DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 8 May 1873, Page 5

DUNEDIN.

(From mir own Correspondent.) Unusual activity seems to prevail in all trades in Dunedin at present, and things certainly seem to be in a most prosperous condition, The " wanted " columns of the daily papers are as a rule thickly studded with the advertisements of employers who require hands — bootmakers, smiths, flour millers, tailors, carpenters, ironfounders, all seem to be in demand ; while cooks, general servants, &c, &c, seem to be unobtainable at any price. The lJunedin foundries are especially the scene t of great activity, the whole of them having more work than they easily get through. New buildings are also springing up in all parts of the city, many of them commodious and imposing structures, which will add greatly to ics architectural beauties, and give it an air of prosperity gratifying to witness. Tt is to be hoped that the spirit of enterprise which seems to be so prevalent this year, will long continue, We have never been remarkable for slowness in our business matters ; have, in fact, left the other provinces a long way in the rear in the march of commerce, and it certainly seems as if we were still further determined to add to our reputation in this respect. Miss Carrie Emauuel and Mr. Alfred Anderson, assisted by Mr. M. Winter and our old friend M. Fluery, give their delightful concerts at the Masonic Hall every evening. They are artists of undoubted excellence, and it is not too much to say that in their respective vocal and instrumental efforts, they have never been excelled by any performers who have visited Dunedin. Miss Emannel may fairly claim to be superior to any of the operatic singers who have visited us, and the comparison can be justly drawn, because it is in operatic selections she is heard to the best advantage. Her rendering of some of the grand airs from Donizetti's operas is truly faultless, and deservingof the most flattering encomiums, which, it is needless to say, are freely bestowed. The instrumentation of Mr. Anderson is a genuine treat. Entirely free from show in his style of playing'his manipulation of the piano is easy and graceful, and the music he produces charming in the extreme. Both his solos and the pieces played with M. Flenry were rich treats, and received such hearty applause as must have been very gratifying to the performers. Mr. Melchior, the tenor singer of the party, is also of equal excellence with tha lady and gentleman I have mentioned. He ha 3 a beautifully clear voice, and sing 3 some of Sim Reeves' admired ballads in a deliciously sweet manner. At the Queens Theatre, the burlesque of "Ixion" has been running for a few nights ; but probably the less that is said about it the better. Remembering the really splendid manner in which it was produced at Princess Theatre a few years since, and poor Hariet Gordon's charming rendering of the " Good-bye at the Door" and other incidental songs, it is not particularly edifying to visit the Queens and witness the hashed-up production that is there styled " Ixion" — with the low vulgai'ities of one or two of the leading actors, and the introduction of a lot of trashy "funny" business of the "Shoo Fly" description, which have no more connection with "Ixion" proper than has the "Dead March in Saul" or the "Old Hundredth." Produced as it was at the Princess Theatre, with really beautiful scenery, good performers, appropriate costumes, and excellent singing, it was a genuine treat ; as it is at the Queens, with its characteristics just the reverse of those I have indicated, it is simply a farce to call it ' ' Ixion." The redeeming feature in the affair was the acting of Miss Stephenson, who was out of place among the motley crew by whom she was surrounded. The ladies who met together last week for the parpose of taking steps to establish a home for unfortunate women in this city, seem to be thoroughly in earnest in their praiseworthy endeavors to provide a refuge for those of their erring sisters who have the wish to leave their evil ways. The downward course once entered upon, it is a very difficult matter for a woman to retrace her steps and regain the confidence she has forfeited ; but it is to be hoped that, with the aid the proposed female refuge will afford, much good will result in this direction. Mr. W. J. M. Larnach has liberally offered an acre of ground at Andersons Bay as a site for a building, and it is probable that his offer will be accepted, although at present it i 3 intended, T believe, to rent a moderate-sized house to begin withMeanwhile, an influential committee of ladies has been appointed to canvass the city for subscriptions in aid of the proposed institution. Their efforts should meet with a very liberal response from our citizens, for the object is a worthy one, and deserving of recognition at the hands of the community. The s.s. Claud Hamilton was yesterday towed off the bank, near the Heads, where she grounded, by the S.s Alhambra and the tug Geelong. She has fortuuately sustained no damage, and proceeds again on her voyage to Melbourne in a day or day. Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, & Co. have been very fortunate with the boats belonging to their firm, which have traded between Melbourne and New Zealand ports ; for with the exception of the South Australian, I do not remember of any which they have lost, and accidents to them have been of rare occurrence. It is not matter of surprise that the Claud had the mishap which has just occurred, for it was pitch dark when she came in, and the accident took place in a very narrow part of the channel, where there is a buoy placed on each side to mark the course. Mistaking the lefthand buoy for that on tho right-hand wa» an easy matter in the dark ni^ht, and this occurring, she immediately went aground on the bank. One of the boatmen belonging to the pilot service wits iv charge of her, the pilot having gone up tv the Port with another vessel.