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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 673, 12 May 1870, Page 2

A meeting of the Committee appointed at the indignation meeting held in January last, regarding the distribution of the County revenues, was held last ni^lit at the Union -u^toti — imeTiieeTang was c7flleTT"aiTSnTS~fe^ quest of the Paroa Road Board, the Chairman and a member of which were present as a deputation. Mr J. W. Parkinson was called to the chair. A soi iof conversational discussion took place, when it was moved by Mr Perkins, seconded by Mr Leach, Paroa, and carried — " That a petition be presented to the General Government, praying that a Commission be appointed forthwith to enquire into the working of the County of Wesfcland Act, and the distribution of tho revenue thereunder, and also for such relief as the case may require." Mr Guinness proposed the following Committee to draw up the petition : — Messrs Perkins, Browne, Leach, Wickes, and the mover. Carried. It was then resolved that the Committee should meet on Saturday evening at seven o'clock, and that a public meeting be held at eight o'clock, to consider the petition. At an extraordinary general meeting of the Grey River Steam Tug Company (limited), held in the Union Eotel on Tuesday afternoon, the directors were recommended to declare another dividend of ten per cent, which is now payable at the office of the company, Tn the Grey Eiver Hospital subscription Ksts published in our last, the name of Mr Daniel Sheedy for L 3 3s was omitted. The Kelson Government Gazette of the 3rd instant contains a notice of protection having been granted for Langdon's Ferry '■£ the following to be the scale of charges : — For each person ferried across the Grey, Is ; each horse, 2s 6d ; each person across the Arnold, 6d ; each horse, Is 6d. The absurd pretensions lately put forth, by Wellington to bo regarded the commercial emporium of tho Southern part of New Zealand in regard to the proposed new line of steamers from San Francisco, is thoroughly laughed at by the Southern press. On the motion of Mr O'Connor, a Select Committee has been appointed to consider and report upon the working of the Licensing Ordinance upon the Nelson Gold Fields J such Committee to consist of the Provincial Secretary, Mr Luckie, Mr Donne, Mr Mackley, Mr Gibbs, and the mover. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Paroa Rond Board wa* held on Tuesday last, the 10ih insiant, at the Eoad Board Office, Paroa. Present— Messrs John O'Connor (caai.-ma:-*), Stansell, Leach, and Dowling. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, and the engineer's report received, a letter was read from Mr Montgomery, encTosing a copy of one he had sent to the County Chairman, and asking the Board to recommend the same. The letter to the County Chairman was read. It offered to construct a bridle track and tramway from Greymouth to the Coal Pits, on the following conditions :— Seven years' protection for tramway, and that he should be granted the Railway Reserve and five chains of land along the line, together with 100 acres for stations, 50s per chain for making a bridle track, and 50s more to make it into a dray road, such road to be free— the subsidy to be paid on completion, or by bills at three months. It was moved by Mr Leach, and seconded by Mr Dowling, and carried, — "That Mr Montgomery and the County

Chairman be written to, staling that the Board caunoj recommend tbe appHcation, as it considers the te._as extravagant." A letter was read from Mr Cavreras in answer to one written to him by the secretary, stating that he had waited on the County Chairman reWng to the protection for tre New Eiver Perry, and that he was told by the County Chaiunan thai "he had already granted it, and that as Governor's delegate he would not in any bbape alter what he had done," Letters received. It was moved "by Mr Dowling, and seconded by Mr Leach and carried. — "That the Marsden and Nemona track be continued through (but not beyond). Nemona." It was moved by Mr Leach, seconded by Mr O'Connor, and carried— "That the contractors be written to, warning them that the Board w.'H not allow a continued breach of article 5. of this contract." It was moved by Mr Dowling— "That the Chairman and Mr Leach be requested to attend (on behalf of the Board) the Committee meeting at Grejjiouth tomorrow evening." Seconded by Mr O'Coanor, and carried. The Board then adjourned. We notice by the Nelson Gazette that a number of Orowu Grants for persons resident in tlie Grey District are now ready to be issued ; but as the general public never see the Gazette, these documents are likely to lie in the Government Offices at Nelson for years. Why the Nelson Government does not make use of the ordinary channels of communicating information to the public is not easy to understand. A sitting of the District Court took place on Tuesday, before His Honor Judge ClarkThe only business was hearing applications in bankruptcy. Final orders of discharge were granted to Robert Gamble, Daniel M'Kirty, Dennis Doyle, F. J. D. Elmer, and Mary Horn. In the estate of James Johnston, an order was made for the complete execution of a deed. A final order was asked for Samuel Samuels, but this was opposed by Mr Guinness on behalf of Messrs Coates and Joyce, creditors. The insolvent was examined, and several transactions were elicited, which caused the Judge to order the discharge to be suspended for four months. A final order was asked for Felix Stratford. Mr Newton opposed, and Mr Perkins asked for an adjournment, which was granted until nerzt sitting. In re Samuel Horn, an order of adjudication was made. In the estate of Norris Griffiths, Mr Guinnes3 applied that Mr Joyce's claim should be made a preferential one, the trustee having declined to recognise it as such. Mr Perkins opposed on behalf of the trustee, and in justice to others who were larger creditors than Mr Joyce. After reading affidavits and hearing parties, the Court declined to make any order. A number of immigrants who recently arrived in Dunedin from Nova Scotia, are about to take up land in Martin's Bay. Favourable accounts from the diggings in the Lake districts of Otago are attracting thither a considerable number of miners. - Preparations tor %v ting Wellington with gas are progressing, tenders having been invited for the erection of the necessary offices. In reply to advertisements in England, inciting applications for the Professorships "i the Otago University, 150 communications were received by the agents of the province in Ediuburgh. A meeting was held at Flyun and Haisty's Hotel, No Town, on Tuesday, to take into consideration the advisability of establishing a District Hospital for the Grey Valley. Mr Samuel Haisty was called to the chair, and introduced Mr Davies to the meeting as a delegate from the central committee at the Ahaura. Mr Davies explained the object oa the movement and the progress it had made up to that time. Mr Joseph M 'Cahon moved the first resolution—" That in the opinion of the meeting it is desirable to establish a District H ospital. " Mr James De very seconded the resolution. After some discussion, Dr Donovan moved an amendment — " That in the opinion of this meeting a District Hospital is not required, and that we prefer remaining as we are. " Mr Parfitt seconded the amendment. The Chairman put the amendment and declared it carried by a majority (four), out of thirty persons who were in the room. Mr Davies moved a vote of thanks to the Chair, and the Chairman in returning thanks said that he regretted to see so small an attendance when such an important subject was brought before the people of the district. The notice given had been too short, and it would have been better if the meeting had been held at Paddy's Gully, where the bulk of the population was at present located, and then the project could have bsen discussed and ventilated in a proper manner. This could hardly bo considered a fair expression of the opinion of the people of the district, there being such a small number present. He then thanked the meeting for the fair and impartial hearing they had given the speakers, and declared the meeting dissolved. A fatal accident occurred at a native settlement named Ongaruru about fifteen miles f rom Biverhead, by which George Safstead was killed. It appears that the deceased was engaged on Saturday, April 23, with two comrades, Edward Mackaig and Edward Murphy, sawing a heavy tree into lengths for the purpose of splitting it into rails j and that when one cut had been made the log rolled down a declivity over the deceased, crushing him almosb "into a pulp." Of course death was instantaneous. A Chinaman -^as recently arrested at tt c Nevi3 diggings, Otago, on a charge of selling spurious gold. The Taranaki Herald notices as a new article of export from that province, two sacks of flax seed for Southern ports. With reference to the Nelson, Westport, and Cobden Railway scheme, the Superintendent has sent the following message to the Nelson Provincial Council : — "From Mr Morrison's letter of the 25th February, it appears that legal objection to his power has been raised, with the effect of delaying the definite conclusion of negotiations which were otherwise satisfactory. From private Bources of information, the Superintendent learns that the terms offered by the province had been agreed to, including the stipulated deposit of L 20,000, and thaUhe legal objections were not of such a character as to be

likely to prevent the execution of a preliminary contract; especially as the valuable .assistance of the New Zealand Commissioners would be available in the matter. The new proposals of Sir Thomas Parkyns and his friends differ so widely, and in so many particulars from the conditions agreed upon by the Provincial Council, that it appears to be scarcely necessary to consider them pending further advices from Mr Morson." Thomas Mitchell, who livid at Mount Eden. Auckland, and was engaged in the the milk trade, had occasion to go to Newmarket on business during Tuesday April 25. About three o'clock he returned to his home, feeling a slight giddiness, which he thought might have resulted front his having walked home rather fast. During the afternoon, however, he got worse, and continued to sink until about midnight, when he expired. A serious accident occurred on the Hape Creek Tramway, Auckland, on Thursday, April 28. A car went off the line at a curve opposite the Tweedside Claim, and four men were thrown out with great violence. One of them, named Joseph Punch, had his leg broken, and was otherwise bruised, while Martin Danbar, one of the contractors, was injured, although not so seriously. Punch was taken to the Hospital. The following is the resnlt of the examination of the Thames gold fields Reward Commissioners into the claim laid before them for the LSOOO reward offered by the Provincial Government for the discovery of a payable gold field in the Province of Auckland, To Taipara has been awarded L 25 0; to Hamiora, L 15 0; to Paratene, LI 50 ; and to the Messrs Ring, L2OO ;in all, L 750. This would appear to be the whole sum recommended by the Commissioners to be granted out of the LSOOO voted. Mr Grove, one of the Commissioners, has protested against the above decision. On the morning of the sth instant, about ten o'clock, the residence of the Rev J.W. Stack,, at the Maori pah, near Woodend, Canterbury, was totally destroyed by fire. The Maori school and Cathecbists' room, which adjoined the building, were also destroyed. The fire originated in the nursery, but from what cause we have not yet been able to ascertain. The fire spread so rapidly that a large portion of the household property was consumed. The buildings were not insured.