DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 321, 4 February 1868, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our. own correspondent.) January 25. Among the subjects brought before the Synod, at its concluding meeting on Tuesday, was the now celebrated letter of the Rector of the High School. It gave rise to a vory animated discussion, in which some of the ministers came out strong in defence of Protestantism and Pfesbyterianism. Though, as a rule, both the writer of the letter and the sentiments contained in it were alike condemned, there were some of the members of Synod who seemed afraid to move in the matter, and wanted the subject withdrawn from discussion. Eventually, as the Rector has intimated his intention to retire from office, a motion of a very mild nature was adopted, a copy to be sent to the Superintendent, and another to the Rector himself. The Synod transacted a large amount of business during the sitting, motions, overtures, finance, &c. The adjournment is for a year— to January, 1869, The non-arrival of that illustrious steamer — the Pareora — seems likely to cause the break-up of the Southern Steam Co. At their meeting on Wednesday a resolution to wind up voluntarily was agreed on, the property of the company being nearly all lost or mortgaged. The rate of progress which the Pareora has made in her endeavors to reach these waters will bring her here when everybody except the unfortunate shareholders has forgotten that such a company ever existed. Their endeavors to open up the trade to the southern ports of the Province have not come to much — the Taiaroa and the Tuapeka are still running in connection with each other in the Clutha trade, but the Geelong is now a tug-boat, under a subsidy from the Provincial Government. In the Supreme Court yesterday, the case of Cameron v. the Daily Times and Witness Co. (limited), was again heard. The case turns on the right of a public journal to make comments on a case while pending ; and after a long argument, the Judge, (Chapman) held there was a case to answer, and granted the rule nisi. At the meeting of the City Council on Wednesday, there was a discussion on the Town Belt, and some very extraordinary Statements made. Some time ago a survey of the belt was made by Mr Grigor, and parties who were found encroaching got notice to retire, It is now found out that this survey must go for nothing, and the Council have appealed to the Government for the services of the chief surveyor, Mr Thomson. This has been refused. Therefore, parties who have encroached may stay where they are, and the L3OO odd which Mr Grigor's survey cost is thrown away. We have a nice wa.y of doing tilings here. Would it not have been better had the L3OO been expended in repairs of some of the streets, which ore just now in a deplorable state of ruin, and getting worse with every shower that falls. Those who fancy flowers and fruit had a fine opportunity of gratifying their tastes last night in the show of the Horticultural and Fforicultural Society, which was this year held in the large hall of the new Post Office. The show was very good, and contained some really beautiful specimeus. I am not florist enough to give you the names, only some fuschias and roses I could not help particularising. The display of fruit was firstrate, notwithstanding the late wet weather ; evidently, Otago will hold her own against any of the colonies in this respect. The vegetables wore not up to last show, but the weather is sufficient reason for this. The attendance was good. There will bo a second show iv March. The new arrangements whereby there is to be a mail every four weeks via Suez, instead of one every month, does not seem to please people here, more especially as there seems likely to be no despatch from Melbourne this month- It will have an evil effect on the Panama line, as weakening the aupport it was receiving. The irregularity of the latter line is against it, too ; while I write, there is no word of the mail, now three days due. A slight shock of an earthquake was felt here last night about 6.40- It was of a tremulous nature, and appeared to come from the S.W. We have experienced a week of fine weather, save Sunday, which was very wet, the whole day. All the usual scenes were repeated — streets all but impassable, the .water-ways torn up, and great ruts made ; landslips of considerable size , dropping down at the sides of cuttings, every now and then, &c., &c. I fafn hope the present spell of fine weather, which is the longest we have had this season, will last long enough to. enable the crops to recover ' from the effects of -the long drenching they have had.