Dunedin Saturday, December 10, 1553.

Otago Witness, Issue 134, 10 December 1853, Page 2

Dunedin Saturday , December 10, 1553.

The meeting on the subject of the establishment of an overland mail to Canterbury, which took place on Wednesday last, was unattended except by a few of the requisitionists. This may to a great extent be accounted for by the fact of the anticipated sailing of the " Rajah,' most of the settlers being engaged in preparing for the mail. We trust that this alone was the cause of the meeting being a failure, otherwise we must be a most inconsistent people— one day making complaints of the want of communication, and the next neglecting to use the most trifling exertion to remedy the evil complained of. It was but a few days since that the want of communication was forcibly brought under our notice by the members of the Provincial Council, who are precluded from proceeding to consider and legislate on the many important matters which require their immediate attention, and it became a question of policy whether or not a special messenger should not be sent from Otago to set matters in motion. We last week pointed out several instances in which the public suffered pecuniarily to a great extent from this state of matters, and we again call attention to this subject. We are a stock-rearing and agricultural community, yet we are entirely without statistics as to the quantity of stock or supply of grain in the settlement. Such a state of things is injurious to both producer and consumer. A feiv long-headed individuals may speculate, and make money by it, but it must be at the expense of the rest of the community. And further, the supply of grain is of most serious moment : if we are short, where is our supply to come from ? and what provision can we make, unless we are aware of the true state of the case? It is essential that these statistics should be at once and correctly ascertained ; it is a guide both to the agriculturists, in determining the particular crop which he will grow, and enables him to calculate upon the probable price he will obtain for his produce; and it will also enable the newly-arrived immigrant to judge to some extent of the most advisable occupation to pursue. But as it is, we go stumbling on, — one year cultivating potatoes to such an extent that they fall to £2, 10s. per ton — the next year rising to £8, and with difficulty to be had even at that price. One of the first duties of a local legislature will be the collection of statistics ; yet the Pro- j vincial Council cannot meet because of the want of regular communication, as every measure that they pass is liable to be overturned by the General Legislature,; and it is impossible to say to what extent difficulties may. arise in the course of the proceedings of the Provin-

cial Council, which will make a communication with head quarters necessary. The whole public business of the settlement may be brought to a dead stand, unless we have made some arrangement to facilitate postal communication. The settlers of Otago have made great efforts to obtain local self-government ; they have incurred much pecuniary expense, and lost much time in expressing their approbation of a general principle, and how inconsistent will they appear if they neglect to attend to a comparatively trifling detail, thus rendering their previous exertions useless.

We say again, we trust it was a pressure of other business, and not an indifference to the question itself, that caused the meeting on Wednesday to be so meagerly attended. The public will, however, have the opportunity of putting this latter point to the test, the meeting having been adjourned to Tuesday next, the 13th instant.

Sermon in the Tokomairaro. — The Rev. Thomas Burns will preach in the district of the Tokomairaro on Sabbath the 25th day of December, and at the same time will dispense the ordinance of Baptism. Public worship to commence at 12 o'clock, and in the house of Mr. Alexander Duthie.

The We.vtheb. axd Chops.— The weather for the past month has been remarkably favourable for the growth of the crops, which are all looking healthy and promise an abundant harvest. As far as we can learn, there will be upwards of 500 acres of wheat. Potatoes are likely to be short in quantity, as the Maories have not planted at all extensively. Twenty-four hours smart rain is desirable, and will pretty well insure good crops.

It is very satisfactory to observe the shipment of oats by the Rajah, about 1500 bushels ; no great quantity, but, with what has already becu exported, is an indication of coming prosperity.

"We again request our country friends to furnish us with statistics in their several localities ; and we might be allowed to suggest a few communications on the subject of agriculture. The treatment of the various classes of open and bush land in the several districts with the older settlers would be conferring a favour upon us. and a benefit to the public generally, particularly newly-arrived emigrants.

A Mr.KTixo of the Members of the Provincial Council was held at Dunedin on Saturday, the 3rd instant.

The Committee appointed to prepare standing rules and orders gave in their report. The thanks of the meeting were voted to the Committee, and the report ordered to stand over for consideration.

The motions (of which notice had been given) on the subject of education and roads were withdrawn. The meeting came to the conclusion that it would be more advisable to abstain from acting in any waj until piopeilj constituted.

A Memorial to the Governor-in-Chief, praying that all interference with or disposal of the public reserves might be postponed until the meeting of the General Assembly was adopted and forwarded by the Rajah. The meeting adjourned until a future day.

( Comnvoi icated.) The members of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows established in Dunedin some five years since had their usual anniversary meeting at the Roj al Hotel on Wednesday last. About three o'clock the members met at the Lodge, and a procession having been formed, proceeded from thence through Princes Street, in the direction of Captain Cargill's farm. The members were in the insignia of office, and preceded by Mr. M'Kay (a late arrival in the settlement) playing the bagpipes. On their return, the first part of the programme of the evening began — the Dinner — which, as is usually the case at the Royal Hotel, went off well. Everything that could be done to promote the comfort of the guests had been attended to by Host Smith; and so satisfied were the members with the dinner, that they, on coming out, did not say merely that they had had their dinner, but told us unctiously that they had dined ; — a vast difference, the first being a mere impulse of physical voracity, the second a rite. After the usual toasts of the evening, the room was cleared, and the important part of the evening's festivities began — the Ball — which was better attended than anything of the same description hitherto held in Dunedin. The room had been lengthened 24 feet, and was tastefully decorated with flags, evergreens, garlands of flowers, &c. Everything was conducted in a satisfactory and quiet man- | ncr : indeed, each person there present had made up his mind to be amused ; and, if we could judge from the lateness of their departure from this hall of pleasure, their amusement was great — at all events it was prolonged. We certainly were pleased with the appearance of friendly feeling so apparent amongst all classes, and cannot but express an opinion that meetings of that description would do more to smooth away difference of opinion and party feeling than any article, however well written, in any paper, or any dinner, avowedly political, however well conducted. [We were not present on the occasion re-

F^comtnunicaat all societies in the Province should have their proceedings recorded if they wish it ; but we do not exactly agree with the sentiment s put forward for our adoption. — Ed.]