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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 638, 19 February 1870, Page 2

Mr Warden Whitefoord is on a tour th.ro.ngh. the upper diggings. He went to Napoleon yesterday morning, at which place a deputation has been appointed to meet him, to lay the wants of the district before him. The private tracks to Napoleon, and the exorbitant tolls charged on them, will be brought under his notice, with a view to endeavoring to induce the Government to purchase the right of the several proprietors. We have to draw special attention :to the advertisement' in another column respecting the alteration by the -Banks of the days of closing as hitherto. Tho Wednesday halfholiday .will on and after the 12th March bo discontinued \n favor of Saturday, and "the practice of retorting will from that date also be entirely discontinued, while gold will only be melted one day in eapb, week, namely, Friday, At the Resident Magistrate's Court yes terday a notorious prostitute, named McLean, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and also using obscene language in a public place. Both charges were admitted by hor, but the Resident Magistrate did not

feel dispose.? to n.itigate her punishment. This female is one of many that have for a long time annoyed the inhabitants in this Vicinity, creatingit apsnlemoniutu at times. On the night in question the quarrel between the female crew in those houses at the corner of Mnckay and Albert streets rose to such a height as to awaken all the neighbours, and in this the accused was most prominent. The houses mentioned are a perfect neat of brothels, a standing disgrace to the town, aud an e^er present nuisance to the neighbourhood. Although, the attention of the polipe has often been called to their presence we have not yet seen that any steps have been taken towards removing them to a different situation than that occupied by them in the centre of the dwellings of respect- ! able families. . | In order to provide amusement and sports during the Easter holidays, committees f rom the Foresters' aud Oddfellows' orders met in Hunt's Club Hotel on Thui'sday evening] The following gentlemen- Messrs Aucher, White, Jones, Heron, W. Kilgour, Hosie, Taylor, Woolfe, and Hill are entiusted with the arrangements, and from what we know of them the public may rest assured that a capital programme will be provided, A fatal accident has occurred at Antonio's Flat, in the Upper Grey district. A man named William O'Brien, in the employment of Mr Johnson, storekeeper of that place, was fonnd drowned in a head-race, near the store, on the morning of the 12th inst. Deceased j had been, to the Junction Township, and as he. had been drinking heavily, it is supposed that on Ms way home he attempted to obtain a drink of water from tho rage, and in doing so he fell into it, and was unable to recover himself. The police made an enquiry, and it was fouud that deceased came by his death accidentally. O'Brien was a native of Limerick, and about 30 years of age. The Secretary of the General Post Office, London, has issued the following circular :— Many persons are in the habit of addressing letters for well-known firms and individuals to " London" only ; but this practice not unfrequently occasions delay in such letters reaching their rightful owners. In all cases, however well the firm or individual for whom a letter is intended may be knovn, it is most essential, to ensure its correct delivery, that the street or locality in which they reside, and the number of the house, should form a part of the address. We ars requested by the members of the Cricket Club to state that a match wiJl be played on Wednesday by a Colonial eleven against the World. The Colonials will comprise natives of Australia, Canada, or any British possession, while the World can take into their ranks cricketers whether they be British, French, American, or any othe l ' country. It ought to be a good match, but we are afraid too short notice has been given for the World to get a sufficiently strong eleven for the Colom'al players. We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Government, Printer, Mr Didsbury, of copies of the Appendix to Journals of the House of .Representatives, 1569, being a valuable compendium of the work done during last session. We have been requested to correct an apparent error, reflecting upon the Clerk of the Resident Magistrates Court here, in our last issue, respecting the granting of a summons for tho 16th, when the Warden had to be at Maori Gully. It seems that the regular day for that place is the 23rd, and that the summons was issued in mistake by the acting clerk at Maori Gully, to be heard there on the 16th. We are also told that during Mr Revell's absence the services of the Warden at Cobden, if at home, would be often secured, but as the Government will not pay the ferryage the officials here decline incurring the expense, one shilling, out of their own pockets, and will not send for him. We have learned upon excellent authority, says the Shortlai\d Times of Feb. 10, that there is every probability of the Seat of Government being, ere very long, removed from Wellington to its pristine and proper place of abode, Auckland. As the whole business of the Native and Defence Departments naturally centres in Auckland, those departments have already been shifted to here, so far as a majority of clerks, officials, &c, are concerned, and we believe that many months will not elapse before the change will become total. The next step will be the alteration of the place of sitting of the General Asfembly, and then will be finally aocoinplished the destiny of a revolution in our administration which should never have taken place. Among the arrivals yesterday were Mr Hoos and Mr O'Connor, the County EnEngiueer. Immediately upon arrival both gentlemen went out to look at the road to the racecourse, upon seeing which Mr O'Connor gave it as his opinion that the repairs would not be difficult, and could be effected at a small cost. A temporary bridge ove^ the Ombtumutu Creek will also be built, so as to enable passengers to get across until a permanent one be provided. Mr Lahman, one of our representatives in the County Council, also arrived last evening. The Provincial Government of Canterbury have accepted a tender at L 57 for keeping the river Avon clear of water-cress during the tfext 12 months. If that stream were near London, what would not a contractor pay for the privilege ? In almost every newspaper that we open we find that great attention is being bestowed not only upon the preparation of New Zealand flax for the market, but also upon its culture and the best means of extending it. Indeed, so fur has the value of this article arisen, that it has become a staple item of export, arid fields that forflierly .were almost valueless are now proving sources of wealth. Throughout Otago and the other provinc< a vast quantities of this material have hitherto hampered the agriculturist, and been looked upon as an eyesore to be got rid of as soon as possible ; now, however, a change has occurred, and the phorviium tenax is valued more highly than some cereals. We are happy to say that the Grey Valley possesses an abundanco of this raw material, and of a quality Unsurpassed anywhere, and an abundance in some places unequalled. We hare

only to direct attention to Totara fiat, and the different creeks running up to the ranges to have sufficient testimony borne to our statements, whilo from the Arnold Juncticn back to the main ranges eastward and northward across the Inangahua Saddle there is a supply sufficient te keep 20 mills going for years, Why we thus direct attention to this subject is that we possess amongst us a large number of oargo boats, whoss sole trade is an up-river one, and which, with the, exception of a slight return in passenger traffic, has no backward freight. The bringing down of the phormiwn tenax, at a reduced rale, would give remuneration to them, and also employment to many wandering bedouins.. It will start a new branch of industry, and do more to open up aud drain many of the impenetrable awainps where the fiax doth most flourish than any other means we know of, It will render the making of new roads to these places compulsory, in order to secure an outlet to the river. It will, bes:def, add another important item to our trade here by the establishment of mills for pleaning and scutching, because the former of these must be done before it i 3 suitable for shipment. All these things will follow the production and culture of the phormium tenax in our midst, not only when the present crop has been cut down, but afterward?, when cultivated crops pan be cut ypar after year, We. know from experience that it requires no care or time spent in its culti* vation. Every second year will supply plenty of seed, and any miner who wishes to become a cockatoo squatter pan by securing 50 acres of flax land, sit down comfortably and be kept in full employment for his machine year after year. It is an occupation that requires little capital, and it has the advantage over farming that you can immediately realise for your labour. A very I rich market i 3 now being opened, and very remunerative prices' are being got, and, with improved knowledge in dressing, for this, by practice, will come, slill larger prices will be received. The interminable case, Ashton v. Weaver, came on again at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on Thursday. On this occasion the case took the shape of a civil action against Weaver for £85 odd, money received by him on account of Ashton. After a long examination of defendant, in the course of which Mr Ashton's agent said that no nutter what might be the result of this action, it was his intention to lay another criminal information against Weaver, the case was further adjourned to the 3rd March. The public are beginning to think that the persistent attempts which are being made to bring this charge home to the defendant Weaver savor a good deal of persecution. The Wellington Independent, says :— Little less than twelve months ago Tltokowaru held almost undisputed sway where ere the present week is out, King Cobb will crack his whip as he tools along without the slightest fear tf encountering a hostile native. The average time of the transmission of the mail between New York and San Francisco is seven days, two hours, 23 minutes ; but it lias been frequently done in six days 16 hours. Three deserters fromH.M.S. Chsllenger, Edward Barnes, Henry Staples, and Henry Shepherd, were arrested at Lyttelton on board the Ahuriri, by a sergeant of police, in consequence of a telegram from Wellington ; brought before the R.M. there on the Bth ; they were remanded to Wellington, and arrived there in the Rangitoto on the 11th. Immediately on her arrival, a boat containing an officer and three marines fully drafted and armed, -went alongside, and took the prisoners off to the man-of-war. An important public meeting was held at M'Kenna's Hotel, Ahaura, on Feb. 18, for the purpose of forming a committee to draw up a memorial to the Government, with reference to the private tracks and the roads in general. Several resolutions were brought before the meeting and carried, and after appointing an influential committee to carry out the objects of the memorialists, the meeting separated. The postponed fete of the Foresters' Society was held yesterday, and fortunately the weather proved all that could be desired. About 11 a.m., in conjunction with the Oddfellows', a procession was formed, and totne enlivening strains of a band of music, they, with banners flying, commenced their march through the streets, after perambulating which they took their departure for Tivoli Gardens. Here they had arranged to have amasemeuts and games similar to those held on former occasions, and as an excellent' programme was drawn out, so an excellent day's sport was anticipated, nor were theydisaipointed. Football, swings, Aunt Sallys, quoits, races among children for toys, and most important of all archery were indulged in, all of which, with the exception of the last, were a decided success. We believe one gold was got during the day, so that efficiency of shooting was evidently the exception not the rule. We can safely say that it has seldom been our let to witness a more enjoyable day'sharmless amusement, or one wherein old and young alike made up their minds to be happy and were. A large crowd was pre. sent in the gardens, by far tho greater portion of which consisted of parents and children. We (Bruce Herald) reported in our last the fact announced by the Government, that the tender of Mr Proudfoot had been duly ac-. cepted for the construction of the Port Chalmers Railway, and that operations would be at once commenced. Since then we have heard from a landholder upon the surveyed line, that no arrangements whatever have been effected, with the owners of the land over which the railway passes, although we should have supposed that this would have been the first matter to have engaged the attention of the Government previous to the signing of the contract, as probably the cost of construction will be very materially increased by the demands of landholders with whom no doubt more advantageous conditions might have been made, had the terms of purchase been previously agreed upon. As a good road has lately been formed by the settlers at very considerable expense, they foci indifferent to tho construction of the

railway, from which they believe they will secure no benefit, and are therefore likely to hold out for high valuation for the lands, and more so now that the line has been engaged and the pontract entered upon without pn * vious consultation with them as to the cost of their lands. To say the least of it this shows Jmt little foresight on the part of our Provincial Executive. Mr M'Kerrow, with the survey party, returned to Queenstown, Feb. 8, from their overland journey to Lake M'Kerrow, They occupied only five days in going and returning thence to the head of Lake Wakatip. They state that the journey is quite practicable at most seasons of ths year. The distance from the head of Lake Wakatip to Lake M'Kerrow is 35 miles, and the extreme altitude reached is 4500 feet. Feed for horses can be found for the greater part of the way. A bridle track could be made at a trifling cost, and the journey might then be easily performed in one day, The party also report that they discovered a tract of country suitable for pastoral and agricultural purposes. This is the shortest and most practicable road to the West Coast yet discovered. Thje former route via the Von, Mararoa, and Greenstone rivers, is 70 miles, and lies over country about the same height above the soa lovel. The party are quite well, but a little, fajbigued. The report that the Governor is going home is authoritatively contradicted by the Southern Cross. ' The Wextport Times says : — A paragraph in the Nelson Colonist points suggestively to Mr Blackett and to Mr Kynnersley tis the probable Warden at Wangapeka. The Colonist, with extreme candour, observes with regard to Mr Blackett : — " There is. we believej nothing very pressing in engineering work at present." Probably there is .not in Nelson City, but what of the West Coast portion of the Province? And what of a Provincial Government whioh keeps a Provincial Engineer for the sole service of a city, or a small district "with nothing very pressing?" It would be interesting to have a comparison between the range of duties discharged by Mr Blackett and by Mr Thomson, the Otago Provincial Engineer, during .the last few years. Our contemporary's' anticipations are, however, wrong both with : regard to Mr Blackett and Mr Kynnersley-^at least in the meantime. Dr Giles has received instructions to proceed to Wangapeka, and, we understand, will leave Westport for Nelson by the first steamer. During his absence Mr Broad will discharge Warden's duties both in ; the Buller and Charleston districts, or make the best attempt to discharge them that he can make, considering that it is not within human capacity , to be übiquitous. Of this arrangement it can only be said that the Government seems determinedly disposed to play battledore and shuttle-cock with the interests of the miners and of the West Coast. The other day three men were trying to cross Mackarora river, Lake Wanaka, Otago, when their dingy got capsized, and one of them, named William Smith, was drowned. Smith had a sheep dog with him. The faithful animal on finding that his master did not come on shore, plunged into the river, appareutly in search of him, and continued swimming about the spot the whole day. The following is an extract from the letter of a merchant in Levuka, Fiji, to a friend in Melbourne, dated 16th Dec, 1869:— "Our new Consul, Mr Marsh, arrived in the Virago a few weeks .ago. There are important despatches from the Imperial Government touching Fiji and the labour question. The inquiries included — ' What quantity of land is now in possession of British subjects ? ' ' What is the percentage of British subjects in the islands ? ' ' Can this labour traffic be stopped, or can it be properly regulated and controlled ? ' ' Cannot labour be got in the group ? ' and many others. We Lave onrselves read part of the reply to these inquiries, and they are entirely in favour of Fiji, and the proper regulating of imported labour. •It cannot be stopped,' writes the Consul, 'but at great expense.' We think these inquiries are a little significant. If the British Government could stop immigration to Fiji they would, but they cannot, and they must accept the responsibility — it is forced on them." We ( Wellington Advertiser) understand that a passenger in the William Cargill has ! brought out with him an invention for flaxdressing, patented in France ; and that it has been proved by actual experiment that flax as now prepared, further treated by this prooess, which is not by any means costly, is valued at Lls per ton more than before it had gone through it. As the Pope has included freemasons (incombination with Bible Societies) as special objects for censure at the CBoumenical Council, the Grand Master of Masons in France has summoned a general convention of the masons of Europe at Paris on the Bth of Deo., in which freemasonry is solemnly to affirm the great principles of universal human right which are its basis and its glory. A number of the resident members of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, h&ve considered it desirable to form a second lodge of the Order in Westport, and with that view they held a meeting at the Post Office Hotel on Tuesday evening* We understand that it was then resolved to apply to the District for leave to constitute such lodge, and it was a somewhat happy suggestion that " The Peabody Lodge" should be its distinguishing name, the late Mr Peabody having been the very embodiment of the spirit and objects of Oddfellowship. A prospecting party of eight has been formed at Westport for a laudable and hopeful purpose— that of prospecting a consider able area of ground on German Terrace hitherto untried by the miner. The object of the party is to discover the. lead of gold which, it is supposed or presumed, exists on a level similar to that of Giles' Terrace. Ap* plication has been made to the Warden for protection, aud a tunnel is to be put in from the Orawaiti face of the terrace, near the perpendicular track which connects German Terrace with Gilestown. Should such a lead be found to exist, Gilestown's history and dimensions will be considerably expended,