DUNEDIN

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 174, 8 June 1871, Page 5

DUNEDIN

(From a Correspondent.)

Political events evolve themselves very i slowly, so that although speculations are \ rife and rumours abundant regarding the j fate of our new Provincial Administration, nothing has yet occurred to give anything like good ground for an opinion. That Mr. Reid had a difficult task to form his Government, is well known ; the rival claims of a number of his old supporters — specially members for the goldh'elds — bulking so large in their own estimation at least, as to threaten the unity of the party with which they are connected if they were not acknowledged by a position I of place and power — not pay. The Cargill Ministry appears to have gone down '■ unwept, unhonoured, and unsung," saving by the " Daily Times," which one morning especially vented the vials of its wrath on the liberal party. The writings of that paper are, however, of little effect in the city, and no evil result has accrued. A ministeiial statement by Mr. Reid, a refusal by the Treasurer, Mr. Bradshaw, to tell how much the overdraft was at the bank, and a general discussion among the members as to whether their services were worth 15s. a day or not, constituted the bulk of the firsi sittings. The punctual arrival of the San Francisco mail has given great satisfaction, your readers having had the summary of the news and their correspondence also, will form their own judgment of their importance. Among the last of our wool ships for the season is the Jessie Readman, which sails on Weduesday, and among her passengers is one of the oldest residents of the Blue Spur, Mr. James M'Kinlay, who goes to the old coun f ry in search of health. Her cargo is of average value, consisting of gold, wool, preserved meat, &c. , and she will have a fair number of passengers. The sittings of the Supreme Court commenced to-day. The calendar is neither heavy nor serious ; the celebrated libel letter for which M'Leod stands committed for trial causing most interest. . The Education Secretary for the province, Mr. Hislop, has unexpectedly been called + o Wellington by the General Govemment, to a.s>sivfc in framing a. Colonial HMncaiion Act for ih.a consider.xtion of the Assembly. More thuu likely, the proposal will be mad., to impose an education tax, and make it compulsory to send chil.lten under a certain age to school. The tax "will bo an obnoxkras one, and any attempt to interfere with the provision already made in Otago for education purposes will be firmly resented. Very little of interest is faking place in town, business in general dull. The oontiucts for sections 2 anil 3 of the Southern Railway will, when started, absoi'b a considerable (jn.mtity of labour and circulate the needful. The amount at which these two contracts have been taken is considerably below the estimate of the engineer.