Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 730, 22 September 1870, Page 2

It will be seen by reference lo another column that his Honor Judge Richmond has declared the Grey River Argus the Gazette in Bankruptcy for the judicial district uortli of the Teremakau River, from the Ist October. The new rules of procedure in bankruptcy for a uniform practice throughout the Colony, adopted by all the Judges of the Supreme Court, come into force on that day. An English mail, for letters specially addressed "Via Suez," will be despatched by the s.s. Claud Hamilton on Saturday. The regular English mail via San Francisco will close here on the 28th insr. The following list of small-debt cases was disposed of at the Resident Magistrate's Court on' Tuesday morning :— Mrs Carlisle v Mrs Hanley, claim of L 7 ; judgment for L 6 and 15s costs. W. J. Coates vC. Gardner, judgment by default for L3l 5s and costs. Trustee in the estate of J. Tucker v. B. Goff.- Claim of LI 11s 6d. A set-off \yas filed for L 2 16s for drinks supplied.. Mr Guinness, for the plaintiff, pleaded the Tippling Acb against the set-off being received, but the Magistrate would not allow the plea. He gave judgment for the defendant, each party paying their own costs. Same v Strike and

1 Blaekniore.— Claim of L 3 16s. A set-off was tiled for L 4 Is. Judgment was given for tile defendant for 4s Gd and costs. .T. Gordon v Captain Smith, of the Mary Ann. — Claim oi L 6 4s, for wages as a seaman. Mr Newton, for the plaintiff, asked an adjournment until the defendant returned to port, but the Magistrate decided to hear the case. The plaintiff was nonsuited with costs LI 14s. James Wylde v — Hill.— Claim of LlO ; judgment for plaintiff with costs. H. Barnhill v. J. Poynting. — Judgment by default for 1.26, and costs 255. James Morton v Mrs Beck. — Judgment by default for L 8 7s 6d and costs 13s. Hildebraud and Weber v Caldwell.- Judgment confessed for L 3 5s Gd ; to be paid at the rate of 10s per week, or in default one month's imprisonment. R. M'Nee and Co. v James Coleman.— A fraud summons for L 7 14s Id. Defendant did not appear, and a warrant was ordered to issue for his apprehension. Thomas and M 'Beath vR. Shannon, Eoss. — Judgment by default for L 7 8s 2.1, aud costs 14s. We are informed that the members of the Gveymoutfa. Rifle Volunteers ha 're issued challanges to the id&ow'ing crack shooting corps : — Match with the Dimedin Artillery, to be tired on the third Saturday in October ; with the Dunedin Naval Brigade, on the fourth Saturday in October ; the St. Kilda Artillery, on the first Saturday in November; f he Williamstown Naval Company, on the second Saturday in November ; the Melbourne and North Melbourne Eifles, on the third Saturday in November ; and the Emerald aid Hill Artillery, on the fourth Saturday in November. If it were only for their pluck, we wish the local company every success, and trust that they will do honor to the towns they represent. In the case A. R. Guinness v. F. Cook — a prosecution for neglecting to stamp a. receipt — Mr Revell has further reserved judgment for a week, as he had been in communication with the General Government with regard to the case, but had as yet received no reply. The stand-pipe subscribed for by the residents iv the block between Albert ai.d Boundary streets was driven yesterday iv the right-of-way at the back, so as to command the whole of the back premises in the block iv case of fire. It was driven twentyfour feefc, and contained 16ft of water at low tide. A pump has beeu fixed on tbe top, which will give the residents in the neighborhood a never-failing supply of good water. The pipe was tried last night by the Fire Brigade and was found to work admirably. On Saturday last, a mining accident took place at Moonlight by which a miner named William Hunter was suffocated. He went to work in the claim, putting in a drive from the tunnel, when, between eight and nine o'clock, the running ground came in on hi:n suddenly and covered him. up. Archibald Hunter, R. Dougherty, John Scott, and J.Cochrane commenced to dig him out. They heard him calling them for one hour and a half Avhile they were working, and about i that time the side props gave way, and while the party were putting in the two sets of timber they only heard the moans of Hunter. When they got in Hunter was dead. Hia body waa brought to town to i M'Kinfcy's Hotel, Albert street, where an inquest; was held and a verdict of • ' accidental death " returned. His remains were interred in the Greymouth Cemetery on Monday. The deceased was much respected iv the district. We have been informed that this is the third brother out of the same family who has been killed by mining accidents witl'in the last two years. On the last trip of the Kennedy she took from Westport to Hokitika 417'20z lldwt 12gr of gold, which will no doubt be transhipped from there into the Claud Hamilton without auy mention of the source from which it came. Yesterday afternoon, a friendly rifle contest took place at the butts between the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the loccil Rifle Company. The shooting was below the average, and the privates were the winners by 16 points. Dr Morice headed the list ; and G. Simmons - was second, with the tine score of 42 points. A singular accident occurred to a miner named Fred Ashcrofb, at Paddy's Gully, on Monday. The party to which he belongs are cutting a head-race, and Mr Ashcroft was trying to pull a root out which was cut half through, it came away before he expected, and he stepped suddenly backwards to keep his balance. In doing so he threw his right foot behind him, and one of his mates accidentally drove a sharp pick right through his uncle Dr Hudson was soon in attendance, and the sufferer is progressing favorably under his treatment. A meeting of the Grey River Steam TugCompany was held' on Tuesday afternoon, at Kilgour's Union Hotel, Mr H. H. Lahman in the chair. Mr Mos3, the manager, read a financial statement, which showed that there were sufficient funds ou hand to declare the usual dividend and leave a surplus. It was resolved that the directors be empowered to declare a dividend of 10 per cent. The meeting theu separated. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tnesday morning, before W. fl. Revell, Esq., R.M., Gilbert M'Colvin was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and was fined 5s or 24 hours' imprisonment. Sarah Lynch was brought up on remand, supposed to be of unsound mind. The medical testimony was that the defendant was suffering from tbe effects of drink, and also from delirium, and was not fit to be at large, but with a little care and attention she would be all right again. She was remanded for a week for medical treatment. Fred Striuger was charged with assaulting James Monks. It appeared that during a dog fight in Mackay street on Sunday last, plaintiff kicked defendant's dog, whereupon defendantgave plain? tiff a blow on the face. This was admitted; Fined Is and 14s costs. Yesterday, Johanna Shiel and John Roach were each fined LI or 24 hours' imprisonment, for being drunk and disorderly. An old miner and resident at Wclshmau's Terrace, Rutherglen, Mr Mnnpiillet, met with a serious misfortune on Monday last, whilst at work in his claim. Ho was carrying a rather large stone, and stepping too near the edge of the embankment or cutting, tbe earth gave way beneath his feet, and the poor fellow fell with considerable force upon his right arm, which was severely fractured. This 13 particularly unfortunate, as the claim has barely yielded tucker for some months past. An attempt to commit suicide was made by a man who was staying at D'Arcy's Hotel, Twelve-mile Landing, on Tuesday evening. The man came to the hotel in the evening, and ,from the strangeness of his manner and conversation he was watched. He was seen to go into a bedroom with a knife in his hand, but before he a mid do himself auy serious injury he was secured by Messrs D'Arcy and Patrick Gillen, who happened to be in the house at the time. The unfortunate man was given in charge to Sergeant McMyn, at Camptown, later in the evening. Recent domestic afflictions are said to have iipset the poor fellow's mind. The prisoner, who is well known in the district, will be brought before the Magistrate at Camptown on the next sitting of the Court there. A fatal accident took place on Monday, at the Kanieri, by which a man named John Hugill met with his death by drowning. The W. O. Times says the deceased had been

employed at the ferry leased by Messrs Smith and Leannouth. Ifc ay>pears that at 3 p. m. on tho day in question he was about starting with a load of timbcv to Mr MitcUel'a place, at the Eight-mile, ana shortly afterwards the boat was seen moored oppo-ite Mr H. llobinson's butchers's shop. At 5 p.m. the boat was seen adrift by another employee at the ferry, and then inquiries were made about the missing man, which were continued until a late hour on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning the river was dragged, and eventually the body was recovered within about twenty yards of the punt. The deceased waa a member of the Hokitika Lodge of Oddfellows, and was much respected. The much-talked-of Peep o' Day claim at Coromandel maintains its great celebrity. This is a claim of six men's ground, and the limited nnmber of full shares makes the interests of considerable value. The main tunnel is upwards of 60 feet in, terminating in a T drive of about the same length ; and the leader from which such rich stone is being got out is from 12 to 18 inches wide. Gold is seen, in such quantities in large blocks oJ quartz tnab all f>noi\ acor>vmta of this valuable ground are fully verified. A good deal of work has been done to open up the ground, and iv stoping out rich specimens are constantly met with. This reef is well defined, and gives every promise of profitable work for a lengthened period. The whole of this claim is on the Kennedy's Bay side of the range, and below the main tunnel is another drive of , about 75 feet, in which a leader averaging a width of from 10 to 12 inches was cut, from which a good deal of gold has been obtained. About 801 bof magnificent specimens are on hand, equalling anything I have hitherto seen in this district for a profusion of the precious metal. A large box of what might be called washdirt is in the possession of the manager, and the free mariner in which large specks of gold are seen throughout is a convincing proof of its great worth. In all there are about 70 or 80 tons of. splendid stuff to grass, which undoubtedly will give a liberal yield when crashed. The Southern Cross states that the shareholders in the Prussian claim, Murphey's Hill, which has been steadily worked for nearly two years, have just obtained the first of -what; may be a series of payable returnes from their mine, which is well placed on Murphey's Bill, next the Big Gibralter and „Eoy_al Standard mines. The existence o( auriferous surface-veins in the ground had long ueen known to the shareholders, but they, being desirous of laying the claim open for a long spell of work, commenced a low-level tunnel, which they kitew would reach 400£ c long ; and, as they failed to count the cost f with sufficient care, they had to abandon the undertaking when it was about through, on account of the excessive hardness of the country. This tunnel would have commanded 300 ft of backs upon the veins. This ground was then opened higher up the hill, and two veins were cut at a level that gave about 50ft of back above it on the surface. A lot of stone was driven out from one of these veins which runs from Gin to 18in thick, and two trial parcels — one of five tons, the other seven — were sent to the Hape Creek machine to be crushed. The result was made known, an 4 exceeded the highest hopes indulged in by the shareholders. From the smaller parcel 360z lOdwt of melted golt were obtained, being at the rate of more than 7oz to the ton. The larger parcel gave ioz to the ton. The leader strikes across the "hill, and must pass through the adjoining Indomitable Claim. At the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, at Auckland, the other day, the Court was occupied investigating the charge of stealing specimens from the Whau Claim against James Wilson. This case has obtained a most unenviable notoriety on account of_ the informant in the case being the prisoner's brother-in-law, and on account of the tarrine case occurring at the Thames shortly after the committal of Wilson. The floor of the Court was crowded during the hearing of the case. George Preston, the informant, was subjected to a most searching cross-examination. Having begun to give his evidence at eleven o'clock, he did not get out of the witness-box until ten minutes past three o'clock. Five witnesses were examined for the prosecution, and three for the defence. At 11.59 p.m. the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged.