DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 904, 21 June 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) June 10. The Provincial Council has been in session all week, but they have hardly yet settled down to fair hard work. A good many skirmishes and some battles have taken place, not the least animated of which was the discussion over the honorarium which is usual at the opening of each new Council. On this occasion, in a s full House, the whole of the members being present, the present Government have declared to go in strongly for retrenchment, no department to escnp<\ so they proposed to reduce the honorarium to 15s a day, and the usual mileage to country members. This provoked a long and fierce discussion, in which about half the members took part. Amendment after amendment was made, and division after division took place with varying results ; but at length the original proposal of the Government was carried, and 15s a day is to be the rate for the present at all events. An Ordinance is to b« introduced to make this a permanent arrangement, but as many of the members are not satisfied with the decision, this question will have «to be fought over again. That mania for tinkering at the Land Bills which possesses so many of our , public men, and which seems to act on them like a red rag on a bull, has also come before the House, and will be the occasion of much wordy warfare. If members knew what they wanted it would be all very well ; but I really think they don't, at least a good many of them. The Government propose the Council should resolve that the late Acts passed by the j General Assembly should be repealed, ( but great difference of opinion exists as to the propriety of this course, and it is not very likely the Assembly will give in to the wishes of the Council in this matter, seeiiig that the one Act was passed almost at their desire, and that the other has not had auything like a trial. After a discussion, which occupied nearly the whole of Tuesday's sitting, the Council have agreed to recommend to the General Government several lines of railway for construction in different parts of the Province. Members seemed anxious that their particular districts should have the priority, and argued accordingly, though it is perfectly evident that many of the proposed lines will not pay expenses for many years. Episcopacy has been rampant these few days back. The Bishop of Nelson gave an interesting lecture on Friday evening, on the Points of Contract between Presbytery and Prelacy, which wae well received by a large audience. On Sunday, i the consecration of the Rev. S. T. Nevill. to be Bishop of Dunedin, took place in St. Paul's Church, in the presence of a large congregation, most of whom were ladies, whos.e toilettes were of the latest fashion, giving the chu«h a rather unusual appearance. The Primate and , several other Bishops were present and took part in the ceremony, which was very impressive. There was a sermon to parents and children in the afternoon, and another in the evening, to a church packed in every corner. On Tuesday, the new Bishop performed the first act in his episcopate by laying the foundation of a new church at Port Chalmers, to be called Trinity Church, for the Episcopal body. Bishop Moran also lectured on Sunday evening. The Presbytery of Dunedin met in First Church op Wednesday. The first , part of the meeting was taken up in a lot of routine business, after which some unfortunate matters connected witn St. Andrew's Church, but in the absence of the Rev. Mr Scrimgeonr the meeting was adjourned till the afternoon, when the case was again called on, fully considered, and as a result, the rev. gentleman was deprived of his office, and the Rev Mr. Smith appointed to preach in his church on Sunday first, and declare the charge vacant. Mr Scrimgeour and family left yesterday by the Lord Ashley, en route for America. The University Councils have been in session during the week, but, beyond electing an officer or two, I do not hear that they have done much in the way of arranging a union between the two bodies. Meantime the opportunity is passing away, and the opening of the Otago University is fixed for the Ist prox, if the Professors are here by then. The Supreme Court sat on Monday for the quarterly gaol delivery. There were only four cases for trial, none of them of a serious nature— of these two pleaded guilty, and two were found guilty, and were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment with hard labor. The case against M'Leod for libel was withdrawn, and will not likely be heard of again. The Court has since been sitting for the trial of civil cases, of which it has disposed of several, of more or less importance to those concerned, but of little interest to the general public. Since the Port Chalmers Graving Dock was finished, and before it has been taken off the contractor's hands, a leak has broken out in the bottom, and water is rushing up strongly in one or two places. A question has arisen as to who is to blame for this — whether it is the contractor's fault, from bad workmanship or material ; or whether it is the fault of the design, some parts of which were temporarily finished, funds being scanty. On these points engineers are — like doctors in an analogous case — at difference. Inspection has been made, and reports drawn out, but these do not stop the inflow of water. At a meeting of the Dock Trust held this week, it has been determined to take the works off the contractor's hands, but be--1 'ore finally settling up with him, part of the bottom is to be lifted so as to allow of a fair inspection, and then if the fault be his he will have to make it good ; if not, then the balance due him will be paid, and the defect made good by the Trust. This is a very unfortunate affair, for it delays the utilisation of the most important work in the Province. To effect the repairs, in all likelihood the Dock will have to be closed for an indefinite period. So far as the winter has gone there has been very little rain up-country, and the diggers complain of a short supply of water in various districts. Mr Haughton's report pn the Water Supply has been published this morning, and it contains many Valuable suggestions as to how the proposal of the General Government to spend L3OQ,OOQ for the purpose could be profitably gone about. The last escort brought down 14,9530z. The weather has been very mild all week — more like spring than winter, with a good deal of fog. This morning is very dull, with a slight drizzling rain.