DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 198, 20 April 1867, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(FISOM OUII OWX UORRT2.SPOXDET.) April 13. i The provincial elections are now com- i pleted, and the Council is summoned to meet on the .first of May. The infusion c of " new blood " is very strong, nearly \ one-half of the members never having j made any appearance previously in our f local Parliament. Several old members j have been rejected, the most prominent \ among whom is the well-known Major \ Richardson, who has been the Speaker since ever the Council was formed. Mr * Hepburn, Chairman of Committee, is also ( out of the Council, having declined to stand, on account of failing health. As a •' rule, all the districts were contested, and j some of the battles were very stiff ones indeed. With such a strong per cgntage \ of inexperienced members, it will become E time ere the House gets' into walking iriin. j There will be plenty of business, and \ most important business, too, for them to ( try their hands upon ; the session is " looked forward to as one of the most i critical that has occurred since the fount dation of the province. ( The Otago Association, from whicli so \ much was expected, has died a natural J death, having done, during its six months' existence, just nothing. On its ruins, ] there is to be reared .another society, or . league, haviiig for its object, separation \ from tlie North Island, pure and simple ; , every means being adopted to secure the i very desirable object — meetings, lectures, < petitions, &g. A very respectable list of i names appears as committee. I The public meeting about the city reserves and the recent action of the General Government in regard thereto, came off on Saturday* last. It was pretty ] well attended, and resolutions embodying pretty strong sentiments were ' adopted unanimously. The governorship of the gaol is vacant, ' Mr Stoddart having resigned. There are a good many applicants for the office. A , little capital is being made out of the matter by certain parties, who perhaps imagine they should get the appointment, 1 which is a General Government one. I The inquest on the late fire was con- 1 eluded on. Thursday. _A great many witnesses were examined, but there was ' nothing discovered really touching on the ' origin of the tire. The verdict of the jury < was to the effect that the fire broke out in < Willson's shop, that it was caused by : somebody, but that there was nothing to f show who actually did .so. Public suspi- 1 cion points strongly to Willson as being ' the actual perpetrator, but there is no direct evidence. However, he lias since the inquest been 'apprehended by the police, and held to bail. It is supposed the detectives have discovered something to warrant them doing so. Au enquiry has been commenced into the circumstances atfc&uing an outbreak of lire on the premises of Mr Switzer, Princess street, some four weeks ago, fortunately discovered in time to prevent much loss. The South Australian was sold by auction on .Saturday last, as she lay' on the : reef, to Mr Samuels, Manse street, for L 165. The salvage goods were sold on Wednesday, and brought capital prices, • some ;>f the articles going beyond market value. Since the accident there has been ! a heavy sea running oa the coast,, and the wreck has completely broken up. Her bows and part of her forcdeck are firmly fixed on the reef, but her after part, engines, &c, have disappeared. Tlie pin-chaser has chartered a .small craft, engaged the Government diver, etc., with the view of stripping tlie wreck, but it is very doubtful if he will realise the price .of his purchase. The,.enquiry into the wreck, before Mr Strodjs, R.M. is not yet over, having been adjourned in order that a witness, j. R. M'Kenzie, who has got hurt, might be able to attend ; and also that some of the passengers from Mcli bourne to Otago, might be summoned. Our champion riflemen returned per the I Phoebe last night, and were very quietly received on the jetty by a few of their comrades. They have done very well, having taken four out of the five prizes, the first, second, third, and fifth. The chances were very much against the Otago men, as they only arrived at Wellington at 5 a.m. on the day of shooting, and had to travel twelve miles to the range. The shooting was very poor, considerably under the scores obtained by the same men at the ranges here. Tlie four representatives arc to be entertained at a complimentary soiree and ball on Wednesday evening next. The Provincial Council ,-Hall has been granted for the occasion. The theatre and the circus have been pretty well attended during the week, though the audiences have rather preponderated in favor of the latter place of amusement. " Cartouche, or the' French Jack Sheppard," is to be produced at the Princess to-night, The paddle steamer Lady of the Lake was ' lately hauled up on a slip on the beach at Cumberland street, at Wilson's foundry, and lengthened, raised, and strengthened, She has since been relaunched* as the Enterprise, and is now alongside the jetty, getting her boilers, &c.,, aboard. She is to be employed in the Harbor trade. A fair amount of business, chiefly- in the import trade, has been doing during the week. Yesterday and Thursday,'' the large amount of L 5547 odd was paid as import duty at the Dunedin Customhouse. Of this sum no less than L 3812 was paid on drapery goods'., With the exception of one wet night we have had a very fine week of weather. Fine dry bright days, and_ slight frost at . :Mighls);.^ : J9 still: vigorous; : : ■; ■ ;'' fe^S^^^-V.'Sxi^ii :■:■- = ,'. .- 1 ,■-