Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 159, 19 January 1867, Page 2

The Saltwater Diggings have again grown into importance, recent discoveries of a very valuable character having been made. The most important rush in this neighborhood appears to be to that known as the ' ' cement lead," a continuation of which has been •found on this side the Saltwater Creek in a direct lino,. Regarding the latter rush, it appears that some Welshmen have been working on the quiet there for some time, and preferred to remain incognito rather than apply for a prospecting claiiu. However, their secret became known, and they then came into town to obtain a prospecting claim, and application for which was made by one Evan Owen on Thursday. By this time, however, the ground had been rushed, and the Warden could not, in the faqe of the disputes it would occasion, grant an extended claim to the prospectors. We learn that the population has increased largely during the last 24 hours. The police estimate the population on the various leads at GOOO. Mr Kilgour, ever alive to providing enter-: tainuient for the public has concluded an engagement with that talented actress Mrs Charles Poole, who will make her first appearance, supported by a good theatrical company, on Monday evening, at the Union Hotel. We trust Mr Kilgour's enterprise will be remunerated with a large attendance. A series of petty robberies have recently been perpetrated from the goods exposed outside, drapers shops, and two of the thieves have been arrested. One of them had favored the shops of Mr Manson and Messrs Smith and MeDpAvell, taking from one a shirt, and from the other a coat. In the other c:ise two coats had been stolen from Mr Hanson's premises. We learn from Hokitika that the Grand Jury yesterday ignored the bill against James Robertson, committed for trial on a a charge of embezzlement of the funds of the Grey River Hospital. On Thursday evening a meeting of the principal rcsidonts of the town took place at Kilgour's Hotel, for the purpose of initiating arrangements for giving a suitable reception to his Excellency the Governor, who is ex. pjcted to visit Greymouth some time next week. W, H Revoll, Esq., R.M., was called to the chair, aud Mr Tyler was appointed hon. sec. The chairman having iutrodued the business of the meeting, a discussion took place as to the nature of the arrangements to be made, and it was ultimately resolved to elect a committee of eight gentlemen to canvass the town for subscriptions, the said committee to report progress at the next general meeting, on Monday evening. The following gentlemen were elected: — Messrs Maclean, Maefarland, Kissling, Tyler, Lab man, Alconi, Wickes, and King. On the result of the canvass being ascertained, a programme will be drawn up, and a working oommittce formed to carry it out. It was also resolved that Mflssrs Harrison, Tyler, and Kissling prepare an address for presentation to his Excellency, and to be submitted at the next general meeting. Some doubts being being felfc as to the Governor's arrangements, the meeting authorised the chairman to telegraph to his Honor the Superintendent for definite information on the subject. , A subscription list was opened in the room, and a considerable sum was subscribed, Albert, the Maori, puttincr down his name for Loon behalf of the native residents. We trust that the efforts of the committee will be warmly and loyally sup. ported by the residents, and that Greymouth will accord to his Excellency a rcceptioii worthy, her Majesty's representative. It is a coniUtiou of the subscription that providing the Covemor does not come, the money \\ ill be returned. A very numerously attended meeting was held at the Albion Hotel, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of forming a Critsket Club. Mr Tyler was voted to the chair. Ou the motion of .Air D. Cohen, seconded by Mr Stevenson, it was resolved to form a club, to be called the Greymouth Cricket Club. On tne motion of Mr Kissling, seconded by Mr Stevenson, the meeting proceeded to ballot for officers, which resulted ;is follows :• ■ President, Mr G. King ; Vice-President, Mr Tyler; Patrons, Messrs W. lT. Rovell, 11. M., and T. A. S. Kynnersley, 11. M. j Treasurer, Mr Kissling ; Secretary, Mr P. Cohen ; Committee, Messrs Geo. Taylor, G. W. Moss, W. Wright, D. Cohen, and fl, R. GeorgeA Ground Co.mmittee was then appointed consisting of Messrs Strike, Tyler, Wright, J. Revell, and F. Cohen, to prepare gipuiul at once for practice. Wo believe thcy^have decided on practising on the ground where 1 the Christinas .Sports were held, after making a few improvements, 'until they can procure a -more suitable site. After a short discussion as to the rulos to be adopted, the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the: Chairman. It is intended to commence practise as soon as, the necessary materials, can be procurec 1 ,

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, before D, Johnston, Esq,, J.P,, on Wednesday, a man named John Cones Brown, was brought up on a charge of embezzlement, and remanded for three days, and another man named Peter McGrath, charged with horse stealing, was remanded to Hokitika. On Thursday, C Brooks charged with stealing a shirt from the shop of Mr Manson, and. a coat from that of Messrs Smith & McDowell was remanded for three clays'. Joseph Thompson charged with receiving the stolen goods was also similary remanded. D Heggarty, an habitual drunkard, was sent to gaol for 14 days under the Vagrant Act. Yesterday, Chas Brooke, on lemancl, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment in Hokitika gaol on two charges of lai ceny, the second sentence to date from the termination of the first. Albert Hurd, against whom a charge had been preferred by Joseph Thomson, of stealing sundry articles, was dismissed, the prosecutor repudiating the accusation he had previously made. John Wood for stealing two coats from the shop of Mr Manson, was sentenced to four months imprisonment in Hokitika gaol. James Bowles, charged with larceny from the person, was remanded for the production of further evidence. The Provincial Council was formally prorogued on Saturday last. In his speccli proroguing the House, his Honor stated it to be his intention to visit the West Coast at the earliest opportunity. Ho also expressed his concurrence in the opinion of the Council regarding the railway to the Wost Coast, and stated that he would take measures to carry the resolution of the Council into effect. An acoident of a serious nature befel Cobb's Christchurch coach yesterday morning as it was leaving Hokitika. Passing along Gibson's Quay the top of the coach came in violent contact with a rope 'which was stretched across the road from a derrick in use on the Quay. The driver, Sheppard, was thrown off. the box, as also was a passenger, and the body xpf the vehicle was swung round and wrenched from the king bolt, The horses at once galloped of with the rest of the coach but were stopped without doing or receiving any harm. The driver was stunned, and was found to have sustained a severe concus- , sion of the brain, and the passenger escaped without injury. /' In the Provincial Council on the 12th iristMr Whall moved "That it is desirable the Greymouth and Jackson's Bay Cemeteries shoultl be forthwith fenced in." The Provincial Secretary said that the Government would give their attention to the matter. Mr Whall withdrew his motion with this understanding. Mr Whall moved "That in the opinion of this house it is necessary, for the protection of life and property, that steps should be taken to remove the snags from the first and seventh falls of the Grey River. Mr Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried. There are three candidates for the Superintendency of Nelson, viz, Messrs Blackett, Curtis, and Bamicoat. Of the three, Mr Blackett probably stands the best chance of election. Mr Blackett will be remembered, as the first officer in charge of the Nelson South-west Gold Fields. The Wesport Times in a recent issue rcfering to the erroneous conclusions to which geologists sometimes arrive, took occasion to remark that Dr Hector had some years ago prophesied that no gold would be found on the West Coast. Our contoinporaiy is in error ; Dr Hector never made any such statement, but he did express the opinion that no payable gold field would be found on the West Coast of Otago— and his opinion has so far been verified. But so far from his having asserted that gold would not bo found anywhere on the West Coast, he even indicated the direction in which he considered it might be looked for, and that was exactly where it has been found. We are glad to see that a resolution has been carried in the Provincial Council by the Government authorising the Superintendent to guarantee S per cent, .on the outlay upon tramways constructed with the approval of the Government. The resolution is as follows : — "That this Council, having in view the advisability of promoting the construction of tramways in different parts of the province, authorises his Honor the Superintendent to guarantee a rate of interest not exceeding eight per, cent, upon the outlay on any such -work as; way be constructed, upon conditions to be fixed by his Honor and the Expcutive Council. That the amount so guaranteed shall not, on the whole, exceed, or cause a larger annual liability than £5000. A rather brisk debate appears to have arisen on the subject, and a proposition was made to reduqe the rate of interest to six per cent. The resolution was supported by the whole of the Westland members, and ultimately carried on a division by 10 to 10. The rollowing summary of the proceedings in the Supreme Court, Hokitika. on Thursday, is taken from the Went Coast Times : — The man Moriarty, who had been in custody on suspicion of having burglariously entered the Cafe de Paris on t|ic 30th November last, and stolen therefrom various articles of value was tried, and, apparently much to the surprise of everybody in Court, including his Honor the Judge, acquitted. A young man named George Sard Turner, was charged, with horse stealing, but" tho case could net be substantiated, and the jury therefore, by direction of the Judge, returned a verdict, of not guilty, and the accused was discharged. John By an was 'brought up charged with stealing a deposit receipt for Ll3O, belonging to Margaret Anderson^ a laundress iv Hokitika, but there seemed to be an intimate friendship existing between the proseejutrix and the prisoner, as the former, after giving information to the police, and having' the prisoner arrested, and the stolen document found on him, said to-day in Court that she dul not believe he knew anything about the j robbery, The evidence was, however, very contradictory, and the case fell to the groundJames M 'Gee, indictee! for committing a felonious assault, was necessarily discharged, : the principal witness in the case' for the' prosecution having left the colony.