Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1901. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 April 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1901. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

The coming municipal elections are exciting a good deal of interest as is evidenced by the nomination of 19 candidates for nine seats. Several matters have tended to bring about this change, which, by the way, is a most desirable change Firstly :we have the rapid increase of population, and consequent extension of the town, necessitating a more ■ progressive policy ; then we have the inauguration of a loan and public works' policy, the purchase and control of gas, the erection of town hall and abattoirs, and, in the future, possibly the building and control of electric trams, These are subjects bound to enlist the sympathy of the ratepayers, who, while averse to increased rating, wish to see the town advancing with the times. In many cities direct rating on property has ceased to exist, and there is no reason why in many New Zealand towns a similar and highly desirable condition of affairs should follow. The town of Greymouth should, in our opinion, if affairs are wisely administered, not only not require the imposition of any fresh taxes, but should ere long be able to reduce present rates considerably, and at no distant date cease altogether to have rates upon property as at present collected. In the purchase of the gas works the Corporation made a splendid investment, for the profits accruing this year will not fall far short of £2OOO. Then it must be remembered that the consumption is rapidly increasing. This will enable the Borough to secure a larger income from this source and at the same time supply gas at a cheaper rate. We believe that from this one source of revenue alone, nearly sufficient will be obtained to meet interest and sinking fund on the loan of £40,000, which is now being spent upon drainage arid water supply. Then the revenue from water will amount to nearly as much as our present rates. It will, of course, be said that the residents will pay for the water, which is perfectly true, but the cost will not be so great as the present CO3J; of cleaning and maintaining water tanks and of removing night soil, so that in reality the water change will be a saving. As to the Town Hall, the rent from offices it is estimated will be sufficient to pay interest on outlay, and a sinking fund beside to gradually extinguish the principal, while the same can be said of the cost of abattoirs. Without, thereforo, referring to the question of a municipal tram service, it will be seen that with prudent administration there are sufficient causes now existing to warrant the belief of a lesser rate in the future, and this too after thoroughly draining the town, providing an adequate water supply and lighting tho town. Doubtless the ratepayers having these points in view, decided on securing a wide selection, and they will in tho forthcoming poll also voto for thoso who will have the above plan in sight and are capable of seeing it carried out efficiently and economically.

With this issue will be found an inset for tho enterprising Cash Draper, Mr C. Smith notifying the great bargains that may be obtained ai the establishment now, in consequence of necessity of getting rid of the G. I. C. bankrupt drapery stock.

By tho Wainui to-day Mr Peter Massy for over 20 years an official of the Grey Eiver Hospital leaves for England on a well earned holiday. During his long service in tho Institution he has always given great satisfaction, and indeed has practically identified himself with the Hospital. Wo wisli him a pleasant trip and safe return. His duties at the Hospital during his absence will be performed by his nephew. Tho following arc tho winners of tho soveral events during the races held at Ross on Wednesday.—Maiden Stakes— Mr A. Allen's Parnell 1. Ross Cup.—Mr Haddock's Quiltiri 1, Eustic 2. Miner's Purse.—Mr J. Minahan's Frenchy 1. The trot race was won by Mr T M'Grath's horse. Consolation Stakes, Mr T Green's The Fox, 1. Since last census tho town of Greymouth has increased by about 23 per cent, tho population now being about 4000. with every indication of a more rapid in* i creaso in the future.

Mr H. A. Gordon, formerly head of tlie Mines Department along with the other members of the Rivers Commission arrived in town yesterday and proceeded on to Hokitika whero they will be engaged for a week or ten days taking evi- , dencc and visiting different places. They I then return to Greymouth to obtain all • necessary data in this district for their report which will be presented to Parliament for consideration and legislation. Playing cards, lotto, domino, tiddly winks, draughts, new cigarette holders, E. P. Ware. Ward, Taylorville.—Advt. Mr H. A. Gordon, who has had perhaps more practical experience of an extensive character in the various methods of gold-mining in New Zealand than many men in the colony, and who, moreover, has a thorough grasp of the scientific side of tho industry, expressed himsolf yosterday as satisfied thai golddredging on the West Coast has a great future beforo it, provided proper appliances are obtained. He holds, however, that our general run of dredges arc altogether too light, and the sooner wo real- • ise this the better. As a rule, tho machinery requires to be more powerful than in Otago, the material to bo dealt with being much rougher. Ho holds it to be a great mistake to buy second-hand dredges, that too often have besn found insufficient in Otago, and consequently cannot well bo a success hero. In regard to submerged timber he does not apprehend a great deal of difficulty. Logs rarely lie across stream, being mostly up and down. Good dredges can easily work along the trunk of the tree until the gravel is cleared off, [when the log can bo easily removed. The town weighbridge which was passed as correct some time ago, was owing to rumors again thoroughly tested yesterday by experts, the- police and borough representatives being also present. It was found to be as near perfect as such structures generally are, the bridge being but six pounds weight out in a ton and twelve in two tons, which we take it is sufficient for all practical requirements. New flowered photo frames, now accordions, nursery requisites, carrying straps Ward, Tajlorville.—Advt. At a meeting of the Grey Town and Catholic bands, amalgamated for tho purpose of contesting at the Westport Band Contest it was unanimously agreed to appoint Mr Ashon conductor. We congratulate the bandmen upon this selection, Mr Ashton not only being a most competent musician but a thorough enthusiast in the matter. We feel confident that the "Greymouth Band" will noxt month render a good account of itself. It is at times a trifle amusing to see how paragraphs get appropriated and return to the same town in which they were originally written with a now author's name. At considerable trouble wo summarised tho average yield of the West Coast working dredges for tho past month. Tho Westport Times cribbed same, published it as an original leaderette, and to-day it is again reproduced in tho columns of tho Argus which latter paper taking it from the Westport Times credits such journal with the production. The Suez Canal is to bo deepened and widened, if Mr linden W. Bates, the London hydraulic engineer, reports that the work can be done within a reasonable figure. The Canal Company hopes that the great waterway can bo enlarged by the use of dredges, which are comparatively inexpensive. There is great need of more room in tho channel, for ships have been growing ever greater, wbilo tho canal has remained unchanged. A notice to members in the last Gazette, in reference to the new Intercolonial Code of signals, states that during the year 1001 either tho new edition or tho old may be used, but on and after Ist January, 1902, tho new edition only is to be used. To prevent any misunderstanding during the year 1901 as to whether tha old or new code is being used, when signals aro made by the new code the code pennant is to be doubled—that is; the fly of tho pennant as well as the tact, is to bo made fast to th 9 halyards, and hoisted below a black ball or shape. On and after Ist January, 1902, the code pennant will bo hoisted in tho ordinary way, without the black ball. Signals for a pilot can be mado during 1901 either by the old or new code, but in tho event of using tho latter the pennant must bo hoisted, as notified above. Just arrived six dozen pipes 1/- each, now novels 1/- each, sunrise alarm clocks, ()/6d at Ward's Taylorville.— Advt. * The Mayor of Sydney, at the City Council meeting recently, said that his experienca was that they got no answers beyond acknowledgments to letters sent to tho Government, and the only way was to knock at tho doors of Ministers and go as deputations. A disease which threatens to do much damage among the bean crop has made its appearance in the Ouriubah district. It first appears in the roots in tho form of mildew, and the plant turns yellow, and rois off at tho surface. Beds badly affected leave very few plants alive. It is reported from Pine Ridge, Lower Macquarie, that the body of an elderly female was found, torn to pieces by wild pigs. A swag with a billycan and purse was found close by. It is conjectured that tho woman perished from thirst a • few weeks ago. Two old-age pensioner?, who have for some time been fossicking about Kuggety Gully, near Timo (Victoria), have come upon a good patch Of gold. They aro so satisfied with the discovery that each has handed lrek his old-ago pension card, stating ho does not at present require further assistance. A little girl, three years old, named Martha Whitehead, was scalded to death recently in a very remarkable manner at her parents' residence, Burnley, Melbourne. Sho took up a large teapot from tho table, put the spout in her mouth, and swallowed tho boiling contents. She died a few hours afterwards.

There is strong opposition in Gisborne to the proposed increase in the fire insurance tariff, it being pointed out that for years past the number of fires has been remarkable low, and that tho insurance business locally must have been very profitable

The final results of Federal elections in Australia leave tho Protectionists and Mr Barton with a fair working majority in tho House of Representatives.

Excellent progress lias been made by the men who have been set to work on the formation of the railway between Stratford and Whangamoinona. About thirty men are employed at present, and it is probable that the number will be increased.

The Minister for Mines is of opinion that many girls would find it to their advantage to attend a School of Mines, as the knowledge they Mould gain there would qualify them for positions in offices of tlie large mining companies. The long-deferred appointment of a Surveyor-General is likely to be soon announced. Of men in the Department, Mr G. J. Mueller, the Chief Surveyor for the Auckland district, and Mr J. W. A. Marchant, (lie Chief Surveyor for the Wellington district, arc thought (says the Wellington correspondent of Christchurch Truth) to have a good chance. In some quarters the importation of an up-to-date man, say from the United States, would be applauded, as it is felt that local men are not abreast of the times in important respects. Mr C. Ferris, who had in hand the task of compiling the Maori census in Poverty Bay, relates' some of his experiences. "Some of the natives," he says, "were reluctant to give any particulars regarding their ages, stock, etc., believing I was obtaining the information for the sake of taxing thern hereafter. Others again, concluded I was enlisting them for some future war, but I. always overcame the ; difficulty by narrating some story or by giving them particulars of my experience I in Australia, and how greatly the duskies wore admired by the Bliiegum wahines. The majority of the elderly natives had very vague ideas of their ages, and I had to form an idea by comparing notes with Mr Brooking, Registrar of the Native Land Court, and other old identities, or by the date of the Waerenga-a-hika massacre, One old lady in particular was very indignant because I fixed her age at seventy, she calculating it at about two hundred.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones and party had a narrow escape from a serious accident at Normanby, in the Taranaki district, the other day. They were driving down a cutting, when the horses bolted, the driver being thrown out and the reins going with him. Mr Hall-Jones loaned over the splash board, breaking it in his effort to pick up the reins, and stretched forward over the side ; Mrs Hall-Jones held him by the legs ; and Mr McGuiro M.H.R., who was in the back seat, held Mrs Hall-Jones, fixing himself by getting a leaverage against the floor of the buggy. Just as the team was reaching the bridge at the bottom of a cutting, Mr HallJones managed to secure the reigns and guide the horses over. The Lyttelton Harbour Board has decided to purchase more ferrets to assist in keeping their grain stores free of rats. In a discussion which took place at a Board meeting in regard to the superiority of ferrets over dogs and cats, Mr Buddo mentioned the fact that in a lino of 1000 sacks of wheat which had been in store for over ten months, not a single sack required stiching, and the total loss in weight was only 301 b. This good result was due to the presence of i'srrots in the store — : Truth.

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