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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 690, 21 June 1870, Page 2

An application was yesterday made to Mr Warden Whitefoord, at Cobden, for a certificate of registration for au area of 700 feet of ground, at the Left-hand Branch of Murray's Creek, Inangahua, commencing on the south side, for a prospecting claim. The applicants were James Mooney, Rody Kerrigan, and five others, and their statement was to the effect that the reef 'runs north and south, is six feet wide, and is expected to yield five ounces of gold to the ton. The application was granted. On Saturday over one hundred gentlemen enrolled themselves as members of the Nelson Annexation League, including all the principal merchants, storekeepers, hotelkeepers, and owners of property in Greymouth. The next meeting of the League will be held at Kilgour's Hotel, on Friday evening, at .eight o'clock. Paragraphs have recently been circulated in our contemporaries with regard to the postage rates by the San Francisco route, which are likely to cause a false impression. There is not the slightest cause for supposing that any of the letters posted to proceed by the new mail route were detained at the New Zealand post offices. The reason why double rates were charged in Sydney was because that Colony had not subsidised the new line of steamers. The rates for England by this line are the same as by the Suez route ; while for the United States; Canada, &c, they are the same as for England. Mr T. A. S. Kynnersley arrived yesterday from Nelson by the s.s. Claud Hamilton, on his tour through the electoral district of Westland North, for which seat in the General Assembly he has announced himself as a candidate. The writ' has not yet arrived, but it is expected in a few days. In the meantime Mr Kynnersley will open the ball by addressing the electors at Cobden to-night, although it is not expected that his return will be opposed! Mr O'Conor's name was mentioned, but he will, not contest the seat until the next general election. Mr Kynnersley's election at the proposed moment, when the question of annexation is under discussion, will be of peculiar advantage. His views on the subject are well known, and his presence in the Assembly will greatly assist an early settlement of the matter in return without opposition is expected, and would be a graceful compliment of his late connection with the coast. Mr George Harper, barrister-at-law, (said to be the son of the Primate of New Zealand,) has been admitted by Judge Gresson, at Chrißtchurch, to practice in the Courts of New Zealand, as a barrister and solicitor. Messrs Tait Brothers are at present engaged in preparing for sale copies of a very handsome album, containing views both of town and up-country scenery. The majority of the views are well taken and artistically finished. It is the finest work of the kind yet offered to the Greymouth public, and will, no doubt, secure a large sale. A commission has been appointed by the Proviucil Council of Otago to enquire into departmental expenditure, with a view to retrenchment. To judge by the opinions expressed upon the subject,, the work of Government must have been very extravagantly carried on, as one of the members, Mr Shepherd, declares that a saving of at least L 20.000 per annum might be made by the appointment of judicious commis- | sioners. In connection with Nelson Provincial Council matters we may state that according to a re-arrangememeut of offices, the SubTreasuryship at Westport is to be abolished. This has been recommended by the Auditors as a more convenient way of keeping the Provincial accounts, but it is not expected to effect disadvantageously the present occupant of the office, Mr Harris, an old and efficient public servant, for whom a fresh field of labor, will, no doubt, be found. A very heavy thunderstorm took place on the night of the 12th inst. in Nelson. A local paper describes the burst as more like the explosion of a powder magazine than anything else. It was followed by a deluge of rain. All residents who did not pay their rates up to yesterday will be disfranchised in the Municipal elections for the year. We are i glad to learn that the rates are coming in well, there being scarcely any refusals, and | it is expected that the Borough Council will be free of debt in a few weeks, when public works will be resumed. We learn that the Hon. Mr Sewell will move for leave to bring in a bill f#r altering the punishment hi certain cases of high treason. Dr Carr is at present reminding the Dunedinites that they will "never have another opportunity of witnessing the extraordinary and mysterious phenomena of mesmerism as demonstrated by Dr Carr." The speech of his Excellency the Governor at the opening of the General Assembly, contained au announcement, which was welcomed by the great body of the people, that an Act would be introduced by the Government to facilitate the transfer of land. No doubt there will be considerable opposition to this measure in the Assembly, as there is a large class, including all the members of the- legal profession, directly interested in opposing any deviation from the present costly and tedious process of conveyancing. They will exercise considerable influence inside the House, and also out of doors, by persuading their clients that the adoption of Torrens' plan will be to add largely to the cost of transfer. So far, too, they will have a plausible pretext for their assertiou, because the first proof of title is somewhat costly, aud the expense of registration comparatively large j but this is more than compensated by the facilities with which the

land, wHen once registered under the Torrens' system can afterwards be dealt with. The present is, however, a most opportune time for the discussion of this question, the Premier, Mr Fox, having been .the first in New Zealand to advocate an v alteration of the English system in the direction indicated, and the Hon. Mr Waterhouse, who has been lately called to take his seat iv the Legislative Council, having been one of the..; most _ active coadjutors of Mr Torrens in' South Australia in introducing and perfecting his system. As year after year passes, the titles to land in this Colony become more and more involved, and if any reform can be effected, the longer we delay to take the bull by the horns the less chance there is of ■ success. : . . ; , . „....: We understand that Mr Sale has entered as a candidate for the classical professorship of the Otago University. Mr W. H. Reynolds, M.H.R., in the position of candidate for the Mayoralty, addressed the citizens of Dunedin at the Princess Theatre, on the evening of the 10th. Mr Reynolds is already Speaker of the Provincial Council and a representative of Dunedin in the General Assembly. The Heibert street road is rapidly approaching completion, and is a credit to the committee who, by their enterprise, have seen the work carried out. The road and bridge have cost the committee overL32o, and all the Borough Council has promised as a subsidy is L 75 towards the bridge. The Council might very gracefully increase this promised subsidy to one-third of the cost ; and if they can get all the streets iv town formed at the same cheap rate they will deserve the thanks of the community at large. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. H. Revel], Esq., R.M., Jane Anderson was charged with being drunk and disorderly on Saturday afternoon in the Court House Hotel, and was fined LI, or 48 hours' imprisonment. She was further charged with a breach of the peace in view -of a constable, at the same time and place, by striking a man named Dewdney over th» head with a candlestick. She was fined an additional LI, or 48 hours' imprisonment. Louisa Watson was charged with being drunk and incapable. She was lying helplessly drunk on Mawhera Quay, and had to be carried to the lock-up by the constable. Fined LI, or 48 hours' imprisonment. Henry Lorringder, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10s, or 24 hours 1 imprisonment. We (Southern Cross) understand that negotiations are being made by the native chief Te Wheoro to bring about a meeting of the King natives in Waikato, and that Tawhiao and his people are likely to meet at some place north of Newcastle. Taipara has written a letter to the Thames Advertiser, strongly denying a statement made that money paid to Shortland leaseholders went to purchase guns and ammuni tion for Te Kooti, The Thames Advertiser says s— "We are informed that the large tower erected on the Piako River in order to carry the telegraph wires across the stream has been burned down by the natives. On making some further inquiry, however, we were told that the tower had been, blown down. Whichever of theae stories is correct, it would appear the tower is down. The Nelson Provincial Council has voted L2OOO for a dray-road from Charleston to Westport via Addison's Flat. The people of Mariboxoyigb. "wish, to elecb their own Superintendent, instead of leaving it to the Provincial Council. A petition, it is said, will be sent to the General Assembly asking for the necessary alteration iv the New Provinces Act. We have been requested to state that Mr Reid, who is now a member of the Nelson Executive, but who refuses to become a Gold Fields Secretary, or to occupy any official capacity on the new Executive, unless the power of such office emanates from the Superintendent, or is secured by the delegation of the Governor's powers conjointly to the Superintendent and Executive according to the Gold Fields Act of 1867, has never been in antagonism to Mr Kynnersley, as might appear superficially from the defective reports m the Nelson papers. The first impression of West Coast members of the Nelson Council certainly was that it was through Mr Kynnersley's instrumentality that Mr Franklyn's withdrawal of resignation and subsequent support of the Curtis Government was secured ; but we may say-* that we have an assurance from Mr Reid* that, on enquiry, such a reflection upon Mr Kynnersley was entirely a mistake, and that whatever may have appeared in public prints . on this subject was written. under""the influence of stiong condemnation of Mr Franklyn's conduct, and under the supposition that he was not alone, as he really was, in his peculiar and as yet unexplained action. The Tiraaru paper, of June 11,. has the following : — The worst elements in natureflood, fire, and storm— appear to be visiting us in rapid succession, or rather, we may say, all at the same time, and it requires the philosophy ,of the firmest stoic : to submit quietly and without a murmur to those un {Peasant visitations. We must, .it seems, earn to limit our wants even in such small matters as coal and firewood; to harden ourselves against the blows of fortune, and to practise contentment in the more serious affairs of life. The stoical theory tells us that happiness is not necessary, and may be dispensed with, and some of us appear to be testing the truth of the theory. The farmers are in extremis, and nothing but a good season next year can save many of theai from insolvency ; but the present state of matters indicates nothing like a retrieving of fallen fortunes. The only philosophy with which we can console those who have suffered by recent disasters is, that which has so often been a source of consolation, namely, that when matters have come to the worst they are sure to mend, Let us hope the worst is past. From Queenstown the Cromwell Argus obtains the following items of information regarding the track to Martin's Bay :— Fox and party have returned from their prospecting trip up the Hollyford Valley. They report having experienced wretched weatherrain, snow, and cold. They made as full a search as circumstances permitted for gold, but were unsuccessful in rinding the precious metal in payable quantities in the Hollyford Valley. In the Dart Valley they were more successful, and obtained a favorable prospect in one or two plages. The weather was so much against them, and provisions and tools so difficult to procure, that they determined to cease operations for the winter. The other parties out prospecting have also caved in. Several feet of snow exist on the saddle near Lake M'Kerrow. It is reported that in spring prospecting will be resumed by the parties mentioned above. The road party are progressing, under the circumstances, but slowly. They have blazed the track so that no mistake can be made. Mr Wilson, surveyor, is rapidly progressing with the laying^ out of the township at the mouth of the Dart, where an accomodation house is in course of erection.