Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 683, 4 June 1870, Page 2

It will be Sfccn by a letter in another column from Mr W. N, Franklyn that it is not his intention to go to the poll in the election for the vacant seat for the Grey district in the Nelson Provincial Council. Mr Wilkie, of Cobden, will therefore have a walk over. We think Mr Franklyn has acted very judiciously, for although it is quite possible that he may have been again returned by the votes of the Napoleon people, yet it was well known, both to his friends a»d to himself, that his usefulness in the Council was destroyed, so far as this district was concerned, and the best thing he could do, in the interests of tho people among whom he is now to reside, was to withdraw. Mr Franklyn has now settled down at the Ahaura township as an auctioneer and commission agent, and will practise in the Warden's Court as a miners' advocate by leave of Mr Warden Whitefoord. Wo wish him every success in his new undertaking. With the exceptiog of what is said in our telegram, ;there' is nothing certain yet known with regard ;to tho candidates who will come forward for Westland North in the House of Itepresentatives, in the room of Mr Gallagher resigned. The Westport Times saya : -It is generally believed that Mr Kynnersley is sure of the seat, if he is sincere in his intention to contest ifc, but he will scarcely obtain it without a struggle. The names of each of the three members of the Provincial Council

—o' Conor, Reid, and Donne— are men tio tied and .although we have not the authority of any of those gentlemen for the statement, we believe that one or other will contest if-, though not in opposition to each other. Mr Donne's success is considered less certain, so far as this district is concerned, than that of either of his colleagues. In the event of neither of the two other provincial reprcntatives coming forward, the name of Mr Luckie ; has been mentioned as an eligible candidate and a hearty supporter of the miner. Mr Gallagher's resignation has been received by the Government, and the writ may be expected in a few days, when we hope one or other of our tried and so far successful local representatives in the Council will present himself for some further expression of confidence from the constituents. ; The Rev Mr Habeus, Congregational Minister, will give an address in the Volunteer Hall to-morrow, at three o'clock, when all who do not care to go to Church are particularly requested to attend. Mr Habens is a very accomplished lecturer, and, notwithstanding the peculiarity of the invitation, those who attend will no doubt enjoy a treat. A sawyer, named Haylock, was admitted to the Westport Hospital on Wednesday last, having received injuries from the incautious use of a handspike in-rolling a heavy log upon the sawpit. His mates lost their control of the log, and the>wounded man losing his purchase was struck in the chest and abdomen, and became unconscious. The injury received is not so severe as had been dt lirst anticipated. Eaton and Winter's contract for protective river works at Westport has been cancelled by the Nelson Government, and it is rumored that it is their intention to abandon Westport to its almost inevitable fate- -destruction by river and sea. Arthur Schuckburg Collins, Esq., and Alexander Sclanders, Esq., of Nelson, are gazetted as magistrates. An accident occurred in a mining claim at Rochfort Terrace, Westport. the other day. The sufferer, John Mees, it appears, was working in a claim known as Mees and party, and while running a truck of dirt through the tunnel, he struck his head against a cappiece inflicting severe injury to the scalp. Things are coming to a fine pass in the County Council when discussions are so per* sonal as to cause members to walk out of the Council Chamber in disgust. This took place on Thursday night, and in addition to that, during the earlier port of the sitting a very warm scene, in which it seemed at one time as though the Sergeant-at-Arms, or his representative, wouldjhave to be called in, took place. The Roads and Tracks Committee brought up a report recommending that certain roads, should he made as soon as possible, but they omitted one piece of road that urgently requires repair. The Chairman, thereupon, rated the Committee soundly for not having made more enquiry, and accused the members round of geographical ignorance in reference to the County. One word brought on another, and a general wordy melee took place, in which strong language was used on both sides. After some time this sea of trouble subsided, and the report was received. The Colonial Government steamer Luna arrived at Napier on the Ist instant with the Defence Minister. She had on board three Maori prisoners. One of them is Karama, who has been in our hands three times. He was captured first at Tauranga, and took the oath of allegiance ; secondly, at Hungahungatoroa, and sent to the Chatham Islands. There are several witnesses on board, and it is to be hoped a conviction will be obtained. Karama is said to be, one of the chief miscreants who had a hand in the murder of Captain Biggs and his family at Poverty Bay. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, on Thursday, the following cm] claims were heard :— Tait Bros. v. Monkton, claim of L 4 7s 6d— judgment for plaintiff, payment to be made at the rate of 10s per week, or in default, one month's imprisonment ; Strike and Blackmore v. R. J. Tattock—judgment confessed for LlB 3s and costs. The following cases went by default :— R. Reay v, Wright, Westport, L 7 10s ; Moonlight Quartz Mining Co. v. H. A. Delamain, L4j same v. R. D. Thomas, L 4 ; • same v. H. Hannah, L 4 ; same v. J. Wylde, Ll2. A large number of similar claims by the Moonlight Company, against defaulting shareholders, were settled out of Court. — There has been no criminal business during the last two day?. A fire, supposed to be the work of an incendiary, took place at the Little Paddock on Tuesday eveuing. The building ignited is a store recently purchased by Mr Thomas Pile, but which had not been occupied by him. The floor and par!: of the walls and roof were burned, and had it not been for the exertions of a few miners living near the place, who subdued the flames by heaving water on them, the building would in- a few minutes longer have been entirely consumed. Emanuel Mendelsson, charged with conspiracy, surrendered to his bail on Wednesday, at the Hokitika Resident Magistrate's Court. Mr Harvey, who prosecuted, called evidence in support of the charge, which Mr Button, who appeared for defendant, had failed to prove that the defendant had, by any act of his, conspired with his brother, Bernard Mendelsson, to defraud his (Bernard Mendelsson's) creditors. His Worship reserved his decision until the following morning, when he said the evidence was not strong enough for a conviction, and discharged the prisoner. The Anglo-Australian writing to the last European Mail says :— " Messrs Featherstone and Bell are still staying at the Charing Cross Hotel, and have been working might and main in the objects of their mission, which are, however, apparently doomed not to be realised. They have been received most courteously on all occasions by the members of the Government, even by Mr Lowe, who, it is said by his enemies (and their number is legion), " hates the colonists" with all the bitterness of a renegade. Besides applying themselves to the subject of troops, the New Zealand Commissioners h.ave devoted practical attention to the project of a Mail to New Zealand via the Grand Pacific Railroad, and Sail Francisco, in which enterprise New South Wales and Queensland would probably co-operate. That the English Ministry are not inclined to support the project with any pecuniary aid, though it is certain that this country would share in the benefits of its realisation. Other matters of great importance have also taken up the time of the Commissioners, who have impressed every one with whom they have come in contact, with, their statesmanlike qualities ; and, indeed, it is said by many who have good opportunities of judging, that their great abilities make the talents of some of our own politicians appear in unfavourable contrast. However this may bo, New Zealand has certainly benefited in estimation from the high character of her accredited representatives here. " In an article on Mr Fox's late speech at Christchurch, the Timaru Herald says :— There is one point in it, outside that of the political element, which we may bo permitted to refer to. The attack of Mr Vox on the Otago Daily Times is the greatest pieco of impertinence which we have lately seen, and we must record a protest against an apparent attempt to coerce a public journal, and prevent it speak-

ing out tho truth, when that truth is unpalatable to a Minister of the day. The Cabinet secrets of Mr Fox leak out in Wellington— may it not be through some fault in the Cabinet itself ?— and the correspondent of the Daily Times is denounced in the vilest language for giving publicity to "secrets" which are known to numbers of people outside the Ministry. Mr Fox clearly endeavours to make the public that the "secrets" as they are called, which have been published recently, were purloined from Ministers' private despatch box ! We are tempted to ask how Mr Fox has found out this fact, aud why he does not have the individual at once arrested who stole the secrets. We can assure Mr Fox the press of this colony is not given to employing correspondents to " steal " Ministerial secrets, for these secrets can be picked up in all wellinformed circles by the score. Mr Fox believes in the press when it supports him, but when it honestly opsoses him he makes the most wild and reckless charges against it, which have no foundation whatever.