DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 814, 7 March 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) February 27. Although you have already received the result by telegraph, yet I must inform your readers that the contest for the Superintendency was concluded, all over the Province on Monday, but the return from the whole of. the districts were not received till Thursday forenoon. Most of the returns came in on Monday evening and Tuesday, but it was only by using extraordinary expedition that those from the far back localities were got forward — relays of men and horses having been provided for the purpose. In Duneclin there was very great excitement on Monday and Tuesday. The polling in the city gave Macandrew a large majority —1058 to 552 for Reid ; and Port Chaimers and several other places also added largely to Macandrew's majority, so that when the telegraph closed on Monday night he wss over 800 ahead. But next day, when the numbers from Tuapeka* Taieri, Touomairiro, and Clutha came to hand, the majority was brought down so far that Reid's friends were quite jubilant, expecting a victory for their man. At one time there was only about 100 difference. But gradually, as the more distant places sent in their numbers, and particularly those from Southland, the majority for Macandrew crept steadily up, until the nominal close of the poll on Thursday, when the returns were supposed to be complete, Macandrew's majority stood at 812. The official declaration of the poll is to be on Tuesday first ; but it is not expected that very much odds will be made in the figures. Indeed, the Reid party have accepted their deteat. There was an immense deal of stir in the vicinity of the principal polling booth on Monday and Tuesday, and a good deal of money, as well as a large number of hats and other articles of wear, changed owners in i consequence of the result. Cabs, coaches, . and other vehicles were plentifully em- { ployed by the agents of both candi- ] dates to bring the voters to the polling places, and as they deposited their loads at the steps leading up to the booth, cheers and groans were liberal^ bestowed. Great fun was occasioned every now and theu by the passing of an effigy hung by the neck from a gallows erected in an express waggon; which dangled to and fro, in a very dismal way, and bearing an inscription not very flat-

tering to Mr Reid. Plenty of puffs and caricatures were flying about and stuck up here and there, Isaacs' chemise's shop being the principal poiut for these, where there was likely to be a row at one time, but by the forbearance of the police it happily ended in good-humored chaff. There was an accident during the evening caused by the upsetting of Chaplin's big coach, with over fifty people on it at the time, who were riding about in a scate of glorification at their victory, but fortunately no one was 3eriously hurt. The Provincial Council elections come off immediately, the advertisements from the Returning Officers fixing the dates in the various placus have appeared in the papers. A meeting of the University Council was held during the week. Things are now so well in hand with the "capstone," as it has been called, to our educatidiial scheme, that it is anticipated there will be no difficulty in formally opening the classes in June next. Instructions have been given by the Council to have the necessary alterations and fittings made in the room of the building. The Chair of Natural Science has been filled by the appointment of Dr J. Gow Black. I The Otago Institute held a meeting on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance, and three new members were admitted. A model of a machine for raising water, and for utilising the currents of rivers, waa exhibited and described by Mr J. T. Thomson, the inventor. It consists of a four-bladed screw, placed in a frame, and having a crank attached to the axle, by which a force pump or other machine can be worked. The screwis placed opposite to the current, which forces it round with more 01 less rapidity, according to its strengch. Such a means of raising water, from its very simplicity, must be of immense use to miners and others, as it requires no special skill or material to be put together, and can be lifted and removed with the greatest ease from place to place. In principle it is something like the common toy windmill. The Great Telegram Libel Case, to which so much public attention has been directed, has been before the Resident Magistrate on Thursday and yesterday. A good many witnesses have been examined, but nothing very extraordinary has been elicited. The opportunity has not been lost by the barristers, for they display the greatest ingenuity in interposing legal obstacles of every sort to the speedy getting through with the examination. The main attempt of the prosecution has been to get the manuscript of the alleged libellous articles produced, but in this they have failed, and they are now reduced to secondary evidence. Evidence for the defence has been led, and Mr Hay, the editor of the Wellington Independent was in the box when the Court adjourned. There have been a few showers through the week, but not enough to stop harvest work, which is now quite general, both north and south.