Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 773, 31 December 1870, Page 2

Before another publication of this journal is in the hands of our readers, the year 1870 will have passed away. We had intended to-day to give our resume of the events of the year, and the statistics of the tradeand commerce of the port, but this is impossible, as the official returns are not closed until noon to-day, and we are therefore compelled to wait until our next in order to give them in a complete form. Meantime we content" ourselves by wishing all our Readers "A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR." All the Banks in town will b 8 closed to-day. The Custom House will be closed on Monday. Yesterday 22370z sdwts of gold were cleared at the Customs by the Union Bank for export to Melbourne "[per s.s. Gothenburg. The Greymouth Annual Regatta takes place on the River, in front of the Quay, to-day, commencing at 11 o'clock. There are eight events on the list, and seme very good prizes offered. The programme will be found iv another column. Should the weather remain as it has been all week, very little business will be transacted after noon, and great interest will be taken by the general public in the Regatta. We direct attention to the public meeting called by his Worship the Mayor for tLis evening, at the Volunteer Hall, for the purpose of considering a proposal for the forma-, tion of a tramway and pack-road from Greymouth to the Coal-pits. As we have already explained, the subject is one of vital importance to the town, and it is to be hoped there wijl be a very numerous attendance. We have again to remind our readers that the New Year's dinner of the patients in the Grey River Hospital, take* place to-morrow, and it is desirable that a fe vv extra luxuries should appear on the table on that occasion. Our attention has been called to an error in our report of the Christmas sports, in which it is stated that one competitor at the standjng high leap cleared 10ft 3in. The word ■" high.'' was a misprint for " flat," and it was at the standing flat leap that the distance was jumped. The Treasurer of the Grey River Hospital begs to acknowledge receipt of the following donations to the funds of the institution : — Collected by Messrs Philip Bowe and Tbos. Weir, at Napoleon's and Hilf.OUnce, on behalf of Anthony Richardson, a patient, since deceased, L 22 7s. Collected by the Superin» tendent, from patients in the Hospital : — — Fegan, LI ; Francis M'Hugh, L 2 ; Tobias Christissen, L 3 ; Joseph Court, LI ; James Hunter, Ll ; Alexander Doig, L 5; William Stephenson, Lls— Total, L2B. It is to be hoped that many years will pass before the Ahaura will realise thab gloom which now prevails. The shocking and lamentable end— the sad fate of that illstarred young man, George Patenaude, must ever be recalled with sad regret. It is,painful to reflect upon the melancholy fact of his being so unexpectedly summoned, and it is equally painful to know th^f a young -woman, who has hitherto ioorne a very good character, should have behaved in so rash a manner. The evidence failed to disclose any motive for the offence, and doubtless it will long continue buried in oblivion. The report of the inquest will be seen in column. The murderess was brought down to Cobden yesterday. She will not be tried at the Resident Magistrate's Court, as she has been committed for trial on a Coroner's warrant. The funeral, of tbe deceased took place at the Ahaura, .on Thursday evening, before the proceedings at the inquest were quite finished. The body was interred in the new cemetery on the edge of the plains, on the Napoleon road, and it was followed to the grave by a large concourse of people, including a number of friends and acquaintances of the deceased from Noble's, Half/ Ounce, Napoleon's, and the Ahaura. A very alarming, bosh-fire spread along the side of the Tramway on a line with Tainui street on Thursday, in dangerous proximity to a number of private residences. A very high and changeable wind was blowing all day, and as the weather had been very hot all week, the flames made rapid progress, spreading over a quarter of a mile of country, and rapidly advancing on the houses on Albert terrace. At 4 p.m. the fire bells rang out, and iv a few minutes the Volunteer Fire Brigade, with its engines, hose-reals, and apparatus were on the way to the scene of the conflagration. The hose was laid on, and the swamp at Tivoli Gardens was soon pumped dry. An effort had now to be made to take the engine down the tramway to a creek near Mr Kennedy's honse, but the wheels were too wide for the rails. It was managed, however, by taking planks from a house vow in course of erection, and laying them outside the rafts, Another engine was hoisted on a tramway truck srvi ri;r. through the fire to Sawyer's Creek Bridgo, as the wind had changed in ttiat direction, placing Mr Harrison's house, and the bridge in great danger. When a plentiful supply of water was obtained the Brigade soon made an impression on the flames, but it was frightfully hot, suffocating, and dangerous work from

the number of blazing trees which were falling all around. It was only by constant watching and wetting-down that the whole cf the houses were saved. At one time Mr Cooper's house in Herbert Jstreefc was on fire, from the shower of sparks which were falling all around, but it was soon extinguished. About eight o'clock another change of wind took place, and the flakes of fire were blown over Mr Wickes' house and across to Tivoli Gardens, the trees in which were soon in a blaze, aud burned all night. The members of the Fire Brigade worked with much energy up to ten p.m., when it was considered that all danger was over. In whatever way the fire originated, it is hi^h time that the indiscriminate lighting of bush fires within the limits of the Borough should be put a stop to, as a great calamity may befall the town by this means any day. Under the Municipal Corporations Act, the Council has power to pass very stringent bye-laws on this subject, and it is to be hoped that some action will be taken in this direction at its next meeting. The annual pic-nic* of the Sunday School children of Greymouth and their parents and friends will take place on Monday at Tivoli Gardens. The whole of the children attending the Sunday Schools iv. Cobden and Greymonth will assemble under their several teachers, at 9 a m., at the Town Hall, from■which they will march in procession, headed by the Town Band to the grounds, where the usual sports will be carried on during the day. Immense quantities of sandwiches, &c. are being prepared, and there will be no lack of refreshments for the children. We notice by the Dunedin papers that Mr David Hepburn, one of a weli-known family, has been killed by his horse rolling over him. A new gaol, for the accommodation of female prisoners only, is being erected on the Lincoln road, near Christchurch. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, E. Trahey, surrendered to his bail, on a charge of larceny, brought against him. by Elizabeth Gillon, wife of one James Gillon, lately of Maori Creek, but now a prisoner in the County Gaol at Hokitika. The simple facts of the case, as disclosed in evidence, were that when leaving Maori Creek a quantity of goods were packed up by the complainant, sent down to Marsden, thence to Paroa, then up the lagoon to the boatman's hut, where they were left, and Mr Trahey was asked to send over for them, and keep them In His house for a week or two until called for. Six months elapsed, and they were not called for. In the meantime Gillon had gone to the Greenstone, had got iuto trouble and the gaol ; his wife called at Trahey's temporary house, after his hotel and goods had been washed out to sea, and demanded the boxes and parcels which had been left. It was impossible to give them up, as the majority of them had been lost in the flood, and what things had been saved, in the shape of bedding and plothing, it was almost impossible to say to whom ibey belonged. Mrs Gillon then got out a search-warrant, aud some few things were found in the defendant's plape which she claimed, and the defendant was consequently arrested. Yesterday the case broke down, and was dismissed. \ newspaper is to be published at Port Chalmers, under the title of the Port Chalmers Independent. It will be issued biweekly. On Thursday night week, Brother Win. Mills was installed as W. M. of the Lyttelton Lodge of Unanimity. The Right Worshipful District Grand Master, Dr Donald, performed the ceremony. There was a large muster of visitors from Christchuroh at the installation and banquet. Mr Main, M.H.R., is said to have accepted office under the General Government, in connection with the Lands Transfer Act, and consequently that he will not seek re-election as a representative. An accident happened to the Rev Father Maloney whilst travelling on horseback in company with another gentleman, at the Kuri Bush, Otago, on Thursday evening week. The rev. gentleman's horse having become exhausted on the way from Dunedin he put it up at a stable, getting another horse, a young one, on which he 'rode soine miles. When within 400 yards of his destination, the horse bolted, and after running a short way, swerved, and threw Father Maloney on his hoad. His hat, a beaver, fortunately broke the force of the fall, but he was nevertheless stunned, and remained insensible for about twenty minutes. Some men who had seen the accident from a distance soon came up, and he was then removed to a house. He was severely shaken, and also rsoejped a severe bruise on the back and ' the sinewy of his back were strained. We'.afe ifappy to st^tjs, however, that he is progressing favorably, and expects to be shortly able to resume his duties. : '