Dundin.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 877, 2 February 1877, Page 6

Dundin.

(From our own Correspondent.)

The prolonged equity suit of Kobertson v. lloss and auother, was decided jo favor of

the defendants. In dismissing the juiy, his Honor Judge Williams said he was sure that both the parties aud the public would be exceedingty obliged to them for the great pains and trouble they had taken in the case. The Government show their appreciation of special jurors' services by giving them 20s in each case, no matter whether it extends over a mouth or not.

The misleading platitudes of Mr Charles Bright, the Spiritualist and Free Thought apostle, deserve more than a passing notice. While professing to teach several hundred of his .fellow-men on Sunday evenings, he puts forward no concise and district platform, and the result of his lectures may be stated as inducing carelessness and a general contempt for the Gospel of Christ, as prescribed in our Churches. It is a very debateable question, whether Mr Bright himself knows how much of Christ's teaching to accept and how much to reject. At all -events, he does not seem inclined to instruct his hearers upon the subject. His lectures are a peculiar mixture of "grave and gay, lively and severe " topics. Last Sunday evening he gave anecdotes and quoted several passages of Scripture, for the evident purpose of evoking uproarious laughter. However, what professing Christians generally have to complain of in Mr Bright, is that he provides no reasonable substitute supposing that his suggestion to sweep away the paid Christian ministry were adopted. lie certainly preaches the generally accepted Gospel, "Love God and-j r our neighbor as yourself," and Free Thought. Heaven knows that thought is free enough in the present day. It is a curious fact th;it while Mr Bright condemns a paid Christian minister, he believes that in his own case '• the laborer is worthy of his hire." The following is one of his

sweeping statements : — " So long as there is uttered a slander, neighbor of a neighbor, so long as there is a death struggle between accumulated wealth and labor, so long as there is wholesale international murder and slaughter, so long the Spirit of Christ, God's best messenger to humanity, has failed to operate for good." From that quotation one would judge that Christianity should have long ago revolutionised frail erring humanity all the world Over. However, the strong opposition of evil and license has been too great for Christianity to have accomplished the complete reform apparently desired by Mr Bright.

At the recent annual meeting of the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics' lustitute, the report showed a falling off in the total number of subscribers for the year. There are now 34 life members, 596 annual members, 230 half-yearly, .306 quarterly, 88}'ouths, and 77 extra subscriptions. There have been 1361 bound volumes added to the library during the past year, the circulation being 50,968, as against 40,466 in 187.'). The receipts from subscriptions, &c,, amounted to £1682 17s 3d, and the balance remaining in the Bank was £406. The balance credited to the institution is £80.56 19s. A handsome addition to the building is to be made shortly. The meeting was remarkable for its peacefulness as compared with former gatherings of the members. The notorious J. G. S. Grant, as usual, endeavqred to excite some dissatisfac-

tion by stating one of his imaginary grievances ; but he made one very satisfactory statement — that he seriously contemplated leaving Dunedin altogether. If he, like our immortal bard, Shakespeare, could only have seen at least some ''good in everything," I have no doubt that he would have been one of our most influential and wealthy citizens. But unfortunately for himself and the Colony, he has adopted the extremely opposite course, and apparently can see no good in anything save himself.

Mr David Proud fcot's tender for the construction of the suburban tramways has been accepted by the general conference of the Caversham Road Board and South .Dunedin and St. Kilda Councils, lie is to have ten years' monopoly of the^tramwaj's, at a rental of £50 per year. The rate of the single fare is to be sixpence, but if Mr Proudfoot once reduces it (for the purpose of running off the cars) he has agreed never to raise it again.

A meeting of the congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyteriau Church was held on Monday night, when about 100 members were present. By 03 to 11 votes it was decided to adopt the English Presbyterian Hymnal. The discussion showed that the minority feel very strongly against attempts to introduce any innovation into the oldestablished usages of the Church, but their feeble opposition to the reforms necessarily brought about by the progress of education cannot command much sympathy. 2s' ow that the Synod has decided the instrumental music question, it is purely a matter of time only for the various Presbyterian churches of *scpHilj fltago, including even the Rev. W. Bannermaa, jt : o jhayp introduced some of the finest musical just'-uinep^s exfant a§ ajds. \n public worship. 11' the Presbyterian Church h<ul .shown a disposition to still Jag behind in fefojpjng fronj. usifig instrumental music, many of he? a^hp^t? tVfiHJd haye been, charmed away by the more progressive musi* cal Churches.

A \vr'y cowardly attack was made upon the members of our Artillery Band, as they were parading near the new Museum Buildings, in Great King-street, on Monday evening, when some parties, who can be nothing but larrikins, threw a large number of stones at them, feverai of the instruments were damaged, and Sergt. Hogg was severely struck on the nose. The disgraceful offenders will probably be brought to justice, as the sum of £-25 has been ottered for their conriction.

The Albion Cricket Club for tbc lust two Of three seasons bas been content to do buttle with the Toko. Club without recognising any other compeers. At a recent meeting it was

decided to accept the challenge of the Bruce Club to play a match in Duntilin on the 9th instant. The Albions have combined with the Brewers' Club to give £50apiece to have the Northern Recreation Grcund improved so that it may be safely used for cricketing purposes, provided the City Council will give some assistance.

A great deal of interest has been manifested in the contemplated rediction of our Police Force to the standard of the Armed Constabulary. At the regular meeting of the City CouncH on Tuesday last, the matter was pretty fully discussed, but it was eventually resolved — " That this Council, having no official information as to any intended change in the Otago Police Force, considers it impolitic to express any opiuion upon the subject."

You will perhaps remember the particulars of the alleged assault upon James O'Brien, the ex-lecturer to the American War Diorama Company, by Harry Stanlej', the manager of the Compauy, at Mosgiel, in December last. At the Dunedin District Court on Monday last, O'Brien claimed £200 as damages by reason of the assault. Stanley defended the action. The Jury brought in a verdict for plaintiff, and assessed the damages at LtiO.

The City Council has appointed the Sanitary Committee to investigate and report upon a charge of negligence preferred against the master of the Fever Hospital by a Mr Pearson, one of whose children died recently in the institution.

Tenders are being called for desigus for the new Municipal buildings proposed to be erected jm the site fronting the Octagon and Moray Place respectively. The total costof the building is not to exceed L 30,000, but at present only that portion required for municipal offices will be erected, at a cost of L7OOO.

The third annual meeting of the Imperial Building and Investment Society was held in the Athenanun Hall on Tuesday night. The report showed a net profit of £555 15s 7d for the past year.

L.ast Wednesday afternoon upwards of 150 shareholders of the Colonial Bank attended the half-yearly meeting in the Temperance Hall. Mr James Rattray, who presided, moved the adoption of the Directors' report, and mentioned that the Bank had secured several of the very best accounts in New Zealaud. The gross profits .had improved each month, and the shareholders could therefore take their six per cent, dividend with a clear conscience. The candidates for the Directorship in the place of Mr Donald Reid were the Hon. Matthew Holmes and William Hunter Reynolds. Mr Reynolds was duly elected by ballot. Messrs Keith Ramsay and Edmund Smith were appointed

auditors

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court closed on Wednesday afternoon. In the case of Caliier v. Dull' the plaintiff' claimed to have a certain contract for the sale and purchase of two sections of land specifically performed, and asked that the defendant might be restrained by 1 he order audinjunction ot the Court from further prosecuting two actions of ejectmeut brought by him. The alleged contract refers to a ten-acre section of laud in the North-East Yallej', and a fifty-acre section at the East Taieri, which the plaintiff', David Calder, leased about thirty years ago from a Dr Smittau ot Edinburgh. After five hours' consultation the jury answered the issues in tavor of the defendant.

A most determined case of attempted suicide was discovered here last "Wednesday afternoon. Duncan Mackenzie, "a young man from *he country," arrived in Dunedin about a fortnight ago, fell in love with a young woman, and got married at the Registrar's office on Tuesday. She said something which caused him to be jealous. They thereupon quarrelled, aud when Mackenzie awoke on the following morning he found that his newly-wedded 'wife had disappeared. Mackenzie went to the Highland Home Boarding House and took a dose of strychnine. The laudlay's suspicions were aroused. She called iv the police, and Mackenzie was removed to the Hospital, where Dr Yates brought him round by administering some strong emetics. As Mackenzie is rapidly recovering, he will have to figure as a defendant in the City Police Court at the earliest convenient season, and answer the charge " in such cages made and provided." Is the above another illustration of the theory that " the course of true love never does run smooth " ?

The PressDramaticClub'sncxt performance promises to be highly successful, the programme comprising " Time Tries All " and a capital burlesque ou the Abolition of the Provinces,