DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 753, 22 September 1876, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

—°— (from our correspondent, ) September 17. Speaking against time is the special occupation of the Opposition at the present time. Notwithstanding the reports'bt committees of both Hohses that the law has been infringed by the Ministry, the Ministry still cllVig to the i&oa {hat tho'ooVintry will put up'with afiy course they think'proper to take, so that they may retaih the sweets of office. The thimbles ’halve again been shifted on the board, tho’little game has resulted in the 1 resignation Of eight but of nine of the Ministers, and the eleotibh of ' a new Ministry of seven, within the limits of the law. The Premier asks for an Indeffiity Bill for all past peccadilloes. To this the Opposition demur, as such a course will frustrate the writs issued by Sir George Grey against the delimpients, therefore the opposition are compelled to have recourse to the practice of speaking against time till the writs are returnable. Mr Rees has sp’dken for T2 hours, and Mr Thomson has had about 14 hours already, and shows no sign of giving out. He is quoting Burns— “A' f man is a man for a’that.” Maoandrew and ' others will prolong the debate till the desired time. Mr Montgomery’s disqualification Bill is a terror to place-hunters. It provides that no member shall be appointed to a place of profit or emolument within twelve months of holding a seat in eith" j House, 'file Bill is strongly opposed. Ti / virtuous protestations ate numerous, y.Ur member prominent amongst the number ; he declares that the Bill is quite unnecessary and the records of the past ten years show the purity of legislation ; but the general idea is that‘this statement, for deglutition, requires a little salt. Mr Pyke has been made a martyr for the license of language of a character allowed in the House. It appears that while sitting behind Sir George Grey when he whs speaking, interjected, sottovoce, annoying expression's, one hieing discreditable. Sir George cothplained to the House. The Speaker requested Mr Pyke to retract, which he declined, saying that he did not intend Sir George Grey to hear him, but then said if the hon. member would have bis opinion, it was discreditable for any bon. member to place himself in the position of a common informer. There words were taken down, and the House refused to accept an apology, but carried a resolution censuring Mr Pyke, Mr Pyke, on his return to the House, said he hoped that his being made a martyr, would be the cause of the use of softer speech in the House Sir Julius Vogel accepts the Agent-Generalship, and issues a farewell address to the Wanganui electors, and to the Colony in general. Surely these groat men must be like the ostrich, who is said to bury its‘head ’in the ground and think it is covered all over,—to imagine the people so foolish as not to know, or believe, that the thing was all cut and dried long ago. He has got his billet—if a paltry one—for a star of the first magnitude. We are the gulled, hut let us be charitable, and as we say of the dead, fiequiescat in pace. I have heard of the three tailors of Tooiey street. A few of our citizens wish W emulate them. The rejected of Caversham, Mr Cargill and others, have Vrittek a letter to the members for Dunedin, telling them that they are wearied of the discussions of Piako swamp, abolition, and such like, and think it is time that Finance, Counties, etc., discussions should take place. Now, there is a smell of the wool about this transaction. Has the example of the Canterbury bucolics extended its influence, that Finance and Counties should take precedence of the rights of the people. Perhaps they imagine that they see the feather flying, and they want a few to line their already comfortable nests. No doubt the cutting up of the runs does not suit their book. I expect tho members for Dunedin will give them a suitable reply for their pains. The amended Hospitals Ordinance, giving the election of surgeon‘intt the hands of the committees is bearing fruit in Invercargill. The Committee have made, by a bare majority, the appointment, causing great dissatisfaction, and some talk of referring tho matter to a meeting of subscribers, (no doubt the proper parties to select, we all know how dangerous it is to put the power in the hands of a few where cliques may becoine dominant’), and act diametrically opposite to the best interest of an institution. Invercargill is net tho only place where such a tiling has occurred. The late terrific storm on the Australis'' coast is said to have been the severest ever' known. The total amount of casualties is at present unknowh. The City of Sydney sustained a good deal of damage, and a large number of race-horseS have been killed. The Dandenong steamer ?s lost, the Only trace is some cabin fittings, found near Jervis Bay. Some seventeen of the passengers and crew arc saved. About forty souls are supposed to have gone ‘down with her. Fears are entertained for the safety of several crafts which sailed from Newcastle for New Zealand about tho time the gale commenced.

Rumors have been circulated to the effect that all war vessels on th'e Australian station are not to go beyond telegraphic communication, and that all military nun on half-pay are to join their regitrients. The London correspondents reiterate that, notwithstanding the denials of the Turks, frightful atrocities arc, and have been, committed. The Russians arc encouraging the Servians, and Garibaldi offers to get his old companions who fought with him in Italy to assist the Servians. The Italian Government object to volunteers going. Disraeli's government propose a month’s armistice, to ascertain the truth of the alleged atrocities, said to equal those of the Indian mutiny. Women prisoners are being placed on tho ramparts by the Turks, in front of tho Servian fire. It is not improbable that the flritish will occupy Egypt again. King of Dahomey is tho primary cause of this. There is s large fleet in the Mediterranean, Great activity prevails in the various dockyards-

A case of some importance was decided by the Resident Magistrate—Spedding v. Barton. Plaintiff sued on a bill of exchange Tho defendant pleaded that tho bill, although it had stamps, adhesive ones 6f the proper value, but they were not obliterated occording to the provisions of the StAmp Acta, and that tho bill therefore was not admissible in a Court of law. The plea of defendant was sustains 1, and a' decision i'n accordance given. This should be a caution to those having bill transactions to properly obliterate the staihps. In amusements we are tolerably well off. Little Nell, the Californian diamond, is starring it at the Princesses. She is an excellent actress in her peculiar line, which includes clog dancing, banjo and guitar 'playing. The plays have been written to display the especial talent. Roberts, the champion billiard player, is at the Temperance Hall. The first game he played he beat Weston, giving him 500. They played again, Roberta giving Weston 600; this time Weston was the victor by 94 points. Tho Panorama, the Mirror of the World, has arrived’fit the JBluff by the Arawata, and will shortly ope'n here. The Suez mail has arrived at Adelaide. You will have beard that C. E. Haughton was committed for trial at Wellington. The ’proceedings 'vrerie conducted with closed doors. No bail was asked for.