DUNEDIN,

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 922, 11 July 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN,

[PKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] July 1. The Treasurer laid his Financial statement before the Provincial Council on Monday evening. As is usual with such documents, it was very dry, and contained nothing beyond a prosy reading off of strings of figures, with an intimation every now aud then of how much had been saved in this department, and how much in that. There was no exposition of the policy of the Government either in regard to financial matters or anything else ; no attempt to explain how the big overdraft at the Bank had arisen, or how it was to be got rid of ; no reason for the land sales having so fallen off, or for the expectation that they would amount to LBO,OOO during the year now current. I dare say the Treasurer did the best he could with the resources at his command, but the whole thing fell very flat. Since then the Councillors have done nothing but wrangle and dispute over motions and amendments having reference to various matters in the statement. Hour after hour has been wasted in useless discussion, without any attempt to go on with the business. Most of these motions have re f erence to retrenchment in what is called departmental expenditure ; some propose to deduct so much per cent, off each salary, while others wish a lump sum deducted from the whole ; and just as one is disposed of, another starts up, to be in turn discussed and rejected. Some rare scenes have taken place during these party fights, and they are hardly party fights either, for Both sides have been engaged among themselves. Some of the joints of the Reid tail show symptoms cf having got loosened a little, but it is still strong enough and long enough to carry all before it. Some rather damaging attacks have been made upon the Governiuent and its doings by, the Opposition ; but it seems useless to do so, as all such are foiled, and the tail only laughs at them. The new Land Bill, based on the resolution carried at an earlier period of the session, has not yet seen the light ; when it does, nearly every member is sure to try his hand at alteration or amendment, so as to suit his peculiar crotchet on this question. Although the resolutions were carried, there are great differences of opinion as to the working of some of the clauses, and when the thing is elaborated into an Act, it may have quite a different look, cind so invite criticism. On Thursday afternoon and evening, the Councillors had a fine time of it. The Estimates were on for discussion; but, before voting an item, the Opposition wanted badly to elicit from the Government who were to fill their places during the approaching session at Wellington. This was refused, and the Opposition then went in for a system of fight which can hardly be paralleled They moved amendments on everything, no matter what ; if that failed, they moved to report progress, dividing on each as it came up. In this way the whole sitting was worse than wasted. Yesterday, things were a little quieter, and the business went on more smoothly.

The magisterial enquiry into the circumstances attending the late fire in Princes street is still going on ; Reichelt, who is accused of being the wilful cause of the fire, being present in custody. There have been a great many witnesses examined, cross-examined, and re-exa-mined, as well as their evidence compared with what they gave at the Coroner's enquiry the week before. Mr Barton, who is engaged for the defence of Reichelt, has had a famous opportunity for the display of his talent? in bothering the witnesses, some of whom have had an awful time of it at his hands. Barton, 1 however, has his match in Mr Smith, who seems quite perfect in the use of forensic tools, and brings out the point of the evidence that tells against Reichelt very clearly ; so that, though the case will last a couple of days yet, it does not require a conjuror to see that he will be committed to take his trial before the Supreme Court. A fire, which might have become serious, was discovered in the premises of Messrs Briscoe, ironmongers, in Princes street, on Sunday morning. By the exertions of the police, however, it was got under, with very little damage — Cause, carelessness with a burning candle. The sports got up to enable the champion pedestrians to give the citizens of Dunedin a sample of their powers, came off on Saturday afternoon last, on the Recreation Ground North. Notwithstanding the shabby treatment of the City Council, the sports were very successful, no fewer than 4000 persons being present, which must have been very gratifying indeed to the strangers. The St. Patrick's Band was present, and contributed not a little to the success of the affair. The races

were all handicapped, tho champions starting alternately from scratch, and giving their opponents, the local men, various distances. Some beautiful running was the result, the champions invariably winning, though the others evidently tried their best. The Quarter-mile Handicap, in which Hewitt ran, was the best race, perhaps, ever contested here. Auld and Pollock, who ran, had 30 yards start, aud for the first round Hewitt did not seem to have gained much on them ; but then, putting on the steam, in a few tremendous strides he came up level, and then passing, ran in to the post an easy winner, amid the cheers of the crowd. Except on Thursday, the week just closing has been marked by most deli«V.--ful weather, not at all like winter. The one day was wet. From the up-conuLVy papers, I notice that frost is pretty general, so much so that at several places skating is the order of the day, the miners' dams and other lodges of water being all fast frozen. The Nevada came into port yesterday, with the European and American mails.