DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1042, 28 November 1871, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[FaOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] November 18. The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of the Otago Institute was held in the University Building on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance, including some ladies. Dr W. Lauder Lindsay was proposed as an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute, in terras of the constitution. A paper was then read by Mr D. Brent on " Geometrical Proportion^-- , — l;,,v olimvad. iha javitsiY in . ha thoroughly acquainted with the subject; but the subject was too technical for unpvepared discussion. Mr Webb read a paper on the late experiments by Mr Crookes on the so-called "Psychic Force." Mr Webb criticised the arrangements by which the experiments were cai'ried out, pointing out a good many fallacies in the reasoning, and combatted • the conclusions arrived at. There can be no doubt there is plenty of room for ridicule in these extraordinary doings, and particularly in their almost childish nature. Mr Webb was not very happy in his illustrations or his criticism, and he laid himself open in turn to the criticism of the Spiritualists, of whom there were some present, and a spirited discussion ensued. But in the absence of any apparatus, or any attempt to repeat what was done, the whole was quite fruitless. Our Volunteers are now all busily engaged in rifle practice. Morning, noon, and night the neighborhood of the various ranges resounds with the crack-smask of the rifle. Challenges from one company to another are of daily occurrence, and company matches and cjub matphes are chronic. The consumption of' powder and lead is great, and must* cost our marksmen no inconsiderable sum weekly. The regulation class-firing is also going ou, so that the standing of the Ofcago Volunteers is not likely to be lowered by want of practice. Some of the scores already made are very good. The Yacht Club had their first cruise for the season on Saturday afternoon last. There was a nice working breeze blowing, and the little vessels looked very pretty as they came out in succession from Pelichet Bay and stood across past the end of the training wall, then about, and away down the harbor— the Commodore leading. The first match has been fixed for the 30th, when sets of prizes for first and secondclass yachts respectively will be contested. The usual course is to be sailed over — down the harbor to the cross channel and back, twice for the small yachts, and thrice for the large ones. The sad intelligence conveyed by telegraph of the death of Mr John Hay at Wellington, by drowning, created much sensation here, where the deceased gentleman was well known and very much liked. Much sympathy is felt with his family, who are all resident in the Province. His body was brought down today in the s.s. Phoebe, and is to be buried in the Southern Cemetery to-morrow, when there will be a considerable turn-out of his and the family's friends, Being a mason, Mr Hay'& brethren of all the lodges, will join the procession. Another sudden death occurred at East Taieri yesterday, whereby the Rev. Mr Will lost his wife. Mrs Will was sitting at tea, when she was observed to droop, and she died immediately, the cause being apoplexy. ' Two vessels have arrived from Britain this week— the E, B, Bouverie from Glasgow, and the May Queen, from London. Both, have brought large cargoes, and between them about 120 passengers of all classes. The brig Venus has also arrived from Mauritius, with a cargo of sugar. The weather has been very dull, close, and threatening all week. However, it kept up till yesterday morning, when rain came on, and fell heavily throughout the day. Business in the import houses is more lively, and large quantities of goods are being cleared at the Customs. j