Untitled

Grey River Argus, Issue 111, 27 September 1866, Page 2

tial bridge, constructed by Mr Kulilman, pro\ideß access to the Lagoon peninsula, through which a good level road leads to the beach. Along this line of road many sec. tions of ground have been taken up, some of which have been fenced, cleared, and are being converted into gardens; and a few comfortable cottages have sprung up. We |^B have no doubt that this peninsula will be" come a favorite suburb of Greymouth. In the Maori Township veiy great changes have taken placs. The dense and dank bush which fringed the back portion of the township is rapidly disappearing before the axes of the Maoris, who have been employed to clear the street lines ; whilst, in many places* neatly cultivated gardens, and comfortable cottages exist, where, only a few weeks ago, . it was nothing but dense bush. In the business part of the township great alterations and improvements have been, and are being made. Messrs Hammond and Davies have considerably enlarged and improved their premises, which, standing as they do in a commanding position, give quite a finish to Boundary street. Further up the street we notice that Mr Middleton has added a fine bowling saloon to his hotel ; and beyond him Messrs Askew and De Hamett have built a new front ; and Mr Sheedy has rebuilt the Brien Boru Hotel, to Avhich he has placed a handsome architectural front, from the designs of Mr Somner. Therocentlyconstructed building for the Bank of New South Wales is a conspicuous street ornament, albeit that it is rather overshadowed by the extensive front and balcony of the Union Hotel. The Bank of New Zealand is to be accomodated in new premises shortly ; and we hear that the Union Bank will follow the' example. When the roadway, now being formed, is completed, and the river bank is piled, and the quay made level, Greymouth will be one of the prettiest towns in New Zealanl. ' We wish we could chronicle any improvement in that cloaca Mackay street, where pigs most do congregate, and where foul smells, and fouler sights abound. We do not anticipate that the sanitary condition of this portion of the town will be much mended until the citizens are invested with municipal powers— and the sooner this is done the better. , , / » V The West Coast Times states that the lead of gold lately struck in » terrace on the north bank of the Teremakau, about four miles above its confluence with the ocean, ha 9 been proved narrow but rich, as those parties who have, fortunately for themselves, secured it, ! can occasionall wash half an ounce 'to the dish. The direction of the lead is at present, nearly north and south, which will take it far inland of any of the beach or low terrace workings that fringe it." A great many miners have left the rush disappointed, turning their faces southward for the Waimea district. Miss Julia Mathews cannot complain of any want of appreciation by the people of Greymouth, and if crowded houses, and delighted audiences are evidences of success, both the fair cantatrice and the enterprising proprietor of the Union Hotel may congratulate tnem-^,l selves on having achieved a most complete one. On Tuesday and last evening, the con-cert-room was crowded, and Miss Mathews worked up her audience into a perfect furore of enthusiasm, and Mr Black excited paroxysms of laughter by his inimitable comic songs. Miss Mathews has only a night or two more to remain here, and all who have any wish to enjoy a thorough treat should go and hejir her. We ( West Coast Times) are happy to sfeate that the Ho Ho lead, which was lost near Tucker Flat, has again been picketfup by a I party of enterprising Scotsmen, who, after [ many weeks' prospecting, struck gold in a sixty-feet shaft which adjoins the last payable claim on the lead. So far the prospects obtained are not very brilliant, the best we have yet heard .of* not giving more than ten grains to the djsih ; but the discovery is important, as it proves, beyond doubt that, the lead continues, and may yet be traced- for miles. There is a fine range of country ahead, containing many likely hills and gullies! which we have every confidence will be yet proved auriferous. A heavy rush resulted from the Scotsmen's discovery, and the supposed line of lead is marked; out quite half a mile wide. A case of sudden death occurred on Tuesday uight at Cobden. Shortly before ten o'clock a man named Collins, who was living with two mates in a tent near the road now being made to Coal Creek, went out of the tent and cried out "lam dying." One of his mates wentfor medical assistance, but the man died in a few minutes . He had been complaining of illness for some time. An inquest was. h.ejd yesterday, but.it was adjourned for the pur- . pose of having a post mortem examination made on the body. The Westlan<l Observer notices the return from Bruce Bay of an officer of police, sent thither fw the purpose of issuing miners' rights. He reports the mining to be chiefly confined to the bush, within a short distance of high-watermark, the sinking varying from 15 to 16 feet, and the yield in most cases payable. The population is estimated at about 70 souls. News had been received at Bruce Bay of a favorable chaiacter from Jackson's Bay. At Hunt's Beach about 50 or 60 persona are working with tolerable success. Jfeis' ; mentioned as a peculiarity of this place that ; each N.W. wind brings in on the beach a quantity of black sand, which is collected by the miners, after each tide^ and found in some cases to be very rich in gold. Eight imih^rs are getting payable gold at Cook's River, buY at GiUespie's BeacJi the population is; decreasing, many of the claims being worked out. The business of. the Resident Magistrate's M Court has been light during the last few daj s. jH On Tuesday, judgment for the plaintiffs «;is ™ given in the following civil cases !-i-S»ig er V o'' Davidson, L 2 Ids, and Montray v. Francis^ L4l 16s Bd. The last case was wider- the Merchant Shipping Act, and the plaintiff sued for LSO for wages due. The material facts as given in evidence were that the plaintiff, who is. engineer of the s,s. Thane, declined to proceed on the "voyage to Mcl-

bourne without a second engineer and extra fireman, which was consented to by the Captain. Circumstances, however, led to this arrangement not being jarried out, and some words ensued between the Captain and the plaintiff, the former, according to wituesses, „|glling the latter that, "he might go too," ''■ Buding to his leaving the vessel. Plaintiff sued for his wages up to that time, and the Magistrate gave a verdict in his favor Yesterday, a case in the Warden's Court ( Cravigan v. Phillips, for an alleged breach of the Regulations, in having built upon the plaintiff's right-of-way, was dismissed, as it was proved that the plaintiff's building had more frontage than is allowed by the Eegu. lations. Both parties were, however, proved to have built within the distance prescribed by the Eegulations to be left around every navigable water, and the Magistrate gave notice of his intention to compel them to remove their respective buildings. The premises in question are situated at the head of the Lagoon. The following notice was posted in the com. panion of the Bakia, when she left Wellingtor harbor on Sunday the 9th inst, -.—Owing to the ship passing the 180 th degree to-mor-row, that day will consequently be Sunday ; it is found more convenient to change the date at once. Divine service will therefore beheld (weatherpermitting) to-morrow, Sunday, 9th September. We learn, from the Wakatip Mall, that the miners in that district are also turning their attention to sheep forming. The Mail says:— "The increase of the number of sheep running on the gold fields of the Wakatip is very satisfactory, and a large amount of capital is being invested in this calling ; miners and others finding the capital for practical shepherds. There is no security of tenure beyond the payment of an annual lioense of 2s 6d per head for cattle and Cd for sheep, and no tract of country set apart to each license holder by law, but this latter part' of the matter is mutually arranged between the holders of stock. The system of co-operative partnership in this direction is working excellently, and will soon resolve itself into a vested interest. " We are glad to learn that the miners at Duffers' Gully have determined to solve the problem whether there is a second bottom in that district. On Saturday last a meeting of miners and storekeepers was held to consider the advisability of forming a Company for testing for the second bottom, aad we understand the decision was unanimously arrived at to form a Co-operative association for the purpose. We are informed that some very rich prospects have lately been obtained by means of tunnelling into the hill from the creek, Barr and Co, who have driven in to a distance of 90 feet, and made several cross drives, have obtained from 2 to 6 dwts. to the dish, with from 18 inches to 2 feet of washdirt. A new gully, named, the Teviot, is turning out well, several parties having set in with excellent prospects. A Dutchman named Robinson has been attempting to perpetrate a hoax a la Hunt, $ne Westtdnd Observer says he had spread a false report of gold discoveries below Bruce Bay, and applied for a prospecting glaim, He, however, suddenly disappeared, but was shortly afterwards seen by some miners walking along tue bluff, and, being recognised, he was brought by them to the Warden. While walking in th§jr cqmpany he repeated his statement as to haying discovered a rich gold field, but when admitted into the Warden's presence,, lie confessed that all that he said "wag false, and alleged that he had been drinking. He desired the protection of the police, or to be taken to the lock-up, but the Warden refused to order any special protection, and expressed hig regret /that, under \he circumstances, there was no. possibility of having him severely punished, as he deserved. It appears that, if a Vagrant, Acjt fop Canterbury has been passed, no copy of the Act has been received, aud the circumstances under which he borrpwed some small aumg qf mqney did not warrant him being charged with obtaining the same under false pretenqes, On being dismissed from the Court he skulked away down by the beach, where he had ap» parently passed the previous night in the bush, the presence of the police probably preventing interference from one or two whose fiugerß were tingling to impress upon him some conception of theip. opinion of his condnct. , ' With reference to the approaching session of the Provincial Council, the Lytlleton Times of the 17th says : — l( A notice has appeared ia the Gazfitte calling the Provincial Counci together for the sth October. It is thought by some that the session will not be a long one, and that the business will be confined qhiefly to. the discussion of ways and meanß As, however, this is the first session qf a new and enlarged Council, which includes an unusual number of new members, it is not im« probable that, many matters of interest, at present unttiought of, may crop up, and the field of discussion thus became considerably widened. Matters of interest connected with ... tfie various public works, with the .system of immigration as at' present oonducted, with the rights of the pastoral community, and with the general eoonomy of the Government, are sure to arise, in addition to the various wants of Westland, and it will be difficult, 1 even if it is desirable, to put off the discussion of such as these," Late accounts from the Scandinavian rush fc^ are said, by the West Coast Times, to "be The "first hill opened, is turning ißmt magnificently — quite equal, and in some far surpassing the anticipations indt!lßßkin by claim holders on obtaining their firstJTOßSPepts. Throughout the hill, gold : ha§ beßsßstributed with no niggardly hand, ■ ■ and on^aHfero of the claims would not have l|Hield the richest gullies opened JijVMTfotoria'aißlmiest days. One party is jsnguine of OD^fi&ig from 200 ounces to 300 'ounces eacn shlßLand another can wash half an ounce to flatfish out of the face of a drive/taking thevjjfob roughly from the 'stoup.' cifo ■■'*J" S cl '^m a single drive running^ong&ebQUudary^elded 150 ounces. Every claim in work on the hill is paying

well, and we believe that we are quite within bounds in stating that not one of them will give less than L2OO per share. Last week the seventh hill on this lead was rushed, some parties having struck 4gr. and sgr. to the dish in a tunnel in its northern slope. The country between Scandinavian Hill and Stafford Town is disappointing miners who hold shares there, as the lead (if such it can be termed) is patchy, poor, and narrow, and many men have, in consequence, deserted it— to attend, however, a more promising locality, opened on Friday last, between Ballarat Hill and Stafford Town, where, on the evening of the day named, a shaft was bottomed on a hill similar in formation to the others, which have given , such satisfactory returns on the same line of country, and prospects of from a half dwt. to one dwt the dish obtained. We have received the prospectus of an inter-provincial rowing match, to be contested on the Heathcote (Canterbury) on the 17th December next. This is proposed to be the first of a series of rowing matches to take place on suitable waters in the different Provinces, and the Canterbury Committee hope to get the support of all those interested in boating throughout the Colony, in order to make the annual meeting a success. The prize for the first match is to be a cup valued at LSO and 100 sovereigns ; aud as the Province in which the competition is held subscribes for the prize, the expenses of the visiting crews are to be defrayed by their supporters in the different Provinces which they represent. Pour- oared boats of any description, with coxwains, manned by amateurs, are to compete j the entrance fee to be L 5 5s for each boat ; no race unless entries are made by at least three Provinces ; any number of boats may enter from each Province ; in the event of six or more boats being entered, the race to be run in heats of not less than three, or more than five ; and the selection and length of the course to be left to the stewards and committee,