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Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 414, 8 September 1868, Page 2

We previously intimated that three members of the newly-elected Municipal Council would have to retire on the 10th inst. ; but the fact was then overlooked, that, according to the Act, three members to fill the vacant seats would require to be elected on that day. This fact was lost sight of, because there was no person appointed by the Governor to act as Returning Officer in this particular case, and, consequently, the usual fourteen days' notice was not given. Instructions I were, however, received by Mr Eevell, on Saturday, to proceed with the election, and steps were at once taken to give every publicity to the fact that the election of three members of the Municipal Council, in room of Messrs Magpffin, Rae, and Kilgour, who retire in rotation, would take place on the 10th inst. All nominations of candidates must be lodged with the .Returning Officer before four o'clock to-day, and the nominations will be made officially on Yv ednesday at noon. The poll; if necessary, will take place at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, and the voting will bo taken on the rolls recently made up for the Westland Boroughs and Westland South. It is expected that there will be a large number of nominations for the vacant seats ; but the retiring members, who have never yet had the honor of sitting at the Council Board) are open for

re-election. Whether they are returned individually or not matters little ; but it is only right that as the retiring members are all representatives of the upper half of the Borough, they ought to be re-elected, or ari? equal number of gentlemen from the same locality in their stead. It is tb be hoped this will be looked at in a fair and liberal spirit, and that* those who duriiYg-ttie last election were loudest in their demands for a fair and equitable representation in the Council of both townships, will not lose sight of the arguments which they urged witli so much force on that occasion. We refer our readers to the letter of our special correspondent at Wellington, for au intelligent report of the Budget speech delivered by Mr J. Hall, on the evening of the 2nd inst. In our present issue we have not space for a review of its principal features, which we intend to notice at length in our next. The financial scheme, as laid down by Mr Hall, has met with the determined opposition of the Provincialists, who have resolved to fight out their last battle over it. The preliminary notice of want of confidence in the policy of the Government was given Ivy the leader of the opposition, Mr Fox, on the evening of Friday last, in the following terms :—"(l.) Because, while the House appro\es of the principle of dissolving the partnership between the General and Provincial Governments, it thinks the arrangements for distribution unfair. (2.) Because Government does not propose to av«iil itself of on e;|ad vantage of such dissolution of part= uership, namely, a reduction of taxation (3.) Because no provision is made to fix the limit of future Native and defence expenditure. (4.) Because Government leaves uncertain the question of future Government and territorial divisions of the Colony. It was rumored in town on Saturday evening, that a new rush had taken place to a piece of ground about six miles on this side of Fox's, but no confirmatory news has reached us. We hear that the same lumor had reached Hokitika, and that a number of miners had started overland for the sceuo of the reported discovery. We have received a letter from a miner at the Limestone with reference to the coming election of Road Board members, but the motives he imputes to the gentlemen who are offering themselves as candidates for the office prevent its publication. The Nelson Evening Mail', of the 3rd instant, says that the funeral of the late Mr James Ogilvie, First Clerk in H.M. Customs at this port, who died on Monday last, after a lingering and painful illness, endured with much patience and resignation, took place yesterday afternoon. Mr Ogilvie, who had been connected with the Customs Department in Dunedin and in Nelson for the last six years, was a member of the Masonic body, and his interment i 3 especially noticeable as being the first instance in which one of the craft has been interred with purely Masonic honors in this city, a ceremony, which, we understand, is only carried out at the especial request <.f. the deceased member. A public meeting, called by the Union Lengue, ;or the purpose of hearing an expression of opinion on local questions from the candidates for the three vacant seats in the Municipal Council. Mr Whall was in the chair. The following gentlemen were duly proposed and seconded as fit ami proper persons to represent the town :— Messrs J. Heron, J. Kilgour, W. Rae, E. Masters, D. Magotfin, G. Simmons, J. Davies, and D. Maclean. These gentlemen were then called upon to address the meeting, which they did with the exception of the two last named. At the conclusion of their addresses, it was proposed to pledge the meeting to support three of the candidates s but it was resolved that no pledges should be given, and that all should go to the poll. The usual vote of thanks terminated the proceediugs. We are informed that about seven miles up the river, in the little village of Brunnerton, through the exertions of a young lady resident, assisted by one of the miners, a thriving little Sunday School has been established for some nine or ten months. It was thought that a Sunday School was not complete without a library, and it was therefore determined to make an effort to establish one. Advantage was taken of a disposition amongst the Brunuertonians for a social tea meeting. On being appealed to, the inhabitants most readily assented to turn their social tea meeting into a Sunday School fete, in order that au attempt might be made to raise funds for a Sunday School Library Last Wednesday was fixed as the day, and everything went as "merry as a marriage bell" — the day was fine, the children happj-, the tea did infinite credit to the Bruunerton cuisine, visitors who kindly sacrificed time and comfort seemed contented, and the promoters have every reason fco be most highly gratified wich the result, as we hear they have realised the very handsome sum of eleven pounds two shillings and sixpence, clear of all expenses. I The Wellington Independent, of the 3rd, informs us that the ex-Governor of the Colony arrived in Wellington, from Kawau, via Napier, en route for England. A very large number of people collected on the Pier, to welcome their ' ' old Governor" (to use a homely^phrase) once more. Several ships in the harbor exhibited any quantity of bunting, and the scene was altogether a very animated one. Not only were all our leading "Citizens present, but very many members of both Houses of Parliament, including the Speakers. We also noticed the Bishop of Wellington, Mr Justice Johnston, and many other gentlemen holdiug high official positions. The Supreme Court Criminal Sittings were actually adjourned for about, half-^n-hour, in order to enable the Judges grand jurymen, and others an opportunity of joing in giving Sir Georges Grey a welcome. As soon as the gangway was down there was a rush of friends on board, to shake hands with Sir George Grey, who appeared] to be in excellent health and spirits. Three hearty cheers were given as the vessel neaped: the

wharf. On landing, Sir George was accompanied up the Pier by the Bishop of Wellington and Oaptain Young, A.D.C. About bah%way up the Pier, his Excellency Sir (£eorge Bowen met the ex-Governor, and gave him a hearty greeting As the Governor, accompanied by Sir George and the Bishop were driven off in an open carriage, renewed cheers were given by the crow-1. In the evening, Sir George Grey was present at a meeting of the New Zealand Institute, when an appropriate address was presented to him by the Governor on behalf of the governors of the lustitute. Sir George Grey replied in a most genial manner, and we regret that the pressure on our space will not admit of our giving it iv full. The brave conduct of a Catholic priest at the storming of Te Ngutu-o-te-Maim, is thus recorded by the Wanganul Times:— "Through the rapid river, waist deep along the weary forest track, across ominouslooking clearings, where at any moment a volley from an ambush could have swept our ranks, Father ltoland marched cheerfully and manfully, ever ready with a kind word, a playful sentence to any man who passed him. And when at last in the clearings, of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu the storm of bullets hurst upon us, he did not wait in the rear for men being brought to him, but ran with the rest of us forward agaiust the enemy's position. So soon as any man dropped, he was by his side ; he did not ask are you Catholic or Protestant, but kneeling prayed for his 'last words.' Thrice noble conduct, in a century of utilitarian tendencies. What Catholic, on that expedition, could have felt fear when he saw Father ltoland by his side, -smiling at death, a living personification, a \ f ultilineut of many a text preached ; what Catholic could have hut felt proud to be a Catholic oil that day, on Father Roland's account."