THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1870.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 725, 10 September 1870, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1870.

The s s. Tararua arrived in the Hokitika roadstead on Thursday evening, .bringing later European and Australian ne^Y3. As. the news brought by her was the mo3t important that has been received here for some time, we made every endeavor to supply it to the public at the earliest possible moment, and it gives us pleasure to say that we were very ably assisted by Mr Hawley, of the telegraph office, who was engaged receiving the telegrams of English and Australian news from 1 a.m. to 4.40 a.m. yesterday, and which weie published by us and circulated through town shortly after daylight. Iv consequence of the importance of the intelligence just received, the Assembly vrill not be prorogued until the Governor's despatches reach Wellington. Messrs White, Clark and Macfarlane were elected on Thursday as members of the Hokitika Borough Council. Mr G. Cotterell gave his farewell drawingroom entertainment at the Volunteer Hall last evening. There was a very poor attendance, which is to be regretted, especially considering the excellence of the performance. Mr Cottereir intends next to visit Hokitika, where we trust he will be well re-" ceived. On Thursday, the Returning Offices for the various Wards declared Messrs C. Wo >leock, S. Barclay, and J. C. Moore elected without opposition for the vacant seats in the Borough Council. . According to the promise, Mr Woolcock will immediately resign, when there will be a hot contest for the representation of the East Ward. One of the cargo boats belonging to Mr H. M'Gill, was swamped at " Buckley's Mistake," Grey River on Thursday afternoon, and the boat and cargo lost. The crew fortunately got ashore. The loss of both boat and cargo will fall very heavy upon Mr M'Gill. The Christy Miustrels arrived at the Abaura late on Tuesday night last. It was announced that a performance would be given by them at Giliner's Hotel, but it had to be postponed in consequence o: the nonarrival of the darkies in time. They pro- ~ ■■-- " " '* .'!" ■ L '*H iUi " u " -- ■ t tt i m iiimLjiinrniTior where they have been playingaY uf?HtPoHotel nightly since, to crowded houses. Their first concert at the Ahaura will take place on Saturday (this) evening. With regard to the charges against Mr F. Harris, late Sub-Treasurer of the Nelson Province, we hear that yesterday he was again brought before the Bench at Nelson. The following witnesses were examiued :— Mr Leslie, agent of the New Zealand Bank. Westport ; Mr Sharp, late Provincial Treasurer ; and Mr Shephard, the present Treasurer. The prisoner was committed to take his trial. The Bench agreed to accept bail— prisoner 'in LBOO, and two sureties of L4OO each. Bail is expected to be forthcoming from Westport. The Crown Prosecutor stated that it was probable other charges of a graver nature would be brought agaiust the prisoner — that of tampering with vouchers.

Mr Dobson, the District Engineer, arrived at the Ahaura on Wednesday. He shouldered his swag on the following morning aad started across the country in the direction of Lake Hoshstetter accompanied by Surveyor Wolley, who has just finished surveying the proposed large water-race from the lake to Nelson Creek aud the surrounding diggings. The Ahaura people were expecting great things from Mr Dobson's visit, but by all accounts they are not likely to derive much benefit by it beyond the remembrance of the fact that "his bright smile haunts them still," which ought- to be sorce consolation, to them in their disappointment. • • A serious accident occurred on Friday evening last afc Port Chalmers, to Mr David Marr, a well known resident at that place. Mr Marr was on his way to his own house in Mount street, and while coming down from Gooseberry Hill, the night being exceedingly dark, he fell down a cutting about eight feet deep into Mount street, breaking his right leg between the knee aud the ankle. Messrs Giles, Whitefoord, and Broad, the Wardens of the Nelson South-West Gold Fields, have been sitting in conference at Cobden for the last few days, for the purpose of altering and amending the Gold Fields Regulations for the Nelson Province. These gentlemen finished their labors Wednesday, aud they recommend Several alterations aud additions. Among others, the insertion of a new rule, giving the Warden power, in special cases, to grant a double area of ground. This is important, as at present, no matter how poor the ground may be, or how expensive it may be to get water on to it. the bye-laws do not allow more than an ordinary claim. They also recommend tnat miners should be allowed to enter upon agricultural leaseholds to prospect, provided they give a guarantee that the damage may be made good. There -are other equally important additions, which we will take an early opportunity of pointing out. Several of the present rules are to be struck out. The adjourned meeting of the Borough . Council was held last night. Present — Messrs Kilgour (Mayor), Kennedy, Wickes, Barclay, Coate9, Pnrcell, and Mo.ore. The Town Clerk reported the election of Mr J. C. Moore for the West Ward. Mr S. Barclay for the Middle Ward, and Mr C. Woolcock for the East Ward. After making the customary declaration?, the newly-eleuted councillors took their seats. The minute 3of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters from Messrs Lapbam, Deare, and Kenrick, were read and received, the orineragreeing to grant the overdraft of £600. A, letter was also received from Messrs Masters and Co., asking permission to erecf; gasworks, and to lay down pipes throughout the town. Permission granted. A letter was received from Wm. Williams and party asking compensation for their waterrace. Mr Wickes moved, and Mr Kennedy seconded, "That this Council do not entertain the same question of compensation, and instructed the Town Clerk to answer the same." Carried. A petition was received from Messrs W. S. Smith, t

Perkins, and others, asking the Council to carry out the improvements in Alexandra street, upon the same terms as were granted to the other streets. Mr Kennedy moved "That a vote of thanks be awarded to the late numbers for their co-operation in carrying on the business of "the Council. Seconded by Mr Coates and carried. Mr Moore moved the suspension of the Standing Orders, to allow the Council to supplement the vote for repairing Gresson street to the extent of L3O, which was carried. Notice of motion was given by Mr Moore, that he wished the Town Surveyor to report upon the state of the protection works between the Union Hotel and Albert streets, more particularly opposite the Brian Boru and Cosmopolitan Hotel's. The Council was then adjourned for the usual period. An action for damages for assault, Slattery v. Molloy, occupied the attentiou of the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Cainptown, nearly all day Wednesday. Damages were Laid afc L4O. The assault was alleged to have taken place at No Town. The Magistrate eventually gave a verdict for L 5, with L 3 10s expenses, On the telegraphic news reaching Port Chalmers that Mr Macanerew's resolution making Port Chalmers the terminus of the San Francisco service, had been carried by a large majority in the House of Representatives, the Port was jubilant. Bunting was hoisted "galore," and the majority of the vessels in Port dressed shi^.. In the evening the Naval Volunteers fired a salute in celebration of the result, and blue lights and rockets were simultaneously displayed all over the town. Some of the vessels in harbor al9i> sent off rockets in compliment to the townspeople. The returns of the Customs Revenue at the various parts of the Colony for the quarter ended the 30th June, shows that Hokitika imported to the value of L 12.797, and Greymouth, LI 1,833. . The exports were valued as follows :— Hokifcika, L 96,770 ; Greymouth, L 102,220. The local papers says that a ton of stone which was lately brought from the Marlborongh reef for the purpose of being tested has been crushed and yielded at the rate of loz sgr to the ton. The General Government Gazette, of the Ist inst., contains tho appointment of C. D. R. Ward, Esq. to be Judge of the District Courts of Westknd and Westland North. It also appoints Skelton G. Rowley to be Deputy-Repjstrer of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for the Cobden District. An Act has been passed by the General Assembly for extending the jurisdiction of the District Courts of the Colony. The fourth clause provides that tho Government may by Proclamation from time to time declare that any District Court shall have cognizance of all felonies and indictable misdemeanours committed before or after the passing of this Act within the district over which its jurisdiction extends, except treason, murder, or other capital felony, or any felony which when committed by a person not previously convicted of felony is punishable by penal servitude for more than seven years : except also any of the following offences, that is to say— (l.) Misprision of treason.. (2.) Offences against the Queen's title, prerogative, person, or government. (3.) Offences subject to the penalties of Prramunire. (4 ) Blasphemy and offences against religion. (5.) Administering or taking unlawful oaths. (6.) Composing, printing, or publishing blasphemous, seditious, or defamatory libels. (7.) Unlawful combinations and conspiracies, except combinations or conspiracies to commit any offence whereof such District Court hath cognizance when committed by one person. And every such felonzand misdemeanor -e^j. ■■ „«, -ab— ~*tti~~may. Dejtreanr- wttu, -i_^ quired of, tried, determined, and punished in any district constituted under "The District Courts Act, 1858," where the offender shall be apprehended or be in custody, in the same manner in all respects as if the offence had beeu actually committed in that district. With respect to the recent shock of earthquake the Lyttelton Times says:— "Our Okain Bay correspondent writes as follows on Sept. 1 : — A very smart shock of earthquake was felt here on Weduesday last, about 6. 30 p.m. The direction was apparently nearly due south to north. The oscillation lasted about' 3o seconds, during which time the bell of the Okain Bay church was set ringing. I have not heard that any particular damage was caused by it within the neighborhood." A Little Akaloa correspondent notes "A very heavy shock about a quarter past six," and gives the direction "from north to south, assigning good reasons for this. No particular damage was done, but crockery was smashed in some of the houses. Our correspondent adds that he has " felt a great many earthquakes, " and he particularly mentions the severe shock at Wellington in 1848. That on Wednesday last was not, he thiuks, less severe. A correspondent residing at Geraldine sends the following particulars to a Timaru contemporary : About a quarter-past six this evening tins place was visited by a shock of earthquake, which, though rather severe, has happily, as far as I kuow, passed off harmless. 1 had jusfc finished tea and was reading, when 1 heard a rumbling noise,

which I thought was a passing dray heavily laden, aud immediately afterwards I felt a vibration at my feet, aud on looking up ab the roof of the school-house, I noticed it swerving to and fro, and the door flew open. The rumbling seemed to come from the norfch-wesfc aud went gradually away to the south-east. The seat I was on moved, and the candlesticks on the table vsere quite unsteady At the "Rakapuka saw mills the shock was very much felt, and it was feared at h'r3t the boiler of the engine had burst. The houses on the road to the mill were seen to move, and at the Geraldine hotel all the bottles were moving as if they would come off the shelves. Another correspondent, living on the terrace at Pareora, saya the shock was so violent that he expected the building in which he was would topple over in the river-bed. The news of the retirement of Sir David Monro from the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives will be received with regret in all parts of the Colony. For ten years he has discharge! the duties of that important office with a dignity and invpartialty which the House and the constituencies _ have constately recognised. When parties have been very evenly balanced, and the least symptom of partiality on the part of the Speaker might have turn the scale, the country has always felt that no matter how high party feeling might run, Sir David Monro was a man who could be thoroughly trusted to do hip duty without fear or favor. We hope the Government will come down with a proposil before tbe session closes for recognising in some substantial way the great service Sir David Monro has rendered to the colony. It is not very long since a pension was conferred upon a late Speaker of the Legislative Council, for services the value and impoitance of which we fully recognise, but which, after all, are iv no way equal to the benefits the colony has received from the services of the present Speaker of the House of Repi esentatives. It is somewhat premature to speculate upon who is likely to succeed Sir David Munro, as the general elections may bring into the House new members more fitted for the post than any ab present there. Of the present members, Mr Dillon Bell would, perhaps, be the most desirable Speaker, were it not that his unfortunate short sight would often prove most inconvenient to members anxious to

catch lug oye, and would doubtless be a constant source of ( innoya2ice to himself. We do not go so far as to say we shall never look upon Sir David's "like again." We hope and think we shall ; but it will take some years' experience to equal him, and we question if any will ever surpass him in his practical knowledge of the rules of debate, his great patience and tact under trying circumstances, aud his unfailing courtesy at all times. The House will miss him, and the country will miss him ; but he will take with him in his retiremont that which cannot be otherwise than pleasing to his mmd — the most heartfelt regard of every one who has ever sat in the House during his Speakership, and the profound respect of every elector in the country.