THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 713, 13 August 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1870.

It will be seen from our latest telegrams from Wellington, that Annexation is almost completed. The General Government has taken the movement in hand, and have given notice of their intention to introduce a Bill to carry it into effect. It is proposed to govern the Hokitika district by a nominee of the Government. The demands on our space to-day forbid further remark at present. Yesterday the Resident Magistrate's Court was engaged with closed doors, in investigating the adjourned charge of rape brought by Winifred Honou of Clifton against Michael Ryan. The details are too disgusting for publication. At 4 p.m. the case was concluded, by the Magistrate dismissing it. We notice that Mr G. W. Mosa has been appointed agent in Greymouth for the sale or shares in the Excelsior Quartz-Mining Company at the Ly ell. Intending purchasers can obtain full information from him. A. meeting of the Greymouth Public Library Committee was held in Mr Newton's Chamber on Thursday— Mr Newton in the chair. After a conversation, a Committee, consisting of Messrs Nichol, Kerr, and Blackmore, was appointed to coramanicate with the Literary Association for the purpose of ascertaining upon what terms the members were prepared to throw their reading room open to all subscribers. Another meeting will be held when the answer is received. The English Mail was delivered in town last night, having been landed at Hokitika from the Tararua in the morning. Some hours before its arrival we placed our readers in possession of the most important icems of European and Australian news, received by telegraph from Hokitika. Apropos of this we may state that the Argus was the only newspaper on the West Coast that did so, and this is the satisfactory result of arrangeat the earnest possible moment, from every town in New Zealand, and also from the other Colonies. Our readers will readily understand that such arrangements can not be completed and carried on except at a very great expense ; but we feel assured that every effort we can make in this direction will be thoroughly appreciated and seconded by the public. After all the assurances that were given thai the application of Kilgour and Co. for a lease of the Railway and Coal Reserve was withdrawn, it has transpired that the lease was signed by the County Chairman on Wednesday evening. Mr Kilgour states that this was done some hours after he had telegraphed to Mr Hoos that the application was withdrawn, so that when he did it he must have been in possession not only of the telegram, but also of the remonstrance of the Borough Council against the lease. It is novv said that TVIr Kilgour has withdrawn entirely from the transaction, and we hope so, as he pledged his word to that effect ; and it is also said that the lease -is granted to his partners in the enterprise — Messrs Peiotti and Cassius. Should this be so, it only shows what sort of a job it was .from beginning to end, and it is not yet too late for the people to express their opinion upon it. However, we know that the whole affair can yet be easily upset, and it is sure to be, as the ' General Government has taken it in hand, and instructed the Chief Commissioner of the Waste Lands Board to stop the lease. If they are supported by pnblic opinion, they will no doubt act vigorously, and take such steps as will render Mr Hoos harmless in this district until Annexation is completed. A public meeting at Hokitika has resolved to send a deputation to Wellington, consisting of Messrs Carreras and Hoos, " to watch over Westland's interests'— whatever that may mean. Of course, they are to endeavor to injure the Annexation movement, outside of theHonse by every means in their power. The whole affair is a 'transparent nice little job to find, remunerative employment for two political adventurers who are at present unemployed. The gist of the meeting lay in the motion moved by Mr Klein, which contained these words: -"That the County Chairman be requested to defray Mr Carrjeras' necessary expenses out of the moneys voted v iinder the head of 'Miscellaneous,' during the-sitting of the late County Council." As if a public meeting at Hokitika had power to vote away the County revenue. It is such a pity those "Miscellaneous items" are about to be done away with, they were so convenient for the travelling expenses of delegates and others. However, the Annexation question is not likely to -be seriously damaged by the visit to Wellington of Messrs Hoos and Carreras. The following is the report of the meeting held on-the South Beach with respect to the extension of Kilgour and Perotti's Tramway, which we promised m our last :— A large meeting of the miners working on the South Beach was held at Clark's Union Hotel on the 9th instant, being the third meeting held within the last few days. Mr Hopkins was was called to chair, and briefly stated that the principal object of the meeting was to enable Mr Kilgour to meet the miners in a friendly spirit, and to give hiux an opportunity of expressing his views regarding the proposed alteration of the tramway.— Mr venables stated to the meeting the result of a suit he had in the Warden's Court, and the satisfactory arrangement come with Messrs Kilgour andPerotti respecting it.— Mr Harvey also stated how the proposed extension would be likely to affect him. — Mr Kilgour replied at some length, stating his reasons for abandoning the line along the Railway Reserve. He also explained the manner in which the firm held the present line, and stated that what conduced to the prosperity of the mining in-

terest directly benefited them ; their interests were identical ; and it was scarcely likely they would attempt to injure the class to whom the tramway owed its very existence. They were ready and willing to come to liberal terms with any pre-existing rights that might be encroached upon ; and \vitli regard to the two principal grievances just related, he had offered such terms as were at once accepted. He would also give them a written guarantee as an earnest of his good faith. He suggested to the meeeing the advisability of having a committee appointed from amongst the miners actually at work on the beach, to watch the interests of the whole, and to confer with him on any points that may arise between the miners and the tramway proprietors. He placed himself in their hands, and trusted that they would treat him in a liberal manner. He regretted that the committee appointed at their first meeting had not consulted Mm before they took steps ; that as soon as he heard of the matter he placed himself in communication with them, and he was sorry that they had not more confidence in him as a public man; but from the manner he was received that evening he felt convinced that any little misunderstanding that had arisen was. laid at rest, aud that for the future both interests would work together without clashing in any way. Mr Howieson then addressed the meeting, stating the object for which the Committee (of which he was a member) was formed, and after listening to Mr Kilgour's address he considered that the miners had obtained all that was required, and that therefore the committee should be disbanded. After a few remarks from Messrs O'Connor, Leach, and O'Etowd, a Standing Committee of seven members were appointed to consult with Messrs Kilgour and Perotti on any questions of conflicting interests that may arise in the future. After the usual vote of thanks the meeting separated.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Hall last night, his Worship the Mayor in the chair. There were present Councillors Nichol, Kennedy, Wickes, Moore, Parkinson, P urcell, and Coates. The Town Clerk was about to read the minutes of the last special meetiug, to which the Mayor objected, and ruled that the minutes of the last ordinary meeting must be read to be confirmed. He was informed that these minutes had already been confirmed at a meeting at which all the Councillors were present, with the exception of himself. The Mayor then said that as the special meeting was illegal at which these minutes were confirmed, the required 48 hours' notice not having been given, they required to be again confirmed before the minutes of the other ; meetings, which he also decLvred to be illegal, could be considered. An argument ' ensued, duriug which Mr Nichol said he could see no objection to confirming these minutes, and moved accordingly. As no Councillor seconded the motion the Mayor did it himself, whereupon Mr Parkinson moved as- an amendment "that the minutes ' stand as already confirmed." Another argument took place over the legality of recent meetings, Mr Kennedy maintaining that the Mayor was obstructive because he was the only person interested in the confirming of these minutes ; and he was not the proper person to sit as judge on a question of this kind in which he was interested and attempt to override the other eight members of the Council. Mr Kilgour continued to argue, on the strength of a legal opinionhehad received that the meetings were illegal, and the minutes required again to be confirmed. The same style of argument was continued for some time, with frequent intervals of silence, until the motion was put and negatived. The proceedings then came to a dead-lock, as the Act required that the first business to be transacted at any meeting —•*■*»— *V~»~— i. . ■ ■'„. ... — < -XWt>_.»y,;v>ii kaa .. .IH)d_ -this, fused to allow a motion for adjournment to be made, and after sitting and discussing the difficulties of the position across che table for about half an hour, the majority of the Councillors rose and left, the meeting, and the Mayor declared the Council adjourned. Altogether, it was the most childish display of temper and obstructiveness on the part of the members of a public body it was ever our misfortune to witness ; but the large audience that crowded tne hall seemed thoroughly to enjoy it.