AROUND DUNEDIN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5014, 1 May 1895, Page 3

AROUND DUNEDIN.

[IIT SCOTCH JUST.]

The Easter of 1890 will be re- | membered as one of the worst in the annals of Dunedin history, ffc had a sample of every kind of weather except sunshine, Old Sol completely obscuring himself for the whole four days of the holidays, during which time it rained, snowed, sleeted, hailed, and the Scotch mist for which Dunedin is so famous, came in between, by way of a change, and the wind blew with hurricane force at times, and was bitterly cold. Thursday preceding Good Friday, was a glorious Autumn day, and in the evening, nearly everyone turned out to see our brave volunteers embark by rail for Waitati. Very warlike were the approaches to the Railway Station, where some hundreds of people lined the platform and bridges. In the bright moonlight, everyone could see and be seen as plainly as if it were day, and the volunteers in their varied uniforms, standing in their different companies, attended by officers, Colonel Webb in charge, with their haversacks, overcoats, rifles, bayonets, and ammunition pouches, made such a scene as one could well imagine would take place if war was really declared. Such hand-shaking and waving of handkerchiefs and hats, a stranger might have thought they were leaving our town for four years instead of four days, The encampment this year.despite the bad weather, was a great success, and the men all declare they had a jolly good time. Colonel Fox was in command, and his bride of six weeks (Miss Russell, of Hawke's Bay) was there to support him in his arduous duties.

The Theatre, City Hall, and Garrison Hall all did excellent business during the holidays. Two sacred concerts were held on Good Friday, they were both good, but the one given in the Theatre introduced a novelty in the way of living pictures, for instance, when " Rock of Ages" was sung by Mr Farquhar Young, Mr Smith, and Misses Lilla Wilde and Kitty lilaney, a real rock in the shape of a cross was shown in the distance, to which a human being clung. Limelight was thrown on tho picture. There were several recitations and readings, all illustrated in a like manner. "The Cottar's Saturday Night" being exceedingly good, also the court of " Mary Queen of Scots." Walter Bentley opens with his Ober-ammergau Passion Play, and there has been a great deal of controversy as to whether citizens should not have the right to say what shall be performed and what shall not. The Presbytery who met this week denounced • the exhibition of the pictures, and several letters in our local papors have implored Christians not to go and see the Holy Story of the Bible turned to sacrilege and a money speculation. All these scribes have gone about the right way to advertise Bentley, and he will sure to have a bumper house to-night. Capt. Russel],M.H.R.,leaderof the Opposition, gave a grand political address in the Garrison Hall. The] gallery was crowded with ladies,' showing what an interest the gentle sex are beginning to take in politics, whilst tho body of the Hall was a seething mass of men. His address, which lasted just two hours, was an eye-opener for many. There were no interruptions whatever, except an occasional "Hear, Hear," and applause, Capt. Ru6sell was very rough on tho Colonial Treasurer, Mr Ward, whom he characterized aB " skylarking" in Europe, and

said what on earth He was doinj tliore was a mystery to everyone When making reference to the Hon W. P, Reeves," he said ho remindet ' him of n school-boy who had jus got his first watch." Ho said whet tliis gentleman wns another decadi older he would be a voiy useful men* berof society but he wanted expori ence. The whole speech was open anc straightforward and full of coruraor sense, and I heard it remarked or all sides that it wns a pity wo Imvt not a few more honest men in the House of Representatives like tin manly leader of the Opposition— Capt, Hussell, The Kaitangata Coal Company devised a very novel and certainly a most effective advertisement foi their business. They offered to take all the maid servants in Dunedin for tt free trip to Kaitnngata, soaspoeial train yesterday conveyed about 900 domestics to Kaitangata, On arrival long tables were spread by tho miners' wives, and hot tea and all manner of good things awaited them mid I hoy were also most assiduously waited on. The mine was thrown open and miners escorted small i parlies and explained the workings of every department. The girls so thoroughly enjoyed themselves that they have collected n sum of money to buy ilv Watson (the popular manager here who tirst originated the idea of the excursion) a memento of their gratitude to him for providing them with such all cat. it was a good idea of Mr Watson's to take the servants instead of their mistresses for the trip, as the cooks generally have what coal they like best for their stoves, to do their cooking. When in thclakesdistrietrocontly the Minister of Railways promised the schoo 1 . children a four day's excursion to Dunedin. The party numbering 150 arrive this evening and return on Monday. Dunedin, April Kith.