A great many families <>t Dunedin cit zens reside along the Portobello beach in tbe summer months, and they and their several fathers have been put t > much inconvei.ience this summer through m ant of easy communi cation with the city. What is wanted is a daily stenmer to Duneiliu, aud, whilo we give no opinion in the matter, we mention that people in the district assure us it would pay. • Alluding to the esenped communists, the Brisbane Courier remaiks :— " Judging from all the surroundings of tne story of the et cape of tbe two CommiiMst* who arrived so opportunely at Morefcou Island with only a pound of biscuit and a pint of water, we have little reason to doubt that the escapees uever traversed the watery waste between thi9 anil New Caledonia in the cockboat, with its ba^. gmg 8ail« and one oar, w liich has jiitfc been cast on our shores. That the interesting strangers are eacapeos from New Caledonia there is iw reason to do»ht. But if this is the case,- it appears nearly a certainty that they must have escaped in some veaßel ' for a consideration,' and that the skipper, with a wholesome lear uf consequences, has dropped them at the first handy spot. •Should this hypotlusis prove correct, it will deprive tho adventure of its more romantic features, although sufficient of the m.irvrl-. lons will remain to be related by tho actors in the rlmma to tak«* them out of the dead level of obscurity,". ->l »:•».,..»*• Tho work of completing tne Peninsula "Rono.Vi ronrt ns far .as Brood. .H'nj. isjjftj.!!!^ ~ ,vigorously proceeded with," and where there is now a gap in the chain of communication the road will be finished in about three weeks time. • There will then be a fine and per fectly level carriage drive from town as far aB the Broad Bay jetty. The new length of road will be a great convenience to the set tlers, and ' will be appreciated by citizens taking a ride or drive along the teach. 