there is much'of the Bohemian in the '7*s Dr's character, and it may be that-he sighs for the greater freedom which is to —- be gained in London for a man of his literary attainments. Mr A. Wilson, of the Girls' High School, who succeeds him, should make a good successor. He is respected and popular with his students, and will, no doubt, soon gain the confidence of the boys, although he has a somewhat dour way with him at; first which will stand a little in his way. It i is presumed the Board of Governors will revert to a lady principal for the Girls' School, and save a hundred or so. The news of the death in England of Or Shadrach Jones recalls the time; when he was the leading spirit in Dunedin, and it* one could only get hold of an old timer who knew and could put together the story of those days, what a romance it would seem. After studying for a;, doctor Mr Jones made .his way to ;, ; Victoria, where he witnessed and took part in some stirring events. Many of these he no doubt created, for it was the • nature of the man to be ever evolving fresh schemes. Then he came to Dunedin. He ran the Provincial Hotel, the theatre, and a second hotel, and yet lie had many other sohemes on hand, d unting,: steeplechasing, and cricket, all received an impetus from him, and. what money he used to make.'*' His maaagef vent round the seven or eight bars in the Provincial; Hotel, when closing time ' came, with a bucket to collect the cash. Hundreds a day must have been taken. When Mr Jones left Dunedin, there is'a story cold that two men were engaged all lay and night itt"* conveying to Port ' Jhalmers the bags of sovereigns which he was taking with him. When he returned 20 years later and set up as a doctor in a quiet way in Tapanui, people could not believe that it was the Shadrach Jones whose name was a name to conjure by among the leading men of Dunedin in the early goldfields' days. But the spirit of unreßt was on him, and he has wandered from place to place until now he has gone to bis last account, at the; venerable age of 74 years. There is a very pretty quarrel on between the Executive of the Women's Franchise League and the Inspector for die Benevolent Trustees. .The ladies, apparently tired of discussing risky questions and passing resolutions on subjects which very few men could speak about to women folk, started a most laudable enterprise in a soup kitchen and sewing bee. The visitors discovered a case which they deemed formed a strong argument for the appointment of a female inspector, and instantly proclaimed the fact: The trustees' inspector became ' nettled because it was he who asked the ladies to make some inquiries about the case, and submitted a report which went perhaps a little too far in condemning the philanthropy of the ladies as ill advised. The league has replied, and its reply is, of course, unanswerable, inasmuch as the strong point in it is that the woman whose case is being discussed, would : naturally be debarred from detailing her 1 case to a mere male inspector. The reply, which will no doubt come up at the next meeting of the trustees, will be looked for with interest. The administration of the trustees and their inspector has never yet been successfully impugned, and i£ tne inspector is able to prove the leaders of the league to be injudicious, there will be a snigger of quiet satisfaction among male folk who are beginning to tire a little of the continued heroics of their petticoated masters. Some surprise has been felt at the action of the Unemployed Relief Com- '■' mittee in refusing any assistance to the ' Miner's Association, formed to send the unemployed on the goldfields in the hope that they may there make a living. , Much of the work now being carried on is only of value as beautifying the surronndings of the city, and were it not the bad effect it would produce, the men employed might as well be paid without asking for an equivalent fin work. The scheme of the Miner's Association, even if it fails, will be valuable as it would prove whether there is anything in ' the cry always; raised that men under good leaders can always earn a good living on our goldfields. Then there is the chance of its being a modified success, and there is the possibility that it might lead to ■ new discoveries and inaugurate a new era. It is the potentialities of the scheme which render it attractive, and it is therefore a pity that the association was not assisted in testing it. Although not stated, it is understood the objection is mostly of a personal nature. The enterprising individual who brought forward the matter prominently this winter is not admired by those, on whose corns he has trod, and it is to be feared that a promising scheme will be crippled for lack of the sinews of war.