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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 642, 1 March 1870, Page 2

The three members of the Greymonth Volunteer Corps who have the honor of representing it in. firing for the district prizes at Hokitika, are Messrs W. S. Smith, Mobs, and Hardy, and we learn that they intend leaving here to-day in order to enable them to havo some practice at the range there before the decisive event. We cannot

help thinking that the compelling different corps 1o assemble a.t Hokitika when they have to fire at a range whqje peculiarities are unknown to them is, to say the least, highly invidious, and s,hquld the members of %\\i Hokitika Corps pull off the. principal prizes it is not at all unlikely that such may be thrown up against them as ace-ranting for their success. We arc not a \ a-e of any other part in the Island where members of corps, situated 25 miles from ea^-h othet, are compelled to assemble at a pant s,uch a distance away from their homes, and if we have not the examples in older settled communities, where means of access are easier than those we pqssess we can hardly account for such an innovation being introduced here. An accident ocqurred in a clai-ri on the Mosquito Lead, at Napoleon, qn Thursday, g Ith ult., whiqh fortunately did not terminate serioiisly. Mr Alfred, Grundy, one of the shareholders in Glover and party's claim, was workiug by himscslf i v the tunnel, at a distance of about 9,00 ft frqm the mquth, when se.Y«ira} tons, of earth fell from the roof and cqmpletiely blocked up the tunnel. The ground gave a slight warnjng before it caved, and this enabled Mr Grruiyly, who was filling a trucji immediately under th.c spot from which the fall took pi ice, to make his escape, which he did almost by a miracle. On several occasions the police have noticed the miisances that exist in Mack ay street, which are principally pauged by the refuse thrown out at tho rear of the houses fronting the main street. We have also on many qccasions pointed out the same thing, and had hoped that it was a thing of the past, and that we would not again have to I call attention to it as an existing evil. Sunday last, however, proved us to have been premature in qur wishes, as thg strong sun I playing upon the rotten garbage caused an exhalation tq be emitted that was decidedly unwholesome and offensive. A system of sewerage from each back yard should be made compulsory, and the Inspector of Nuisances should keep a. strict look-out for part ties offending. A public meeting of the miners was held at Napoleon on Saturday, 26th ult. The meeting was called by Mr S. M, Mackay, one of the representatives iii the Provincial Council for the district, for the purpose of laying before the miners a communication he received from the Committee of the Miners' League at Westport, asking the co-operation of the inhabitants of the Grey Valley in furthering the objects of the League. Mr Mackay addressed the meeting at some length, and after the meeting had appointed a Committee to select a delegate to send to Westport the proceedings terminated. The amount of damage done to races and dams at St. Bathans, . Otago, by the recent floods, is estirnatcd at £1000. A notification in the Nelson Colonist, of the 25th ultimo, states that Mr Kynnersley would hold hi» first sitting as a Warden at Wangapeka on Mondays 28th. In accordance with tire application for the twenty pick and shovel men advertised for, a sufficient number made answer, and a commencement was yesterday made upon the road up the river on this side. Messrs Barnes, Tinner, and Co. also made a commencement upon their contraot, so that work has begun simultaneously at both ends. It is intended to put a bridge which shall be a permanent one across the creek, at the still water behind the Grand Stand, and the cont -actor has guaranteed that it shall last for three years, and be kept for that time in good repair. The Argus, of the 11th ult., has the following telegram from its Brisbane correspondent : — "A letter, written by a resident of Roma, states that the Cooper's Creek natives have spread a J iumor that there is a white man living withHhe blacks a long way to the west of Roma, or north-west. It is also stated that the white man is the last surviving representative of a large party of Europeans, who reached the locality many ' summers' ago. The reason why he stayed was that he was crippled and unable to travel. His companions all died of fever. Some supposo that this story relates to Leichh rlt's last expedition." The third annual meeting of the Waimea Jockey Club was held on the 24th ult., on the Nelson race-course, and was a great success. The weather was all that could be desired, the concourse of people was very great, and in addition to the usual vehicles that crowded the road, the modern innovation of a velocipede was also seen threading its way to the ground. We subjoin the result of the racing : — The Great Waimea South Stakes, 101) soys., Rustic 1-; Quicksilver 2 ; Black Doctor 3i Amateur Stakes, 10; sovs., Sultan 1 ; Toby 2. Wakefield Free Handicap, 53 soys., Rustic 1 ; Eclipse 2 ; Titokowaru 3, Tha Butchers' Puise, of 5 soys., Butcher Boy 1 ; Subaltern 2. The construction of the graving dock at Port Chalmers is progressing rapidly. The excavation is nearly completed, and the masonry work is being proceeded with. A great portion of the stone, obtained from a quarry in the neighborhood, is dressed and ready for setting. The New York Times, of Dec. 9, gives a humorous account of a sale by auction of 2,2G9,709d01s in bonds of the late Southern Confederacy, for 35d015. Now that the crops on the Totara flat are cut, and mostly gathered iii, the farm-yards show a goodly amount of ricks, and abundantly prove the statements made as to the plentiful harvest to be reaped there this year. We also learn that Beveral new farmers are opening up their farms .and putting up fences and houses preparatory to getting the ground into proper order for the ensuing year. We also notice that the successful pioneers of the flat are determined to avail themselves of the aid of modern appliances in cutting and gathering in their crops, and have imported, per Magnet, a reaping machine and implements, so as to do. away with the slow and expensive system of hand labor. This we believe to be the first reaping machine imported into Westland, and to Messrs M'Neill and Co. belongs the honor of introducing it. Any visitors going upon that magnificent plain must be struck

with the good order and management displayed in Messrs M'Neill and Partner's farm, and how thoroughly suitable it is for the operations of a, in owing machine. Parties at a distance, as well as parties, resident near to the plains will ol serve that the Waste Lands Board of Nelson intend offering up for sale by public auction at (Jobde:i, on the 26th instant no less than 19 sections numbering from 81 to 98 inclusive. These include some very valuable sections upon the Totara Flat, and will afford many a man desirous, of investing in a hom.e an opportunity of accomplishing his wishes. Poor little Carl Syhafer, the diminutive German traveller, who a few short years ago was almost lionised by a sectiqa of the Melbourne public, has gravitate,! i\owa to the lowest depth, of poverty, and was recently an applicant for admission to. the Benevolent Asylum at Melbourne. Oar worthy Mayor is not a man. who is likely to be tied down by roiytine or redtapisin, if a matter copes before him where immediate action is demanded. When the late floods ha,d committed the damage at the Customs Wharf, and rendered the approach to it unsafe, he did not deem it necessary to wait until a meeting of the Council was called to obtain their sanction for the expense he was about to incur, but at once shouldered the responsibility, and caused, the repairs to be executed so quickly that the traffic of the place was neyer for a single hour interrupted ; and in addition to this, he. by his immediate action, prevented a much larger quantity of the bank being broken down, which would have happened had two or tinge days been allowed tq elapse before taking the steps he did. From, a paragraph in the Westport Tim.s. we learn that the Bishop of Nelson hi.s appointed th.c Eev. W. B. Lewis, of Stoke, to the charge of the Church of England congregation at Westport. Many upon the coast will remsmber Mr Lewis' visitation to the gold fields portion of the diocese more than three years ago, The Bellringers, along with Miss Liddle, took their departure for Hokitika on Sunday, per Cobb's coach. Telegraphic conununic,ation between the East'and West Coasts was restored yesterday morning. From the Tuapeka Times, we learn that "the man Doigh, and his wife, who were arrested on the charge of attempting to poison some of Mr Cameron's family at Schlotel's Station, Tapanui, have been discharged." The Wairoapa Mercury says that at Hunuiorangi there is to be held a large native gathering, the ostensible object of w hich is to adopt openly the Christian religion and to give up Hau-hauism. The intsresting operation of hop-picking has begun in Nelson, and we are glad to hear the crop promises to be an unusually heavy one. The quantity of hops grown iv Nelson has increased yearly, and is now greatly in excess of its wants. The following extract is from the letter o a gentleman, in whom we can place implicit reliance, and who has been at Wangapeka for some time :— " Nelson, February 21st, 1870.— 1 wish I could say something definite about Wangapeka ; but as yet we know just what was known about four months ago, viz., that rich specimens are shown from a reef, but nothing more. Rumors of all sorts fly about, bus, for my part, I think if there was anything really good up there, we would have had more definite news of it ere this. Still I hope the place is all right, but am by no ways sanguine.. The Southern Cro-is, in a recent article, strongly advocates the expenditure by Government of a sum of money sufficient for the production of a reliable and comprehensive work on flax-dressing in New Zealand. "Such a work," it says, "is urgently needed, and if one were prepared as the result of careful enquiry and investigation, by a competent person it would be an invaluable book. The Exaviiner'oi the 23rd ult. says : — Mr Redwood has sold his promising young gelding Economy for £100, to go to Greymouth. This meeting, which is advertised for the 17th and 18th March, has an attractive programme, and we believe both the Nelson stables will be represented there. The Nelson Examiner, Feb. 19, says : — "The purchasers of land at Wangapeka have addressed the General Government by memorial, stating their case, and claiming to be put in possession of their land. The memorial states that the survey made by Mr Marchant does not affect the question of boundary in any degree, since one of the points from which it started was not one of the boundary points of the proclamation which defined the limits of the South-west Gold Field. At a meeting of miners, held at Naseby on Thursday last, 17th inst., the following resolution was carried unanimously : — " That a proposition be published in to-morrow's issue of the Chronicle, addressed to the water companies, requesting' them to select from the members of their own companies four delegates, empowered to confer with an equal number of miners elected by this meeting, upon the present state of the water question— each party binding themselves to accept the joint decision of the united delegates as a final solution of the present difficulty. In the event of non-agreement by the delegates, the whole question to be referred to an umpire, .to be mutually approved by both parties, whose decision shall be final" Sometime ago, when a presentation was made to Captain Beveridge on the occasion of his leaving Charleston for Shortland, we published a list of his exploits where he had saved persons from being drowned. As he was so long connected with, the West Coast, and is well known, from Okarito to Westport, we think his numerous friends will read the following paragraph with much interest :— The Thames Advertiser of Feb. 21st, states: "On Saturday afternoon, at about half-past two o'clock, shortly after the Luna had left her berth for the Thames, a run-boy, belonging to one of the local journals, fell off the wharf into the tide, but was immediately rescued by Captain Beveridge, who, without taking off even his

Ciat, jumped nitothe water, and dived after thejpoor little fellow, whom he kept floating until he was rescued by a boat from one of the steamers coming to his assistanqe, The boy had evidently gone to the bottom, because when brought out his face was covered with mud. Captain Beveridge, who is, we believe, the pilot and harbourmaster of a Southern port, was loudly applauded by the numerous concourse of people on the wharf, Captain r)svcridge i§ already in receipt of a medal from the Humane .society, and has saved many lives," At intervals betweeu squalls and showers, the Duller beach was crowded on 20th ult by persons watching the destructive influence of the sea, impelled by a strong north-west wind against the low and rapidly ddisappearr r ing piece or debateable ground between the, surf and the town. Considerable further encroacV.ment was made at some points — especially near Mr Ohesswas's house and neap the cemetery ; and at the narrowest part of the sandspit, a junction between the river and the sea was effected. Had it been the height of spring tides the excitement on shore might have, been more intense than it was, and under such circumstances again, it will undoubtedly be bo. With the Government extensively represented in this district, it should be unnecessary (says the Westport Times) as it seems to be vain to direct attention tp the probable destruction of pro? perty both by river and sea. It is doubtful, indeed, if the most determined and public, and even successful appeal to the Government will now be of any service ; still the subject is one of so. extensive and immediate interest that some fre3h and firm representation of the facts should be made. Whether from apathy or dislike the interest of people upon the Coast who have business transactions with the Governments do occasionally suffer, and for instance we adduce the case of Mr Montgomery's application for protection to his punt at the coalmine. When he lirst contemplated erectiug that, he made application to Mr Lowe, who at once promised the required right, but as it was necessary, in order to render it complete, that the County Chairman should also for his side agree to it, he (Mr Lowe) wrote to him to that effect". This was several months ago, and immediately previous to his leaving, Mr Lowe stated that no answer to this or other letters previously sent had then been received by him. As a natural consequence, Mr Montgomery, through not having his right perfected, has now been threatened with oppositiou, and is powerless to stop it. We learn from the Melbourne papers that it is the intention of the Government of Tasmania to urge upon the Governments of the other Australian Colonies the propriety of holding a conference on the best means of establishing free trade iv the interchange of Coltnial products, the conference to be held in April or May, in the place that may be fixed upon, as most convenient, Mr Chapman, the Colonial Treasurer of Tasmania, takes a very warm interest in the movement, and is anxious that a beginning should be made as quickly as possible by two or three of the Colonies, even though the others shoald hold a'oof. Mr Randall, of South Australia, has just returned from Tasmania, and is about to proceed to New Zealand, where he intends to ascertain the views of the leading Colonists on the same subject. Lieutenant Saxby has got into the bad books of the inhabitants of Peru. It seems that a Professor Falb predicted that a terrible earthquake would take place at the same time as that mentioned by Lieut. Saxby for the occurrence of storms, and the inhabitants, mindful of the disasters which recently befell them both on sea and land, took to the hills for safety. No less than 60,000 of the people of Lima and Callao left their homes, carrying with them whatever of their possessions was portable, and lemained camped out for a week in tents and sheds, where they caught agues and fevers. What they lost by a week's suspension of business, by the removal of their goods, and by robberies — for the thieves did not give way to the general panic — is estimated at nearly a million "dollars. Enraged at this, the luckless Peruvians gave vent to their anger by burning Professor Falb and Lieutenant Saxby in effigy, and were, according to last accounts, still heaping maledictions upon the prophets. A few additional particulars regarding Mr M'Kerrow's recent expedition from Lake Wakatip to the lake which bears his name, are published in the Dunstan Times. Our contemporary says :— Along the valley of the Dart the party discovered a considerable extent of fine agricultural land, and there are some patches of capital grazing country at intervals the entire distance. At oneplace there are some fifteen thousand acres in one block. This is the shortest and best route yet discovered, and is forty miles nearer than by the old route of the Von, Mararoa, and Greenstone Rivers, and the altitude to be reached is the same. The party arrived at Queenstownon Tuesday night at a late hour, in good health, only slightly fatigued from the effects of their journey. Mr R. W. Daniels, the contractor for the mail betweeu Clyde and Queenstown, informs us that he has visited both Martin's Bay and Milford Sound from the Coast, and that the latter place could be reached in about thirty miles, and, judging from appearances, the country would not be difficult to traverse. Mr Daniels also says that Milford Sound is one of the finest in New Zealand, and easy of access at any time and in any weather, while Martin's Bay, during a southwest wind, which is the prevailing wind on the West Coast, is unapproachable. The following may be worth the attention of flax cultivators. We extract it from an account of a trip round Stewart's Island, written by Mr C. D. Irvine, C.E., of Southland : — "One day during my accustomed journey from tho camp to the reef, I came upon a flax plant (Phormium) which differed essentially frcm any flax that I hare previously seen. The leaves were much more flexible, darker in color, tougher, whiter, and more silky than those of the ordiuary or common New Zealand flax ; they were also differently-shaped, being narrow at the

bottom, and broad at the top, and contained little or none of that gum which interferes so much with the market vilue of the fax fibre. I hare since mentioned the circum* stance to Captain Howell, who immediately informed me that the Maoris are acquainted with it, and call it by a distinct name ; and that it is also found among the ranges qf the south-w63<-. coist of the Middle 'lslan«% anq\ in the neighborhood of the Lakes. - It is obvious that, shoul 1 the fla^ plant ever come to be extensively cultivated, this variety will receive especial attention. Perhaps it is a mountain variety of the * tiltore* or cultivated fla^c of the North Island, pecu* liar- to Stewart's Island aud the soqth<west portions of the Middle Island. The- Dally SovtJievn Cross of Feb. 15th, says j-^ " It will be of no little interest to many old Victorians to see, among the list of arrivals by the Hero the name of the distinguished barrister- Mr Miobie. It appears that this gentleman has come for change of air, aud generally . for the benefit of hishealth, but we do think that some society or institution should get hold of him, and let Auckland have the treat of one of his. popular lectures. Since the day that he took Melbourne by surprise in his lecture in the old Exhibition Buildiug on "Victoria suffering a Recovery," Mr Michie, for quaint dry humour in putting instructive truths, has . been . par excellence the foremost of popular lecturet s in the A ustralian colonies. We trust some of our institution^ will take' TVlr Michie in hand, and would suggest that the committee of the Mechanics institute might seize the opportunity of so infusing a, little vitality into its management,"