DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1477, 29 April 1873, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

|>KOM OUR OWN qOBEESPQKDBNT.j '' ' "Aprill9. The approaching = session oi^tlfoJßrovincial Council has set bar: political readers astir. Sir F. D. Bell has. addressed his Mataura constituency at Invercargill this week, and, according to the telegram, narrowly escaped a vote of want, of confidence. His speecli was rathes damaging to the present .Government^ and showed that the worthy knight's opinions are veering somewhat in Mr Stafford's direction, though he disclaimed all sympathy with that gentleman's tactics in general. Mr J. W. Thomson, of Clutha, has also been giving an account of his stewardship; and Mr D. Reid is to perform a similar operation to tha Taieri farmers at Mosgiel next Wednesday. I hear, also, that Mr T. L. Shepherd intends a similar address to his mining friends at Naseby, or some other centre, very shortly. In the town itself, since the return of Mr Fish, there is little moving politically. I hear, however, that Mr Turnbull is likely to retire from his post .. in ihe Executive, in which case Mr Fish is to be his successor as Provincial Treasurer., There is a jump. I wonder how Mr Donald Reid wul like the change, A meeting of the Otago 'Institute was held on Wednesday evening. There was bub a small attendance on- account of several other meetings and lectures at the same hour. A very interesting paper was read by Mr A. H. Ross on "The Variation of the Magnetic Needle," and a number of singular alterations, or abberrations of greater or less extent, at various localities in the Province were instanced.* Mr Ross urged the establishment of magnetic observatories at the Provincial capitals throughout the Colony. A, description of some natural wonders in the Sandymount district was then read by Mr P. Thomson ; and Mr A. C. Purdie read a paper describing the skull of a grampus, caught lately off the Heads hy the Maoris, Some copies of the tri-daily bulletin of the weather, issued by the Meteorological Department of the United States> were laid on the table for the inspection of members ; as well as copies , of the wind chart issued by the same departmant. By one of the late ships from home, a splendid spectroscope . has been received for the use of the members. It is intended shortly to have a trial of its merits, and some important results are . expected, -though I am afraid our sky is. rathpr cloudy yinv in general.to .allow of the frequent use of such kn instrument. .The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were concluded on Thursday, but there yet remains the second trial of Ryan for shooting Detective Farrell. It is to commence on Monday, and will likely last as long as the first trial. A breach of promise case, which has been a good deal talked about of late, Wenthim v. Arndt, came on for hearing before the Supreme Court yesterday, In theicase the position of the parties in "general is reversed, the defendant being; the lady, who refused to marry the pursuer, for w|ich he he claims LSOO damages from the lady's husband. From the; letters read at the trial it appeared that she had two strings to her bow, jand .each of the strings ap« ( peared tp. think himself equally favored. But calculations' seemed to have been made by the '■ lady's- parents, and Arndt was accepted, while Wentheim. was left out in the .cold, and hence the action. The parties are all Israelites, and, engaged ii* business in various parts of the Province. Mr Barton opened the case for the pursuer, and as usual made, the most of it, reading and commenting on the ' loveletters as he went on, and causing lots of fun. The case ended only in expenses to both trdes. ■■„.. The Old Identity Picnic, in celebration of the 25th. anniversary of the arrival of the Phillip liaing, the second ship of the settlement, came off on Tuesday. . It took the form or a trip to port Chalmers by the rail, a luncheon, u and a dancjsi. There was a good turn but, emßracing* four generations. His Honor the Superintendent presided at the luncheon, and the whole affair was successful. Some of those present had not been in port since they came to : the place, and others not for twenty or more years. ■■-.■■! The Port Chalmers Railway passed into the hands of the Government on Tuesday, the l§th r The price paid is 1477,000, rather a good figure, so that the promoters must have made a very fair promt out of the concern. The laying of the rails on the southern trunk is being pushed foriVardrapidly,andlhearttiat! one of the I locomotives is nearly ready for running, and will be utilised in drawing the ballast

waggons to and fro. If the weather do not prove very broken, there is nothing to hinder the first section to Green Island, six miles or so, being ready for traffic in about a couple of months. Out on the plairs of Taieri and Tokomairiro, and on to the Clutha, the works are in a forward state, and will be ready long before ihe tunnel at Chain Hills is pierced. Some of the bridges are wor'is of a very heavy and exhaustive nature, and will take a good while to complete. The curriculum of study for the ensuing session of the University is advertised. The promised course of law lectures is included, and Mr Robert Stout is to be th 9 lecturer or professor ! The Chancellor's address is to be given in the hall on the Ist May, and the classes open on the following Monday. At. a special meeting of the City Council this week, after a rather animated discussion, the rate for the year was struck at LI 3d per £. Last year it was 3s 6cj. This looks a bid for popularity in view of the coming election. The Council wants money as much as ever in order to complete the many unfinished jobs all over town. Station propeifcy in Otago still keeps up in price. Mr Larnach, of Bank of Otago, bought two runs this week, of 23,000 sheep, 44,000 acres leasehold, 5100 acres freehold, and improvements, for L 25,000; and the other of 30,000 sheep, 33,000 acres leasehold, and 8000 freehold, for L 34,000. The Bank of Otasfo is to merge in the National Bank shortly, which will prove a powerful rival to the Bank of New Zealand, at least in this quarter. The weather has been mild and close all week, with a wet day on Monday. The European trees are puttiug on their autumn dress, and leaves are dropping rapidly, since a slight frost the other night. _________