DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Issue 56, 22 May 1866, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDENT.) May 12, 1866. A case which has caused a lot of talk has occurred: — A well-known auctioneer and an equally notorious brewer quarrelled ihe either evening over a game of cards. The brewer told the other that when he came to the Colonies he was thought so much of by the Government that a guard of soldiers took care of him whenever he went about. This produced a rather, uncomplementaKy allusion to the former's wife, whereupon the brewer seized a bottle, and" knocked the "--knight of the hammer " down. A melee ensued, and shortly both rolled on the floor, biting at each other's nose and ear. Eventually, a compromise — '-If you let go, I'll let go : ' — was arrived at, and the parties separated. J. Lazar, Esq., late Town Clerk, was presented with a very complimentary address this week by a number of the leading merchants, &c. , in town, in recognition of the vdjue of his services while acting as clerk to the late Town Board and the present City Council. There were 120 signatures to the document. On Wednesday night, a very serious fire, supposed to be the work of an incendiary, occurred on the farm of Mr James Shand, West Taieri, where a large stack of wheat, the produce of forty acres, was totallydestroyed. It stood out in a field, away from the houses, and there had been no fire near it of any kind. It contained over 2000 bushels, and. must have been worth about L6OO. The Government have offered a reward of L5OO for the discovery of the offender, or any information that may lead to it. This is the fourth or fifth fire of the same kind which has occurred on the Taieri plain during the . last year or two. Another fire occurred yesterday in Stafford street, which, but for timely help, would have been the most serious Dunedin has yet seen. It took place through .some carelessness in sliif ting a stove in the Union Hotel, whereby there was nothing left between a fire-place and a calico roof but a thin sheet of metal, which soon communicated the heat and set the roof on fire. The sudden jump into winter which we took at the beginning of last week was as completely retreated from as could be. We have since enjoyed most beautiful weather for the season. In ccnsequenc.e,' business has been very active, and a verylarge amount of loading has been dis-patchedup-country, where stocks had been reduced to the lowest point, iri consequence of the late want of carriage. The carriers have advertised their new scale, showing a considerable advance on former charges. From all the gold fields, cheering accounts continue to be received. Both theatres have been open during the week; but, despite the attraction offered at the Princess's, in the shape of new pieces and clever actors, the best audiences have attended the Royal, where the Heines have performed nightly. The performances of the "blind fiddler" are really wonderful. For taste and feeling and complete command of_ his instrument -he_far s\irp?*wes c v ****^""" r " fiieard in