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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 May 1901, Page 2

The meeting of tho Grey Eiver Dredging Company lapsed last evening for the want of a quorum.

To-morrow the National Bank of New Zealand will ship 5,200 ounces of gold, valued at£20,500. This little sum represents about 05 pounds short of a quarter of a hundredweight.

It has not been previously published (says tho Press) that after the attack on *the office of the South African News, at Capetown, fifty New Zealanders were placed on guard over the premises. The little steamer Jane Douglas made a record trip to Westport from Wellington on her last run, which occupied six days. This will give some idea of the sort of weather that has been prevalent lately along the Coast.

Tenders close this evening with the architect, J. A. Eissenhardt, for the erection of two shops in Tainui street. For full particulars see our advertising columns.

The usual meeting of the Druids Lodge was held at their lodge room last evening, when one candidate was initiated. The question of the annual ball and the appointment of a committee will be discussed at next meeting. The preliminaries for the social, to be held next Wednesda}', were arranged, and after a pleasant half hour in harmony the meeting closed.

With his usual enterprise, Mr Ring has secured a few capital photographs of the fire in Richmond Quay as it appeared the morning after the lire. The pictures are well worth purchasing as a momento of theunfortune occurrence. Mr Ashton, we notice, is erecting temporary premises on the site of his old hotel, which will be kept open till the new structure is erected. Mr Wilson has the front part of his premises open, and is transacting business therein.

Great interest is being evinced in boring for coal at Dobson which commenced yesterday, tho spot selected being on the Greymouth sido of the stooo bluff. The members of the Harbour Board paid a visit yesterday and were innitiated into tho mvsteries of coal boring with diamond drill. Mr Smith explaining the process. Tho bore just started being down but five feet. Work was to start to-day and will be carried on continuously till the depth at which coal is believed to exist is reached. If ordinary strata is gone through the process will be about 30 feet per day, but it is possible that some particularly hard rock may be found in which case eight or ten feet will constitute a days work. It is expected that the coal will be got at a depth of 280 foot, and if so the Board will likely put down a series of bore holes between Dobson and Kiata where an unbroken seam is believed to exist. Should this prove correct the district will be possessed of the largest and best coal seam in tho colony.

Mr Jacob Co ion, clothier, outfitter and furniture dealer, announces through our advertising columns that ho has removed to more central premises, next door to Mr Duncan McLean's ironmongery establishment, where he has opened up 10 cases of now and well selected drapery, which he is now offering to the general public at prices never heard of in Groymouth. He also has a quantity of now furniture which ho has received diroct from Sydney, and must be sold. So we advise all those who are about to furnish to pay his shop a visit, and we are sure it will well repay them.

The Premier has received a letter from Mr T. A. Hamilton, Financial Adviser in Johannesburg, in which he thanks Mr Seddon and Mr J. M'Kerrow for information relating to land settlement in Now Zealand. Mr Hamilton says :—" The papers will be most useful, and although I have not yet been able to digest the whole of the printed matter, I have examined them sufficiently to be able to appreciate their value, and to be struck by the exceedingly thorough and able way in which tho land settlement question has been tackled in New Zealand. Your efforts there form a great contrast to the inertia and indifference, much of it the outcome of a deliberate policy on the part of the two Boer Governments, and their friends in the Cape, which have been shown in South Africa. Wo hope, however, to change all that; but I can see that there is a lot of dead weight to life, and many difficulties to be got over before wo got a good scheme started, and afterwards to make it a success. The work, however, is in every sense worth doing. If I may, without troubling you too much, I will avail myself of your kind offer of further information and advice in any difficulty, which arises as tho scheme matures."

There is a strong feeling of dissatisfaction among members of tho Christchurch Boot Operatives' Union in regard to tho award of the Arbitration Court. Some go so far as to talk of holding an indignation meeting and urge the cancellation of tho registration of tho Union, overlooking tho legal difficulties in tho way, as in the case of a Wellington dispute some time ago. It will bo interesting to know how the Wellington Boot Operatives will receive tho award.

The Josephine Stanton Comic Opera Company, a well known American combination, will reach Auckland by the next mail boat and begin (says the Post’s Dunedin correspondent) a tour of the colony there on the 21st instant. A fortnight’s season will be played at each of the centres. Several other American companies are likely to. follow, as managers have written asking for particulars.

The remains of the unfortunate ma 11 Howan who met his death in the Eichmoud Quay fire, were found near the front of the premises, the remains consisting of bui a few half burned bones.It seems evident that deceased had stayed to gather up all his belongings and attempting to get out by the front entrance was overcome by the smoke. The Trinity Church Literary and Debating Society intends commencing its session next Thursday. The Committee met at the Vicarage last evening and drew up the provisional syllabus which will be submitted to the meeting next week for revision, or approval, and confirmation. Amongst the topics set down for debate arc " Should New Zealand join the Commonwealth P " Should the present Old Age Pension Scheme be made universal 'i " "Is the Government justified in levying a totalisator tax ? " "Is the nationalisation of: industries desirable ! J " '" Has the Female Franchise benefited the legislation of the Colony?" " Are Trusts inimical to the welfare of 1 the community ? " In addition to the old members, a large number of new ones have signified their intention of joining the Society and the first meeting will consist of the President's address, election of officers, and a musical programme (vocal and instrumental), Miss Myra Blackmore having kindly undertaken the arrangement of the programme and Mr J. Rogers the Secretaryship pro tern. The Society admits ladies as members, and extends a cordial invitation to visitors. We have no' hesitation in recommending anyone who is desirous of self-improvement or wishful to acquire the art of public speaking to join the Society. The report of Mr A. M'Kay, the Geologist of the Mines Department, upon his recent examination of the oil bearing region in Poverty Bay, is of an encouraging character. He describes the sinking of the prospecting wells of some years back as " a leap in the dark," and it is clearly indicated in his report that a mistake was made in not placing the operations on solid ground, but in country whore the formation was broken and where there could be no catchment area forming reservoirs for the oil deposits.

As a certain amount of disappointment has been caused to shippers of dairy produce owing to the fact that the insulated space an board the Indramayo has been fully booked for some tirno past, it will be of interest (says the Ohristchurch Press) to state that advices received from the head office of the Tyser Lino show that the space for dairy produce has been curtailed because of considerable orders given to New Zealand farmers for beef to be shipped to.Houth Africa on account of the Imperial Government, and to go forward by the first steamer. The suppliers of the meat ordered the necessary spaco immediately the fact became known that the Indramayo would call at South African ports. The grain traffic on the Southland railways has been unprecedently heavy this season. Since April, 224,189 sacks have been railed for store or shipment, against 15(5,367 sacks carried during the corresponding period last year. A roturned trooper was heard to say of Major Crakdock: "If there was a scrap anywhere handy his mon knew he would be there. Ho was as keen as mustard on a fight, and got into it the best way possible, and finished matters in a manner which constituted him a perfect horo with his men."

Among the strange customs observed in London at Easter, Spanish and Portuguese sailors on the ships and docks in London were acting like lunatics, pulling a dummy figure about the roads, kicking and punching it with all their might, and treating it to every possiblo indignity. The dummy was supposed to be Judas Iscariot; This lynching takes place each year at Passiontide. Sixteen widows (writes a London correspondent,) according to another old custom, have each received sixteen sixpencos (twelve cents) from of! an aged tombstone, accompanied by a bun for each. Added to this gift this year was an extra half-crcwn (sixty cents) and a shawl. At the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo there will be only one building designed in its entirety by a woman, and the structure will represent the State of New England. The woman whose brilliancy as an architect has gained for her this honor is Miss Josephine Wright Chapman, of Boston. Dr. Charles Talamon, attached to the Hospital Bichat, makes tho important announcement that by treating pneumonia with subcutaneous injections of anti-diph-

theritic serum he has obtained the most gratifying success, reducing the mortality from that disease by CO per per cent, in patients over fifty years of ago and by 60 per cent, in those under fifty. Now that the policies on Queon Victoria's life are in process of settlement insurances on the life of King Edward the Seventh is the most interesting risk that

British underwriters are asked to assume. While the King is nearing the age limit for insurance, being now in his sixtieth year, the proposition is unlike ordinary applications, being governed by altogether different rules. A physical examination being out of the question, the companies must rely on such statements concerning the King's health as the Court physicians are willing to make, and base their calculations accordingly.

According to " La Brcsserie Franchise " great attention is being paid by the municipalities in France to the question of road sweeping and watering, and up to April ten or twelve municipal votes for the purpose have been Taised. The same paper contains a detailed account of the Hanger Eoad Sweeycr, the invention of Mr H. J. Eanger, of Dunedin city, the fame of which is evidently becoming widespread. We hear on reliable authority that Captain 0. T. Major (fifth contingent) on whom the D.S.O. has lately boon conferred, is expected to return to New Zealand eaaly in June to take up a position on the staff of the Nelson Boys' College. Captain Major, who is as prominent in military matters, was at one time a pupil in the college, and afterwards occupied a position on the stall'. Prior to his departure for South Africa, he was engaged in teaching at King's College, Auckland. A few days ago a constable had a disappointing escapade while bringing a prisoner through the Onewhero district, The constablo had arrested, on a charge of horse-stealing, a young darkoy who had lately bean living with the Maoris. He and hiacaptive woro both riding along on horses, everything seeming comfortable and pleasant enough, when the darkey suddenly threw the bridl' reins of his horse over tho post of a wire fenco and quickly made tracks for a large bush not fur away, At latest account tho policeman had not recaptured tho pursued. Mr C. Lewis, M.H.R., writes to the Christchurch Press with rpgard to the withholding of MrG. Hutchison's resignation of the Patea seat, stating that the blatnn is being put upon the wrong shoulders. Mr Hutchison is not to blame except for confiding in those who have withheld the resignation. Ho adds that the Opposition will have to bear the brunt of the righteous displeasure of the public, but he gives an assuranco that no member or ex-member of the House has ever seen tho resignation

Eumour has it (says the Mangaweka Settler) that the management of the Makohine has asked for a further extension of time to a year. This appears to prolong a work that was promised about two years ago in twelve months, and at present many of the knowing ones admit that the work cannot bo completed in eighteen months.

The following team will represent >the Pied Roses in their match against the. Stars for junior honors on Saturday the 18 th May. Full back E. Alexander;: Three-quarters, C. Craig. P, M'Carthy,. J. Orarns,; five-eights, Kilgour ; onehalf, D. Sullivan ; Forwards, M Kennedy,. B. West, J. Bromley, W. Murray, W. Ogllvie,C Lochore, D.M'Kie, 0. M'Lean, G. Scott.

The Post says : —The outlook on the West Coast is much brighter, for there are now satisfactory returns to show. There has been nothing attractive about, the West Coast returns since December, when the Grey lliver dredge obtained over 10002 for three or four weeks in succession. If results are good this week West Coast dredging shares will again command attention. There is a. distinct revival all round, Vfith every prospect of gaining strength, as the favourable season of the year is neai'"d. The point raised by the Chief Justice" in the Mabin criminal libel case is not clearly stated in the press telegram, but evidently it means something of this sort: The criminal Code of 1893 made a pretty clean sweep of all criminal law except such as was contained within itself. It makes no mention of libel, and it abolishes all common law offences, but not offences created by statue. It was clearly 1 understood that the common law crime of hbel was done away with, but since the code was enacted there have been sovoral criminal prosecutions nnder i the English Act, which was supposed to be in force here. Wo presume that the j point of tho Chief Justice's doubt which ho will ask the Court af Appeal to solve, is whether this statute is not also repealed by implication. The right of a wronged person to recover damages for a libel upon himself is untouched, but it will be interesting to find that in this country there is no such thing as criminal libel. Such a state of the law would place in the hands of any unscrupulous person an unlimited power to defame his neighbours so long as he had no assets. The point will, however, be decided by tho Court of Appeal without regard for such consideration, but purely on legal grounds. We'll sing God save the Prince of Wales, Protect him from the storms and gales; And may his health for ever hold Free from either cough or cold, But Princes too, despite restraints, Are subject to all chest complaints. For which the remedy, tried and sure, Is W. E. Woods' Great Peppermint Cube. i*

WADE'S WORM FIGS are more effective and not unpleasant; ch most thrive after taking them. Price lildren.