DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 389, 11 July 1868, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(crow oub own corebsfondeni.) July*. As usual on the eve of the meeting of the General Assembly, numerous political gatherings are taking placa in the Province. The members for the Taieri met I their coustitiients the other night, and had a long talk over matters affecting the disirict and the Province. But a good, deal of tho time was taken up with personal explanations arising out of the doings during the late session of the Council, and interests of a wider nature, relative to the colony generally, received only trifling passing notice. Of the three who spoke, Mr Reid only went beyond the district, but the Colonial policy seems very crude indeed. — At Waikouaiti, on i^he other hand, there has been great excitement, the district having gone- in fop what is called Local Self-Governnient. A feeling of discontent with things as they are seems to have been growing up in their district of late, and this feeling has been carefully kept alive and fanned by certain local agitators, who no doubt have an eye to future office, in the event of their schemes taking effect. From the figures given by one of the members of the Executive, who was present at the meeting, the district seems to have very little to complain of, as regards getting a fair share of tho revenue expended within it. But the meeting quite ignored these arguments, and a series of resolutions was proposed and carried, to the effect that the district declare off from the Province, and seek the aid of the General Government to be declared into a county. A committee was afterwards appointed to gather subscriptions to a petition having the above object in view, to be sent to Wellington.'— Major Richardson's late speech at the Clutha is still undergoing criticism in the press, and with hardly an exception these criticisms are«,condemnary. — A political meeting of some importance, took place last night at Milton, Tokomairifo, where Mr; Yogel, Provincial Secretary and Treasurer, was to address the electors of the district on the political state and prospects of the Province, principally with respect to. the coming session of the Assembly. As regards Provincial matters, the views of Tokomairiro and Waikonaiti are nearly directly opposed to each other,— The Tararua sails for the North to-day, and the Phoebe on Monday, so that all the members of Assembly may be there by the 9th. In general matters, there has been nothing of startling import during the week ; but the following items are noteworthy : — The Honorarium to Provincial Councillors formed the subject of a discussion before the Supreme Court in banco the other day. The Honorarium is only paid to those who reside over two milea from the Council Hall. Two of the country members, but who have town houses, where they reside most of the year, claimed payment, but were refused the necessary certificate by the Speaker, on the ground that they did not reside over the two miles, and hence the action. The Judge granted the rule, but evidently thought tho Speaker was right in refusing. — At the R. M.'s Court, on Wednesday, Mr Cameron, the hero of the late case against the Daily Times Co., appeared to show cause why he refused to pay tho costs of his solicitor in the appeal case. In his defence, he tried to make out that the lawyers had agreed to carry the case through the Court free, as far as he was concerned; but this they could not Bee. A good deal of cross-examination took place, and a number of documents were produced ; but Mr Cameron failed to make his case good, and the Magistrate decided against him, with costs, raising the amount due to over LIOO. Mr Simmons, Rector of the High School, was, on Saturday and Wednesday, pre- , sented with valedictory testimonials, previous to his departure for Nelson, where he is to take charge of the. College. On the former day, the presentation was by the ex-pupila, and consisted of a finely illuminated address and microsQope. ; on the latter, the present pupils made the presentation, which comprised a silver flower vase and epergne. In each case, Mr Simmons made suitable replies. The levelling of the Octagon, which has been going on for some time, is now finished, and is a decided iniproyement— . the space through, from street to street, is clear on the same level. ' Another of the old pioneera of Otago, in the free-settlement times, Captain P. Williams, died a fe.w days ago. The weather has been a little better this week, but the roads are very bad, and communication difficult. The Escort on Wednesday brought down 8200 ozs\ gold ; but this quantity is irregular, the late snow storm having, in a great measure, put a stop to mining. By tho | Gothenburg, yesterday, five Chinamen, with over 70 oz&. a piece, sailed for Melbourne ; they had been working in the St. Bathan's district for some months. The weather is yet very severe upcountry. The total wool produced in the Province during the past season is published in this morning's Times. It amounts to 22,921 bales, being an increase of 307$ bales over the previous, year*