DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 841, 7 April 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[PBOM OCR OW2T CORRESPONDENT.

The preliminary investigations of the various libel cases before the Resident Magistrate have been brought to a close. Those against Dick, for printing the placard libelling Driver and Macandrew, were abandoned, Dick having apologised satisfactorily to both gentlemen. The one against M'Leod, for having been the means of circulating the placard in question, was fully gone into, and despite the strenuous efforts of his counsel, Mr GVE. Barton, who spwed neither eloquence nor Billingsgate on the matter, M.'Leod was commited for trial, the Magistrate holding there was a sufficient case to go before the Supreme Court. Bail was required, accused in L2OO, and two sureties of LIOO each, but this was not forthcoming (M'Leod's friends at the conclusion of the case rose and left the Court), so he was locked up. Bail, however, was got next day, and he is now at liberty again. The future prosecution in the above case is to be conducted by the Crown.

The case Regina v. Barton (editor of the Otago Daily Times), has been twice before the Court this week. Several other witnesses were examined, and gave evidence tending to clear up the mystery as to how the telegram was sent ; but, after all, the matter remains in as. great a state of fog as ever. On Thursday, after some fencing by the . barristers, Mr Macassey was allowed to address the Court iv defence He spoke for two hours and forty minutes, taking up the matter in all its bearings, and sifting the evidence given by the various witnesses thoroughly. In the course of his speech he did not spare the Government, bat gave it them hot, characterising the prosecution as the most impudent and disreputable that he had ever heard of. Had he been a violent political partizan,he could hardly have used stronger language than be let out. However, it was all to no purpose ; for when he concludod, the Magistrate, in a few words, intimated his intention of sending the case before a higher tribunal. Mr Barton was accordingly cautioned in the usual way, and bound over in his own recognizances to appear at the proper time. This was the first charge. On the second, the prosecution intimated that they would call no more witnesses, to which the defence had no reply. This was also concluded, and the Magistrate adopted the same course as with the first. So Mr Barton stands committed fo» trial on both charges.

The elections for the Provincial Council are now nearly over, there being only three or four of the districts which have not yet returned their members'. The Council is expected to be called together very shortly, and as usual all sorts of rumors are aflnat as to an impending crisis. It is said that the first chance of testing the strength of parties will be taken, and this is the election of Speaker. This office has been very worthily filled by Mr W. H. Reynolds, who stood at the top of the poll for the city ; but it seems an attempt is to be made to dislodge him for the sake of putting in an adheront of the Reid party, There are rumors also of a Ministerial crisis, and that the Reid Ministry have resigned (a faofc, this morning), Also that Mr Reynolds had been sent for to form a new one. But there has nothing definite transpired, so . I give you these for what they are worth. One thing, however, is certain. Whoever holds the reina of powe? during the coining session will nave no easy task before them. It is certain that there has been a serious falling off in the revenue on account of the paucity of land sales and other causes, and that a large sum is needed on account -of various public works. How the two ends are to be made to meet will puzzle the brains of a wiser man than our present Treasurer. A few of the members haying promised to support a reduction or abolition of the Honorarium there will likely ha a fierce fight over the questiqn, between to* towii and country. member*" tf a reduction is caiine.d, it will have the. immediate effect of. considerably shortening the session. The late weather has had a most disastrous effect on the outlying crops over a large extent of country. When the rain came on a large. portion of the oroin was in stook or lying qut^ and few, *f any, of |ha stacks Jiad J b§en properly secured from the wet, The consequence is that the grain has sprouted, and is otherwise so muoti damaged as to become quite useless for milling purposes. The result is very serious loss to a large number of farmers. This is very unfortunate, coming on the b ick "f such, a, tine summer, as we ■fl avo ,H^' a everything looked so hopeml -and encouraging to the agriculturist. The weather w ye* very unsettled., A.t the hegmning' of the week \yehsd a regular equinoctial cale, a stiff a/m -wester, with, a good deal of rain Since then it has been a little better, but this morning is dull, aud there has been rain through the night. '