Page:Picturesque Dunedin.djvu/52

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42
PICTURESQUE DUNEDIN.

absent for twelve months cannot fail to perceive great changes. The place bids fair to be something like a town. We know of few more picturesque positions, containing commodious sites for commercial purposes as well as for villas and private residences. Before another year passes there will be some public buildings worthy of the place; at present there is nothing deserving of the name.

"The population of Dunedin is composed chiefly of officials of Government, merchants, storekeepers, and tradesmen. It is the seat of the Provincial Government and Courts of Justice, and the channel through which the whole exports and imports of the province pass. The amount of business done is much larger than the appearance of the place would indicate. The Union Bank of Australia has an establishment here. There are four hotels in the town, two printing offices, three places of worship, a high school with its rector, one male, and one female teacher, supported by the Government, besides a private academy. There are two breweries in the neighbourhood, which promise to make the place celebrated for its ale, the climate being peculiarly adapted for brewing. There is one flour-mill in operation, and another flour and oatmeal company have commenced to build on the Kaikorai stream, there being a third in the Tokomairiro, all driven by water power. A candle manufactory has recently been started, which turns out very superior candles, and works up all the material to be found in the province. It is intended shortly to start a tanyard on a small scale. A good deal of money used to be sent away for candles, which is now retained, and the same thing will occur in regard to leather. An attempt has been successfully made by the enterprising landlord of one of the hotels to produce gas, and his intention is to extend his operations considerably farther. A bleach-field has been started near at hand, to which house-wives can send their yarn and clothing to be put through the necessary operations. A photographic establishment has been opened in Princes-street for some time past, and is well patronised by the public. Watchmakers, chemists, and other similar branches of trade are all having representatives, and the printing offices vie with each other in turning out their almanacs and weekly newspapers, in which poetry and prose,