OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1164, 1 December 1863, Page 5

OTAGO.

(from our own correspondent.) Dunedin, Wednesday, Nov. 25. Yesterday afternoon no small excitement was caused by the arrival of a new steamer, the City of Dunedin, from Greenock, which istobelaidon between this port and Lyttelton, calling at the intervening ports. The City of Dunedin is registered at 330 tons, and has two engines, each 50-horse power. Her lines are splendid and her whole build indicates her as intended for speed, although she has great capacity of bold. I have seen nothing to beat her in these waters —perhaps excepting the Aldinga. Her length is 167 feet, andT she draws when loaded 7 feet 6 inches. In ballast and sea going trim 4 feet 6 inches. Both saloon and ladies' cabin are spacious, well ventilated and elegantly fitted up. There is a spar deck, beneath vyhich is accommodation for 25 horses and room for carrying from 45 to 50 steerage passengers. Her engines, bunkers, windlass, sailing tackle, and steering apparatus are all of the most modern and improved description. There is no doubt the City of Dunedin will prove a most valuable acquisition to the inter-pro-vincial trade. I trust that the agents may deem it good policy to reduce the rate of fares which are now far in excess of what they should be, —what the times will afford and the length of the journey warrant. But as agents and owners know their own interests best, or are supposed to, any suggestion emanating from the press may be looked upon as an interference, and I say no more. The City of Dunedin left Gravesend on the 9th of July, made Madeira on the 26th; crossed the Equator (under steam) 15th August; passed the meridian of the Cape

Il 4th October; made the Solander in a heavy 3 t westerly gale; put on floats and steamed into Otago looking as well and as new as when launched trom the stocks. Captain is Boyd, a great favorite here in the Greelong, takes command. Messrs. Cargill and Co. 0 are her agents. y The escort from the new West Taieri e diggings arrived here last evening. The re--6 turn has not been officially announced, but I s believe I am correctly informed when I set _ the amount down at nine hundred ounces. The Hogburn is said to be all but deserted. Of the Dunstan, Shotover, and the older diggings, nothing has occurred to call for any special notice. Reports of new rushes t are continually coming to hand, but do not - appear to increase the escort returns. This [ summer will undoubtedly be viewed as a fair criterion of the value of our gold fields. Great preparations are going on to make the forthcoming Caledonian G-ames surpass anything previously attempted. "We are as you know intensely Scotch, and certainly come out strong and liberal on such exceptional occasions as the present. I The Supreme Court sittings under the Debtors' and Creditors' Act was held on Monday, before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond. There were twenty-nine applications for protection or discharge. I subjoin particulars:— Re W. Lawson and Archibald Cameron.—The hearing of this petition was adjourned till the sth of December, and a meeting of the petitioners' creditors appointed to take place on the 30th inst. A similar order to the above was given in the cases of Ferdinary Brothers, George John Willats, Thomas W. L. Martyr, and Thomas Slater. Re Hymen Cohen, hotel-keeper, Dunedin, was brought up for examination. Mr. Ward appeared for the bankrupt, and Mr. Cook for several creditors.

The further hearing of this case was adjourned till the sth of December, and a meeting of creditors appointed for the 31st instant. Re George Gibson.—Mr. M'Gregor on behalf of a creditor, applied for an order to sequestrate the estate of this petitioner. An interim order of sequestration was granted in favor of John M'Lean on his giving security to the amount of £100. A meeting of creditors was appointed for the 30th inst., and the further hearing of the case adjourned till the sth December, and the petitioner ordered to attend on that day. Re Henry Cohen.—Mr. Prendergast appeared for the applicant, and applied for protection against some creditors of the late firm of Miller and Cohen, who had sued him as not having signed the deed of assignment of the late firm. Interim protection was granted, and the adjourned hearing and meeting of creditors appointed as above. Re Alfred Benjamin Solomon.—ln this case, Mr. Barton asked that the Registrar be appointed to assign the property in the hands of creditors; because, since the petition had been filed, the insolvent had disappeared. The interim order was extended until the execution of a deed of assignment by or on behalf of the creditors, and the meetings of creditors and adjourned hearing appointed as above. Re Benjamin Wallace.—Mr. Howorth, for the insolvent, asked for a final order in this case, which, as the orders of the Court had been complied with, was granted. Re Peter M'Lachlan.—Mr. Howorth said that in this case an assignment had been made to trustees and a meeting of creditors appointed for the 3rd of October, but no one attended. He now applied for a final discharge. The further hearing of this case was adjourned for seven days. Re William Jenkins.—Mr. Barton said that this case had remained over for the purpose of making an assignment. An interim sequestrator had been appointed, and he now asked for the extension of time for the conveyance by the registrar af all the estate of the debtor to Mr. William Hildreth and Mr. Dods. This was granted, and also an interim order of sequestration extended. Re James Smithers.—Mr. Barton asked for a further extension of time to make the conveyance of lis effects. A further extension of seven days was granted, and interim protection granted. Re John Marsh.—Mr. Howorth applied for an jxtension of time, in order to deposit with the regis;rar of Court, a certain lease of property. The lease

could not be found. The application was grauted. Re James M'Coll.—Mr. Prendergast appeared for the applicant's trustees, and Mr. Howorth for the petitioners. The further examination of the applicant was adjourned till next sitting, and applicant ordered to appear on that day. Re Henrv Gregg.—Mr. Haggitt for the applicant applied for a final order of discharge, as the orders of Court had been complied with. The order was granted. Alexander M'Neil.—No solicitor appeared in this case. Petitioner's wife swore to the notice having been posted to the creditors on the 19th of September. The case was adjourned till sth December, and a meeting of creditors fixed for the 30th inst. Re Thomas Carroll.—Mr. Barton appeared for applicant, and asked for an extension of the protection and the appointment of a meeting of creditors. This was granted, and the further hearing of the case adjourned to the sth t inst., and protection extended till that day. Re John Duncan.—A meeting of creditors was appointed, and interim protection granted till the day of further hearing. Re George Henry Morton.—Applicant's wife swore to the notices to creditors having been posted. The order in this case was the same as the former one. Re Robert Blaike.—Mr. Haggitt appeared for the applicant. The order granted was for the appointment of a meeting of creditors for the 30th inst., and the further hearing of the case adjourned till the sth December. Re James Smith.—Mr. Prendergast appeared for the applicant. Interim protection was granted, the case adjourned for further hearing till the sth of January, and a meeting of creditors appointed for the 30th instant. - Re Wm. Meikle.—Mr. Barton asked for an extension of time, as the applicant had made an arrangement with his creditors, and this arrangement was being carried out. This was granted till the 9th of January, and protection and the interim sequestration extended till that date. Re Robert Brougiiton.—There was no opposition in this case. A meeting of creditors was appointed for the 30th inst., and the further hearing adjourned to the sth December. Re Thomas Smith.—Mr. Prendergast for the applicant. A meeting of creditors was appointed for Saturday next, and the case adjourned for further hearing till that day week. Re John Josephs.—Mr. Wilson applied for a 1 final order of discharge, which was granted. Another sitting under the Debtors' and Creditors' Act is to be holden on January 5. Mr. John Cargill, one of our wealthiest i and most respected citizens, has resigned his - seat at the Town Board. Who his successor is likely to be is not known. We are surfeited just now with amusements. Miss Julia Matthews still continues to " draw" at the Princess. Equestrians, - clowns, had puns, and stale witticisms are appreciated at the Californian Circus. Miss Aitkin does " readings " at the Odd Fellows' Hall, assisted by Mr. Shiels, who recites Tamo' Shanter, and other of Burns' pieces, with great ability. There are besides these singing saloons, a casino, a " select" quadrille assembly, and other like amusements. The Yauxhall season will soon commence, and a programme is announced which embraces a greater variety of amusements, —■ scenic, intellectual, and physical, than I have ever seen set down in any bill. We have at last had a break in the weather. After three weeks of incessant rain this morning opened with a bright sun in the horizon, and there is now every appearance that the favorable change may stand some time. Barracouta have come in so abundant that many of the hawkers are disposing of them at fourpence each. Two boatloads were sold yesterday at one and sixpence per

dozen. These were immediately dispatched to the West Taieri diggings. Meat continues scarce, dear, and poor. . Why, nobody appears to understand. One shilling and a penny per pound for indifferent beef and very poor mutton is the ruling rate even in the face of so abundant a supply of fish.