DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 729, 7 April 1876, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our own CORRESPONDENT.) April 2nd, 1876. It is an invariable rule that after a storm comes a calm ; this appears to hold good at times of more than ordinary excitement, as instance Dunedin during the Race week, the town full to overflowing, bent on amusement of one kind or another, as their inclination impelled them. Now a change has come ever the spirit of the dream, and a general dullness is prevailing with little nr nothing to break the monotony if we except the unfortunate occurrence which took place in the Caversham Tunnel, whereby Constable Vernon lost his life, and in which matter the Jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The matter has been strongly commenced on, as, by the evidence it discloses the fact that the train did pass over something in the tunnel on the Saturday night, the shock being so great that a passenger was thrown from his soa f , yet, after his reporting the occurrence at the station no attempt was made to ascertain what was the cause; and it was not till by accident on or about midday on Sunday the cause was discovered to ho the body of the unfortunate man, frightfully mangled and lifeless.

The Tiaroa salvage case is at last concluded, and the sum of Ll2O awarded the plaintiffs. His Honor the Judgo gave a very lengthy judgment, reviewing the evidence, which clearly showed it was not a case of actual salvage, but more one of towage, the vessel not being in actual danger at the time, but was only a matter of a few hours’ time when she would arrive, had she not have been towed.

Jenkins, charged with arson in George street last session, and who was brought up on Habeas Corpus, and admitted to bail, pending argument why he should not b discharged on several grounds, amongst which was that the Coroner was a shareholder in the Insurance Company Jenkins had insured in. The Judge after argument held that the Coroner’s enquiry being only a preliminary one, the fact of the Coroner being a shareholder did not vitiate the verdict, it being only tantamount to the finding a true bill by a Grand Jury ; therefore ho will he tried at the sessions that commence on Monday, at the Civil Sittings, to follow the criminal business.

There is likely to ho something exciting at the next sitting of tho Supremo Court, chore being no less than three cases of Breach of Promise. Two of the defendants reside at or neaij,Otago’s city of the plains, and the other is said to bo one of Dunedin’s bonifaces. In my last I noted the fact that steamers of a larger tonnage come up to the Rattray street jetty. I also noticed that there are one or two of our coasters that would not be the worse if the Inspector, or whoever’s duty it is, to sec that they are thoroughly seaworthy, as it is possible that neglect of proper precautions may;rosult;in the loss of life, and the long list of missing vessels added to. Mr.f. G. S. Grant has been again fulminating his thunder through the Home Press. He says Wellington is a filthy village ; and calls himself the founder of the eight hour system. The whole of his letter is a tirade of abuse of the Colony. Mr Frank Sherwin who was with the Caramlinis, has been fined in Melbourne LI 00 for smuggling cigars from the mail steamer. The Colima, with the San Francisco Mail, will bo at Port Chalmers to-night or in the morning. The Arawata, having on board the salmon ova that tho Durham brought to Melbourne, has arrived at the Bluff. It is not yet reported as to the state it is in.