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Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 355, 23 April 1868, Page 2

T]ie crime of perjury is one which we are very sorry to say many of the parties to suits in the Magistrate's Court here appear to regard very lightly, It is impossible to sit and listen to some of the cases in Court, and hear the contradictory evidence given with* out coming to the conclusion that false swearing is a common offence, On Tuesday, during the hearing of a case — Chase v, Phillips— witnesses swore niofct positively as to facts of which other witnesses gave exactly opposite testimony. This was not an instance of different impressions being produced by the sazuo circumstances, but a clear example of false swearing. It is a pity that the police do not make an example of offenders in this particular. To show how the obligation of an oath is valued, Perkins made a statement to the Bench yesterday to the effect that a certain witness in the case mentioned above had admitted that as she " only kiased her thumb and ntt the Bible, she could say what she liked," Are there no means of ascertaining whether this statement be true, and jf so, of punishing the offender. Public morality demands that the procedure of justice shouid not he thus brought into con, tempt. We notice that the Eoad Board are calling for tenders for the supply of 24,000 ft. timber for planking, and 100 piles for the river pro. tection work. Further particulars will be seen in the advertisement in another column. The Evening Star (Hokitika) of Tuesday says : — " The body of the unfortunate man John Sutherland, late a fireman on board the s.s. Waip;ira, was washed ashore near the Montezuma this morning. The deceased ■was discovered about eight o'clock, and the body was removed to the Golden Lion Hotel, North Itevell street. A verdict oi "Found Drowned " was returned by the Coroner' 5 Jury. Afcer nianj' false reports the discovery of gold on or near the Wanganni River seems certain. The Wanyanui Chronicle of the 9th states, that from reliable information received a prospecting party has been formed for the purpose of testing the supposed auriferous country. The usual weekly meeting of the Grey District ltoad Board takes place to-morrow afternoon in the Fire Brigade Hall. The exhibition of the " Sphynx," at the Star Hotel; continues to draw crowded houses. The operator having now attained greater proficiency, the illusion is perfect. The Hokitika Evening Star, of Tuesday, says : — "As the steamer John Peun was crossing the bar on Sunday evening last, two of the seamen, named Barrett and Shipley, made a dastardly attack on Mr M 'Garritty, the chief officer, and attempted to throw him overboard. On arrival at Westport, Shipley was given in charge, and was brought up at the police court the same day, and fully committed for trial. His accomplice escaped when the vessel reached the wharf, but has since been discovered in the bush by the police, and was to be brought before the bench next morning. We learn from the West Coast Times of yesterday that the child G«>rge Gethmg, for an aggravated upon whom Wm. Robinson, late landlord of the Duke of York Hotel* was, on the 7th February last, sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor, died on Tuesday, and that an inquest will be held on the body to-day. Previous to this a post mortem examination will be made to ascertain whether the child's death resulted from natural causes or from the effects of the injuries received. In the latter case the prisoner will, doubtless, be arraigned on a charge of manslaughter. The following letter, from Maryborough, embodying a new arrival's ideas of the country, has been handed to the West Coast T'Mnes for publication, and may not prove uninteresting to our readers i — v Maryborough, March 16. Mr Bastings— l am writing these few lines to inform you of our safe arrival, after a fine passage of twelve days. lam sorry to say that the news here from the diggings is anything but encouraging, and leads ise to suppose that the rush is another Port Curtis. There are a few quartz reefs opened, but only a claim or two on each can be considered payable. There is very little alluvial ground in work. I can assure you this is not going to be a place for a big rush, so I would give my advice to all who are thinking of coming, to stay where they are and think themselves lucky. When we landed there was a report of a rush 140 miles frpm here, but as it was not reliable, we waited two days for further news, and at last sent a telegraphic message

to the Commissioner of the place, and received an answer that there was nothing certain known about the rush. We are thinking of having a look at the old diggings at Gympie Creek, si^ty miles from here. Business in this place is dreadfully slack. I thought Hokitika was bad, but this is' ten times worse. It nrast have been very slack here before the rush todk place, judging by the appearance of the streets, which even now are grown over with fine grass ; there could not liavc- been much traffic. 1 shall write you again after 1 hfive had a loqk round, and, with respects to all friends, believe us, &c., H. Evans and R. Hughes. We clip the following from the Charleston Herakl of Saturday last :— The indef-itigable exertions of Messrs Mace are at length rewarded, as their splendid steam cement crashing machine is now jn full working order, and likely to be so continuously. The machine is one of the newest patterns, manur fcictured by Messrs Langlanda find Co., Melbourne, whp have also a patent taken for their steam ripples, which are undoubtedly the best and most efficient machinery for the extraction and saving of gold we have ever seen. Another feature connected with this machine is the unique arrangement available for altering the weight o.f the stampers-r---when in crushing stones CW cemented gravel a lift^)f 10 inches is used, when each stamper falls 70 times a minute, with a weight Of nearly 4001bs. But when soft cement is put through only, the machine is regulated so that the stampers fall 30 times a minute. The steam ripples are made of cast-iron, and filled with 2001bs, weight of quicksilver made hot by the action of the steam passing uudgr them ; the crushed cement being forced through the heated silver priqpetates, saving the most innnitessimal particles of gold, thu,s establishing the fact of the superiority and utility of this plan. But should any of the creamy gold escape from the ripples, the usual appliance of silver plates and plush ia resorted to. The amount of cement crushed by this machine is 35 to 40 tons in the 24 hours, and that with the most perfect safety. There can be no doubt this is the most complete machine yet erected in or around Charleston or the South- West Coast ; and parties intending to put up machinery would do well to pay Maoe and Co. 's a visit.