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Grey River Argus, Issue 60, 31 May 1866, Page 2

Since the absurd commotion that was got up relativo to our report of the Little Grey diggings we have naturally been reluctant to publish many particulars we have since received that have fully borne out the statements we made. It i$ well known that, in spite of the unfavorable conclusion so hastily arrived at by the miners, the district has gradually but surely asserted its position as a fir3t-class gold field. The population has increased to about 1000 men, the majority of whom are doing well, and the quantity of gold sent down is a further proof of the bona fide character of the diggings. We yesterday had adduced a proof stronger than "any yet afforded of the richness of the ground in the Little Grey district, and we have the greater satisfaction in giving it publicity because it goes still more to justify the report we previously published. A parcel of 300 ozs, of gold was sold to the Bank of New South Wales yesterday, the result of three months' work of a party of three mon, who had been working quietly in a blind gully on the other side of the saddle. The parcel is the finest sample we have ever yet seen of West Coast gold, the whole of it being composed of heavy nuggets, fully 50 of which weighed over 2ozs, and one weighed 12 ozs, others varying from S oz3 to 6 ozs. The nuggets are slightly mixed with rose colored quartz, and the gold is dark and very heavy. The party who sold this parcel state that another party who have been working in a similar gully not far from them have made fully 500 ozs in the same period, and the gold i 3 "of a similar character to that above referred to. They also state that there is a number of gullies of alike description in the neighborhood all of which are payable. A meeting of the promoters of the Brunncr Lake Grand Trunk Race Company was hold ] at Kilgour'sj Hotel, on Monday evening. A j statement ofj^j'emmi^^'a^Jiij^^^^^^^^^j^L oi^M^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J and ilepnwH^^^^^^^^HpP promoters. Thcn^W^^^Bll^^Riagerwere instructed to take immediate steps for the registration of the company under the Act, and Messrs Comisky and Hughes were appointed managing directors. It was resolved that, so soon as 100 shares are taken up, the work be, Avith the sanction of the shareholders, at once proceeded with. Mr T. W. Itees, of the Bank of New Zealand, was appointed treasurer, and several matters of detail were arranged. The utmost good feeling prevailed, and there is little doubt that, if the future business of the company be pushed forward with equal energy, a satisfactory result must follow. It was stated that already veiy numerous applications had been made for shares, and that the fullest confidence was felt by the mining community in the ultimate success of the company. The following native intelligence is from the Waiigamii Times of the 11th inst : — " The war in these districts may now be considered as ended, at least for the present. The whole of the tribes from Wanganui to the Patea have intimated their intention to discontinue a conflict of which they were heartily tired, and arc determined to abandon a cause which they consider hopeless. They deputed an influential chief to have an interview with Hori Kingi, and at that interview preliminaries were arranged. It is stipulated that hostilities are suspended. No act of aggression is to be committed on either side, and a considerable number of chiefs and leading men are to" come in next week to arrange for the final submission of the whole of the tribes." . We are informed, on the authority- of Mr M. Grogan, a well-known Otago miner, and an old . mate of Bill Fpx, that the latter celebrity had left the place whither he and a prospecting party recently proceeded in the Woodpecker, and /gone on to the Buller. Our informant state*- that there is not the grounds far a rush to the Buller ; '"'iMiJiii fljipfn.nonßw discoveries, and those except jn a, few.

Mr W. H.. Bracken ,was on- Monday List bro.ught before I<he Resident .Magistrate at Hokitika, charged -with the manslaughter of Patrick Cpnnell. Mr -Oakes, retained by the mates .qf the d^eased, conxhicted thje prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by.J. H. O'Loughiin, Mr C. E. Button, and Mr W. L. Rees. TJie witnesses galled were the same who gave evidence at the inquest, and the testiin,ony revealed nothing but what had previously been elicited. A squabble arose amongst the prisoner's counsel owing to -a question of precedence, and eventually Messrs O'Loughlin and Button left the Court. The prisoner was remanded until the following day. The following dialogue took placed between the -lawyers : — Mr Rees here got ap to cross-examine the witness. Mr O'Loughlin remarked that Mr Rees condxiejb was unprofessional, and that, as he was conducting thg case, if Mr Rees had any questions to put to the witness, it was a courtesy to which he was entitle;} .as senior barrister, that they slumld be put through him. Mr Rees, in justification of this unusual conduct, stated he had been requested by the prisoner jfcoput the question. Mr Dutton, addressing the Bench, said that he had been retained for the defence, to advjs,e with Mr O'Loughlin a3 leading counsel ; but he waa not disposed — considering that he (Mr Button) had been for some years called to the bar, and the junior counsel but just admitted— to play seeoud fiddle to Mr Rees. The Magistrate declined to interfere, remarking that questions of precedency they would have to settle amongst themselves. We have received the first copy of the Westland Observer and Okarita Times, which is the title of a new paper published at Okarita, and with which is incorporated a journal previously published at that place. It is a very creditable paper, and should receive the warm support of the inhabitants of the -district, in the interest of which it has been started. To show how absurdly the relative position and importance of Greymouth is considered by the authorities, tho Warden at Okarita has been appointed a Magistrate under the extended jurisdiction, M'hilst this town, with all its trade ond population, has to suffer the loss anil ineonvenienco attendant on a want of the privilege. Better late than never will be the remark of those who read in our advertisement ! columns that at last tenders are called for the erection of a new Magistrate's Court House, on the Police Reserve. Yesterd.iy, Mr Revell fully appreciated the evils of delay, for the shaky building in which ho had to dispense justice leaked in every part, damping alike the public documents and the public spirits. We hope soon to see our R.M. located in a more suitable building. Yesterday was one of the^most stormy days that has been^p e tJ e^i"^t^l(i months. During the night, wind rose to a perfect gale, blowing in and violent squalls, that made the tenements of Greymouth shake and as if they would come-down. The Hrn poured down in fitful torrents, and conRmcd with little intermission during the Biule day. There was also a very high tide, should the rain continue much longer, a freshet may be anticipated. The conof the streets is now something frightfor, with the exception of the footpath, .it the cost of the inhabitants, there a yard of fairly passable road in the ■hole town. ■ A memorial to the Superintendent has Ken drawn up for signature by the miuers Bud storekeepers of the Arnold district, Braying that a passable track for pack-horses fcay be made from the Arnold Landing to Blaori Gully. At present the miners of Blaori Gully and the adjacent diggings have Bo pay an exorbitant price for their supplies, Bwing to the fact that every article of conpuinption has to be packed on men's Lacks, ■making the cost of freight from Greymouth ito Maori Gully — a distance of only about Seventeen miles— fully £50 per ton. 'The Bhree miles and a half of bush track from the Blrnold township to Maori Gully is in a Biorrid condition, iii fact, all but impassable, fancl it is this track which the inhabitants desire to have placed in sufficiently good order as to allow pack-horses to travel over it. This is really a most necessary work, and we trust that Mr Warden Revell will feel it his duty to support the prayer of the petitioners. He has been over the road, and knows what an abominable condition it is in. The Arnold district has contributed largely to the revenue, and is fully entitled to the consideration of the Government. We mentioned in our last that the Nelson Government had called for tenders for the removal of certain snags in the River Grey, viz., at RoariufMeg (about 100 yards above Snag Fall), two" off Coal Creek, -.and one in deep water a short distance above the Cobden wharf. The tenders of Messrs Bicheni, Neely, and Brown has been accepted, the contract price being LlB2. The amount of the other tenders was respectively L 220 and L 205. It is not the intention of the Nelson Government to attempt the removal of the snags at Snag Fall, as the work was coisidered too costly, but we understand the tops and branches are to be cut off as far down as possible, and a white buoy moored at the spot for the guidance of boats. It will be seen from the Post Office notice that tho first mail for England via Panama closes here to-day. We may however state that it is very probable the steamer will not leave Wellington until the "22nd, as the Kaikoura is detained at Sydney, for repairs to her screw. It is as well to remind the public that all newspapers sent by the Panama route must bear a penny stamp. The 2FiUon Examiner of the" 26th says : — "The Wallaby landed a large number of passengers at the Buller on her passage up, some of whom intend prospecting at the head' of the luangahua, while others propose to try the beach and neighboring gullies."