DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Issue 63, 7 June 1866, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,) .May 26. The long-continued tack of fine weather we have had was becoming rather a serious .matter to many of the residents in town, more particularly to those in the higher streets, from the scarcity of water. Tanks, barrels, and such, like stores, had long been reduced to the lowest dregs, and sup* plios of the indispensable element had to be brought in drays, at great expense, and from considerable distances. Happily, however, a copious shower, which fell on Thursday morning, has put a temporary end to this inconvenience. It is to be hoped that the Water Company, which was to have had the town supplied this winter,- -will now put on a spurt, and push thqir works forward to completion. What with the squabbling betAveen the engineer and the contractor, nearly a whole year has been lost. The laying of the main pipe is. to be cqmmenced in George street at once, a few hundred yards of pipe being now rea,dy on the street. The Acclimatisation Sociot3 r held their annual' meeting, on Tuesday. The report showed that very little had been done during the year beyond clearing and fencing the grounds, and preparing for th.3 reception of specimens i but it spoke very hopefully of the future, more particularly as the Government offer £2. for every £1 subscribed.* by ths public in aid of the ob* jgcts of the society, The bye-iaws recently passed by the Qity Council continue to be productive of nothing but unjilcosantness. Last week, the firewood-dealers were up in arms against them; this week, the express* drivers and the cabmen are both in a state of growl. A "number of the former were pulleil up and" fined in small amounts for leaving their horses while looking after tho loading of their veliicles, although, by the provision of the " Town and Country Police Ordinance," the driver is expressly bound to assist in doing so. When tliis was pointed out to the Mayor, the wise man very considerately reduced the fines from 5s and costs to Is, though why he should have fined them at all. or how they are to carry on their business without assisting \n loading up, remains a problem to which His Worship oilers no solution. 801 l Hill may now be almost numbered among the things that were, at least au far as that part of it is concerned on which so much labor and gunpowder have been expended during the last thrc6 ycara or so. The excavations are completed on the reserve part of the hill, which is now a roughly level expanse, and operations are to be immediately begun on some of tho leased sections in Moray-place. Prison labor is to be immediately put on the work of dredging the harbor alongside the Ra£tray street jetty, so as to allow of ; the passenger traffic being altogether" diverted from the old jetty, which is, too far gone to be worth repairing. Thursday, being Queen's Birthday, was observed as a holiday pretty generally all round. The Volunteers turned out in the morning, and the usual parade and firing of salutes took place. But the great event of "the day wa3 the Port Chahnjer's. Regatta, "which, like the one in Dunedin lately, was a comjilete success. The morning was dull and wet, but the day gradually cleared up, and there was a strongish S.W. freeze blowing, which was just the thing for the sailing matches, and being off shore at the Port, did not rougheji the water too much for the pulling races. There were eleven races, sailing and pulling, and altogether, there were sixty entries. The prizes were very liberal, varying in amount from a splendid silver cup, presented by T. Tayler, Esq., for the All Comers' Sailing Match, through various handsome sums, down to £6 for a first prize. The races were, without exception, well contested, and all passed off witlraß^- other accident than the capsizing of one of the boats in the first sailing, race. The . pleasures of the day were J agreeably diversified by a sham fight got up by the Naval Brigade, after they had gone through the usual salutes, <fee, at the three-gun battery onshore. Aschooner (the Caroline) was supposed to have made an attack on the Port,- and the Brigade manned two launches in defence. All the craft engaged had* guns on board, and a very pretty and exciting scene was the result. The firing for some timewa3 very warm on both sides ; but the ammunition on board the schooner running out, she was, after a gallant defence, boarded; by the two boats, captured, and her colors hauled down. The whole affair . wa3 very creditably" conducted, and .the boats' crews were received with cheers as they, returned flying the captured flag. There was a great . crowd ; the steamers from. town conveyed full loads,, and. by the road numerous buggies conveyed parties to the scene. The Port hardly ever looked so gay, and frotn the high -points on both sides,. the appearance of Koputai Bay and thexliannel .beyond-was very animated. Both theatres vhave; been. open during the week, . but .with,- I am sorry to say, : very poor encouragement to- either. In the Princessjs, Miss Aitken, supported by what must be admitted to be a very fair company, has appeared- in Borne favorite pieces ; but Mr O'Brien's management has. not been.. appreciated by the public. Mis 3 Aitken's. engagement terminates this evening. The engagement of the Heinos also comes to 'a close to-night, when the

Royal will remain closed for a short time. They have been assisted by Mrs Mitchell and Mr Rainford as vocalists,- but have been playing to very slender aiidiences all the week. The Heines appear at Port Chalmers- for two nights;, prior to leaving the Province, at the beginning of next week. The drought has-had'considerable'effe'ct in reducing tho yield on thevaribus gold fields, From all districts the same story i 3 repeated- of want of water ; bivt on Thursday and yesterday a good, deal of rain fell, which, it is hoped, will fill the races- and set matters right again. This morning, the weather is clear, tho temperature low, and inclined to frost. Business has been quiet during, the week, with little change in values; except for candles and kerosene, -which both rule higher. ' Tho Maria is at the heads, with part of original cargo from Glasgow, having discharged- the- other at the Blufi".