Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 256, 3 September 1867, Page 2

There will be a • sitting of the District Court in civil cases to-day, before Mr Judge Clarke. The following is the cause list:— Card Brothers v. J. Curry, claim L 167 Is, for goods sold and money lent ; Frank Fisher v. Adam M'Clintock, claim L2B 4s 3d, amount due on a promissory note; J. Clearyv. J; Jackson, an interpleader summons ; Francis Duncan v; Patrick Comiskey, and Same v. W. N. Franklyn, -an appeal from a decision of Mr Warden Kynnersley under clause 81, Gold Fields' Act, IS6G. The town of Okarita is rapidly reaching the stage of total collapse. The local paper, which announces its own demise, speaks most lugubriously of the general desertion of the place, nearly every storekeeper and publican making preparations to leave. The local journal announces that an agency of the Union Bank of Australia will shortly be opened at Charleston. * The ravages of the sea during the present spring tides have been unprecedented in the memory of the oldest settler on" the West Coast. All along the ..beach -the surf has eucroached seriously on,the land, in many places washing away bodily large blocks of the bank, and jeapordising the safety of the various buildings erected near high water mark. At the head of the Lagoon the surf made a clean breach over the bank, so much so that at certain times it was not safe for persons to cross the small neck of beach which separates the, lagoon from the sea. The tramway has suffered seriously, that portion which was recently shifted back from the beach having been entirely destroyed. The directors finding it to be almost hopeless to maintain this portion of the line free of danger, contemplate shifting the direction of the line, bo as to avoid the present dangerous proximity 'to the sea. It is proposed to bring' the line from the head of the lagoon along the other side under the terrace, and into the town by way of Boundary street. It is, a pity that this route was not adopted at first, as it would have saved the company no inconsiderable expense, and would besides have' provided access to the j valuable sites along the east side of the lagoon. It is to be hoped, however, that the company will no longer hesitate to adopt the proposed new route, as it appears impossible to guard against the ravages of the surf on the present line. The line has been temporarily repaired, and traffic will be resumed to-day. The West Coast Times informs us that a melarclioly aud fatal accident occurred on the 29th, in the Danes claim, Totara, by which a miner named Peter Outsen lost his life ; he was working in the face of the claim when a large boulder suddenly came away and carried a set of timber with it, under which he fell and was apparently killed instantly. His mate, Charles David, "was working alongside, and narrowly escaped, -his feet having been entangled in the debris. On his getting clear, he quickly got the assistance of his mates, one of whom went for Dr Hoskin's, Avhile tho others released the deceased, who was found with a cap sill on his head, and quite dead» At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, one solitary case of drunkenness was disposed of ; and yesterday the only police business was a charge against Donald Ross, for having damaged the kerb of the footpath opposite his premises. He was ordered to pay the cost of repairs. During a storm wliich passed over Auckland on the' 9th instant, the lightning struck, the late New Zealander office at the top of Shortland street, knocking down a portion of the wall on the west side, to the extent of some ten or twelve feet. The building stands at "a considerable elevation, and no doubt the iron rods, which since the fire have been left exposed, attracted the electric fluid. . ' ' A deputation of the Greymouth Annexation Committee, consisting of Messrs Whall, Harrison, Masters, James Davies, Smith, Maclean, Wickes, Simmons, Dale, and Nicol waited upon Mr Commissioner Kynnersley, on Saturday, at the Warden's Office, Cobden. The deputation having been introduced, Mr Harrison addressed Mr Kynnersley, and explained that the object of the deputation was to acquaint the Nelson Government, through its officer here, with the steps that have been taken in Greymouth towards procuring the annexation, of the territory between the Teremakau and; the river Grey to the Province of Nelson. Mr Harrison impressed upon Mr Kynnersley that the proposed alteration was supported by the unanimous, approval of the inhabitants, who had, at public meetings, placed that opinion upon record. He urged that it was necessary to the success of the present agitation, that its object should have the moral support of the Nelson Government,, whose interests were, directly involved hi the matter. He informed Mr Kynnersley tl at -a letter had been for-, warded by the Co amittee to .the Provincial Secretary of Nels on, but 'the Committee

thought it right to communicate directly in the present instance with the representative of the Government on the. West Coast. They . did not .expect that ]the Commissioner could commit his Government in any way, by giving any distinct pledges, they simply desired to enable him (Mr-Kynnersley) to bring the matter befove the Government, and inform them that the movement had the cordial and unanimous support of the inhabir tants of the Grey district. Mr Harrison concluded by pointing out some of the more forcible arguments which went to prove that the proposed change of boundary would not^ only conduce to jihe benefit of the inhabitants and the interests of thje Nelson Government, but woijld materially promote the econgim'ca} and efficient Government pf the district. Mr E. B, Fox appeared as $fye representative of the miners in the Arnold District, and informed Mr Kynnersley th.at.the residents in that district were unanimous in their desire to be placed under the control pf the Nelson Government, Mr Whall, ivI f P.C., trusted that Mr Kynnersley would feel himself justified in forwarding a favorable report to his Government on the proposed alteration of the boundaries. The Cqmmittee were simply waiting for a reply from the Nelson Gdvern r ment before they took steps to get the necessary petitions signed. He assured Mr Kynnersley that the opinion of the whole of the miners in the Grey District was quite unanimous in favor of Annexation tp Nelson, and that they would use every effort to bring it about. Mr Kynnersley, in reply, said tha£ in the absence of any instructions from his Government on the subject, he was sorry that he could not give any definite reply to the deputation. He would, however, report to the Government that he had been waited on by an influential deputation. of the inhabitants of Greymouth, and would fully explain the object of the deputation. Further than that he could not officially go at present ; speaking as an individual, however, he might express the opinion that the present arrangement of the boundary was a most anomalous one. The whole of the Grey valley was so situated as to make it necessary for its economical and efficient Government that it should all be placed under one Government — either that of Nelson or Canterbury. A glance at the map was sufficient to show that the present arrangement of the boundary was a most inconvenient one. He was obliged to the deputation for waiting upon him, and he would not fail to make the Nelson Govern* ment aware of the public feeling here on the subject of Annexation. Mr Whall thanked Mr Kynnersley for his courteous reception of the deputation, and for the favorable opinions he had expressed. As he (Mr Whall) thought it likely the Nelson Government would consult Mr Kynnersley on- the subject, he had full confidence that the wished- for support of the Nelson authorities would be accorded. Mr Harrison further thanked the Commissioner, and trusted that if possible he would stretch his authority so far as to advise his Government to further the wishes, of the inhabitants of the Grey District. The deputation then withdrew. The Charleston Aryus speak 3 favorably of the discovery recently made by Addison, the origiiifil prospector of Waite's, Pakihi. The new ground is about four and a half miles from -Addison's Fiat, and the gold found is , described as being coarse and heavy. We notice that the Westland Observer, which has so bravely stuck to Okarita through its fluctuating fortunes, is at las.t compelled to "cave in." The issue of Saturday last was to be the last of the Westland. Observer and Okarita Times, ~ We understand that aboufc twenty men have clubbed together for the purpose of SMiking a deep shaft on the Cement Lead, Saltwater diggings, in the hope of striking a second bottom. Every one interested in the prosperity of this district must heartily wish succGss to the undertaking; The Daily Times says that information has been received by the Omeo that a leading Chinese merchant in Melbourne has .ihartered a- large vessel to proceed to China for the conveyance of Chinese to OtagQ, A special meeting of the Hospital Com. mittee will be held this evening for the purpose of making arrangements for handing over the Institution to the Governments of Nelson and Canterbury. A full attendance of the members of Committee is desired. The Arrow correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says : — The different quartz mining companies at the Arrow have suspended operations, and it is very doubtful if any of them will commence operations again. The alluvial workings are progressing steadily — men being satisfied to make wages during the severe season. The deep sinking at the Cardrona is still turning out well, and is really a rich field. It will afford remunerative occupation for a number of miners for a length of time yet. At Mace Tqwn, the .races are well supplied with water, and the owners are vigorously prosecuting their work. A party of four washed-up a week ago, and and obtained 120ozs. for a three months' run; and the other companies are geiiera.lly satisfied with their yields. The residents are becoming thoroughly settled, and holders of mining interests are building substantial dwellings, breaking up the soil to gro\v^eir own vegetables, &c, and otherwise mlping themselves a settlement. We may congratulate the shareholders in the Greymouth and Saltwater Tramway on the increase which the traffic returns show. For the fortnight ending 30th August the total receipts-amounted to LlB4 ss, of which sum L9o los 6dwas derived from goods traffic. There can be no doubt that when the Company can avoid the constant demands f6r expenditure occasioned by the periodical destruction Of portions of the line by ihe sea, it must soon be in'a flourishing condition. We take the following from the Daily Times: — By the steamers Otago and Rangitoto, 236 Chinese passengers arrived at this port from Melbourne,: and for several days past the Chinese . appear to have been more numerous, in the streets of Dunedin than at any time since their countfymeli "first visited the Province. The weather is not at present very favorabjfe to their proceeding

to the diggings; bnt gradually they are being drafted off to the different parts of the gold .fields where those who preceded them have settled, and one or two drays are being dispatched daily with their goods and chattels, Not a few of their number seem disposed to settle about the city, and in different places they have leased portions of ground, and are already at work, trenching, delving, and otherwise preparing their sections for the cultivation of garden produce. By the next steamer from Melbourne, a further addition to their numbers is likely to be made, and it ;s stated that as many as 5000 or 6000 may be expected to arrive here from Victoria during the coming summer. Those who are now coming to the Province are doiug so on the, pvitation of those of their countrymen who have already settled on the Otago gold fields, and who have there found more piofitable employment, as diggers, than they have dpne in any other part of the Colonies. The sutcess which has attended the 'diggings lately opened on the North Beach, and the increasing population that is finding profitable employment at Canoe Creek and other diggings between Cobden and Pox's, have created quite a revival in the trade -of Cobden and in boating traffic fin. the river. Yesterday the unusual sight of a string of 'laden packhorses imparted an unusual air of business to the quiet hamlet on the other side of the river; and we hear that the watermen are finding much more occupation in carrying goods and passengers across the river than they have done for s.ome tjme past. We Are glad to hear, from gentlemen who have --just returned from the fuller, that mining affairs in that district are looking healthy, the prpspects of the yarious diggings being more favorable than theyhaye been for some time back. Gold is, however, coming in but slowly,' and it is not expected that much real work will be done until a spell of dry weather sets in. The Wajmangaroa quartz reefs are highly spoken of, especially that known as Martin's reef, the stone from which is said to be exceedingly rich. Messrs Bonar and Prosser are now actively., contesting the Hokitika seat. On Saturday afternoon a crowded meeting was held at the Prince of Wfiles Opera House for the. purpose of having an explanation of Mr B.onar's ideas on the leading political questions of the day. Mr Cassius' occupied the chair. Mr Bonar addressed the meeting at length, and a resolution of confidence iv him was passed, In the evening another crowded meeting was held in the same building to hear Mr Prosser, and in this case also a favorable resolution was carried. Public opinion appears to tend towards Mr Prosser as the probable successful candidate; but the friends of each are numerous", the contest will doubtless be a close one. A boat accident, which very nearly proved fatal to life, occurred on Saturday. A boat belonging to Gibbons' saw mill at Coal Creek was Qpniing down to town with a load of timber, when just as it entered the eddy under the rocks near the mouth of the creek it capsized, and precipitated the three men that were in her into the water. One of the ; men managed to stick to the boat, and the two others attempted to swim, but would have most probably been d/owned had not their cries been heard by the men on the coal wharf, who promptly launched a boat and went to the rescue. In a few minutes they picked up the men in the water, and took the other off the capsized boas. The cargo of timber was most of it carried by the rapid current of the, river out to sea.