Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 152, 3 January 1867, Page 2

ir At the request of several persons, we in tend in our next issue to publish in fu.l detail the schedule of duties under the new Stamp Act. On Monday morning news was circulated to the eifect that some excellent ground had been discovered on a terrace about two mil s from the beach up the Teremakau, with prospects of ldwt. to the dish. A small rnsh was the consequence ; but it proved that what had given rise to the rush was simply a small patch. A few holes were sunk in the vicinity, but the rush was declared to be a "duffer." A miner named James O'Connor was drowned in the Lagoon on New Year's Day. He was coining clown towards the town in a small canoe, when by some unexplained means the frail craft turned over, and pitched the deceased into the water. Some gentlemen were on the shore about 100 yards from 'where the accident occurred, and saw the canoe upset, but although they went to his rescue at once the unfortunate man had sunk. The canoe had righted itself. Search was made for the body by means of poles, &c, but without success, and yesterday the police were engaged dragging the lagoon, but , as yet have not found the body. '

The Treasurer of the Grey River Hospital acknowledges the receipt of three guineas from Messrs King and Parsons, Melbourne; as a donation to the funds of the Institution. It is so long since the Greymouth public have had the opportunity of witnessing dramatic performances, that the little company now playing at Sweeney's Theatre ought to be well patronised. When we add that the members of the company really act very creditably, and that the pieces are well put on the stage, all things considered, we are sure that all who are fond of theatrical re_ presentations will pay Mr O'Brien's Com. pany a visit, Pablo Fanque's entertainment at Kilgour' s Hotel has drawn good houses during the week. We notice that Pablo Fanque announces a special performance on Friday evening (to-morrow), for the benefit of the ~<h-ey River Hospital. We have no doubt there will be a good attendance. It will be seen by announcement in our advertising columns that a meeting of those interested in the establishment of Church of England services in Greymouth will be held this evening in the Religious Institution Rooms. We understand that a clergyman the Rev. Mr Beaumont, has arrived from England in the Great Britain, anil that an opportunity exists of securing his services for this district. We trust there will be a full attendance. Mr Dewar, the Victorian Engiiieer, is just completing his survey of a tramroad from the Nelson Coal Company's mines to Cobden. As there are no engineering difficulties in the way, we may anticipate the favorable nature of his report 'by' stating that as soon as the line is finished the price of coal wilf ' be so much reduced that Greymouth will be no second-rate competitor for the colonial coal trade. The Hokit : ka races commenced on New Year's Day,, and appear to have attracted a large concourse of people. The West Coast Times, describing the appearance of the course, says : — Upon taking a general view of the course the ensemble presented was animated in the extreme. Booths and stands of every description were here erected, bountifully provided with creature comforts for the gratification and sustainment of the inner man ; and every variety of amusement peculiar and apropos to a race -course was heartily indulged in by the merry throng. The ancient and now, happily almost extinct business of "thimble-rig and three-card was not established, but the more modernized and far more innocent recreation of '•Aunt Sally" was prosecuted with great spirit by all classes. The grand stand is erected opposite the winning post, and it was lite?-ally crowded with spectators, over sixhundred having paid for admission, whilst, at a rough computation, we should say there must have been over five thousand people on the ground. The racing was of a much higher class than was .'generally expected ; the sport was good, and the majority of the contests spiritedly and closely contested. The arrangements of the stewards to promote the success of the meeting were in everyway' satisfactory, and to these gentlemen, and their indefatigable secretary, Mr-. F. & Hamilton, the thanks of the community are due for the praiseworthy exertions they mad", to render the opening-day, what it undoubtedly was, a complete success. Mr H. Knox officiated as judge, and Mr S. Cook as starter) and both these gentlemen performed their parts efficiently and impartially. A body of police was in attendance and kept the ground, but in {no one instance did we see their services required in any more unpleas. ant occupation. By the Nelson wo have received news from the Bnller to the Ist instant. On New Year's Eve the amusements in Westporttook a rather serious turn. A number of excited and inebriated men ran amuck through the town, breaking windows, uttering unearthly cries, .and -otherwise misconducting themselves, until the proceedings culminated in smashing the windows of the Court House. On the following day a number of the offenders were brought up before the Magistrate and fined, .as well as several publicans who had kept their houses open in contradiction of the law. The Christmas sports appear to have been a success according to the account in the local papers. On New Years' Day the children of the Greymouth Sabbath School were 'entertained to a pic-nic, the expenses of which had been raised by a public subscription. The children, to the number of about SO, including 20 from 'Cobden, assembled at the school at 9 o'clock, and were marched with banners flying in "procession through the town. They then proceeded to the Lagoon Peninsula, where, on a suitable site, preparations had been made for their entertainment. Dinner was- provided for the young sters, who afterwards enjoyed themselves in various games until tea-time, when they sat down to a plentiful supply of tea, buns, &c. The proceedings were varied by the singing of various little pieces of music by the children- A large number of visitors took part in the fete, and great interest was manifested by all who ...were present. The children were then again marched in procession through- the town, and dispersed to their several homes, highly delighted with their day's treat. Mv Masters, the. 'superintendent of the school, initiated this i interesting juvenile fete, and he was warmly seconded by all who were applied to for coir ■ tributions towards it. If any of our readers should have taken it into their heads to go to the Weddin diggings, in New South Wales, ive advise them to abandon the idea. The latest papers from Sydney and Brisbane are unanimous in declaring the diggings to be already much over populated, and that the discomforts of the . 'place care intolerable. Water for drinking purposes is hardly to be procured, whilst the small quantity that is carted to the diggings and sold at so high a figure is so bad as to cause disease ; and the dust which -prevails produces severe opthalinia. Tliere appears to be no reason to question the fact that the gold field is a rich one ; but when we are told that the place is over crowded, and that the people on their way up should, if wise, turn back again, we think we are right in cautioning the roving members of our roving coiunuinity, and advising them to stay' in Westland.

A storekeeper at the 27-mile Beach writes to us as follows :— There have been rumors of a rush goiug to take place on this beach for some time past, which have- only been confirmed within the last two days. A party has been working on a terrace near a stream called "Canoe Creek," about six miles on the Buller side of the 17-mile Bluff. This lias been known for some time to the storekeepers about here, but they .were afrnil to mention it, as men coming badk from Fox's were : so incredulous of any news given by storekeepers, blaming them for causing the late rush, that they determined to let diggers lind out rashes for themselves for the future. However, a party of miners happened to stumble on them, and then went for their mates to Fox's, and they were followed by others, anil the place got noised abroadMen seem to think something will begot there, thesinkingisshallow, and the prospects are from 2 to 3 grains to the dish, although it has been said to go dwts. There arc a great many coming from Fox's. There is one store going up on the beach at the foot of the creek, and others iutendiog putting up on the terrace, which is about two miles up from the beach. A good track for horses can easily be cut, so that provisions can be . got on the spot. The contractors have commenced on the new road from from here to the Bullor, so that it is thought that in about a months' time there will be a good track right from Cobden to the Buller, which is required more than any other on the coast. Mr J. Wilkie is putting up a good store at this end of the beach, and also Mr Dencry a little further on. Mr Barff, it appears, has been endeavoring, .unsuccessfully, to induce the Piovincial Council to sanction the establishment of paid prospecting parties. The West Coast Times, which not so long ago supported Mr M'Crea in his application for Government assistance, has, we are glad to see, arrived at a conviction of the nselessness and folly of paid'prospecting • parties. Our 'contemporary, referring to Mr IWfFs. proposal, says : — "The chief incentive to enterprise in such a work as prospecting is absent when the explorer is merely a servant, and a positive premium is offered him to extend the time of his search at the sacrifice of the very object for which lie is equipped and paid ; and however wel intentioned the men. selected may be, experience has always shown that . the public interest suffers in exact proportiou'ns-tliat of the private individu.il is served. It is a mistake to suppose that it is the duty of the Government to find profitable fields of employment or to encourage one class to the j>rejudice of another. Men who live by gold-mining are as much bound to 'find ground on which to work, as the mechanic is to depend on his own exertions to obtain employment, or the business man to discover fields for the exercise of his talents or the investment of his capital ; and if the digger is justified in calling on the Government to aasist him in obtaining his livelihood, the other examples are -equally so — in demanding the one a situation free of all trouble to himself, .and the other profitable fields for speculation ; for the aim of one is that of all— the acquisition of money." The Brighton Times of the 26th ult. report" that a boat entering the river on Monday last from Woodpecker Bay, overturned just at the entrance, with thrue hands.' The Harbor Master, Mr Beveridge, immediately despatched a boat to their assistance, and in consequence of tin's prompt step, no lives were lost. It was at first fearad that there would be a repetition of Thursday's disaster, but Jthe men -were speedily rescued. Some time back the Government sent for lines for the use of the port ; they are not yet to hand but it is to be hoped they will shortly arrive, as on two occasions already during the past week they would have proved instrumental in saving life. The above accident was caused by the snapping of the steer oar, and before it could be replaced by another the boat was capsized by a blind roller. The West Coast Time* of Monday sa3 r s that the body of the boatman- who, when crossing the Little Wanganui on the 18th inst, to ferry over the Okarita mailman (Mr Allen), was swept out to sea and drowned in the surf, was recovered on the 22ud instant* between the Big and Little Wanganui Rivers, and, strange to relate, by the very man who unwittingly caused the disaster. Mr Allen was on his return to Okarita with the upward mails at the time, and saw the body lying upon the beach, and having obtained assis- ; tance placed it .iipon his horse ani\ conveyed ■ it to the deceased man's mate at the lastnamed river. On arriving at Okarita he made known the circumstances to the police, who removed the remains to that town, where an inquest was held upon them by Mr Warden Price, and a verdict of " Accidental Drowning" returned. It was ascertained from the evidence that the name of the deceased was John Meiers, and that he was a native of Schleswig Holstein. The only property he died possessed of was L 3 12s 6'd, which amount was found on his person. It will be seen by our police report that Louis Barcauld alias Louis the Frenchman, has been fully committed for trial on the charge of littering forged notes on the Bank of New;. South Wales. Tho cases were unmistakably proved against the prisoner, who reserved his defence. We understand that the police have succeeded in recovering a. further quantity of the forged notes, and are in hopes of being able to secure possession of* the plates, which thera are reason for believing have been planted by the prisoner. It is a most fortunate thing that the career of this scoundrel has been stopped, as it is evident he intended to victimise the public in a wholesale manner. In the Hokitika Municipal Council the | other day, Mr Clarke moved 'f That the i Town Cleric be instructed to write to G. S. I Sale, Esq., requesting that efficient lifeboats '[ be procured' for this port and Greymoivth ; also, that Manby's patent apparatus be obtained for the said ports." He referred to the late boat accident as illustrative of the urgent necessity for a lifeboat, and the daiigerous nature of the harbor entrance rendering it essential for the preservation of life that lifeboats should be .•-..■provided. Mr Will arns seconded, and Messrs' Hungerford, Ecclesfield, andY Cumming supported the mation, which Was carried item. con.

The following items of mining news are published in the West-port Times : — At Fox's River many have failed to secure .any payable ground, and have left or are leaving in consequence. Still the original terrace is paying well, but is very limited in extent, and as • yet no new ground has been opened. At the Pakihi matters' are in a far more satisfactory condition, though the population is much,, smaller. A great many left good wagesk claims there to try their luck at Fox's, ancldH great many have already returned. As a rule, the population are doing very fairly; .. many exceedingly well. . A good deal of gold has been lately got, -and the. difficulty of smelting is now obviatptl, as a proper establishment has bean put;' up for the purpose , and the miners are now able to get the true value of their gold. On Saturday last there was quite a rush to the melting pot, and the operator had a great deal more, than he could do. To show how anxious men were in this respect, we may mention that in the difficulty a blacksmith was asked to melt the precious metal, and what is more, he did melt a great deal to the 'apparent, perfect satisfaction of its owners. The joint fusion of gold and welding of iron proved most profitable to this scientific son of Vulcan, as may be imagined. The Pakihi known a3 Waite's, between here and the famous Pakihi', have uot been further prospected,- or if they have been, nothing of moment has been discovered. From the south small parcels of gold have come in, but notning worthy of special note. At Mukihinui there are between fifty and a hundred atwurk, and what is more, getting gold, and betweeu. tlicreand Westport parties are dotted, though by no means a large crowd in all. Some of these, however, have been working quietly for some time, 'and from the fact of their; having plenty of money to spend on coniing into town, it. may he reasonably inferred that; their work has not been of an unprofitable nature. About three miles north good "tucker" ground can be got. From the Lyall some parties have come down the river, arid their reports are of a favorable though, not a glowing nature. About fifteen miles up the Buller some good gold was got last week, Api ospecting party there has been tolerably successful, but they take care not to talk too loudly of their prospects. During the last three weeks several small parcels of amalgamated gold of from five to sixteen ounces have been brought in for smelting from the North Beach, which is believed to have been the result of a week's work of the respective parties. Thia is very fine,* nut with proper care in melting it turns dut verywell, and of very good quality. Fora fewdays, of course, work is suspended, but early in the new year many experienced miuers fully expect good payable ground to he taken up to the north. On Saturday last Mi Fagg melted four parcels from this part, which gave respectively 20oz, 9 oz, 14oz, and 15ms. During the last few days the banks here have " bought about five hundred ounces," and more is known to lie in the possession of niiiifcrs^ now in the town. We may state that !|§|!i .stores have bec-n opened to the north, one : Iflf ihc Waimongaroa aiulonb at Mohikinui. ■*% An inquest has been hold at Brighton -.heM foreJ. A. Kennorsley, Esq., I{,M., on th©^ body of a seaman named Kenneth- Jkl^Lopif^ who was drowned -by the upsetting of a boa - at Fux's River when coming from the stranded cutter Volunteer. Air A M'Neill deputy harbor-master at Fax's gave the fol. lowing evidence — " About -three-quarters, of an hour after the vessel went ashore- 1 saw a boat coining rouud the point. I saw ; almost immediately that she was fnlJtlfs^Sj water. She came pretty well over tovfcjfs!:. north bank of the river, when she turned over. There were a great number of people 't on the beach. They tried to get hold of theboat by going into the water holding each other's hands, but could not reach it. I then ran for the ferry-boat, which was about 100 yards up the river. I told the ferryman to pull round the stem of the wreck and- : take hold of some men that were drowning there. He refused to go. I then asked him, if he would not go himself to let me go ; he said "he would not let the Loat go at all.V After a few men came round he pulled away towards the other side of the river., " Some parties brought the white boat down, but there were.no oars in heir. We shouted out to the ferry man to give the use of his oars» but he would not let us have them. Tha man that the ferry belonged to came down shortly 'afterwards and got oars for us at once. The white boat then pulled out and brought in one man. I saw the men in the boat hanging on to her as she drifted near: the north point, but only one was rescued. I consider that if the ferryman had either- , | gone himself or allowed his boat to go, tha I other man's life might have been saved. '* ; The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, adding :vs a rider, "That the jury censure the inhuman conduct of the ferryman who refused to lend his boat, for the ■*• purpose of endeavoring to rescue the deceased Kenneth M'Leod from drowning. "