DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 416, 12 September 1868, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) August 29. The dispute between the Corporation and the Fire Brigade is assuming larger proportions. The matter underwent a long discussion at the meeting of the former body on Wednesday afternoon, and from the firm attitude taken by the speakers, it would seem that the Council means no surrender. On the other hand the Brigade is firm in its resolves to have this affair wound up only on a fair and liberal basis, which means a return to the old agreement made with the Council about a couple of years ago, but which the Council never carried out. In the meantime the Insurance agents, naturally, have rushed to the rescue of the Brigade. A meeting was held and an energetic remonstrance was unanimously agreed to, and forwarded to the Council ; but as the leading Councillors had got on the high horse, the Insurance agents were treated rather contemptuously, and their document pooh-poohed. Further discussion of the matter has been adjourned for a week, and it remains to bo seen what steps will be taken by the Brigade, who are on the eve of a complete break-up, one principal difficulty being the possession of the gear (engines, hose, &c), which is claimed by the Corporation, but resisted by the Brigade, on the ground that the agreement w:is never carried out. The minority which retired from the field at the late meeting of the Rural Deanery Board have published a quiet but very firm protest against the proceedings of that body in regard to the appointment of Bishop Jenner. Several other documents have appeared in print from both sides, containing telegrams, resolutions, &c. Altogether this appears to be a very sore subject among the Church of England people, and the matter in dispute seems very likely to end in a disruption, or something like it, if the ruling party succeed in their ends. We have had two arrivals from Britain this week — the Helenslee, from Glasgow, and the screw-steamer Salamander, from London. Both vessels left on the same day, but the Glasgow boat beat the London one by three days, notwithstanding her steam. They have both got large cargoes of general goods, and there were about 120 passengers. The barque Collingwood, from Newcastle, coal laden, ran on the spit at the Heads, on Thursday, while endeavoring to beat out, her cargo being for Oamaru ; after remaining on the sand for about a day, she was got off, with slight damage, but will have to go on the dock for repair. Though hindered at work a little by the weather, the diggers on the various fields are turning out a fair amount of gold, and mining enterprise generally is in a pretty sound state. The deep shaft at Wetherstones has been bottomed, without, however, finding gold at the bottom, but the prospect is said to be good. The last escort brought down 63030z. Business has been brisk all week. Breadstufls are firmer, without actual rise. During the firat half of the week the weather was very severe, with a good deal of snow ; but it has all disappeared, and the last two days here have been fine and mild. September 5. The Criminal Session of the Supreme Court was begun on Tuesday. The calendar is comparatively light, all the offences but one being against property : the number of cases to be tried is twenty-two, but there are only seventeen persons, some of them having two indictments preferred against them. There are several cases of obtaining money or goods by false pretences, generally by means of a valueless cheque, a sort of crime winch seems getting rather common, the indiscriminate use of cheques for paying small amounts of money certainly offering great inducements for committing the offence. A party of diggers were also put on trial for sheepstealing. They had been working among the Waitahuna ranges, and had made free with the mutton of the neighboring squatters. One of the party split upon the others to try and save himself ; but he did not do it properly, and the judge very properly gave him five years' penal ; of the others, one was found guilty, and the rest acquitted. The other cases tried up to yesterday were not of importance. Civil cases begin on Monday. The Presbytery of Dunedin met in the First Church on Wednesday, but the business was mostly routine, and of little public importance. A Fine Arts Exhibition is on the tapis. A meeting has been held, a resolution passed that such a thing is desirable, and a pretty influential and numerous committee has been appointed to promote the object. It is proposed to hold the Exhibition about January next. The Fire Brigade have at length taken definite steps towards breaking up. At a meeting held on Monday evening, after considerable discussion, but with very little diversity of opinion, it was deliberately resolved that on Monday, the 7th inst., the Dnnedin Fire Brigade, as at present constituted, cease to be. The plant, &c., will be given over to the Corporation, for the public. The Brigade have since published a financial statement, utterly disproving numerous assertions as to their expense, extravagance, and so on, made in the City Council. After Monday, then, we will literally be at the mercy of the elements in the case of an accident — a nice state of things truly. If the Corporation do not take immediate steps to put an end to this, it will be to their everlasting disgrace. The Volunteers, comprising the Artillery, First Battalion Rifles, and the Naval Brigade, had a turn out on Monday evening. The weather was not very favorable, but there was a large muster, the number of rank and file being 220. They marched to the South Reclamation, where a number of movements were very creditably performed. A Cadet Corps, in connection with the District Schools, has lately been formed — uniform, a red jacket, dark trousers, and neat cap, with red band—and the lads are already very forward and smart in their drill. A new daily paper starts on Monday — the Mail. It is to be conducted by Mr Mackay, who has for some time published a cheeky concern known as the Evening Mail. It is to be the same size as the Daily Times, and price 2d. A succession of very good pieces has been brought out in the Princess Theatre during the week, but I am sorry to say

the audiences have not been at all up to I the mark. Whether this is owing to the weather or not it is impossible to say, but one thing seems pretty certain, theatricals do not now possess the same attractions in Dunedin which they used to haA 7 e. The weather has been veiy cold and wet nearly all the week, and the streets j disagreeably muddy. On Thursday night I and Friday morningit blew a heavy gale | from S.S.W. to S.E., with much rain. i To-day is quiet and milder. Business of all sorts has been very dull during the week. Stocks of sugar have been added to by the arrival of the Severn, from Mauritius, via Geelong.