DUNEDIN.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 257, 6 February 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

' (From our own correspondent.) „j.,. February 2. The proceedings instituted against the captain of the unfortunate Surat terminated on Friday, by the defendant, Capt. Johnson, being committed to prison for £wo calendar months. The particular offence of which he was found guilty, as you are no doubt aware, was neglecting to signal the passing steamer, of which so much has already been heard. There are those who believe that Johnson has been hardly dealt by. For my own part, I am inclined to think that he has been made the victim of a kind of sentimental idea connected with our immigration schemes. The extent to which the in-brought population is being patted on the back is something really ridiculous. You would imagine that their every want is being anticipated, and nothing is considered too abject in the way of showing them attention. As a matter of fact; they are not slow to take advantage of this ; and the extent to which these, in reality pauper immigrants, turn up their noses at the ordinary run of good things is far from being satisfactory. A few days ago, some 300 or 400 Chinamen arrived in Dunedin, andalthougk not one of them has received. State aid in the matter of passages or otherwise, they were allowed to wander about the streets on a wet day without as much as a shelter being offered to them other than what they could secure for themselves. Had the same number of ■ assisted immigrants been similarly situated, special ■ trains would have been placed at their disposal, Immigration Barracks would have been thrown open for their accommodation and comfort, and an indulgent Government . would have been ready to attend to their every want. A word more about the Surat and its misfortunes. I am informed, on what I conceive :to be good authority, that the chances : .of .getting her afloat again are very small. >r sust. now an expenditure -of '£7oo is going on, which, toge'ther '.wiih' original price paid for the wrepk, will, )eave her purchasers well up\ on if'&Q .-'sMj!gMr »de-qf the

ledger.— . There is this cuiif.olat.ion, however, they are all men who can stand a loss. • •:

The annual meeting of the Duuediu Athenaeum was held' on Friday evening. It was well attended, lively interest being manifested in the proceedings. A bit of a brusla took place with the Sabbatarian element. It arose out of a motion tabled —" That the reading-room be opened for four hours during Sundays." The Presbyterian parsons evidently snuffed something in the wind, for they mustered rather strong, and, as a matter of course, offered the usual amount of one-sided opposition 10 the movement. For the motion ninety - one votes were recorded, and eighty-three against it. This is the. second demonstration that has lately been made on behalt of Sunday observance. At their annual sitting, the Presbyterian Synod had the question overhauled in connection with a proposed attempt to stop the running of trains. The general tenor of affairs, however, would seem to indicate that it would be better for them if they would let things alone as' they are. An attempt was made to enlist the ihr fluence of .the English clergy;: but in/this they were unsuccessful. With regard to the affairs of the Athenasum generally, they appear to be in a highly satisfactory state. The number of subscribers is steadily increasing, as will be seen from a comparison of the years 1872-73:

793 against 763 on the same date of the previous year, being an increase of 30. The number of volumes added last year was 446; this year, 564 : showing an increase of 118. The circulation of books and magazines for the past yaar was 35,157 : this year it was 37,160; showing an increase of 2,003., Total number of bound volumes in the Athenaeum for circulation is now 9,379. The debt (£500) due on the building has been paid off. ■ This has been accomplished by the Committee receiving the grant of £SOO voted at last Session of the Provincial Council in aid of the Athenaeum.

A formal trial of the Submarine Company's boat, or, as it is named, the Platypus, took place in the bay yesterday afternoon, in presence of a large number of spectators. The machine sank right enough, but some considerable difficulty was experienced in again bringing it to the surface. Two or three hours were spent in effort; and, as six men happened to be inside of it, you may readily conceive that serious apprehensions were entertained. I should be very sorry indeed to throw cold water on this enterprising effort to utilise the treasures lying dormant in our river beds, but I am much; afraid this new invention is not the thing to- do it. However, it is uo doubt a step in the right direction. It will attract renewed attention to the subject of this, an important branch of mining industry. A sad case'of drowning has just been reported to the police," fcy which a lad named Chas. P. Begg lost his life while bathing at the Ocean Beach. Deceased, along with some companions, went into the surf with the intention of swimming on the waves. By some means or other, deceased was carried out by: the receding tide, and when observed he was outside the surf altogether, drifting out to sea: The body was recovered the following morning, and, at an inquest held the same-day, a verdict in conformity with the above was returned. Deceased was a surveyor, twenty-one years of age, and is speken of as a respected member of the Naval Brigade corps. The following is the latest published item of commercial intelligence.—A large business has been done in the general market during the past week, but' the supply of goods being large, and imports coming in freely, prices of many articles have shown a tendency downwards. Salt, which some months back was scarce,' has been sold at 82s. 6d. In brandy, some heavy purchases have been made, but not much change of prices can be quoted; Hennessy's still fetches 9s. 6d. in bulk, and 265. in case. There has been a further arrival of sugar by the Otago, the cargo of which vessel will be submitted to competition on Tuesday. At a sale of damaged tobacco there was large atten* dance, Cameron's brand, considering the condition realised high prices. Soda crystals having come in more freely, parcels have been slightly easier. Candles continue firm at from lid to Kerosene, Is. 9d. .The market is fully supplied with sardines, and prices are lower than for some time past; halves may be quoted 10s. and quarters, 55."6 d." Salmon is purchasable at ."145.. In butter and cheese the market is unchanged. Currants still demand 4£.

,1872, 1873. Increase. Annual members , ... 520 553 33 Half-yearly ...,..."163 183 20 Quarterly.,. •...:,..:, 401 413 12 Extra subscribers ... 65 "74'■■, ' %& '■■'.-:. Iyl49 1,223 : .U.i&>'\ The number of subscribers on the books on the 31st December, 1873 :— Annual :.. ... .... ... Half-yearly :.. ... ... Quarterly .... 553 110 130