DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1444, 18 March 1873, Page 3

D UNE D IN.

(from our own correspondent.) March 10. Ever since the advent of the Spiritualistic apostles— Messrs Peebles and Dunn— a certain office-bearer in Knox Church has been very active and prominent in aiding and abetting, as the -phrase is, these gentlemen in their sayings and doings^ particularly in the holdings forth in the Queen's Theatre, where he occupies a seat on the platform. Rumor had it that he had been called over the coals by the kirk session regarding his doings, and these rumors received confirmation at the meeting of the Presbytery in the First Church, on Wednesday, when the question was put forward to Dr Stuart as to whether the statement were true or no, and answered affirmatively. After some discussion, a minute bearing on the matter was drawn up and adopted, but no other steps were taken, pending the action of the session on the case in the meantime. The other business transacted by the Presbytery was unimportant. The blasphemous orations in the Queen's Theatre were continued last Sunday evening by Dr Dunn, in the'absence of Peebles at Christchurch. The subject of the lecture was "Jesus of Nazareth; who and what was he, and from whence his power," and was haudled in a very irreverant manner. Dr Dunn has had his clairvoyant powers of diagnosing disease called in question, and there have been a number of letters published during the discussion. Professor M'Gregor set the ball a-rolling, and his latest letter contains something like a challenge to the clairvoyant. Dr Dunn professes to see through or into the body of the patient, and to be able to tell, without further investigation, what particular organ may be diseased. Professor M'Gregor proposes to get some patient with some disease or sore on t superficial part of the body usually covered by clothes, and then in the presence of thoroughly independent -witnesses (unprofessional J to let Dr Dnnn, by his clairvoyant-^ower alone, diagnose the disease ; the patient to be utterly unknown to the clairvoyant, aud no manipulation allowed. If Dr Dunn does this fairly and honesty, then he is to get all the credit, and clairvoyant diagnosing of disease will be recognised as a fact. According to Dr Dunn, he says he has plenty of patients, and has effected a number of cures ; but somehow those cured say very little about it. There is no rushng info print, no well authenticated cases, ao anything of the sort usual ; not even the hanging up of a crutch in some public places by the happy quondam cripple or rheumatic whose limbs have been made supple, or whose pains have been relieved by this new cure. The quarterly licensing meeting was held this week, but their was very little business before the justices. The license for a house at the corner of Great King and St Andrew streets was refused for the thirteenth time. A meeting of merchants and others interested in the matter of harbor improvement was held in the begiuning of the week, when it was resolved to press strongly on the attention of the Government the necessity of further dredging works, so as to allow all trading steamers to come up to the Dunedin wharves. The constitution of a Harbor Board, to have cognisance and charge of all matters pertaining to our interior waters, was also very favorably received. An unfortunate affair occurred the other dey. Two men (Steel and M'Donald) were wrestling in the Provincial Sale Yards, when Steel was thrown, M'Donald falling upon him. Steel immediately called out that he was hurt, that his bladder was [burst. He/ was removed to the Hospital next day, where a medical examination proved that what he said was true. He lingered a few days, and then died. An inquest was held yesterday, and after hearing the evidence, the jury brought in a verdict of " Accidental Death." A cabman died very suddenly on Wednesday. He was seized with a fit of coughing and |burst a blood vessel dying almost immediately. The late dry weather has produced its effects on the gold producing districts, the last escort only bringing down 8580oz. It came on to rain last night, however, and it is still wet and dull though the amount of rain is but trifling as yet.

Mr x '..s\V'>rthy's br in Envy, 5 yrs, Bst slb ... 3 Mr P. Campbell's b g Harlequin, aged 7at 12! b ... 4 Mr W. 0 Webb's eh f Prima Donna, 4 yrs, (sst 2ib ... 0 Dick Turpin was announced as not, havi \n .-icceptefl, and the number was reduced to five ; bin between them there was a fine and fairly ridden race, not resulting according to general expectations, but apparently according to the merits of the horses for the distance. Yatteriua led at. the start, and raced with Hailquin in the first round, Prinia Donna and Envy racintr similarly a length or two behind, with Gossip in the rear. On passing the Stand for the first time Harlequin led, hard held, with Yatterina and Envy nenk and neck, and the second time Harlequin took Envy's place with Yatttirina, Gossip drawing closely np, and promising to be the winner. On the south siiie of the course Prima Donna fell out of the race, and Envy and Harlequin dropped behind — the In tter appearing "pumped," or disabled. The racing for first place remained between Gossip and Yatterina, and the former came in first by several lengths— both doing their best. The riders were — Gossip, Hughes ; Yatterina, French; Envy, Jonps ; Harlequin, Hankins ; Prima Donna, Griffiths. Hack Race, of 15 soys ; 1 mile heats ; second horse in the deciding heat to receive 3 soys from the stake ; miuimum ■weight, Sst ; entrance. I soy ; post entries. Mr Coahrane's eh g, Sandy ... 1 Mr Barton's b.jj. Piper ... 2 Mr Garforth's b.g. Koyalty ... C Mr M'Guirk's b.g Victor ... 0 The order in the first heat was— Sandy, 1 ; Piper, 2 ; Victor, 3 ; Royalty, 4. And in the second heat— Sandy, 1 ; Piper, 2 : Victor, 3 ; Royalty, 4. The District Plate, of 50 soys ; open to all horses the property of bona Jide residents in the Nelson South West, or Westland Gold Fields, prior to the Ist January, 1573, and also owners from same da'-e of horses entered by them ; weight for age ; 1^ miles ; entrance. 5 soys. Mr Carroll's eh m Lacenfeed, aged, 9st 41b ... 1 Mr Skelton's gr g Septimus, 6 yrs, 9st 41b ... 2 Defamation, entered for this race, became disabled a short time ago, and the race lay between two thoroughly "good uns to go.'' Septimus, the game grey, went ahead early, but Lacenfeed soon drew up, and as they passed the Stand the first time they were neck and neck, Lacenfeed gradually gaining ground. Going round the second time, though keeping close, Septimus seemed to slacken, and in the straight running Lacenfeed took the lead, and came first, with Septimus not far from her flank. The racing was close throughout, and smart in pace, and sent the people home satisfied with more than one event of the day. The following are the weights declared last night for the Gold Ftelds Handicap, of 125 sov3 ; second horse to receive 20 soys from the stakp. Distance, If miles. st.lb. Slander ... 9 7, Yatterina ... 9 0 Harlequin 8 2 Lacenfeed 8 0 Envy 7 10 Gossip 7 8 Sentiitius 6 2 Prima Donna C 7 Commodore 5 7 The acceptances, as received by the Secretary last night, at 11 o'clock, were — st, IK Mr Walters's btn Slander, aged ... 9 7 Mr Nnswortby's br ra Envy, 5 yrs 710 Mr Webb's eh m Go«sip, 4 yis ... 7 8 The next event is the Hurdle Handicap, of 30 soys, about two miles, for which the following horses were nominated and accepted at the undermentioned weights : — st. Ib. . Mr Skelton's gr g Septimus, 6 yrs ... 10 0 MrM'Gee's b g Dick Turpin, aged 9. 8 Mr Garforth's br g Boyalty, aged 8 0 This ought to be a grand race, as Septimus here meets Dick Turpin at the same weight as yesterday, and the result of to-day's racing should show which is the best horse. As no entries were made for the Selling Bace, the Stewards have stmick it from the programme, but will most probably substitute another in its place. For the (Stewards' Handicap, of 50 soya ; 1-J miles. Nomination, 2 soys ; acceptances, 3 soys. Post entries. The number will be shown on the board to-morrow, and the field is likely to be large, The next race is one of local interest, being the Hack Race, of 10 soys ; 1£ miles ; minimum weight, Bst. Winner of Hack Kace first day to carry lOldb penalty. Entrance, 1 soy. Post entries. And as a very great amount of interest was shown yesterday in this, a purely local race, no doubt the same will be exhibited to-day. Apart from the probably substituted race mentioned above the last event of the 1873 meeting will be the Consolation Handicap, of 20. soys j 1 mile. Open to all beaten horses.