DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) October 7th, 1864.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 38, 10 November 1864, Page 3

DUNEDIN. (From our own Correspondent.) October 7th, 1864.

The sudden accident which has deprived this province of the services of Mr John M'Glashan jemands the first place in my letter this week. llr M'Glashan had apparently been in the enjoyDent of his usual health up to Wednesday last, irhen, on his way home from his office, he fell Irom his horse and was killed. When the news 5 f this unfortunate accident was first bruited bout the town, the impression was general that he fall was the result of a fit of apoplexy 5 but ihough no one appears to have seen the accident [self, the evidence taken at the coroner's inquest ustified the verdict that " the deceased died from oncussion of the brain, accompanied by laceraion, caused by a fall from his horse." This sad ccurrence took place just at the outskirts of the iown, when tho unfortunate gentleman was about salf way home. A carpenter of the name of ililler had just caught a runaway horse in Regent Ireet when Mr M'Glashan rode up. At this ilace the street is unformed, and the track is a tere bridle path. The newly caught horse was fcry restive, and Miller called out to the ipproaehing horseman that he had better disnount until he had passed him. This Mr U'Glashan did. "About a minute afterwards," ajs Miller, in his evidence, "I heard a shout, md immediately ran to the spot whence it proceded? when I found Mr M'Glashtn on the iround apparently dying." Medical assistance ras sent jbr, but arrived too late, as death ensued n a*very few minutes, and consciousness was lever restored. I need hardly tell your readers that Mr 11'Glashan was the Secretary of the Otago Assomtion, and intended to have been one of the irst settlers here. When Captain Cargill sailed, flwever, it was considered indispensibJe to the nterests of the new settlement that some one hould remain at home to conduct the emigration rhich was to follow the pioneers and turn this nlderness into a fruitful field. For this purpose Sir M'Glashan was chosen, and ably carried out he scneme of the Association. Some six years fterwards he himself became an emigrant, and •as received here with warm welcome ; a public lemonstration of which was made, in the form of 1 banquet — one of the first affairs of that sort rhich was attempted in tlie infant settlement. for many years after the Constitution Act was rongllt into force he was Provincial Solicitor, cting with several successive administrations, ad holding also the office of Provincial Trea?;rer. At the last general election he failed to ?cure his return to the Provincial Council. His iifirmity of deafness rendered him unpopular imongst his colleagues in previous Councils ; and hough respected generally by his fellow-colonists e was not a favorite as a politician. A strong mpression was abroad, too, at the time, that if xcluded from political life, a suitable provision rould be provided for one whose best days had ten devoted to the interests of the settlement. iThy nothing of this sort was ever done, I never dirned, and I confess it seems to me by no means ■reditable to those who ought to have attended to 0 obvious a duty. He has lately held the office H Registrar General of Deeds^ for the Province. Flie last document which issued from his office, mtten within an hour of his death, is character>tic of the man, and shows that his devotedness 0 the service of the community he had done so such to plant here, was not impaired with advaning years. After some previous private corresomlence with the Superintendent, he had made he following offer to the Government: — Dunedin, 2nd November, 1864. Sir, Believing it to be highly desirable that the mowledge of the Provincial Laws of Otago should be sore widely diffused thiough the community, and rentied more certain than it is, and that this might be cromphshed by the existing Piovincial Ordinances, if ted from those which have been disallowed or repealed ir have become obsolete, being published with their imendments and a copious index in a separate aud ap;roved form, I willingly offer my services to edit such a nil 1c. I stipulate only that the Government shall be at the xpense of printing, binding, and publishing it, that bi proceeds arising fiom its sale shall belong to the iovprnment, and that it shall be optional to your Honor nrl the Provincial Council whether any or no remuneation be awarded for my labor. I have, &c, J. M'Glashan. Mr M'Glashan's funeral is to take place tonorrow (Tuesday) with ceremony suitable to his ublic services. The day will be observed as a ohday. In the Council the most notable event of the reek occurred on Friday, when the Ministry Snal'y gave up the unpopular species of retrenchlent they had attempted, in reducing so many fficial salaries. The Council had made patch mrk of their so-called reforms, and after much rivate persuasion they yield to the evident wish f the House that no salaries should be altered intil a Commission had reported on the best nethod of reorganizing and reducing the Governimt departments. Only five members of the ouncil voted against the resolution, which was 1 hat no reduction of salaries take place during he current six months." Mr Walker's resoluwn, requesting his Honor to appoint a Civil Serice Commission, was then at once agreed to. The Exhihition has lately been seriously imerilled by a disagreement between Messrs Mason iid Clayton, the architects, and the Government. he latter denied its indebtedness to the former >v architects' commission, and affirmed that their Tvices had been offered gratuitously. The oint has been conceded, but matters are not yet ttled, an inspection of the building by the Proincial Engineer having, I believe, been refused. it any rate the Commissioners have not yet had lie building handed over to them, and there Kms but too much reason to believe that the Ixhibition will not be punctually opened. The agitation of the meat question has been ontinued with increased vigor. On Wednesday here was an immense meeting at the Theatre, hen various speakers talked rather wildly. On hursday the Chamber of Commerce took up the uestion, and decided by a large majority to reommend the opening of the ports. The Superitendent has removed the restrictions against uportation from Southland, and has promised iat if meat is not cheaper in a month he will pen the ports.