Dunedin.

Bruce Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 793, 18 August 1876, Page 5

Dunedin.

(From our own Correspondent.)

The inconvenience to which members who are business men are subjected by having long Sessions of the Assembly to attend is illustrated by the fact that Mr W. J. M. Laruach (after having been two months in Wellington, where nothing has been really done yet), has to return to Dunedin to see to business matters before the Session is over. Mr Larnach's stay iv Dunedin is only for a few days, and he will be going North iv a day or two. The big arbitration case, of Proudfoot v. the Provincial Government, arising out of the notorious Western Railways contracts, has been settled. The number of wituesses called was immense, in all about eighty. The cost of the refereuce was £1370, aud the amount awarded to Mr Proudfoot is as follows : — For work done, £45,000 ; interest on money owing, £780; value of plant and material on the ground, £26,558 ; value of plant and material landed at the Bluff, £5340. The Government has to pay the expenses of the arbitration.

The collection made by the railway employees for the family of Mr John Young, who was killed at Stirling last month while shunting trucks, amounts to the haudsome sum of £100. The deceased was a member of the Railway Employees Society, but having been connected with it for only a very short time, was not entitled, through his representatives, to participate in any benefit. His fellow employees, however, took the matter ot the relief ot deceased's wife and children in hand, and with commendable success. Accidents of this description should be the best recommendation to life insurance that all engaged in dangerous occupations can have.

There has been a great deal said in regard to a certain " objectionable and bawdy " book in the Dunedin Athenamm. I have referred to this matter before, but may now say that it arose in this way. At a meetjng of the Dunedin Athenoeum Committee, whereat reporters were present, attention was drawn to this book. The majority at that meeting resolved not to withdraw the book from circulation, temporarily, pending an examination of it, but, on the other hand, the leaders pf them were so inconsistent as to expect the newspapers not to report the discussion. The newspapers would not be parties to allowing a report concerning a book remaining on the shelves being a secret, and accordingly it was published in the 'Times' and 'Star.' The book was of that peculiar theological description which gave it the warm support of Professor Macgregor and Mr John Logan. With this point, however, there is no concern

now, the sole element under consideration being that regarding its gross immorality. The Committee permitted this book to remain on tbe shelves, and because reference to the matter was made, wax wroth, and get inspired articles written, charging the papers that called attention to them, with pandering to a depraved taste. But why did tbey let such a book remain on the shelves, where, if no attention was called to it, it would, by being quietly run upon, do great mischief. That very fashionable burglar, Mr Butler, with half-a-dozen other aliases, has been committed for trial on three charges, and there are still five other cbarges to be brought against him. Steps are being taken for the enlargement of St. Paul's Church, and at a meeting the other night, the sum of £200 was subscribed in the room for the purpose. The addition will consist in the erection of another aisle.