DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 741, 18 October 1870, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) October 10. The Presbytery mot on Wednesday in the First Church, Dowhng street. The principal business before them was the moderation of a call to the Rev Mr Scrimgeour to be minister of St. Andrew's Church, Walker street. This was signed by 300 members and adherents, while there were only 38 dissentions — surely unanimous enough to warrant the Presbytery in proceeding with the usual steps to grant the reqnestof the congregation. But no ; for some inscrutable reason or, other, instead of doing so the Presbytery by a majority, resolved to hang the matter up till the meeting of Synod, which does not take place till January next. Meanwhile, this congregation are without a stated minister, always a prejudicial circumstance ; and it is too bad of the Presbytery thus to alloAv what seems very like a private pique to prevail against a settlement of this long pending case. At the City Council meeting on Wednesday, a very neat bill of co3t was handed in by Mr J. H. Harris. It was incurred in the late case — Reg. v. Bagley, regarding the disputed election for Bell Ward. It amounted to Ll2B 4s Bd. Mr 1 Barnes thought it was only right the amount should be placed agaiust the allocation for street improvements in the Ward, in which the Mayor concurred. The nomination of ratepayers to represent this Ward took place on Thursday, when Mr F. P. Mansfield and Mr Woodland were proposed. The poll comes off on Tuesday. Committees of the Council have been perambulating the various Wards, accompanied by the Surveyor, for the purpose of ascertaining the probable amount necessary to complete the many unfinished streets, and . generally to put the city in a complete state of repair, as regards its roads and footpaths. From the rough estimate given in, it appears that it will require an expenditure of about L 29,000 to do this' I wonder where they ■will get the money. The union of. Otago and Southland became an accomplished fact on Tuesday ; but beyond the display of a few flags here and there, very little notice was taken of this certainly important event. It will be six weeks or so ere the working arrangements are completed, as the Provincial Council has to be called together for the purpose. The Princess Theatre, under new management, with a new company, new scenery, &c. , was opened on Wednesday. The drama was "Blow for Blow," concluding with a farce. The piece was very fairly placed on the stage, and the company made a very good attempt at its representation, being generally successful. There were the usual calls before the curtain, aud there was quite a crowded house. I may add that the orchestra is once more under the command of its veteran leader, M. Flenry. The monthly escort came down on Tuesday, and totted up the satisfactory amount of 16,074 ounces — not so bad for our small army of diggers. By the Rangitoto, on Tuesday, the banks sent away no less than 17,049 ounces, the amount of duty being over L2OOO. A very severe thunderstorm passed over this district between half-past two and .three {o'clock on Tuesday morning. It came on quite suddenly, a light N.E. air blowing at the time, shifting round to S.W., and blew a gale, with heavy showers of hail. The lightning was immense, flash after flash of inteuse brilliancy lighting everything up for a second or two, and then leaving intense darkness, all the while the thunder rolling away, and the hail pelting on the roofs, made your correspondent's walk home none of the most agreeable.