DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 426, 6 October 1868, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(SSOM QUR. O/VVIT CQRRESBONDKNT.) September 26. The remaining jury cas.es were tried jbefore the Supreme Court this week. The first one was a case of crim. con. before a (Special jury. The facts seemed plain enough, indeed did not appear to be denied ; yet the case completely broke down on a poinjb of law :— lt cquld not be proved that the woman concerned was the woman who was married on a certain datn in Scotland, although certificates, &c., had been got from the performing clergyman and others for the purpose— the Judge adding that a man might have had half-a-dozen in the interval. Damages were laid at but the plaintiff was nonsnited. The other case was for damages for wrongful imprisonment — Orbell v. Jones — and arose out of some rather complicated family arrangements about cut#ug down timber on the farm of Puketapu, owned by the defendant's son and leased by the plaintiff. After evidence had bean given on both sides, however, the jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, but only one farthing damages. The Court has flince sat in Banco, hearing motions, &c, important enough, perhaps, to those immediately concerned, but very little to the outside public. In the course of the day, his Honor intimated that he would not sit after the end of the month, and would proceed to Britain by the next Panama maiL His place on the Bench will be taken by Mr Acting-Justice Ward. The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Wednesday. The report which was read recapitulated the various subjects on which the Chamber had taken action during the year. Perhaps the most important of these was the means of securing the more speedy discharge of shipping at the port. This includes dredging the harbor, improved accommodation at the jetties, and the erection of a convenient transit or guaging shed at the Rattray street jetty ; all those works are either in progress, or are to be at once undertaken, and in all pf them the Chamber has been the prime mover. George Turnbull, Esq., was elected Chairman for the year. Among the items of business brought before the City Council at its usual meeting on Wednesday, were the arrangements on the carpet for meeting the case of an accident by fire. The Mayor stated that although arrangements were still far from pnmplete, there were the engines and gear, and if occasion did arise, there would be a body of men ready to work them. This is mighty plausible ; I earnestly hope no fire will happen to test the arrangements. It is certain there would be rare confusion. Our local orator, Grant, held what he was pleased to term a mass meeting on the Octagon on Saturday afternoon last. There were about 150 people present at the most, and the majority seemed to think the affair a piece af jolly good fun. The speaker delivered himself of about the usual amount of rant, and Grant inveighing against everything and everybody, save and except what coincided with his peculiar views and ways of thinking. After reading to. the meeting several propositions, which were carried unanimously, as a matter of course, and which were to be telegraphed to Wellington, he concluded by reading a number of maxims, pulled during his study of various favorite Roman authors, which he considered appropriate to the present juncture of public affairs. I paid a visit to the Otago Museum the .other day. It is now open three days a week, and is very much frequented. I found the Geology and Natural History of the Province very fairly represented by a numerous array of specimens, finely got up and arranged in commodious glass cases, placed along both sides and down the middle of a suite of well-lighted rooms in the new Post Office building. A very profitable hour or two can be spent there at anytime. The new bridge over the Water of Leith at the end of. Great King street was formally opened for traffic this week. It is a very handsome structure of two arches, built altogether of Oamaru stone. A new piece of road has been made to connect the bridge with the main line, from which it diverges just outside the tollbar, and crosses the town belt to the bank of the river. Altogether, there ia a very great improvement on the dingy lane which J gave entrance to the city from the north, the new road being a chain wide all the way. From the gold fields, the news continues pretty favorable, although there is a good deal of migration cbing on ; as is usual at this season, the return of gold keeps 3teady, the last Epcort bringing down 7297 ozs. i Business during Afe week has been rather dull, with absence of speculation. Thou^Hthere is no actual lowering of prices, jHdstuSs are a little easier ; but very li^Bwheat is offering, the farmers being taking advantage of the present run (^Be weather. Some of the dealers in t^H have lowered the loaf a permy — the s^Hrf life now ranging from 7d to 9d, at^Bling to quality. — The Moa Flat StatiWwith about 45,000 sheep, was knocked Mwn to Mr Larnach, Bank of Otago, on TLfirsday, for i 30,000. This is one of the best squatting properties in the Province, and w.is sold much under value. It belonged to Messrs Chalmers Brothers, and was sold by order of the mortgagee, Hon Mr Clai;k, pf Victoria,