GREENSTONE.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 498, 25 March 1869, Page 2

GREENSTONE.

(prom our own correspondent.) March 22. Since last report hardly anything of; importance has taken place in mining - matters, not &• single hew rush being .reported. No doubt, this is owing to the holidays attendant upon St. Patrick's Day ; indeed, it would be merely a reitera-* idon of last report were anything to be touched upon except the sports. St., Patrick's Day was ushered in at 12 o'clock by a band of music playing national airs. Some 200 men and about 30 women marched up and down the township, the band being regaled at the different hotelsas they passed along. On St. Patrick's Day a bellman went round giving notice | that sports would be held in the township, and prizes to the amount of L4O would be given away. . This sum was collected in a very short time, the question of such a. thing being mooted only the previow evening at 9 o'clock. Had it been started earlier, no doubt more would have been collected. The sports commenced at noon, the first prize being for wrestling in the Dublin style, which was won by John Whelan. The second event was a 150 yards' race, won by McCarthy in splendid . style, with JElallida> second, another man close up. The third event was throwing ' the heavy stone, which was wpn by Patrick Walsh. The standing high jump was the next event, which was won by McCarthy. Several other sports came off, but the names of the winners were not given. Throughout the whole of the day "everything was conducted in the most/orderly and systematic manner, and reflected great credit on the comnritCee. The only drawback was the few people who attended the sports, nTany more being expected than were really there ; indeed,- more persons have been seen on a Saturday night than there were during the day of St. Patrick. In the evening a grand banquet was held at M'Grath's Hotel, a full report of which will be found elsewhere. On Friday last a most brutal attack wasr made upon a man named Johnson. How the row commenced it is at present diffcult to arrive at. It unfortunately hap- •*•» pened that there had been heavy rain during the night, and the creek had risen so high that not even a horse could cross \ consequently, the police were unable to ford, the camp being on the opposite side to the town, and the town was thus left without protection. Johnson was going down the street; and opposite M'Grath's Hotel some words arose between him and some- diggers, when blows were struck, Johnson knocking the three men downone after another; others then came to * the three men's assistance, when they managed to get Johnson down, and began jumping upon him and kicking him, pulling at the same time handsful of hair out of his head. Had it not been for Father Larkin the man would have been hurt much more than what he was, lie having come to his assistance and managed to get him away. In the evening, although Johnson was much, bruised, he again went down the town, it is said this time armed with a knife ; however, he was again set upon and most brutally kicked and maltreated, and had it not been that he managed to get up, run away, and take refuge in Manson's drapery establishment, there is not the slightest doubt he wowhT have been killed. Some say he used his knife ; but the fact of the matter was, they did not give him time te do anything. The police were then sent for, and the creek having gone down a little, they were= just able to cross. When they came over they took Johnson to the camp. He was only just able to walk, and bleeding profusely. He was let out the next day and taken to a tent, where Dr. Enson attended him and dwssed his wounds. At one time it was feared that erysipelas would have set in to the head, in which case the man would have died ; but, fortunately, the danger is over, and he is progressing a little, though slowly. A subscription is. on foot to take him to hospital, and there is no doubt itwill be numerously signed. The police are making all search into the affair,, and a magisterial enquiry will be sure to be the result. The road between here and the Junction has come to a (ftand-stfll, the contractors not beingable to fnlfil their agreement^ they having taken it atL4los a chain, whereas some of it will cost something like Lll per chain. So much for low contracts. Price of Provisions.— -Bread, Is ; beef, 7d to 8d ; mutton, 6d to 7d ; other goods as usual. An hotel is to be sold by auction to-day, ' so the ball has already commenced, and there is no telling when the music wilt end.