DUNEDIN. January 18.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2095, 20 January 1879, Page 2

DUNEDIN. January 18.

At y.^tt-i day's sitting of the Presbyterian Synod, the Rev. Mr Watt gave noticft of the following motion :— " That the Synod views with satisfaction the steps recently taken by the Council of the University of Otago to secure for that institution an independent charter, and earnestly hopes that this action of the Council may be crowned with success." • Mr Varley, the Evangelist, will, it is understood, make a stay of three weeks m Dunedin. He is expected on Saturday, 25th, and will commence his meetings in the Queen's Theatre, on the 26th. It is stated that a project, whichhas been on foot for some time past in commercial circles in Dunedin, for the floating of a company to carry on business operations of a very comprehensive description, including land, loan, investment, auctioneer, and other business generally comprised under the term Agency, is about to come to a head. Tho capital will probably be about L 75.000, though it is not proposed to call up anything like that amount &t the commencement. The promoters consider that with the rapid growth of the city and province, they have abundance of scope for their operations. The damages claimed in the breach of promise case —Kay ford v. Carruthers— which comes before the Supreme Court on the 27th inst., are Ll5OO. The defence is that the alleged promise was obtained by fraud, the plaintiff having exhibited a false certificate said to be signed by a medical man. Mr Denniston appears for the plaintiff, and Mr Smith, instructed by Mr F. W. Wade, of Invercargill, for the defence. A large number of witnesses have been subpoenaed on both sides, and the caie is likely to occupy some days. January 19. A case possessing considerable interest came before the Supreme Court on Saturday. The action is brought by creditors in the estate of James Black (bankrupt), against Neil and Boyd and J. N. Watt, the sheriff, and is to recover damages for alleged wrongful sale of goods under a sheriffs writ. The facts disclose that the defendants Neil and Boyd obtained a judgment summons against Black, upon which the bailiff, on 9th July, took possession of the debtor's property there of the value of about L 1250. Subsequently the debtor was recommended to fib a de-

obiration of insolvency, and consented to do «o. Neil and Boyd, on learning this, preued for an immediate mle, and gave an indemnity to tfrp sheriff. The. sale wu gone on with, and the action brought is to recover damage for low by the goods nnd chatteli bjinij improperly sacrificed at the sale. The hearing of the case will be resumed on Monday.