DUNEDIN

Dunstan Times, Issue 322, 26 June 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN

(from our own correspondent.) Dunedin, June 18. One of the most remarkable Sessions of the Provincial Council ever held in Otago was brought to a close on Thursday evening last, the closing being characterise 1 by an exhibition of petty jealousies and spleen perfectly in keeping with the course pursued throughout the whole of the sitting. For some days it had been perfectly apparent that the Vogel Ministry, having secured their portfolios, were anxious to shut up the shop. Little sops, in the shape of a few odd hundreds for district purposes, were here and there thrown out to country members, in order that the Supplementary Estimates might be rushed through, while the Dunedin and suburban members were conciliated by a vote of 3,500/., to be expended in the erection of a Government House on the Acclimatisation Ground, which is also to be converted into a botanical garden, with a sub idy of 21. to 1/. to the Society, Having accomplished their object, it was determined to throw over all the remaining business on the Order Paper, which consisted of one Order of the Day, " The Otago Representation Bill" (second reading), and thirteen motions by private members. A deputation from the Cardronn, consisting of Messrs. Colclough and Bond, and accompanied by Messrs. ("hepherd and Brown, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent on Thursday last, to present a petition and urge the claims ot that district to a portion of the sum recently voted for mining purpos&s, to be given as a

subsidy to an amount to be raised for the purpose of prospecting for a deep lead. The deputation received a promise that the subject should have the favorable consideration of the Executive. The weather, lately, has been fearful. It has rained incessantly throughout the List week, and intelligence from the country would lead us to believe that we shall again have to chronicle a series of disastrous floods, similar to those which occurred a few months ago. By electric telegraph we learn that there have been some heavy floods in the province of Canterbury. The brigantine Despatch, of ninetyeight tons, has been wrecked at Timaru, and Captain Driver (brother to Mr. Driver, of the firm of Driver and M'Lean) was crushed to death, the rest of the crew being fortunately saved. The Despatch had just arrived from the Chatham Islands, with a cargo of cattle and horses, on account of her owners, Messrs. Turnbull and Co., of this city. It is said that the vessel can be got oil'.