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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 February 1901, Page 2

Owing to pressure of business Mr Bishop, engineer, will open a branch office in Greymouth in those premisas next door to .Mr G Parfitt's store, Wereta street. This should be a great convenienoo to dredging people The Beef ton United Gold Dredging Go. (Ltd.) through our advertising columns are inviting tenders for the supply of all necessary material, and construction of dredge hull. Plans and specifications may be seen at the office of the Company, Reefton, or at Mr E. A. Wickes office, Richmond Quay Greymouth. At Magistrates Court yosterday before Messrs Matheson and Urquhart J. P's a boy named D Stark was charged with vagrancy. It appears that the accused ran away from his home at Westport. The case was dismissed on condition that the lad returned to his home.

A swimming race was held yesterday afternoon for a trophy presented to the Greymouth Swimming Club by Messrs Forsyth and M'Kay, the distance being 220 yards. There were three competitors. J. Hamilton (scr) winning in 2min 54sccs, or doing the distance 2-oth of a second outside of the record time, P. Cocks (30secs) coming second, and M'Donnell 50 sees,) the other competitor, third. A 410 yards handicap is being arranged to come olf in a couple of weeks. We are requested by the Secretary of the Westland Agricultural and Pastoral Association to state that the time for receiving entries for the 4th Agricultural show to be held on the Hokitika Racecourse has been extended to Saturday next. Intending exhibitors are requested to communicate at once with the secretary. There is every prospect of the show being a successful one.

At the conclusion of the business in the Warden's Court at Ahaura yesterday Mr S. M. Mackley J.F. of Waipuna, the pioneer settler of the Grey Valley a*ked the permission of the Warden to address the Court. The request being granted, ho proceeded to explain that as the Minister of Mines had at Totara Flat stated that dredging operations would not tend to raise the bed of the Grey River none of the freeholders whose lands lie adjacent to the river, had oojected to the grant of Special Dredging Claims; but already the landowners realised that the bed of the river would be greatly and permanently elevatod to great damage of their lowlying properties —the work of ihe Waipuna Dredge near Mr Mackley's own run was instanced. He therefore requested the Warden to lay (he position of the freeholders before the Minister. In reply tho Warden said, that he would bo glad to transmit Mr Mackley's remarks to the Minuter, and pointed out that when the Minister knew that one person only had moved in tho matter, ho would probably leave that person to exercise his legal remedy, but that if a memorial by all the freeholders interested was presented to tho proper authority it would carry very much weight. Mr Mackley thanked his Worship, and agreed to follow his euggestion. The annnal general meeting of shareholders in the New River Gold Dredging Company was held last evening at the Albion Hotel. There was a fair attendance of shareholders. Dr Mcßrearty was voted to tho chair. The report and balance sheet was received and adopted. The election af directors resulted as follows; —Messrs J. Taylor, W. Morris, Gieseking, T. W. Wilson' T. Jones, J. Jameson, Dr Mcßrearty Messrs Doogan and F. H. Kilgour were elected auditors. The dredge master reported that ho was now engaged in taking a narrow cut up the track towards the prospecting bore hole, where good prospects were got some time ago. He is hopeful that payablo ground will be met with shortly.

Miss Elizabeth Barkley of Dunediii, who was appointed head nuv.se of tlie Grey Eiver Hospital, leaves Dunedin on the 15th of March, and will take up her duties at Greyniouth immediately upon arrival.

At a nieeeting of sugar growers ,at Ballina, on the northern river, New South Wales, it was resolved that unless some restriction be placed on coloured labour as at present employed in connection with the sugar industry in various parts of Australia, the trade in New South Wales will be sacrificed in competition with the large amount of black labour at present engaged in the industry in Queensland. We learn that Mr James Kugg has purchased Mrs Peam's coaching plant and business and takes possession on Monday next.

Footballers are requested to muster in force on Victoria Parle this evening at 1 o'clock, in order to indulge in practice for the matches With the Canterbury and Otago teams. The niembers of the Se-, lection Comniittoe Will be present; and as soihe back players relying oh their reputation have so far refrained froni training, we would strongly urge them to put in an appearance. It has been found that the back division will be stronger than was anticipated. Several first-class players having signified their willingness to join the tour, and practice and form alone, will have weight when the final selection is being made. The colony in January were 2,075 total of 3,loJHHfeamst 2,640f0r January 1900. for January were 1,405 malesHKemales ; total, 1967 as against cess of the departures was Another boy is going away with the SejPK Contingent. Mr Hugh Linklater formerly of Stafford and now in Auckland, has been selected for active service in South Africa. His brother Joseph went away with the Sixth Contingent

"With reference to Mr King's (Hokitika) telegram to the Premier as to extending the scope of the commission now sitting on the Coast, to enable the Commissioners to take evidence with regard to the coal deposits at Koiterangi, Mr Seddon replied as follows from Nelson last evening:— "Regret now too late to alter scope Coal Commission; labors almost ended." Westport was troubled by the presence of a bicycle stealer last week. Mr Charteris left his bicycle (a Beeston Huniber) outside the Empire Hotel, and in a short time returned only to find that someone had taken it away. There is reason to fear that the act was committed by a vindictive wretch, and that the bicycle may have been thrown into the river. The police have the matter in hand; For the public safety it is to bo hoped that they will succeed in bringing the guilty party to hook for his crime;—News.

The Wesleyan Conference sitting at Sydney, approved of the resolution establishing a mission Industrial Settlement at the Island of Alu, New Britain, and secured 515 acres. They intend planting cocoanut palms and bring over bands of New Ireland natives to work.

During the month, the Government employed 4463 men on co-operative work?. Of- these the Survey Department had 1872 men, the Auckland district employing 548 labourers and Wellington 497. The Public Works Department had 238 artisans and 2355 labourers, all but 37 of the artisans and 43 of the labourers being employed on railway works. The North Island Main Trunk lino absorbed 926 men, the Otago Central 526, the Midland 257, and the Blenheim-Waipara 169. Referring to the recent ' salting case ' just heard in Greymouth, the " Buller Miner " says :—Theio is one thing evident that' salting' is an act that will eventually " out, " but it often happens that 18 months elapses before a claim can bo working and the ' saltcr ' can be at a safe distance by that time. The new Act will undoubtedly check the game, as promoters cannot sell their paid up shares for at least two years, and by that time the claim will have been proved one way or the other,

A good deal of misunderstanding still appears to exisi with regard to tho qualifications for an old-age pension. A correspondent writes to know whether a person 65 years of ago who is possessed of JE62O in the form of a bank deposit is entitled to a pension. Tho answer is that ho is not. For every £ls that a man has over £SO a deduction of £1 from tho maximum amount of the pension (.€18) is made, so that if he has £620 he gets no pension.—Post. County Council ratepayers are reminded that unless all rates are paid to-morrow at the Council Chambers an additional 10% will be charged on all left unpaid. This notice is final, so we adviso all defaulting ratepayers to pay their rates at once.

The scarcity of milling bush in some parts of Hawke's Bay has induced more than one person to turn attention to the burnt logs lying about in hundreds in many districts which are being opened up for settlement. In Ihe majority of cases the fallen trees have only been scorched by fires lighted by settlers with the object of clearing the ground. A sawmill is now being crect-.-d at Mangatcra, near Dannevirke, to utilise the scorched timber.

The Tauranga correspondent of the " New Zealand Herald ' writes :—" An unusual accident befel five cattle a few days ago, which formed part of a mob being brought overland from Whakatane to Tauranga, by Mr J. G. Vercoe. When passing through the thermal country, between Tc Teko and Matata, tho unfortunate beasts suddenly left the track and plunged into a boiling spring, dying a terrible death in a few moments." At the meeting of the Council of the Royal Humane Society, it was decided to forward a letter of commendation to William Harper, who tried to save the lifo of Machaol Lauronson, at Charleston, and was successful in saving that of Duncan Johnston.

The Dresden Piano Coy., of Dunedin, being heavily overstocked in musical instruments purpose holding a geniu'nc clearing sale of high class pianos and organs by all the best English and German makers. The sale commences on Saturday, the 9th insfc. and will be continued for 10 days only, when no reasonable offer will be refused. Pianos from 20/- monUily, and organs from 10/G monthly, every instrument fully warranted for 10 years. This is really a splendid opportunity of securing an up-to-date instrument on very easy terms. Second hand Pianos and organs taken in exchange as part payment for new ones, and full market value allowed. The Dunedin representatives, Messrs A. Jackson and J. Gofton, will be pleased to r.nswer all communications addressed to them care of Revington's Post Office Hotel, Greymouth, or at the local agents Messrs J. W. Easson and Co., Inspection invited.—Advt.

At the Union Store, is to bo had a very fine assortment of all kinds of fruit for jam making ; also a large assortment of jam jars. Order early to save disappointment. Griffien and Smith.—Anvr.

J. Gofton, the Dresden Piano Co's tuner, is at present in Greymouth. Orders left with J. W. Easson and Co or Post Office Hotel, will be promptly attended to.—Advt.