DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 411, 1 September 1868, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OUH, OWN CtiBUESPONDENT.) August 22. The public meeting to which I referred in my last as being about to be held in favor of a cemetery at the north end of the city, and in opposition to any further increase of guarantee to the Water Works Company, resulted very curiously, in taking a direction the very opposite of that which the promoters of the meeting intended. Resolutions against the appropriation of a portion of the Town-belt for cemetery purposes, were carried by a large majority, while the opposition to the Water Works guarantee was completely overborne, and a resolution in its favor carried almost unanimously. As regards the guarantee, it may be very well tcT resolve in its favor ; but it was really a pity the meeting was led away by what must be called a false sentimentality in regard to the Belt. The site in question lies above Pelichet-bay, and is as admirably adapted a piece of ground for the purpose as is to be found in the whole district. In its present state" it is covered by a dense growth of manuka and ti-ti scrub, of very little use to anybody, and only traversed by sturdy wanderers like myself. From telegrams published yesterday, J observe the Bill has been withdrawn in the Assembly. But the Corporation must not despair, only try again. The annual supper and torchlight procession of the Fire Brigade came off on Thursday night. Fortunately for the display, the weather had been fine for several dayß, and the roads were dry, so that the procession was got over very -comfortably, both for the firemen and the public. The turnout looked very imposing, particularly as it came down Princes street, where it was illuminated by a number of brilliant colored lights. The supper was a great success. A rather unpleasant dispute has arisen again between this body And the Corporation in regard to money matters. It appears that some time ago an agreement was entered into between both, by which an annual payment of bo much toward the expenses of the Brigade was to be made by the Council. But this was broken by the amount of money being reduced, or never paid. Another agreement was entered into, only to be broken. In fact, there has been for a long time a chronic dispute between them on the same matter of expenses ; and during the quarrel some rather queer things have been done by the Finance Committee, some of the members of which entertain rather autocratic notions of themselves, On: the whole, the Fire Brigade are being treated rather scurvily. This business was. mentioned at the meeting, of the City Council, on Wednesday ; but what was said there was very far from smoothing down matters, and the Brigade naturally feel irritated. ludeed, if something is not speedily done, a breakup will ensue, which wbuld^ in many ways, be a real misfortune to the city. : The Rural Deanary Board met in St. George's^ Hall, on Tuesday evening, when the' subject of the Dunediri Bishopric formed the main . business. There ,was a long and angry discussion, ending in an open rupture and ; the withdrawal from the meeting , altogether of a rather : large minority. It seems as the unfortunate business were never to be settled, as at the meeting nothing really was done, everything yet remains in the same state of uncertainty, and only existing unpleasantness among the members of the Church. During the week the papers have teemed with paragraphs from all the ports on the eastern sea-board of the island, regarding an earthquake which took place on Saturday morning last, and which appears to have had its centre somewhere in the vicinity of Lyttelton, as there its manifestations were most violent. In this neighborhood only a slight tremor was felt, but some most extraordinary tidal phenomena, in the shape of huge waves, took place. There was no wind at the time, and the sea outside was comparatively smooth, when all at once, those in the neighborhood of the Heads aud other parts of the lower harbor, observed the irater to ebb rapidly, leaving the sand

banks bare. Immediately afterwards a high roller came rapidly in, followed by another, rising the level of the water nearly to that of high tide ; the water immediately receded, to beyond that of low tide, and then another huge wave came rushing in far above high water mark, receding as rapidly as it came in. In this way the water alternately rose and fell the whole forenoon, the vessels at anchor swinging up and down as the current altered its direction. This influence extended to the Upper Harbor, though in a less degree, but currents rushed up and | down, and tho tide rose and fell, in a most extraordinary manner. The Princess Theatre re-opens on Monday, under the lessceship and management of Mr J. Wilson. The Theatre has undergone a great deal of improvement, alterations, and renovation ; a new act-drop has been painted, representing a lake in Italy, the foot and other lights re-arranged and extended ; the circle has been carpeted and the seats re-stuffed, &c, &c. A pretty strong company has been engaged, comprising, with a few of the old favorites, several performers who are new to the town. Thus, everything augurs fair for the beginning of a prosperous dramatic season