[1] In 1878, as the result of the report of a select committee of the
House of Commons appointed in 1877, a grant of L5000 was made to the
then Lord Cochrane "in respect of the distinguished services of his
grandfather, the late earl of Dundonald."
DUNEDIN, a city of New Zealand, capital of the provincial district of
Otago, and the seat of a bishop, in Taieri county. Pop (1906) 36,070,
including suburbs, 56,020. It lies 15 m. from the open sea, at the head
of Otago harbour, a narrow inlet (averaging 2 m. in width) on the
south-eastern coast of South Island. The situation was chosen on the
consideration of this harbour alone, for the actual site offered many
difficulties, steep forest-clad hills rising close to the sea, and
rendering reclamation necessary. The hills give the town a beautiful
appearance, as the forest was allowed to remain closely embracing it,
being preserved in the public ground named the Town Belt. The principal
thoroughfare is comprised in Prince's Street and George Street, running
straight from S.W. to N.E., and passing through the Octagon, which is
surrounded by several of the principal buildings. From these streets
others strike at right angles down to the harbour, while others again
lead obliquely up towards the Belt, beyond which are extensive suburbs.
There are several handsome commercial and banking houses. The town
hall, Athenaeum and museum are noteworthy buildings, the last having a
fine biological collection. The university, founded in 1869, built
mainly of basalt, has schools of arts, medicine, chemistry and
mineralogy. It is in reality a university college, for though it was
originally intended to have the power of conferring degrees, it was
subsequently affiliated to the New Zealand University. The churches are
numerous and some are particularly handsome; such as the First church,
which overlooks the harbour, and is so named from its standing on the
site of the church of the original settlers; St Paul's, Knox church and
the Roman Catholic cathedral of St Joseph. Finally, one of the most
striking buildings in the city is the high school (1885) with its
commanding tower. The white Oamaru stone is commonly used in these
buildings. The primary and secondary schools of the town are excellent,
and there is a small training college for state teachers. Besides the
Belt there are several parks and reserves, including botanical and
acclimatization gardens, the so-called Ocean Beach, and two
race-courses.
Dunedin is connected by rail with Christchurch northward and
Invercargill southward, with numerous branches. Electric tramways serve
the principal thoroughfares and suburbs. The most important internal
industries are in wool and frozen meat. The harbour is accessible, owing
to extensive dredging, to vessels drawing 19 ft., at high tide; and
Dunedin is the headquarters of the coasting services of the Union
Steamship Co. Port Chalmers, however (9 m. N.E. by rail) though
incapacitated by its site from growing into a large town, is more
readily accessible for shipping, and has extensive piers and a graving
dock. Dunedin is governed by a mayor and corporation, and most of its
numerous suburbs are separate municipalities.
The colony of Otago (from a native word meaning ochre, which was found
here and highly prized by the Maoris as a pigment for the body when
preparing for battle) was founded as the chief town of the Otago
settlement by settlers sent out under the auspices of the lay
association of the Free Church of Scotland in 1848. The discovery of
large quantities of gold in Otago in 1861 and the following years
brought prosperity, a great "rush" of diggers setting in from Australia.
Gold-dredging, in the hands of rich companies, remains a primary source
of wealth in the district.
DUNES,[1] or DUNKIRK DUNES, BATTLE OF, was fought near Dunkirk on the
24th of May (3rd of June) 1658, between the French and English army
under the command of Marshal Turenne and the Spanish army under Don Juan
of Austria and the prince of Conde. The severest part of the fighting
was borne by the English contingents on either side. Six thousand
English infantry under General Lockhart were sent by Cromwell to join
the army of Turenne, and several Royalist corps under the command of the
duke of York (afterwards James II.) served in the Spanish forces. The
object of the Spaniards was to relieve Dunkirk, which Turenne was
besieging, and the complete victory of the French and English caused the
speedy surrender of the fortress.