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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 660, 12 April 1870, Page 2

We learn by telegraph that Mr Hoos has no objection to the employment of prisoners on the streets in the Borough, under the direction of Mr Sub-Inspector James. Itis to be hoped that the prisoners will be seen at work speedily. . Yesterday, a very important case commercially; speaking— Cleve and Lahman v. Millard— was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cobden, and occupied the attention of the Court until 9 p.m. In consequence of the length of the {report, we are compelled "to hold it over until our next issue. The Magistrate reserved his decision .until this morning. We regret to, hear that the estimates of tli c, revenue of ,the Oohuty upon which the approximations of the County Council were based last session, are not likely to be realised. The consolidated revenue has exhibited a steady and persistent decline mainly due to thefalling off in the Customs receipts. The Gold Fields revenue also has declined, the only branch of local revenue likely to como up to the niark.boing that from the sale of Crown Lauds. It becomes

more ami more apparent that the County must make an effort to obtain a loan from the General Assembly in order to go on with public works. It is satisfactory to state that the deficiency bills due to the Bank have been regularly met, but it is evident that this temporary system of borrowing will not meet the necessities of, nor be airy" benefit to, the County. We are informed that a series of resolutions bearing upon the question will be brought forward by Mr Harrison at the forthcoming meeting of the County Council. The Melbourne mails for Greymouth per s.s. Tararua were put on board the 's.s. Waiparain the Hokitika roadstead yesterday, and although the steamer was tended here early in the day, and the tug arrived back as soon ns the Hokitika tug reached the wharf there, we may mention that our Melbourne files arrived before our telegrams of the news from Hokitika. Great dissatisfaction exists as to the practice which has been carried on of leaving the Greymouth mails at Hokitika, and it is be hoped that some steps will be taken by the Postmaster and agents of the steamers to prevent this in future. It is a matter of importance in this case, as the s.s. Rangitoto, now hourly expected from Nelson, will take the mail from here for* Melbourne to-day, before the incoming mail is to hand by coach, consequently our merchants are placed at a disadvantage with Hokitika shippers. The Volunteer Fire Brigade had a good practice last night in front of Mawhera Quay. There was a good muster of the members, and everything worked splendidly. Only one minute and a-half elapsed from the time the engiue arrived until the water was flying over the roof of the Albion Hotel. We notice that there is to be a special meeting of the Brigade this evening for inspection of ! uniform and accoutrements, and other business. ' ■ '. There is now some probabiltiy of a punt being placed on the Buller for the accommodation of traffic. At Dunedin, John Creagh, solicitor, charged with embezzlement, has been committed for trial. The TaranaM Herald notices a new article of export foom that province, in the shape of two sacks of flax seed for southern ports. The Daily Times says the number of pupils attending Dunedin School of Art is increasing. "Fifteen ladies are members, and seventy young men. We believe that the ; electoral roll for Westland North for the current year will number over a thousand. An unwearied and successful experiment has beeu made in the cultivation of the silkworm in Nelson, by Mr T. C. Batchelor, of Wakapuaka. We Understand that an important change in the j>ersonnel of the police administration in Westland is impending. It was announced some time ago that the Auckland Provincial authorities had transferred the management of the police force of that province to the General Government. Mr St. Jolu> Brani^ai has assumed control of the Auckland force, and, a few days ago, an offer was received from him by Mr Inspector Broham of an important appointment in the force, probably that of Chief Inspector. Mr Broham left Westland by the Tararua, en route for Auckland, and it is exceedingly probable that he will come to some arrangement with Mr Branigan. In case of Mr Broham's resignation of the office of Inspector of the Westland Police, the appointment will in due course be co'.f erred upon Mr" Sub-Inspector James, as the senior officer. We are sure that, much as the inhabitants of this district will regret to lose' the valuable services of Mr James, they will heartily congratulate him upon his well-deserved promotion. The rush in the vicinity of Brown's Terrace, Charleston, has, altogether fallen short of the expectations that in the earlier stage were entertained respecting it. The Colonial prize firing takes place on Lindsay's property, in the North-East Valley, one and a quarter miles from Duue-i din. The Otago Volnnteers are making picparations for the reception of the representatives. Nothing has yet been done at Wangapeka in the way of crushing, although in some of the claims on the field a good quantity of, stone had been taken out, and the men are generally set in for workiug, and express high hopes of the result. A Hobart Town paper states that an unusual tribute of respect was paid there the other day to the memory of a Miss Duggan. Her funeral was attended by abon t a hundred of her female friends, dressed in white, who followed the remains to the cemetry. Mr James Clark Brown, of Lawrence, has been returned, unopposed, to represent Bruce, in Otago, in the General Assembly. Mr J. Cargill was the late member. Mr Brown expressed himself strongly in favor of separation of the two islauds, of a new system of laud regulations, on the Victorian principle of selection en deferred payments, as the investing of his whole capital, or nearly so, in the purchase of laud prevented the possibility of a man stocking it. He is iv favor of of the ballot, and spoke strongly on the necessity of simplifying and cheapening the system of transferring land, and the great necessity that existed for altering the present costly couveyanciug acts. The Southern Cross commenting on Mr Fox's lecture on " Strong Drinks," says— (< With regard to Mr Fox's statement that he thought 'he could prove to them that it was the devil, and nobo Jy else, who concocts such drinks as the wine, brandy, or beer in general consumption, we confess our inability to offer a decided opinion upon it one way or the other, Amongst the daily avocations popularly assigned to the devil, we. never heard of his being skilled in the manufacture of liquids ; in truth, we .always understood that, the fluids were altogether out of his line ; but Mr Fox, being a teetotaller and lawyer, may have special sources of information, and we therefore bow to this authority. But in connectnn. with the further point, that wine, beer, or spirits are not ' God's g.xxl gifts,' if we conceed to Mr Fox

that the arch-enemy confines himself to the work of adulteration, we think he must admit, on reflection, that the pure product of the grape or grain is necessarily ' a good gift of God. '. If it were not so, why should Ssatan take the trouble, to adulterate it,; or prepare spurious imitations? This," we'apprehend, is the only possible ground of proof for the allegation that the devil is engaged in the manufacture of the vile compounds now sold by wine merchants, and in taverns, for winea, ales, or spirits. " . . The following hint may . prove _tp._be_ worthy of note by some of our diggers who may have scant supply of bed-clothing, during the winter months .—Winter is upon us in rigour and many persons are not so well off for bed-clothes as could be wished. Well, if they will take two or three newspapers stitch them together, and lay them over the bed, under the coverlet, they will be astonished to find how much extra warmth they get. If you want to be very snug, use' thick brown paper, and stitch it on the inside of the blanket or coverlet (double if you like) letting the latter overlap the paper a few inches round the edge, which will let it sit closer and tuck in better. The New Zealand Government may learn something froni the following facts in connection with the transfer to the Post Office of the various lines of telegraph in England, which took place on the 28th. of January. The tariff is fixed on the basis of threepence for every five words, or fraction of five. Thus, a twenty- word message will cost one shilling ; twenty-five words, one shilling and threepence ; thirty words, one shilling and sixpence ; and thirty-five words, one shilling .and ninepence. The repetition of a dispatch may be ensured on payment of an additional half rate. Duplicates of a dispatch will be delivered at an extra charge of threepence per copy. One half the ordinary rate will be charged for re-directing and re-telegrap-ing to another town. Dispatches will be delivered free of porterage within a circuit of one mile ; and, where there is a head office, within the postal limits of the town. Special foot delivery will cost sixpence per double mile j and special conveyance by horse or by vehicle one shilling per double mile. For places beyond the prescribed limits, on which no porterage has been paid^ telegrams will be delivered duriug the ordiuary postal rounds. Message forms, bearing an embossed shilling stamp, will be sold at every station, either in single sheets or in the shape of books ; whilst adhesive stamps, somewhat similar to those used for postage, will be sold in the same way. The value of these stamps will range from threepence to five shillings each. The use of ordinary postage stamps in payment of extra words is to be encouraged. The amount of compensation to be paid by the Government is L 9,714,098;, 7 14, 098; and itis said that, during' the eighteen months since the transfer was first announced, a rise in the market value of the lines has taken place to the extent, on an average of 120 to 200 per cent.