DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 529, 8 June 1869, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(PROM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 29. The fine weather mentioned in my last week's letter broke down on Saturday after dark, when a steady rain set in, which continued without intermission till 3 o'clock on Mouday morning, by which time every river and watercourse in our neighborhood was running bank high. All the small gully streams which come down upon the town from the Belt were very much flooded, and discharged an extraordinary quantity of water for some hours. Owing, however, to the improvement made lately by the Corporation in the drainage of Rattray street, that unfortunate locality was quite exempted from damage on this occasion, though the water in the channels was meeting in the middle of the roadway. In the north end of the town, and particularly in the line of George street, considerable damage was done to gardens, &c, on both sides. A small stream crosses Regent-road, by means of a culvert : this, in the early part of Sunday evening, got choked, and the water rushed over the roadway and down the hill with immense force, destroying a large portion of the formation, and excavating big holes in the channel all the way down, besides overflowing the footpaths, and inundating the gardens below. The water found its way down the street, and being laden with large quantities of clay and stones, it speedily choked the drain, and the street shortly assumed the look of a lake. Further in, there was a repetition of this, though on a smaller scale ; and when daylight came the Corporation men found they had a few days' extra work cut out for thelu in clearing away the^mud

and clay. The Leith was also in high flood, but from its bed having been deepened by the removal of large quantities of gravel, no damage was done. In the country, both north and south, much damage has been done to the roads and bridges. The gas question has undergone some amount of ventilation this week. A public meeting of those interested was held in the Post-office Hall, on Wednesday, the Mayor presiding, when a series of resolutions was laid before them, and adopted without discussioh.- 'It was evident from the tone of the meeting that all were agreed as to the purpose for which they had met ; but it was also quite as evident that most of these present were afraid to speak out, for fear, as " a voice " cried out, they would get their gas cut off. A special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday, when the resolutions were laid before them for their adoption. The deputation urged upon the Council the propriety of their taking steps to either erect new gasworks altogether, which could be done for a sum less than £8000, or buying up the present works. The Council have the matter under consideration, and it will come on for discussion on Wednesday next. A rather unpleasant affair occurred in the Cemetery on Monday. The Rev. Mr Stewart was conducting the funeral of a man named M'Naughion,. when he waa rudely assaulted by two men, who said the. deceased was a Roman Catholic, a Christian, and a gentleman, and claimed that the service should have been conducted by the Rev. Father Moreau. The two would accept of no explanation, but became very abusive, and attempted to strike Mr Stewart, who would have been knocked down, but for the interposition of bystanders. Eventually, they were given in charge of the police, and on being brought before Mr Strode next morning, on the case being proved, the worthy magistrate gave them both a fortnight's hard labor, remarking that it was not a case for a money fine, as their frienda would have paid it for them. Some time ago the Queenstown people applied to the Acclimatisation Society for some of the young trout, in order that some of the streams in that locality might be stocked. Arrangements were accordingly made for conveying Mr (flifford, the Society's manager, and five dozen of the. fish, in a special conveyance, so as to be only two nights on the road. But the weather was very unfortunate, the rivers were high, and progress was. slow, and before Mr Clifford and his precious charge reached Queenstown, all the fish had died. In political matters there is not much moving, but there is a strong undercurrent of anxiety, and even alarm, felt as to what the Government intend to do regarding the threatened war loan. A good manyletters have appeared in the papers regarding this matter, and a proposal was made for a public meeting in order that the sentiments of the constituency might have been made known to the representatives before they left for Wellington. Bnt nothing came of it, and the M.H.B's are. away to-day to fight their own way again. Not all of them, however, for the Provincial Council is still sitting, and won't likely rise till Tuesday, and such of the members as belong to the other House will not be at liberty till then. In the Council the principal business of the week has been the passing of the Estimates, this generally dry work being relieved slightly now and then by little fights among the members about votes for their respective localities. A really imgprtant debate took place yesterday on the subject of the High School and its repair, its removal to another site, and the proposed High School for girls. These subjects were pretty well discussed in all their beariugs, but the result was nil, the school is to remain where it is, and the whole matter will be hung up for another year, a small sum being voted to patch up the present building.