DUNEDIN

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 681, 31 May 1870, Page 4

DUNEDIN

(from our own correspondent.) May 16. The Provincial Council is still in session, but the members do not appear to be killing themselves with hard work ; on the contrary, they aro taking things much more easily than usual, neither sitting so late nor doing so much real business. The Treasurer made his financial statement on Wednesday night, and to the surprise of everybody, he made things come out much more favorably than was expected. The various items of revenue all show up pretty well, there being only a serious falling off in one, viz. , the land revenue, which is very low for the past year, but for this the Council have themselves to blame in the action they took in regard to the Hundreds Regulation Act at the late special session, which has had the effect of almost stopping the sale of land. However, the Treasurer put a very hopeful face on the matter, and congratulates the Council on the progress made during the year, and expects to be able to vote money enough to extend and encourage public works and local industries all over the province. Whether it is on account of this being the lasc session of the present Council, or because of the want of something better to do ; a good deal of personality has been indulged in by some of the members, which has npw and then given rise to a good deal of amusement. Our local Diogenes, the notorious Grant, made a raid on the Council on Thursday, at the head of a body of unemployed, for the purpose of presenting a petition to the effect that some means of employment be provided for the winter ; but his behaviour was very different from a former occasion on which he headed a similar body, for he kept quiet, and entrusted the petition to one of the members for presentation. The franchise, the representation, and like matters, have given rise to several animated discussions — the alteration of the franchise to manhood suffrage having been moved, and a reduction of the number of representatives, as well as a re-arrangement of the district, also discussed. It is admitted on all hands that great discrepancies and anomalies in all these subjects exist, and the General Assembly is to be appealed to to put matters straight, so as to have a new state of things in existence before a new Council has to be elected, which has to be done at the close of the current year. At the sitting of the Supreme Court on Monday, His Honor Mr Justice Chapman gave judgment in the case of Henry Smythies. His Honor viewed the case as leniently as possible, and made every allowance for the very peculiar circumstances, but decidedly refused the application for the rule. This seems to knock the last standing ground from under the feet of Mr Smythies, but although ifc ia hardly likely that he will apply to the Court again, yet there is no saying what the indomitable old fellow may do to get reinstated in his former position as barrister. The Christy Minstrels have finished this season at the Masonic Hall, and Miss Dolly Green's monologue is the only amusement provided for the public. A mesmerist, Dr Carr, has taken the Masonic Hall, and will open shortly. Business is still very dull, and little prospect of any alteration for the better. The weather has been fine all week. May 23. The Provincial Council have been tolerably active during the week, and have got pretty well through the business before them. The Estimates have formed the principal fighting ground, and some of the items have been keenly discussed, the divisions having been numerous, though, as usual, more critical than consistent. Some hon. members seem to move amendments for no other purpose than to hear themselves speak, and jump and occupy the time of the House without anything like sufficient reason. There ought to be a standing order to prevent members speaking more than a certain amount each night. Among subjects other than relating to money, a very important one was brought on by Mr Ashcroft, of Oamaru. It related to the union of this Province with Canterbury, and the resolution, which was carried, affirmed the desirability of union. There can be no doubt that such a union, if carried out, would have very great influence on the future of this island, and it would be tantamount to a union or federation of all the Southern Provinces. What a brilliant future would lie before this island if such a union could be equitably carried ont. No Northern grievances, no Maori war to run off with the funds which should be employed in roadmaking and other means of developing our resources. Let us live in hope ; the good time is coming.— The most of the items for educational purposes were passed, but some of them were much opposed, and on division rejected. The item "Inspector" caused a long discussion, and brought up the whole question of school inspection, which was argued pro and con with much vigor, if to little purpose. The usual squabble as to payment of members came off the other evening, a motion against or for a reduction having been made. The part of the country members was very well pleaded by Mr Tayler, who retaliated on those who live in town as follows : — The hon. member did not labor under the same disadvantages as many country members who were living at hotels. The hon. member took the precaution to briug his family to town with him, and was ,therefore not subject to the discomforts and expenses which other hon. members had to bear, such, for instance, as a bed 18in wide, with a cold wall instead of a warm wife— (laughter)— together with rheumatism, headache, heartache, and all the other ills to which the human frame was subject. (Renewed laughter.) At the present rate of progress, it does not seem

likely that the session will wind up before the end of next week, or perhaps later. The Chamber of Commerce . held a special meeting on Monday for the purpose of having an interview with Mr Collie, the agent of Mr Webb of New York, who purpose establishing a line of steamers from San Francisco to Melbourne. Mr Collie stated his plans pretty fully, dwelling particularly on the size and power of the boats proposed to be used in the service, the amount of subsidy expected, the port of call, &c. His statements underwent considerable discussion at the hands of some of the members of the Chamber, particularly as to the port of call, the claims of our harbor on that point being advocated. Mr Collie, however, seemed averse to give any promise on this head, although he could give no tangible reason why he preferred Wellington, none of the boats he described drawing more water than many of the home ships which regularly frequent the Otago Harbor. Eventually the following motion was moved by Mr E. B. Cargill, and carried unanimously : — ' ' That, in the opinion of this Chamber, every effort should be made by the Government of New Zealand to seenre the calling at a port of New Zealand of the line of steamers proposed to be established between San Francisco and the Australian Colonies, such port not being further north than Wellington." Since Tuesday evening there has been almost incessant rain, which culminated early yesterday morning in one of the severest floods which has happened in the history of the Province. Accounts from the country districts are not yet to hand in anything like a definite shape, but there is no doubt that the rivers are all in heavy flood. In Dunedin and its immediate vicinity considerable damage has been done. All the streams coming down from the westward raged like as many torrents, flooded all the streets through which they ran, and did a good deal of damage. Maclaggan street was covered with water from side to side, bearing with it an immense quantity of debris in the shape of stones, earth, trees, bottles, kerosene tins, &c, &c. One man attempting to cross, was carried off his feet and nearly drowned. St. Andrew street presented a similar appearance, and at the part where it crosses George street, took charge of the thoroughfare, and for a time put a stop to all traffic, the water covering all George street out to Hanover street. Farther out George street, at Pitt street, Regent road, and Forth place, the water was all across the street, and all the low-lying gardens and paddocks were filled to the street level. In Great King street similar results were apparent, and at the south end of the city, the Kensington township and its surroundings were all flooded to a considerable depth. The river Leith was in high flood, and did immense mischief all the way through the city. It washed away the breastwork erected lately above Messrs Duncan's mills, and flooded all the gardens there ; it took away all the bridges at St. David street, a large slice out of Castle street, almost destroyed what remains of the Botanical Gardens, carried off the Clyde street bridge, and destroyed the one at Forth street, which has stood the brunt of so many floods. At Leith street the river ran down a hurricane, taking all the fences, and destroying the gardens. Mr Gebbie's nursey there stood right in the way of the torrent and suffered very heavily, the garden being almost ruined. At Marshall and Copeland's brewery the stream rose over the yard and swept off all that was moveable in the shape of casks, tanks, &c. Pelichet Bay presented a most singular appearance at daylight, being covered with wrecked debris of every sort. I have just learned that the Taieri river is in high flood, and all the plain is covered ; that the bridge is either down, or that the approaches are washed away ; and that the northern rivers are doing great damage. Mr Smythies made an application to the Supreme Court to be re-admitted to practice, but was refused. He has to begin anew.