DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 464, 5 January 1869, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) December 26. The "Great Slander Case," which has been so much talked over in the town during the last week or two, occupied the Supreme Court for the three first days in this week, and like many another mountain brought forth a mouse. Messrs Smith and Barton were engaged for the defendant, Kempthorne. There was a great array of witnesses on both sides, and a prodigious display of forensic talent by the lawyers ; but the point of which most was expected to be made broke down, and the case mainly, turned on the busmen part of the case — what damage was done to the plaintiff as a commission agent by the statement of Kempthorne about money lent and lost, belonging to a Dr. Crawford, who seems to have been the chief agent in Betting the affair agoing in the first instance. On this issue the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff— damages .£IOO, they having been originally laid at £5000. The Dunedin Presbytery met in the First Church on Wednesday, but the business which came before them was merely formal. The Synod meets in a few days. The Harvest Home has arrived from Liverpool with a full cargo of general gcods. In connection with the operations carried on by prison labor at Bell Hill, there was on Saturday last a rather heavy blast find. There were three holes bored about 45ft. deep, the quantity of powder used being lOcwt. The galvanic battery was used to fire the charges, and the blast was very successful, bringing down an immense quantity of rock. Another squad of prisoners are now engaged in cutting through the hill at the top of Pitt street, in order to form a ommuuicaticn with Heriot row and the other streets on the hill, the spoil being used to fill up some of the swampy places below. The Fire Brigade turned out for practise on Wednesday evening. There was a pressure of 1451b5. per inch in the main, and the new hose was therefore pretty severely tested. First one, then two, and then four branches were used, and apparently an equally strong stream was sent from each. The advent of Christmas brought its usual amount of bustle and business. After a rather threatening sort of a day, Christmas Eve turned out remarkably fine, and the streets were, of course, crowded with pleasure-seekers. The shops of the principal dealers— -the butchers as usual taking the lead — were very profusely decorated. The shops of Mr Menlove presented a most superb aspect, the show of fat stock being really excellent, and all provincial fed ; the City Company also had a splendid show, and some of the other butchers exhibited very fat stock. The hotels generally were profusely decorated with evergreens, &c. ;* the use of the tree-fern or rather, I might say, the abuse —for it is a pity to see such beautiful trees used for such a temporary purpose — was universal. The streets, as a rule, were very gay; and never, I am sure, did Byron see the lamps shine on a fairer lot of women than were to be seen traversing our pavement on the occasion. Foi Christmas-day itself there was not much amusement afoot ; but there were four excursion trips advertised — the Wallace to Oamaru, the Peninsula to Portobello, the Geelong to Waikouaiti, and the Golden Age to the Maori Kaik. With the last, yonr correspondent went and enjoyed bimself to the full. All the four were ■well patronised. To-day there is an Oddfellows' Fete at Vauxhall, and the Tradesmen's Races come off at Silverstream, and a number of other things are put before the public, the principal being ihe new burlesque and pantomime at the Princess Theatre — Acis and Galatea— which has been got up on a grand style. M. Fleury's entertainment in the Otago Academy oi Music is pretty well patronised, the entertainment being first-class. The weather has been rather threatening for our holiday season, but we must hop« for th» best,