DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 15 April 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(From our mon Correspondent.)

Never since the time when the gold fever flooded Otago with new arrivals who came to try their fortune at the new El Dorado has there been such a scarcity of house aecomodation as there is at the present time. It is next to impossible to get a house of any sort within the boundary of the city, aud if any one is unfortunately iv the dilemma which the requiring of a house places him in, he has many a weary travel before success attends his efforts to find an empty tenement. And when the tenautless building is found, it is very often the case that the rent on enquiry proves to be so exorbitant that the would-be tenant dare not venture to engage with the owner for the payment of a weekly or monthly sum which would prove too much for his means to afford. This want of house accommodation has really become quite a serious matter, and there seems little probability of any change for the better taking place. I know, of several houses for which 25s a week rent is charged, that a couple of years ago would have been considered anything but cheap at 16s. And these are not isolated ones. Rents have advanced in similar proportion for all classes of houses, and the humblest and roughest erections are eagerly enquired after and paid for at rates far beyond their legitimate value. It is to be hoped that this state of affairs will induce some of those who have capital lying idle to enter with vigour into the building of the class of housec most generally in demand. There never was a better time for the realization of a large interest on money so expended, and this not merely for a short period, for there are plenty of people who would be only too glad, in consideration of getting a decent house to live in, to enter into engagements to take houses for long periods. No doxibt the inconvenience Trill work its own cure in course of time, however, although at the present it is a source of very great inconvenience to large numbers of our citizens. Candidates for the Mayoralty are in the field at an unusually early date. Mr. Walter and Mr. Ramsay (both Councillors) are the gentlemen who have already announced their determination to contest the election ; aud have considerable claims uj>on the support of the public' Each has proved himself as a Councillor well worthy of the trust that has been reposed in him by the citizens, and as a consequence each will have warm supporters when the election takes place. Mr. Walter is Mr. Ramsay's senior in the Council, and on this account, and having proved himself a very excellent and attentive representative, justly claims the support of the ratepayers. If they prove to be the only Candidates, it is anticipated that the contest will prove a very close one 5 rumour, however, mentions Mr. Fish as being again likely to come forward, and if he does, his chance of election will, I suppose (taking the result of previous contests as a criterion)be better than those of either of his opponents.