DUNEDIN.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 73, 13 July 1865, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.) July 10th, 1865. Little or nothing has transpired during the week calculated to enlighten us as to the problem, " who is to be Superintendent?" The requisition to Major Richardson was forwarded on Wednesday or Thursday, so that the answer to it will not be made known until within a very shorfc time before the nomination. As Mr. McG-lashan was understood to be awaiting the arrival of the missing English mail before definitely deciding as to his candidature, the requsition addressed [to him. has not yet been presented. On Saturday, however, he verbally consented to stand, and active steps are being takjen to fight the battle well. He does not, however, eipect to be successful if Major Richardson opposes him. As I have said before, I do not think the chances are so unequal as the Major's friends profess them to be. Besides the requsition to the latter gentleman which I have mentioned, and which was almost exclusively from this city and ifca neighborhood, another has, I believe,

been forwarded from the Electoral district of Bruce, which lias always been Major Bichardson's stronghold. The Governor hasj at length, assented to the Dunedin Incorporation Bill, and we are called upon to elect next week the first Mayor of Dunedin. Not a single candidate is in the field for the office. Mr. James Paterson has been asked, but has, up to this time, declined to stand. Mr. Bastings is supposed to have spoilt a very good chance by his acceptance of a Commisaioncrship and betrayal of his colleagues of the old Town Board, by whom he had been entrusted with the keys of the Town Board office, at the time of the great " lock out." Mr. W. H. Reynolds has also been spoken of, and spoken to by many of the ratepayers, but he, even more decidedly than Mr. Paterson, declines the honor. If our chief citizens will take no interest in municipal affairs, they must necessarily fall into the hands of small proprietors and of tradesmen with a political turn of mind, out of which two classes our Town Boards have been almost exclusively formed. Amongst others whose names have been freely mentioned is Mr. John Lazar, the present Town Clerk. He was, for many years, Mayor of Adelaide ; and when he finally retired from that office, was presented by the members of the legal profession in Adelaide, with a very flattering testimony to his merits as a magistrate. It is probable that we may go further and fare worse ; but Mr. Lazar's official position will probably prevent him from coming forward. Th Supreme Court has been occupied with Insolvency sittings during the week (besides other business). The proceedings were of more than usual interest, on account of the number of cases in which opposition to the discharge of the Insolvents was raised. After a year's trial s our merchants are beginning to be highly dissatisfied with the working of the Debtors' and Creditors' Act.