Dunedin Gossip.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2285, 19 February 1912, Page 5

Dunedin Gossip.

(Fhum 0 uk Own Cokkisspondent.) Dunedin, February 1(>. The political situation and speculation as to what will follow the assembling of Parliament has b'.'eu the general topic of conversation during the past few days, but as the political situation will have developed somewhat before these lines appear it would -4i£ useless to trouble you with the spccjnaiious of outsiders. Next to the politic;! situation has been ihc labour situation,*arising out of the Wellington tramway strike and its settlement. Fortunately we in Otago are not directly affected and so far none of the Unionists in Duncdin have made any sign that they are prepared to bring about, trouble. The Federation of Labour has not mule the progress that they have made in the North, t?ie unions so far remaining more or less loyal to the Trades and Labour Council, and being inclined to support the unity proposals advanced by Professor Mills of Chicago. Our wharf labourers and the Otago Harbour Board arc not quite in agreement. In order to keep in line with what has been done elsewhere, the Board resolved to build a place of shelter with baths provided with hot and cold water, and other conveniences. The building was erected when the Board discovered that it wanted new offices and it was decided to take up portion of the space which the lumpers thought was to be given for their use. The latter now allege that the Board his broke faith with them an 1 lliey decline to accept the accommodation on the terms proposed, on the ground that it is insufficient and that they would have no privacy. That is our only labour trouble at present. Evidently there is no scarcity of money for amusements. The three theatres continue to be well patronised but there was quite a rush to book seats for the 11. B. Irving season. The booking office bpencd at 1) o'clock on Wednesday morning. Two hours before that time those desirous of booking seats began to assemble and from that, right on until 5 o'clock there was quite a little crowd waiting patiently until their turn came to get in and part with their money. This is quite a novel experience in Duncdin as theatre-goers are usually very slow about booking seats. Jn contrast to this crowd was another of about 200 applicants for two- small grazing runs waiting their turn outside the Lands office to be examined as to their means and their suitability to become lessees of the ruiii in question. It is scarcely likely that, all were seeking the runs for their own use, as in all land ballots more than one in a family put in applications in older to increase the chances of success. Making allowance for this there must be a very large number of individuals who want to settle on the land and become ]>r>diiecrs if they could get the chance. There is something strange about such a shite of affairs in a country not. half settled yet. The championship regatta w;h held at Waihola last week when the weather was on its best behaviour. The poor showing made by Otago in the championship events has again promoted the inquiry whether there is a steady degeneration in the young people of the district. A- cursory examination would appear to favour that idea, ] n rowing, Otago for a couple of years held its own and for some years was top of the tree (so to say), the fours, ptirs, and the sculling championships coming this way. But of recent years not only hive the rowing men been,unable to make a show at championships, but every year the Otago crew has gone down before Invercargill. M'Grath in his prime ; pulled off the sculling championship I but no one has came forward likely to take his place and the veteran was the only one who could be found to represent the province. Of course he could not hold his own against a younger opponent.

Taking a single sport docs not afford much. of a test, because lean and fat years in ay be expected, But the falling oil" seems to be general. Iu athletics there is no champion at any branch in and around Dunedin. At football we do not seen to be able to hold our own with the Northeners. At cricket we have gone back steadily for some years and at lawn tennis we have never been able to hold our own,. In no branch of sport can it be said that our young men have any supremacy, or are better than second or third rate as compared with otherparts of the Domimion. Why this should be so it is not easy to understand. It may be that for' want of openings locally the most vigorous and energetic of our young men make their way elsewhere and that in this way those who might be champions leave us. Our crieketors. have a chance this week of gaining some laurels by beating the Aucklanders who have regained the Plunket shield from Canterbury. Will they rise to the occasion ?