DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1339, 13 November 1872, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

(from our own correspondent.) : November 2. The second session of the University closed this week with the usual examinations and distribution of honors. There was no public ceremony, the honor list being made public through the Press. In connection with the above, the notorious Grant (who has been wonderfully quiet for a. good while back) has issued what he calls a book, and which he implores every public-spirited man in Otago to purchase, containing the usual amount of splenetic outpourings. The why of the book is plain— ho (Grant) ought to have been one of the Professors, and then our University would have been the light of the world, instead of being, aa he terms it — "a night school run mad." The arrival of the Albion from Melbourne, with the Suez mail and telegrams from London less than a week old, created the most lively feelings of satisfaction among all classes here. Every boat" from Melbourne of course will, now bring its modicum of British and European items of news, so that we will be in a manner completely, independent of the mail summary brought by the American steamers from San irancisco. A general desire is expressed that the cable be continued from Australia to some port on the West Coast, and thus complete the electric line to the furthest point to which it can be' carried in this direction. An arrangement has been- entered into by which the pulpit of: the. First Church is to be filled, for a term of at least six months, by a fow of the leading Presbyterian clergymen of Victoria. They are to arrive in rotation and remain here for a month or so. The first minister under the arrangement is expected to arrive by the Tararua, and to preach here on the 10th of this month. These gentlemen do not come as candidates for the vacancy, but merely to supply the pulpit for the time, as far as can be done. There are other two or three vacancies in the Presbyterian Churches in the Province, and the strain has been rather hard on the local clergymen for some time back, so that the above addition to the preaching power of the place will be very welcome in many ways, both to ministers and people. The Royal Horticultural Society held a Spring Show on Saturday last. Jt was mainly intended as an experiment, but was not successful. There was a great paucity, though certainly some of the. plants shown were very fine. Uufortunately, too, the afternoon and evening turned out very wet, which completely prevented anything like a financial success, the number of visitors being very few. The regular show comes off late next month. A meeting of the ' Otago Institute was held on Tuesday evening. The weather was wet, and there was a poor attendance. One of the members brought before the meeting a curious fact. It is generally supposed that the kiwi is confined to the West Coast and interior mountains of this island. But a little tinie ago a settler down the harbor side, when in the bush hunting up his cattle, heard his dog worrying something. On making his way to tlie spot, he found the dog had killed a pair of these birds. The mutilated remains were placed on the table, and identified as the wpteryx oioenii. The bird is not generally known as an inhabitant of this neighborhood, and is believed to be rapidly becoming extiuct everywhere. A large fur seal, a male, was caught by some fishermen off the Heads a few days ago, and brought to town, when it was secured for the Canterbury Museum, our local institution already possessing a couple of these animals.— The first baracoutas for the season were brought to market yesterday, a day or two later than usual. A nice little competition exists already between -the Railway and the harbor lighters. The rails advertioed that they would convey the cargo of the May Queen to town for 4s per ton ; but they were checkmated by the lightermen, who had gone round f previously and made their own arrangements with the consignees. The rails have since reduced the rate to 3a, and will reduce it still further, so as to. secure the trade, and in this they must succeed) as, if they get the vessel alongside the wharf, cargo can be at once put onboard the trucks and taken to Dun-

edin at a tenth of the cost or time taken* by the lighters. Though special trains have conveyed our legislators to town as tlwy have arrived from the north, the line is yet far from complete, the ballasting going ! on very slowly. The station buildings at this end are finished. The weather has been very unsettled all week. There was a good deal of rain at the beginning, but it became fine up till yesterday afternoon, when it again broke down, and a Jew slight showers have fallen. But on the whole we enjoy fine spring weather.