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Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 328, 20 February 1868, Page 2

At the present time, when vague minors of the discovery of rich gold fields in Queenslaud are unsettling many of the miners on this Coas,t, and causing a movement in that direction, which can scarcely yet be dignified by the title of a rush, much caution should be exercised in giving publicity to rumors which might be the cause of much misery and hardship. Yesterday the Went Coast Times published a statement, on the trnthority of Mr White, agent for the Panama Company's steamers at Hokitika, and said to have been received by that gentleman from Sydney via Melbourne and the Bluff, "that a seventy-five ounce nugget, and an eightyfive pound nugget, had been unearthed at the Mary River field, and that a heavy rush from New South AVales was settuig iv there. The nuggets had been lodged in the Commercial Bank. It is not known here whether these prizes were found in new and richer ground than that hitherto opened, or whether th»y were merely stray pieces discovered in one of those gullies iirst opened, and which must by this time be pretty well workjed out." When such vague statements are being set afloat, it is with much satisfaction that we are enabled, to-day, through the courtesy of a resident in Queensland who is now on a visit to New Zealand, to lay before our readers a true and unvarnished account of what the Queensland gold fields really are; what the inhabitants of that country think o! them ; and what the men who go there are to expect. This account will be found in another column, and we can safely leave it to speak for itself, but we feel bound to add that it is written by a gentleman who has spent many years in Queensland ; who has visited the localities where the much- vaunted gold fields were said to exist ; who is au intelligent observer of what i 3 passing around him ; and whose advice, from his experience and observation, may be implicitly reli.d on. He cannot possibly have any motive in stopping a rush to Queensland ; but on the other hand it would be greatly to his interest to send a rush of men there. His simple idea is to let the truth be known — to enlighten those who appear to him to be about to'do a \ cry foolish action ; and his advice to intending voyagers to Queensland is very laconic, but very plainly stated to be "Don't!" He states his reasons fully for giving this advice, and we press them upon tlie attention of our readers. One single fact he mentions is very suggestive— "That in Queensland there is no enthusiasm on the subject of the gold fields— not one-hundreth part as much as there is in Greymouth !" And his parting advice cannot be too widely circulated through the country — "Permit me, in the most earnest terms, to advise no resident in New Zealand, whether lucky or unlucky, employed or unemployed, to risk the journey to Gympie Creek, in its present most unsatisfactory and unpromising state. " It is intended shortly to erect a parsonage on the Church of England Reserve, close to the church, and it will be observed that tenders are now called for plans, specifications, and estimates for the proposed buildiug. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday a woman was iiued £2, or four clays imprisonment for vagrancy, and was cautioned that if she came before the Court again on a similar charge she would' be sent to gaol for three months. We are requested to state that the proprietor of the Temperance Boarding-house, who was this week fined in the Resident Magistrate's Court for exposing spirituous liquors for sale, is in noway connected with the Temperance Society established in this town. The stewards of the forthcoming Greymouth Kaces are busily engaged pushing forward all necessary arrangements to ensure the success of the meeting. The comfort and convenience of visitors to the racecourse is being considered, and the stewards are advertising for tenders for the erection of a bridge J over the creek on the road to the course. There are very few difficulties in the way of the stewards— few in comparison with what had to be encountered last year, and as the contributions continue to come in liberally, there is every confidence that this year's meeting will bo a most successful one.

The second of the series of practice matches of the (Jreymoutk Cricket Club came off yesterday afternoon in the Court House Reserve, between sidps pfeked by Alessrs A. lw (iuiiiness and -T. Croft, in which Mr Guinness' side was again victorious. There was a marked improvement in the play on both sides, and the batting of Messrs J. Taylor, Smith, J. Eevell, Wright and Guinness was worthy of note, as also the longstopping of the latter-named gentleman, ppjiuled we give tli3 s core : — Mr. A. It. Guinness' Side. A. E. Guinness c and b by Procter .. 13 Smith, run out ... 16 Jenner b Procter 3 Paul c F. Cohen b Wright 3 Buckingham b, Prpcter ... ... 6 Lyellb Wright ' .' 0 Abraham's c 1). pohen b Procter ... 6 J. Taylor c and b F.'Oohen ... ..32 Heaphy b "F. Cohen ...... ..'. 4 J. M'Dougall, run out „ ..0 W. H. Revell, not out .„ ... 0 Byes, 11 ; wides, 4; no balls, 2 ... 17 Total ... 94 Mr. J. Croat's Sjue. J. Croft b Paul ... 8 Bradley c and b Buckingham ... 7 D. (Johen c aiul'b Paul 1 M'DqugallbPaui ... ... ... 0 F. Cohen b Paul 1 " 4 Wright, run' out ... ... ... 12 Procter c Tay lor b Smith 0 J. llevell b Guinness ... ... 14 Murray c Taylor b Guinness ... 5 Holloway b Paul ' ... 0 Toohill, not out 9 Byes, 0 ; leg byes, 1 ; wides, 7 ... 14 Total .. 74