OUR DUNEDIN SPECIAL

(Special to Herald.) DUNEDIN, this day. Mr M. L. Moss, who has accepted office m the new Westralian Ministry, w a native of Dunedin, and is a brother of Miss Anita Moss, the well-known singer. He is (i lawyer practising at Fremantle, hus been Mayor of that city, and has a seat m the Legislative Council of his State. Mr C. M. Howison, formerly a partner m the once well-known firm of Hogg, Howison, and Nicol, died iit his residence, Roslyn, yesterday. He was for many years an ardent bowler and golfer. The three-fourths verdict for defendant m the breach of promise case, Mark v. Culling, came as a surprise, especially as Mr Justice Williams had summed up largely m favor, of the plaintiff. His Honor said there were only two possible questions for the jury to determine — first, had the parties mutually promised to marry one another? If it was the opinion of the jury that that was not proved, then defendant was entitled to succeed. On .the other hand, if it was true that the parties had mutually agreedto marry. then, since it was admitted that defendant had refused to carry out that promise, plaintiff was -entitled to their verdict, and to such damage as the jury thought reasonable under such circumstances. if the jury were satisfied that there was a contract to marry, he had broken that contract, for he refused absolutely to marry at the end of 1900. That was admitted on both sides. The impression outside is that the jury's were with Culling, because h*e had been injured while fighting for his country against the Boers. Had Mr Morrison lived another day he would have been exactly 55 years old, as he was born m the Ayrshire village of Darvel on November 22, 1846. At a bazaar held at Caversham this afternoon Mr Arnold made feeling reference to the death of the late member, and on his motion it was resolved — "That thiß meeting desires to express their heartfelt sympathy with Mrs Morrison and family m their sad bereavement. In the course of a sympathetic message the Premier wired — "I deeply regret, to hear of ( the death of my dear old friend, Mr Morrison. He was -sterling and true, and we could ill afford to spare him. His death is a loss to the district and the colony, ami we can only pay our tribute to his memory and sympathise and condole with his wife and family, who have suffered an irreparable loss. Mr W. H. Wan-en (who unsuccessfully contested the seat at the last election) , Mr J. B. Taverner (builder), and Mr T. K. Sidey (Mayor of Caversham) will probably contest the vacancy.