OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 461, 3 February 1864, Page 3

OTAGO.

I>BOM OUR OWN COBBESPONDEOT."] Dunedin, Monday, Jan. 25. The advertising columns of our local newspapers here inform me that the Lord Ashley will sail immediately after the arrival of the English mail, and as that is now eight days overdue and there is no knowing at what moment it may come in, I prepare my correspondence at this date, and keep it open for a postscript should anything important or of interest turn up. A very great calamity has fallen on our Province. Pleuro-pneumonia has made its dread appearance among our herds. Many cattle have died of the disease ; many more have had to be slaughtered and burned, and it is greatly feared that the disease has spread far and wide through our province. Pleuro-pneumonia was first observed some days back in a herd of cattle, the property of Mr. John Jones of Waikouaiti. Thirty head had died before notice was given to the Government of the circumstance, and it has since continued to spread among our cattle. Three districts are infected — Waikouaiti, West Taieri, aud Tokomairiro. It is difficult at present to foresee the termination of the scourge. The government have adopted the most stringent measures by officially proclaiming the infected districts and sending a competent inspector into each of them armed with powers to examine and destroy all infected cattle. A cordon has been drawn round these districts beyond which no cattle may pass aud none enter. Proclamations have also been published forbidding the importation of cattle from Victoria, excepting only the Gipps Land and Mornington districts. There are many who urge the government to shut out Victoria altogether from our markets ; but the Executive fear that doing this would cause a rise in the price of meat which would be severely felt now by all classes. I sincerely trust your province may escape. You would find it even as much destructive to your material interests as has been the Maori war to you. By the greatest care and circumspection the disease may be prevented coming among you, but once let it in and there is no, cure. I am inclined to thiuk that cricket, like pleuro-pneumouia, measles, hooping cough, cholera, and the like is infectious and extremely catching. A cricket fever is at present raging with great violence in Ofcago, which has also extended to adjoining provinces. It showed itself about the same time as pleuro-pneumonia at Tokomairiro, and the complaint was only relieved when eleven of the natives of that district came to Dunedin and had it thrashed out of them in one innings. Then it broke out at Invercargill, aud the Southerners must also come to Dunediu, where they were treated after the manner of the Tokomairiroaus. Otago from the city to the suburbs and from the suburbs to the sea-board aud all through the interior, is very much affected indeed. Cricket matches are breaking out everywhere. Clubs are being formed having Superintendents for their head and government grants of land in aid. Nothing scarce is talked of by the youth and middle aged of our day but matches which are gone and those which are to follow. How we shall contain ourselves when the All-England Eleven come among us, I do not know I am sure. Where we are to get a sufficiency of grey horses from, which are to draw the carriages in teams of fours, sixes and eights is puzzling everybody. The number of places and occasions at and on which the immortal cricketers are to stop and partake of. champagne certainly pre-sup-poses that AlkEJngland Elevens aud champagne are closely allied in indissoluble bonds, although it may be difficult to explain upon what grounds. Barring accidents, the English team will land at Port Chalmers on Saturday next, when the programme cut out to inaugurate the occasion is to be as follows :•— The All-Eng-landers being delivered on the Port Chalmers jetty in good order and sound condition, they will bereceived by the various provincial clubs. On. leaviug the jetty the whole are tso "be champagned at the leading hotel at the public expense, raised by general subscription. Then the grey horses attached to* carriages will take all on to Dunedin, v^here they are to champagne at Shadrjich Jones' 'Provincial.' Then once more -into conveyances aud on to the i cricket ■ground,.', where there is to be more champagne. The All-Englanders will then have with bat and

ball and wicket among themselves. Afterwards follows a spread attended with more champagne. Then the whole return to mine host of the ' Provincial,' and, being Saturday night, it is arranged that the preliminaries so far proceeded with shall be worked out in champagne. Now it is just possible that you may think I am exaggerating this programme ; but I assure you I do nothing of the kind. These things and many more are all on the card. The cricketers are to dine with His Honor the Superintendent, a la fourchette with the elite of Otago, and be made free of everything. As our escort is not expected to come in until Tuesday evening, there is very little intelligence to forward touching our gold fields. There are no new rushes, no fresh discoveries, and the news to hand is that everything is quiet and the gold fields showing a disposition to decrease. These will probably pick up again. Such is the general hope, if not the general expectation. We had a very successful Horticultural Exhibition here on Wednesday last. I had not the least idea that we could, produce such fruit, vegetables, and flowers as were displayed on the occasion. Nothing but the finest soil, a genial climate and great attention could have produced what was exhibited on this occasion, and I have no hesitation in saying that this province will vie with auy part of the world in the quality of its fruit and vegetable productions. The prizes offered by the Society were very liberal, and the competition among the exhibitors very spirited. There is, lam pleased to observe, a decline in the rates of rents ruling for cottages and small dwellings, as also for business premises in Dunedin. It is thought by some that a commercial crisis is at hand, but I do not think this is the case. Should it be so, this, far from doing harm, will result in great good. The disease working below the surface will break out and effect its own cure. The large population now centred in our city will have in part to disperse, when the natural resources of the province will stand a better chance of becoming developed. So think those who have had a past experience to guide them in forming an opinion. Of the future greatness of Otago no one can doubt, and those who stand by it will not have to repent of their exercise of patience. The weather with us is very unsettled, business lauguid, and the markets generally overstocked ; but overstocked markets give this advantage : poor people get the benefit of cheap supplies. No further political action has been taken with respect to the removal of the seat of government, but a settled feeling exists that Wellington will not be our political capital. Auckland will not have it, and Otago will bring all its influence to bear in resisting the measure. The Lord Ashley sails at 10 o'clock this morning, without the English Mail. The Gothenburg came in last night, but the mail had not been telegraphed from Adelaide when the Gothenburg left the Melbourne Heads.