DUNEDIN NOTES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1932, 15 October 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN NOTES.

[erom a correspondent.] " Near a whole city full, Home she had none," The ladies of Dunedin are determined that the words of the poet shall have no cause to be realised in all their frightful meaning here, as their best efforts are directed to the establishment of a Female Refuge for such unfortunates of the frailer sex that may require or deserve it," " Homes," infact, seem to be the prevailing hobby just now. The papers tell us the Sailors Home is au fait accompli. A dreadfully business-like meeting or the " lead- . ing ladies" of the city was held the other day, to initiate a "Servants Home" movement on somewhat model principles; next day the "respectable servants" of Otago intimated their, desire, per advertisement, to start a model school for the training of mistresses, so you will observe how reciprocal are the sentiments of employers and employed. ..•-.:■•• a The Canary and Poultry Show was a great success, the wonder being where all the varieties of the feathered tribe came from, the " mingling of sweet' sounds" as you entered the hall was something to be remembered. I think the birds most admired were a pair each of gold and silver pheasants, the plumage of both kinds being magnificent. The frequency wibh which the Government immigrants adorn the annals of the Resident Magistrate's Court is disgraceful. It would seem the " barracks, as the depot is termed, must be rather a "warm" place of residence on some evenings of the week. The present system of immigration i 3 likely to prove a curse to the I Colony, and what should be to us a source lof satisfaction— the frequency of the 1 arrivals— is considerably, the reverse. Another 400 is reported to-day in the ship Christian M'Ausland. - ' ; The support which the Colonial Bank < has received throaghout the Colony, ia highly flattering to Dunedin ; the provisional directors seem to be the men iin : the right place. A meeting oo r the'shareholders was held this afternoon in the Masonic Hall, which was crowded. The freehold near the New Zealand Bank was bought for L 6300, but as it wa3 not required these gentlemen sold it for L7OOO, making a nice little profit towards preliminary expenses. The bank will be opened to-morrow in the premises lately occupied by tha Union Bank. As predicted in a former letter, winter has returned to U3 with extreme rigor, ; hail, rain, and snow in abundance, the cold blusterous winds rudely reproving dame Nature for putting forth the tender bud and blossom, rioting in a manner highly detrimental to the future fruits and flowers. Dunedin seems to have " broke out all over" in amatuer concerts this mouth, notwithstanding which the very clever Combination Troupe have drawn excellent houses. They are by far the cleverest, and most astonishing gymnasts that have appeared in the Colonies, while the feats of Val Vose in ventriloquism must be seen and heard to be even guessed at. The lovers of first-class musical talent are on the gui vive for the promised visit of' Madame Arabella Goddard, when a rich treat is expected. ' ' Arrangements are progressing favorably for a visit this cricketing season from a Victorian eleven, and as the programme provides for their return via Hokitika, it is not unlikely your "knights of the willow" may have an opportunity of trying conclusions with them, and oui bono! perhaps to redeem the honor of the the Dunedin and Canterbury united, .