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Otago Daily Times, Issue 318, 26 December 1862, Page 4

The weather yesterday was deliriously balmy though warm—perfection for excurtionists, under which head, we fancy, must be included the great bulk of our population. Ths Church of England and the Roman Catholic Chapel were, of course, open for service, and were well attended; and on the other hand, while the Presbyterian churches were not open, there was not observable even the very trifling departure from a total cessation of business, which occrrred on last Christmas Day, when a few shops belonging to members of the "Old Identity" were open. This was as it should be. The Samson and the Lady Barkly each had a goodly number of excursionists for the Heads ; and barring accident, of. which we have not heard, the trip could scarely have been other than a most pleasurable one. No doubt, the Vauxhall Gardens got a fair share of visitors; for the nimble Nugget was constantly plying, and the sight of the grassy slops of the Gardens, with its wooded surroundings, was enough to tempt any one in want of a healthful ramble to cross the Bay and secure it.

We are requested to draw attention to the meeting of tue-Dunedin Musical Association, which takes place this evening, in the room over the^Colonist office, at half-past seven o'clock. The attendance; of all interested in the movement is requested, as this meeting is for the election of committee and officers.

The members of the Dunedin Debating Society held a meeting in Grey's Assembly Rooms, Rat-tray-streetvon Mouday evening, when Mr Greenlaw introduced the adjourned debate on the question of the politica 1 separation of the North and Middle Islands of New Zealand. The speaker addnced several reasons in support of Separation, based on the political and financial claims of the Middle Island to an independent Government, and enlarged at some length upon them. The debate was adjourned to Monday next.

At length, the boarding at the junction of Princes-street and Stafford-street, which has so long been an eye-sore and a hindrance, has been pulled down. The substantial and handsome shops and offices, fronting the streets named, have been completed, except as to internal fittings ; and we hops that the removal of the existing wooden building, and the more appropriate covering of the valuable plot forming " Brown's Corner," will not be allowed to delay the completion ot the footpath.

The Resident Magistrate attended at the Court House yesterday, that inebriates; by paying the usual fine, might have an opportunity of spending Christmas Day with their friends. Fortunately, for all concerned, there was only one offender, Edward Fellows, and he was discharged.

Mr Justice Richmond takes his seat here for the Criminal Session of the Snprcma Court which is to be commenced on Thursday, the 15th January. The Civil Business .vill not however^ be begun until a day in March to be hereafter named ; as the judge will have to attend the first sitting of the new Appeal Court, which is to be held at Christchurch on the 10th February.