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Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 348, 7 April 1868, Page 2

A gentleman who arrived in town last night from the north informs us that the loyal demonstrations at Charleston and Westport on Thursday last were eminently successful. The number of men that joined in the processions greatly exceeded that of the recent procession of Fenian sympathisers. An ox was roasted whole ac Charleston, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The only contretemps occurred at Addison's Flat, a number of men who bad taken part in the procession at Westport having been set upon by a large body of Fenian sympathers. Our informant states that seventy men came down to Wesfcport from Addison's Flat, and on their return three or four hundred "roughs" came down upon them and threatened all sorts of violence. One of thej party managed to ride off

post haste to Wostporfc, where he informed Mr Commissioner Kynnersly of what had occurred. The Commissioner immediately jumped on his horse, and having collected a picked body of special constables, , rode off to Addison's Flat. On his arrival ■ there he addressed the crowd, and stated ( that he was determined to uphold law and order at all risks, and advised them all to disperse quietly, This had the effect of putting an end to what might have been a serious disturbance, as the crowd at once ' broke up without any show of opposition, We were yesterday showed a letter from Queensland, in the possession of Mr James Johnston, of the Melbourne Hotel, written by a, man named Gill to his brother here, cautioning him against leaving New Zealand, and giving a very deplorable account of the condition of the thousand of men now on the diggings. He states that hundreds are walking about almost starving, most of them being without money, and no work to he had. According to the General Governmojf Gazette, Mr Edward James Lee has been appointed to be Revising Officer for the Electoral Districts of, Westland North, Westland South, and Westland Boroughs. Applications for registration under the " Mining Companies' Limited Liability Act } 1565," appear in the Gazette from the " Cosmopolitan Cement Crushing and Water Coin* pany," Charleston; and the "Okarita Gold Mining and Water Race Co," Five Mile Beach, Okarita. The capital of the first, named company is fixed at L2SOO ; and that of the latter, LI3OO. On Saturday afternoon Greymouth was visited by a heavy storm of ram, accompanied by strong squalls and thunder and lightning. The rain continued with little, intermission until Sunday morning, ■when the weather cleared up a little. During Saturday night, or rather at about two o'clock on Sunday morning, a sudden gust of wind swept across the town and caused consideraule damage. A large portion of the verandah in front of Messrs Skoglund and Purcell's shop was lifted up and carried right over the building, and the sheets of corrugated iron were whirled about in all directions. One burst through the window of an adjoining shop, and others smashed in the roofs of buildings in the vicinity. Two huts across the Arney-street Bridge were over* turned, and several dwelling-houses in the neighboihood were partially unroofed. The river rose considerably, but not high enough to cause a flood. Yesterday was fine, and the river fell very rapidly. The Hon. John Hall is continuing to do good service for Westland. On Friday evening last he was to move the following resolution hi the Canterbury Provincial Council : — " That, in the opinion of this Council, the existing apportionment between the Province of Canterbury and the County of Westland, of the permanent debt of the original Province of Canterbury, is not consistent with sound policy and justice. That it is desirable that such apportionment should be reconsidered by the General Assembly at its next session. That a copy of the above resolutions be transmitted by Mr Speaker to the Speakei 8 of both Houses of the General Assembly." Mr John Harris has engaged a company of vocalists and instrumentalists to give concerts at the Star Theatre. Judging from the crowded state of the room on Saturday evening, and the loud applause that proceeded from the audience, the performances of the company must be very attractive. According to the West Coast Times, upwards of five hundred applications for registration on the electoral roll have been lodged in Hokitika during the past month. A large number of claims have also been sent in at G reymouth. We have to draw the attention of the members of the order of Odd Fellows to a notice in another column, announcing that the weekly meetings of the lodge will in future be held every Tuesday evening at the Club Hotel. An auction bazaar, in aid of the Wesleyan building fund, will be held this evening, in the large room at Kilgour's Hotel. The list of articles for disposal comprises goods of almost every description, both useful aud ornamental. There is still a debt of about Ll5O on the now church, and there still remains the fencing and painting to provide for. We trust there will be a large attendance of the publio.