Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 479, 9 February 1869, Page 2

The memorials to be erected in the cemetery to Mr Dobson, and the other two surveyors who lost their lives in the service of the Canterbury Government, and whose remains lie in the same enclosure with Dobson, arrived, at last, by the Beautiful Star on Saturday. Tenders are called for the erection of the monument and railings. E. Masters, Esq. , Mayor of Greymouth, ha 3 been re-gazetted a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. Trinity Church, Greymouth, had a very narrow escape from destruction by fire on Sunday night, aud had it not been for the presence of mind of a few individuals, the building would now have been a heap of ruins. Service was held in the Church that evening, as usual, ani about five minutes I after it) j congregation had disporsed, the man

in charge of tho building was in the act of lowering down one of the chandeliers, which consisted of four large kerosene oil lamps, for the purpose of extinguishing them, when the rope gave way, and the burning lamps came to the floor with a crash which was heard in the neighborhood. In an instant the burning oil spread over the lobby matting j and blazed up with an intensity which made the task of saving the building almost a hopeless one. Tse Bey. Mr Beaumont happened to be near the cliurch door talking to I Mesrs M'Crae, Lapham, and Harris, and the moment the crash was heard these gentlemen made a rush for the door, tore up the blazing matting, and dragged it outside. The flooi of the church was then found to be on fire in several places, but Mr Beaumont's s rvant and another man arrived with buckets of water, saturated a piece of carpet, and threw it over the flames, which had the effect of quickly extinguishing them. The whole affair lasted only a few minutes, but the firebell was rung, the engine turned out, and a very good muster of the Brigade took place within that time. It is something dreadful to imagine what the consequences would have been if the accident had occur) ed when the building was^ crowded. There is no doubt that it would have been destroyed, and many lives sacrificed. We are glad to see that the occurrence of such a catastrophe in the church in future has been effectually prevented by the substitution of wire-rope for the common sort formerly in use, so that no apprehension on that score may be entertained. An accident took place last week up the Little Grey from the fall of a tree across a claim, which resulted in one of the miners named John Parkison, being severely crushed. His collar bone and right leg were fractured, and he was otherwise injured. He was brought to town by boat, and conveyed to the hospital, where he is doing well. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, one "drunk and incapable" was dismissed with a caution, and two men were fined for allowing their horses to be at large on the streets. We learn from the Stoney Lead that a number of the miners there were yesterday served with a notice from the Supreme Court thai an application will be made by Mr Button, at Nelson, in banco, one month after the service of the notices, for an injunction to restrain them from working, and claiming damages for injury already done to the ground to the amount of £10,000. The defendants have there to appear to show cause why the writ should net be granted. An extraordinary general meeting of the s hareholders of the Grey River fSteam Tug Company will be held this afternoon at Kilgour's Union Hotel, at three o'clock, for the purpose of considering the advisability of declaring a dividend. The continued dry weather was taken advantage of yesterday by several persons to burn the scrub off land on the Maori Reserve. At one time the fine row of new cottages on the terrace were placed in jeopardy, as the fire crept along the dry undergrowth, crossed the recently-made road-line, and at one time got underneath Mr Smith's cottages. Luckily a number of men succeeded in beating the fire out. The parties who light these fires ought to be taught that they cannot do so without permission from the local authority. Edward Putten, Esq., has been appointed Auditor of Accounts for the County of Westland. The general monthly practice of the Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last evening, under command of Lieutenant Hosie. There was a fair muster, but not what it should have been, as there were eighteen absentees. There was a capital practice with both branches, and at one time the whole block between the Albion and Commercial Hotels, Mawhera Quay, was quite under command. We are glad to see that the members who do attend these practices are getting well up in their drill ; but there are still too many negligent members for the Brigade as a whole to attain proficiency. The Otago Volunteers have subscribed £177 to the Von Tempsky Fund. Late telegrams from Wellington announced the intention of the Government to enforce the contract penalty against the Panama Company for breach of agreement. The only penalty which could have been incurred was some L4OOO, but as the contract has never been signed, it would not be possible to recover anything at all. When the document reached England matters were in such a position that the Directors declined to sign it. Iv consequence of the withdrawal of the Bank of New Zealand and New South Wales agencies from Brighton, a petition has been signed by the residents iv the township aud district for presentation to the Union Bank, asking that establishment to open a branch there, and pledging themselves to support it. The Banks of New Zealand and New South Wales have lately closed their agencies in Brighton, and the agents were bringing to Charleston, on pack-horses, the books and papers of the two offices their gold and cash. After their arrival in Charleston (says the Westport Times) it became known that between that place and Brighton some travellers had been picking up bran new sovereigns or half sovereigns in situations where current coin of the realm is not usually to be found. It is nothing unusual in that particular district to find gold in among shingle and sand, but it was a phenomenon even to old diggers to find it bearing her Majesty's' image 1 and the mark of the mint. Suspicions were excited, and the bank agents wisely counted their 'cash. The Bank of New Zealand agent found his correct. The agent of the Bank of New South Wales did not, and it is said that a deficiency of about £150 was discovered, and it was further discovered that what hail happened at Hokitika had happened here. A nail in the packsaddle had penetrated one of the saddle-bags containing gold coin, and, by the jolting of the horse, the money had been shaken out along tho road by which the party had come. An immediate aud diligent search was made,

of course, on behalf of the Bank, but we believe it resulted in the recovery of only some £3 10s. The officials and the police had been anticipated by some persons who had got upon the trail soaie time sooner, and it is probable that some of the money remains yet to be found, concealed as it has probably been by traffic along the Bands. Future travellers by the beach road may yet benefit themselves, or, if they are honest, the Bank, by making it a part of the object of their journey to Bearoh for some of the undiscovered coin. It is not recorded that, as yet, anyone has discovered more than a few halfsovereigns, or has thought of delivering the same to the Bank. It is insinuated, however, that there was for one night a considerable amount of spare cash among some people at Charleston, and that there was more liberality in the matter of "shouting" than is usual at the present dry season and uull times. Some are said to have recognised the occurrence as a " speoial providence," happening as it has done when money is rather scarce, and when, for want of water, the metal in its pure state is not procurable. Mr Walmsley is said to have been the agent in whose charge the money nominally was at the time of its loss, and, if that is the case, Mr Walmsley has certainly very bad luck, for it is not tbe first or the second occasion on which he has been associated with similarly purely accidental but unfortunate circumstances. The danger of playing quoits on public thoroughfares has been illustrated in West* port last week. Two men were amusing themselves when a child ran past, and was struck on the head by a quoit thrown by Constable Irwin, and died within a few hours. At the inquest on the body, the jury, in bringing in their verdict of accidental death, added a rider which should act as a warning to those who are in the habit of practising or playing games of a dangerous nature in or near the public thoroughfare. The usual annual list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act is published in the last General Government Gazette. There are 115 clergymen of the United Church of England and Ireland, 10 of the Church of Scotland, 46 of the Roman Catholic Church, 40 of the Free Church of Scotland, 27 of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, 10 of the Presbyterian Congregations, 40 of the Wesleyan Methodist Society, 10 Congregational Independents, 6 Baptists, 3 of the Primitive Methodist Society, 3 of the Lutheran Church, 2 of the Hebrew Church, and 1 of the Christian 'Brethren authorised to perform the marriage ceremony. A man has been killed in a fight at Waipahi, Otago. It appears that the deceased was one of a road party. Two of his mates quarrelled, and the deceased interfered, and challenged one of the two to fight. The challenge was accepted ; and the fight ended in death. There was evidence showing that deceased suffered several falls, and heavy pressures, during the fight. The man with whom the deceased fought has been committed for manslaughter. Writers in the Otago papers are advocating additional importations of young women, not merely to reduce the present high rate of wages to domestic servants, but also " with a view to provide good wives for the number of single men residing in the province." One writer quotes the following extract from Hepworth Dixon's "New America" as to some extent applicable to the case : — " Bear J in mind that these crowds of prosperous fellows are not bachelors by choice, selfish dogß, woman-heaters, men useless to themselves and to the world in which they live. They are average young men, busy and pushing ; fellows who would rather fall into love than into sin ; who would be fond of their wives and proud of their children, if society would only provide them with lawful mates. What are they now ? An army of monks without the defence of a religious vow." The local paper announces that the Nile Company, Charleston, brought in their amalgam on Saturday last, which, when melted, gave upwards of 2430z of gold. A share in this valuable claim has been recently purchased for L 250. A share iv Steel's claim has also changed hands during the week, having been purchased, we believe, by Mr Pell, for LIBO. There was another sold in same claim for a like figure. The Governor has granted letters patent to Mr Alfred Stacy Wilson, of Auckland, for an invention of a newmachiue for separating gold from quartz, and. for its amalgamation and niercuralization. A child of Mr Gunther's, Waimea road, Nelson, has been poisoned by sucking the heads of wax vestas. A large hotel and its valuable contents have been totally destroyed by fire at Waipawa, Hawke's Bay. Captain Spiller, late of Nelson, has been sent to take the command of the Wairoa district, Hawke's Bay. A melancholy case of poisoning by tutu has occurred on the road to the Lyell, by which a miner known as " Little Tommy" met his death. The 'circumstances are related as follows by the Westport Times : — On Saturday morning the ferry-man at the Ohika River, on the Bullerroad, observed a man in a most frantic state on the opposite side of the river. The ferryman, Moore, made all haste to get him over to the house, when it was found that he was in a state of the most abject insanity. After a good feed and resting for an hour, his recollection to some extent returned. He could then remember that, four days before, he left Charleston in company with another man whom he called 'Little Tommy j" that they arrived at Packers' Point by coach, and proceeded up the road towards the Lyell ; that they called at the Junction Hotel and had each a glass of ale ; and then proceeded on their journey. He remembered walking some miles when they sat down to rest in a place where there was an abundance of tutu, the berrios of which they ate freely, as " Tommy" said they were good for food. After eating these berries the poor fellow could remember nothing beyond walking on for some miles. Both of them falling very sick, they put up their tent, when "Tommy" was seized with

violent fits. He was lying on his back and frothing at the mouth. The other became alarmed, and in his delirium rushed off for assistance, and for three days and nights was rushing through the bush perfectly mad until Saturday morning, when he happened to arrive at the ferry. He was perfectly mad, without a hat, his face scratohed and bruised all over, and his tongue swollen and covered with sores, presenting a dreadful speotacle. When it is taken into account that he was wandering for three- days without food, he was not so exhausted as might have been expected, but he was in such a state that if he had laiu down it is very likely that he would never hive risen again. A party at once started in search of the missing man and found him lying dead in a creek, with the head resting on a boulder. It is now very much decomposed. At the inquest which was held at Westport on Thursday, it transpired that the name of the deceased was Thomas Dudley, a native of Cork. His companion, George Butiment, who also partook of the poisonous plant, has not yet altogether recovered from the effects of the poison and from his three days'exposure in the bush, without food, and in a statj of raving madness. The peculiar mental effect produced by the poison of the tutu berry is indicated by an expression made by Butiment at the inquest. He said that; when lost in the bush, he "was not without company. He thought he was. among crowds of people, and in all sorts of places of amusement." The If. Z. Advertiser learns that Mr Fitzherbert, the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, is to leave London for Wellington not later than the 2nd of February. This will enable the hon. gentleman, whose exertions must be, and are, fully appreciated by colonists generally, to take his seat in the next session of the Assembly, and lend his valuable assistance to the Government. From what we (N. Z. Advertiser) can learn, the reception of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh is not likely to be a very elaborate affair in the City of Wellington, and his stay there will not extend over two or three days at the outside, while at other places, where superior preparations are to be mad j, it is understood that the Prince will remain for a longer period. Wo hear on authority that, although his Royal Highness will make Wellington the port of arrival in this Colony, his Excellency the Governor intends that the real reception shall be given at Auckland, and this fact will account to a certain extent for the short stay intended to be made in the " Empire City." A procession and a ride to the Hutt in a four-horse vehicle — together with a public ball, if the inhabitants feel inclined to get it vp — appears to comprise the programme so far laid down. It appears that the General Government persist in making Wellington the port of arrival for the Suez mail. The following telegram has been received by the Chairman of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce from the Postmaster-General :— •• Wellington, Jan. 27. — I have received your telegram conveying the resolutions of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. Arrangements will neces. sarily be made for the delivery of the mails at the ports of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. As only one mail steamer can be maintained between Australia and New Zealand, the Government is of opinion that the arrangement which will be most satisfactory to the colony, as a whole, will be for this steamer to come to a central point in New Zealand, from whence the mails will be distributed withont delay to the various provinces. The plan suggested by, the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce would be very unsatisfactory to the northern part of the colony. — John Hall, Postmaster-General." A magisterial inquiry was held on Saturday evening, at the Fire Brigade Hall, before J. Greenwood, Esq., J.P., touching the death of James Bennett, who was found dead in front of his house that morning. The following evidence was taken : — James Dunn, boatman, said : I have knowu tbe deceased James Bennett for about two years. He has lived with me for about eight months. The last time I saw him was on Friday evening, about nine o'clock, when we had a glass of beer in the Ship Hotel. We were both "pretty well on " then, as we had a few pints during the day. I left him, as near as I can recollect, at the hotel, went home, and had a lie down for an hour. He afterwards came to the place where we lived, about midnight, and, I think, came inside, and said "Put the candle out." I said "Surely you are mad," because his supper was ready for him. There was another man iv the house, who had taken me home, and cooked the supper. I was j still stupid from the drink I had taken. I cannot say whether deceased took any supper. He stopped about five minutes in the house, and then went out again. I did not see Mm again until this morning at five o'clock. I then turned out, and missed him. I looked out at the window, and saw him lying outside the door, on the verandah, in the position iv whioh, he was when the constable saw him. I called to the other man inside to go out and throw a blanket over Bennett. He got up and did so, and saidj " Why, Jamie, he's dead," and asked me to look at him. I felt him, and then ran over to the Camp, and gave information to Sergt. O'Donnell, then ran for Dr. Morice, who was very soon on the ground. He examined Bennett, and pronounced him to be dead. He has been subject to very severe cramps lately, and had a bad cough. He has scarcely eaten anything since Christmas. He has been a heavy beer-drinker since Christmas 1 . He was not drunk every night. He seldom touched spirits. He had no money on him, for on Friday night he had to borrow half-a- --' crown to buy shoes about seven o'clock. The deceased belonged to East-lane, London, East End, Smith Side, and his father was a coalmeter, but is now dead. His mother is still alive.— Dr. Morice said : This morning, between six and seven o'clock, I was called to see the deceased. He was lying on his right side, on the verandah of t' c cottage he lived in, quite dead. He had been dead for some hours, and was quite cold. Since then I have made a pod mortem examination, and

there were no external marks of violence, except a slight abrasion on the right thigh. Jn the head there was a considerable, amount of blood cxtravasated over the brain; the membranes and substance of it were also gorged with blood. There was no organic disease in any of the organs. The cause of death was the-extravasation of blood'on tb« brain, which drink would help to produce, and so would exposure to cold, Frornth* position in which the body was found, ,J\ should say the deceased had fallen down in • fit.— George Baul said be saw the deceased is the billiard -room of the Commercial Hotel between eleven and twelve o'clock. He was then drunk. Constable John Keating; who was called upon to Bee the body, stated that he found no property of any description on the deceased. He had known the deceased for about twelve months, and knew that he had drinking habits. — The jury found a verdict, "That the deceased met his death by a fit brought on by excessive drinking." The Westport Times records the occuirence of a fatal accident, by which a miner named Daniel Sanderson was drowned while bathing on Saturday week :— At . the inquest on Monday, the following account of the circumstances was stated by David Angus : lam a miner residins; at Charleston. I have seen the body of Daniel Sanderson. He was a miner and a mate of mine. He was thirty years old last December, and a native of the Shetland Islands. Between four and five. o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, the 30th of January, I was down in the second bay, Charleston, bathing. I saw deceased bathing also. As I passed him coming in, I saw him struggling alongside a rock. 1 8aid, " Dan, I think you have had a struggle ;" he said, "No" at- first, but afterwards he said, "I had quite enough to do." Deceased was holding on by the rock ; it was out of hi g depth. I told him to take care, and he said he was all right. About eight or nine feet from him I got bottom. He made a dive towards me ; then I looked round and saw deceased struggle. I went to him and got hold of his wrist, and he put both hands to catch me. In making the effort he got free from me. I tried to catch him again. He struggled for about half a minute and then went under. He did not rise again. I saw a man named William George Miale take, him out of the water about a quarter of an hour afterwards. Life was quite extinct. The following is Mr Warden Keogh's report upon the diggings in the Grey District for the past month :— The population is estd. mated as follows :— Arnold, 550 ; New River, 300; Rutherglen, 450; Greenstone, 2500. During the month the population of the district has largely increased, principally about the Greenstone, which still continues the centre of attraction ; at the last named it may now be fairly estimated at 2500. The return of gold for this number falls much below what might be expected. This, however, may be in some measure accounted for by the fact that a considerable proportion of the men are now engaged in works sol immediately reproductive. One large party (Gal way and Co.) are fetching up a tail-race — a fine piece of work — to drain the Shed flat, and, should . their expectations be realised, this, in itself, will enable 150 or 200 men to set in to work. Another fine undertaking will be Armstrong' and party's head-race from the Great Hohohu, to carry 32 sluice-heads of water, and to command the Duke of Edinburgh Terrace and the high ground down to its termination at the Teremakau junction— an estimated length of 15 miles. The registration has been granted for the first portion, and a surveyor is now employed laying off the line. Several other works of a similar character (races), though not so extensive are being carried out, and from which no return can be expected for a while. Of the Greenstone generally, it may be said that, if no pile claims have been opened there is a considerable area of auriferous ground, capable of carrying a moderate population who can make from tucker to fair wages, according to their luck and ability, for a long time to come. Tha remainder of the district is quiet but steady. At the Limestone several parties have lately come in, and three puddling machines are in course of erection. In the Arnold, some parties have set in to work the terraces of the Stillwater, since a store has been opened there by Mr Ryland." .