DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4442, 31 March 1883, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Yesterday,

In chambers this morning Mr Fitchett moved for an order changing the venue in the trial of Mr and Mrs Massey to Invercargill, on the grouuds that a fair and impartial trial could not be had in Dnnedin. Mr Stout appeared to oppose on behalf of the prosecution. After argument his Honor made the order, and gave as his chief reason the fact that a Dunedin jury would be largely composed of ratepayers, to whom, as such, the debentures alleged to be stolen, belonged. The criminal sittings at Invercargill begin on 22th April. This day,

The Customs revenue for Mar«h quarter is £106,609 as against £117,711 for 1882.

Sailed: Monarch, for Falmouth, grain laden. Arrived; Abbey, Holme, from Port Augusta.

At a meeting of the Otago School Commission held yesterday to consider the letter from the Under Secretary' of Lands regarding the Educational Reserves at Wyndham, the Commissioners applied for power to sell certain reserves, as they found the land could not be leased on satisfactory terms. The Government cannot assent to offering land on either immediate or deferred payments, as desired by the Commissioners, until a fair opportunity has been given of realising the intention of the Legislature in respect of creating a leasehold estate. A petition was received from the settlers at Wyndbam urging the Commissioners to adhere to their decision, as any attempt to lease land would only retard settlements. The Commissioners authorised a reply from which it appears that they are not cons vinced by the official utterances addressed to them.