DUNEDIN NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4351, 13 June 1896, Page 3

DUNEDIN NOTES.

[OWH COBREBPONDENT.] Matrimony is a vexed question with the old as well as with the young. Not a hundred miles from Duoedin, a gentleman who has seen something like sixty summers, lately became enamoured of a buxom widow, to whom, after the usual giddy round of courtship, he proposed marriage. For the reason, chiefly, that he was possessed of no small means and that he had a good business, he was accepted. But his grown-up family objected to the match, and on the day on which the union of the amorous twain was to be consummated, and when the blushing bride was actually waiting in the registry office, the family succeeded in keeping their respected parent from putting in an appearance, and (to quote Bro. Fish, when speaking of Bro. Adams) " by the adoption of certain methods which I will not narrate," they managed to carry him off to Sydney, where, among the sights and scenes of that picturesque locality, the fond nhildren hope that the wiles of the " widdar " will pass as a dream from the tablets of the old man's memory. From gay to grave ! A villainous premeditated assault took place on a recent' date in the Mansford Town tunnel, near Port Chalmers. Mark Leaman was making his way through the tunnel, as was his wont, when a man suddenly sprang upon him and severely assaulted him, finally leaving him lying between the rails in an unconscious state — an easy victim for the first train that came along* Happily, Leaman soon came to his senses, and by a great effort managed to make his way out of danger. No clue has toea found to the coward who made tha attack, and under the circumstances tha chances are that he will escape " scot free," unless his conscience, if he has one, should trouble him. That robbery was not the object of the assault is clear from the fact that, although Leaman had some valuables upon him, they were left untouched ; and as an explanation of this, it is said that a mistake was made- -that the villain intended his blows for Leaman's mate, whose habit it also was to pass through the tunnel, and who is known to have not a few enemies about the Port.

The reform dress movement has not caught on at all in Dunedin. Some ladies went in for it with no lack of spirit, for it certainly required some courage to walk about in the new attire, to be gazed upon and laughed at by hundreds, not only of men but of the gentler sex as well. But some who were the earnest devotees of the new movement a few months ago are now to be seen about the town in the old style of toggery — a style which, to the masculine mind, is much preferable to the new notion. With the general public, especially with the ladies, the reform did not evoke favorable comment. Young women did not take to it, and those of more mature years looked upon it askance. In addition to this, the wearers of the new style were undoubtedly shunned by the society in which they mixed, and I am given to understand that the fact that they were not invited into company was a material fact in the determination to revert to the old order of things.

The Harbor Board some time ago introduced a sand-pump dredge into the Victoria channel in the upper harbor, and from what was said about it, it was thought it would do wonders. Unfortunately, though, there was a hitch. The boilers were found to be too weak for driving the sand through the long pipe which carries it away, and others have had to be obtained, at a cost of £1,170. When they are working, which will be in about four months' time, the dredge will lift 300 tons of sand per hour, at a cost of 4d per cubic yard. The present cost, with the weak boilers, is Is. This will be a cheaper method of clearing the channel than by using dredge 222, which is more fitted for a different class of work. I was much struck last week with the absurdity of a letter in one of the daily papers signed " Shipper," stating that on the sth inst., the steamer Hauroto was unable to get down the harbor with anything like a full load, and yet on the day previous the Pakeha, one of the large Home boats, built specially for carrying cargo, went down the channel without the least mishap of any kind. It has often been said that Dunedin's worst enemies to her harbor are in Dunedin, and " Shipper " is evidently one of these.

The Hon. Mr Ward's case has been the subject of much talk in town during the week, and although some people speak very stronply against the Treasurer, many persons who are well able to judge the whole matter, support him and put forward the wholesome fact that during the hearing of the application not a thing came out to injure hig reputation as a financier or as an honest-dealing man. His affairs undoubtedly got into a muddle, and his accounts are not what a business man likes his accounts to be, but the answer to that is that ii Mr Ward had given his attention to his own affairs, and not to the affairs of the State, he would be in a solvent position to-day, with a substantial balance to his credit at the Bank. Mr Justice Williams was almost overwhelmed with surprise on learning of Mr Ward's generosity to the Ward Farmers' Association. When a shipment of grain was sent Home, it was sent in Mr Ward's name, and if there was a loss it was borne by Mr Ward, but if there should be a profit the Association got the benefit of it. Unfortunately, some very heavy losses were made, and consequently Mr Waid had cast upon him a whole heap of liabilities which, as a matter of fact, did not belong to him at all. As an evidence of his ability, it is significant that when he was in a sound position, as he was when he gave the management of his business Jo to other hands so that he might assume a public position, he was making about £4,000 a year, which is sufficient in itself to show that his affairs were prospering, and that he had the capacity to carry them on successfully.

The town has this week been crowded, with visitors from the country, the attraction being the winter show in the Garrison Hall. This oapital institution by the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society is increasing in popularity y«ar by year, and the exhibits, principally of dairy produce and root crops, are becoming bo numerous that the Society plainly see that a larger hall is now absolutely necessary if the show is to be carried on successfully. With the view of making better provision for next year's show, they have, therefore, put into the hands of a contractor (Mr S. Aburo) the erection of a large hall in Crawford-street, tbe foundation stone of which was laid with full Masonic honors on Wednesday afternoon, and when completed the new building will be not only a handsome addition to the architecture of the city, but a place suitable in every way for the winter show. The cost of the hall will be £8,000. There will be three halls in it, one of which will be very large, and the floor space of ths whole building will, it is estimated, be about 23,000 square feat. The building, wjueh w|U b.e, lit throughout with electripity, will be finished about March next.