THE DAILY TIMES. Inveniam viam aut faciam" THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1861.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 36, 26 December 1861, Page 4

THE DAILY TIMES. Inveniam viam aut faciam" THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1861.

We exclude our usual Leader, in favour of the late news from Melbourne, brought by the " Aldinga." The Aldinga.—The s.s. Aldinga from Melbourne, Dec. 20, arrived at Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. yesterday, bringing 140 passengers. Captain M'Lean reports that all the berths were taken up "before her arrival in Melbourne, and several of the cabin passengers had to come without berths. The report of the Aldinga having taken lire on'

her 'outward possage is entirely .without foundation. Captain M'Lean has made one of the quickest passages on record, having only been 13 days to and from Melbourne, and we trust that some public recognition will be made of this fact. The boon conferred on the mercantile community by the praiseworthy efforts of Capt. M'Lean to expedite the communication between the two colonies c&nnot be too highly estimated. As appears to have been a usual course of proceding on the part of the Clerk of the weather for some years, Christmas day (yesterday) was celebrated with several smart showers, which had the effect of keeping a large number of people within doors. A fair proportion, however, of holiday seekers were bold enough to venture on aquatic and other excursions, the pleasure boats to Port Chalmers and the Heads being well patronised. On the day previous there Had been a great rush for vehicles of every description, and had the day been fine the pleasures of Christmas day would have been considerably enhanced. In the course of the afternoon advantage was taken of the Provincial! Horse Bazaar, and Mr. Jones, entering into the spirit of the hour, managed to get up a variety of impromptu sports, which had the effect of congregating and keeping together a large number of people. No great stir took place in any other part of the town, with the exception of the mud, which was decidedly the predominant feature of Dunedin throughout the day., The arrival of the Aldinga, and the landing of the passengers in the evening, attracted a large number of people to the Jetty. Preparation is made for the pleasure-seekers today, the sports at the Provincial Hotel during the day, and the theatre and the minstrels in the evening, being the chief attractions. We wish to direct our readers' attention to the extensive programme of sports, games, &c, announced for to-day. The Old English Sports are to take place at 11 a.m., in Jones' Bazaar, and from the preparations which we observed yesterday, they are likely to be most attractive. _In the evening there is to be a dramatic entertainment at the Provincial ; and the. San Erancisco Minstrels have also announced an entirely new programme, including the first appearance of the African Giant.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in Dr. Burns' Church, on Tuesday evening, when Mr. P. W. Hutton read an able and interesting paper on Christian Union. A short debate on the Essay ensued, and the meeting terminated by singing the Doxology. We understand that Messrs. Cobb & Co. intend running a line of coaches to the diggings via the t West Taieri.