THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1869.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 502, 3 April 1869, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1869.

The Religious Institute, Gresson street, has been metamorphosed into the Corporation offices, and they were formally taken possession of on Thursday night, when the first meeting of the Council was held there. Offices for the Town Clerk and Town Surveyor have been erected in front of the building on each side of the main entrance, and enclosing the space under the gallery. Otherwise the building has not been interfered with, but it is intended to close line it, and put. in a fire-place, as without these alterations it would be impossible for the Councillors comfortably to transact the Borough business on the long winter evenings. It is yet very doubtful whether the Corporation have any title to the building, the offer made some ti ne ago by the trustees having fallen through owing to the Volunteers, whose officers were to be joint trustees with the Corporation, ha\lng obtained a drill shed elsewhere. Some title ought to be obtained by the Council before any more expense is put on the building. The Jury List for the district was revised yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The only Justices present were Mr Revell and Mr Masters. A Political Association, for tho " consideration of political measures of importance, more especially those affecting the Province," has been formed in Dunedin. The funeral of Mrs Hildebrand, who died suddenly on the evening of Tuesday last, took place on Thursday afternoon. It was attended by the brethren of the Loyal Greymouth Lodge, M.U.1. 0.0. P., about ninety in number, who walked in procession from the Club Hotel to the Cemetery, dressed in funeral regalia. Considering the time of the day, the turn-out was highly creditable to the members of the lodge. Aubrey John, now 19th Baron Somerville, who has recently succeeded to the title and estates, left Port Macquarie, N.S.W., lately, on his way to England. It is rumored that in consequence of the death of his uncle, who was killed in November last whilst hunting, this gentleman comes into eight thousand a year. It is rather a singular coincidence that one of Lord Somerville's partners in a sugar plantation, Mr Gilliott, has also come in for a Bnare of good luck, and has taken his departure for America for the purpose of entering upon property left lirn in the United States. A correspondent of the Wanganui Times of the 25th ult. states that "Kemp and his party have returned, after being out ten days in the bush in pursuit of the enemy. They report having killed a number of Hau-haus, and as trophies of victory have brought in three heads, said to be the heads of three chiefs — namely, those of Ka Waihi, Tepene Watangi Orupi, and Ko Tipoko. This chief Ka Waihi is one of the cannibals who eat the white men. The natives — Kemp's menclaimed his head, set it up, and danced round it. They also captured three women and four children. The Hau-haus are dispersed, and I think it wiU be some time before they v 111 again make a stand against us. lam told that Colonel Gorton had gone on right through to Taranaki with a party to prevent ?ny of Titokowaru's men joining Re wi and other rebels, said to be mustering at the White Cliffs for the puipose of meeting Titokowaru and his men there. I believe Col. "Vv uitmore will also go on to New Plj mouth. " The Provincial Council of Wellington has thrown out the vote of £200 for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh. It is now very doubtful whether the Prince will visit Westland, as his 8 bay in the Colony has been limited to three weeks by orders from the Admiralty, and it is stated .by telegrams from Wellington that he will " not visit the smaller Provinces." It is considered very doubtful whether he -will visit Nelson, as the General Government has "instructed" the Airedale to bring Nelson and Picton passengers to see the Galatea, and witness the Wellington demonstrations, \fith retiua tickets for one fare only. Great preparations have been making in Nelson for some time pasc for this visit, upon which the Colonist humorously remarks : — Desolation and dishevolment threaten to enwrap the hearts of mpnifold maids and matrons to whom "the Prince's Ball " in Nelson is at present the all-absorbing topic. To dance with thj Prince ! Glorious recollection lor all time. Somethi lg to tell their c' 'ldren, and thei • children's ch : 'dren. in the years to come ;

something to exalt them above the common Clay of those who know not the touch of princes, or the tqrpaichorean grace of the Blood Royal. Bright eyes grow brighter with the expectation. Silks and satins, flowers and lace, tulle and trimmings — the raw material whence, by tho skill of the needle and the taste of the modiste, shall spring the graceful and fitting costume that shall make its wearer the captivator of nautical hearts, the belle of the ball-room, — these are turned over with pensive admiration and admired confusion, under the delightful vision of being Royal Alfred's actual partner, or even his i>is-a-vis in toe plain quadrille, or still more charming j " Lancers." The wish is with them by clay, < and rosy dreams of its fulfilment visit their snowy pillows when the chaste stars are peeping in at their casements. But what if it is all dream ! • • What if he come not at all ! What if Nelson be deprived of the sunshine of his presenpe, and the graces of his "twinkling feet." What if Nelson be accounted as one of the " smaller Provinces." Alas ! alas ! all that's bright, may fade ; and the glowing pleasures of hope be chilled by the frosts of reality. If so, Ichabod ! for, as Hibernia would say, the coming glory has departed ; and the hopes of youth, and the cost and sheen of satins are only as the apples of Sodom, and the grapes of Gomorrah. The first meeting of the Greyjotouth National School Provisional Committee appointed at the late public meeting, was held yesterday afternoon at Gilnier's Hotel. There were present — Messrs Masters, King, Thompson, Guinness, Keogh, and Griffon. Mr Masters was in the chair, and Mr Guinness was requested to act as hon. sec. It was moved by Mr King, seconded by Mr Thompson, and carried — " That the resolution passed at the late public meeting be forwarded to the Chairman of the Education Board, and that he be requested to state the conditions upon which the grant would be made, and the future steps which it was necessary for the Committee to take in order to obtain it. " The meeting adjourned until a reply is received from the Chanjaan of the Education Board, as there are no published conditions or rules upon which the Committee can act. The New Zealand Gazette of the 25th ult. contains the appointment of John Henry Lowe, Esq., as Warden and Resident Magistrate of the Nelson South-west Gold fields, a Justice of the Peace, Returning Officer for the Grey District for the election of members of the Provincial Council of the Province of Nelson, and Registrar of Marriages, Births, and Deaths for the District of Cobden. The usual weekly meeting of the Paroa Road Board was held at the office, Paroa, on Wednesday last. There were present — — Messrs Stansell (in the chair), Howison, and Colton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and the correspondence and reports received. Mr Colton moved, and Mr Howison seconded — "That the report of the Chairman be adopted with reference to Messrs Card and Co.'s application.", Carried. Moved by Mr Colton, seconded- by Mr Stansell, and carried — "That no land to the west of the Railway Reserve be recommended for 6ale to the Waste Lands Board." Moved by Mr Howison, seconded by Mr Colton, and carried — " That the Secretary be instructed to write to Messrs Kilgour and Perotti, stating that the Board had taken the necessary step to prevent the sale of the land through which their tramway runs." The Board then went into Committee to draw up a report to the Waste Lands Board, and on the Board resuming the report was adopted. Mr Stansell moved, and Mr Howison seconded — "That the 4th of May be appointed for holding a conference of delegates, and that the Secretary be instructed to write to the various Road Boards and Borough Councils giving them iutimation of the same." Carried. Moved by Mr Colton, seconded by Mr Stansell- — " That the meetings of this Board be held every alternate Wednesday." Carried. The Board then adjourned unt't Wednesday, the 14th April, at eight p.m. Another skeleton was last Sunday exposed to view by the washing away of the Buller river bank, and was taken up, put in a> new coffin, and re-interred. It is stated by our northern contemporary that lying beside the skeleton, and among the sawdust in which it had been enclosed, were found two sovereigvs and a sisnet ring bearing the initials ' ' 1. P.M. " and the representation of a wheat sheaf as a crest. The money had probably been contained in the man's leathern waist-belt, and tho ring had apparently dropped from the finger as the body decayed. The body is understood to be that of a man who was found drowned, and washed up .on the beach, by the Provincial Secretary, Mr Greenfield, five or six years ago. A Westport firm lately represented to Messis M'Meckan and Blackwood the propriety of their making the Buller river a port of call for their steamers. Messrs M 'Meckan and Blackwood, in their reply, state that, " at present they see no inducement to send their steamers to Westport." They add — " Possibly, however, a trade may spring up." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Thursday, Charles Harrington was fined 55. , or twenty-four hours' imprisonment, for having been drurA and. incapable. — Yesterday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., R.M., and E. Masters. Esq 4 , J.P., Henry My .-es was charged with the larceny of a watch and a sum of money from a dwelling at the Eightmile Terrace. Mr Sub-Inspector James applied for a remand, in order to briug down the witnesses. The prisoner was remanded until Wednesday "next. Win. Wood Cardno was charged on the information of Messrs Perkins and Guinness, "that he did, on or about the 27th of March last, not being a barrister or solicitor, act as a conveyancer. " Mr Perkins appeared for the prosecution, and stated that it had come to the knowledge of the profession that deeds were constantly being draw n up in this tow. i by men who did not belong to tho legal profession. They \ ished ccrfca* !y to protect then selves more th anyt 1 ing c c, but th a y vanted it to be

generalljr known that there was a law in force which provided that legal gentlemen alone should draw' up deeds. There was a time when there were no legal gentlemen in town, but now the profession was filled here," and there was every provision for having the work done properly. The members of the profession here thought it right to bring this matter before the Couvfc, and have a decision upon it. The defendant had admitted the charge to him, and, he believed, was ready to admit it to the Court. If so, he would only «ask tho infliction of a nominal penalty and the costs of Court. Mr Cardno admitted the charge., Mr Revell said that this was the first case of the kind brought before the Court, and it was. not pressed against the defendant. It was brought merely for the purpose of showing persons not in the legal profession that they were not entitled to draw up deeds or leas.es, which could only be done by professional men. It was right that they should be protected in their rights and privileges, as they had to be educated to their profession. The case was brought more as a caution to the public, and the defendant would only be fined Is and costs. The Otago. Daily Times reports a . sad accident which occurred the other day at the North Taieri, whereby a farm servant named Duncan M 'Kellar was almost instantaneously deprived of life. The particulars are briefly these : Deceased, who had been in the em. ployment of Mr John Andrew, f aimer, North Taieri, for the last three months, was in the act of unloading a cart filled with sheaf corn, when the horse bolted through the "rick yard." In stooping to gather up the reins, ho lost his balance, and falling before the wheel it passed over his body in the region of the heart. Dr lnglis was promptly in attendance, but before he arrived life was extinct. Deceased was a Scotchman, 35 years of age. It is repoited by the Charleston Herald that some new ground has been opened and good prospects obtained in the Brighton District, about three miles from that townshir, in the neighborhood of the White-horse terrace. The prospect was struck by King Billy, one of the oldest residents in the district; and some eight or nine claims have been already tiken up. . A meeting of the committee for prospecting the deep ground on the Duke o£ Edinburgh Terrace was held at Webb's Greenstone Hotel on Monday last. There were present — M assrs Webb, Tydell, Tom Ryan, Fitzpatrick, Cullen, Harrington, Cornelius Ryan, Peter M'Grath, and Fred Ingleg. Mr Harrington was called to the chair. The Treasurer made a statement of the finances, Ll6 having been collected in the town and L 5 on the Terrace. They believed the total sum would reach LSO, as there are a large number not yet called upon. The Banks had entertained the idea favorably, and were merely waiting instructions from town. An entertainment to be given in aid of the funds is expected to realise about LSO, thus making a total of somewhere about LIOO. The services of the actors were mentioned &3 being given gratuitously, as well as the room for such a purpose Proposed by Mr Cullen, seconded by Mr Tydell — "That a sub-com-mittee of five members proceed to the Terrace to-morrow morning and select the best site for sinking upon." This was carried. A sub-con>raittee was formed to carry out the necessary arrangements connected -with the entertainment., The prices of admission weie fixed at 5s and 3s. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting was adjourned rntil Friday night at 8 o'clock, at the same place, Mr Webb having received thanks for his kindness in lending the room. The most prominent organ of the selfreliant policy, the Wellington Independent, makes a singular admission as to the danger involved in the policy : — "lf there" is to be a general rising, it is not one or two regiments that will save the colony from ruin. Should that event happen — and we have too much faith in the good sense and self-interest of the native race to anticipate anything so terrible — the North Island will have to be reconquered by an Imperial army, or abandoned." From the Wanganui Times we learn that Lieut. -Colonel M'Donnell returned to Wanganui by the s.s. Rangitira on Sunday, 21st ult. He has resigned his appointment as a commander, but not his commission as an officer in the colonial service. The real cause of that resignation will shortly appear, but meantime the reports that are being circulated, making it to appear that Colonel M'Donneil has resigned becaiise of "domestic afflictions," are totally without foundation ; "^domestic afflictions" truly have fallen heavily upon him, but Colonel M'Donneil is and hss been a soldier from his boyhood, and no amount of " domestic afflictions" would induce him to desert his post in the hour that the colony requires the services of so able a man. The real cause of his retirement "vv lll shortly appear, and then the press. -and people of the colony may judge between him and his persecutors. The Westport Times states that there has beeu a rush since Saturday to Christmas Terrace, the first terrace beyond M'Gowau's or Hatter's Terrace, and another section of what is now kuowj as the Great North Lead. One or two parties have been sinking and' tunnelling in search pf the lead, and on Saturday or Sunday Baker and party struck the wash, which is similar in character and richness to that of the average claims on the Caledonian and Giles Terraces.* There are apparently two runs of gold, one perpendicular, the other more horizontal, and both capable of paying good wages. The terrace is an extensive one, aud there is every prospect of gold being got still further north, as the lead, instead of running out, as was supposed, seems to go further into the terrace. M. Bixio was for a short time incarcerated I in the fortress of Vincennes, after tlie coup ; d'etdt. His wife, a'ccompanie~d~by one of her sons, went to see him. They dined together in his chamber. The son was extremely sad aud taciturn during the dinner, and at last attracted his father's attention.—" Why, my dear boy, what is the matter with you ?" — "Nothing, father," replied the lad of eleven. — " Nonsense ; I see something is the matter with you. Come, tell me what it is." — The boy blubbered^ "Why, pa, I am so disappointed! I made sure of seeing you in a i 1 /jeon, chained to the wall t>d you a^i't !"