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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 786, 31 January 1871, Page 2

The fact of the granting of the prospeoting claim in the Little Grey District, which we mentioned on Saturday, has had the effect of causing a steady rush in the direction of the country indicated. On Saturday some men left, but on Sunday and yesterday morning a few hundreds from the town and beaches started for the scene of the rush, as the prospector had been about town since Friday, and whenever questioned adhered to the facts as stated by him to the Warden, and also to us. As it was known that he would leave town to return to the scene of the rash on Monday morning, he was carefully •• shepherded by «bjut fifty men, and as a large number hadstarted before him, there is no doubt that he would become an object o oouidf ruble iatrast acd attention on the

way up. At least he was so yesterday morning, when he crossed the river to Cobden, in order to keep his appointment at the Warden's office, to meet Mr Woolley, mining surveyor, by whom he was to be accompanied to the ground. Last night all kinds of rumors were afloat as to the nature of the alleged discovery ; but no reliable news has yet come to hand. It is to be regretted that, notwithstanding the caution we gave the miners when we announced the granting of the prospecting claim, so many of them should have rushed off, without waiting for the report of the surveyor, which the Warden promised should be made public as soon as received. Naturally, many of them will return after enduring a considerable amount of hardship, without discovering the scene of the rush, but they have only themselves to blame for acting so precipitately. It is to be hoped the rush will turn out right, but whether or not, the fullest particulars regarding it will be made public whenever received. A supplementary mail for America. England, and Continent of Europe will be despatched to-morrow by the p.s. Charles Edward. The mails from coast ports brought by the s.s Gothenburg were landed at Hokitika yesterday morning, but were not brought on by the coach. We are consequently without our Wellington and Nelson papers, and unable to give the usual extracts to-day. A general meeting of the Grey River Steam Tug Company ia called for Monday next, at Kilgour's Union Hotel, for the purpose of receiving the report and balancesheet, and electing two directors. We are requested to state that the tenders for painting the Presbyterian Church close this day at two o'clock. The anniversary of the Cobden Sunday School was celebrated last night by a public tea meeting in the School-house. The room was crowded by visitors from Cobden and Greymouth. Mr Masters occupied the chair, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. M'lntosh, the Rev Mr Cannell, Mr Lucas, Mr Newton, &c. A very enjoyable evening was spent, and at the conclusion the usual vote of thanks was given. We believe there are 49 children on the roll, and an average attendance of 37, and there are Ll4 in hand to commence the year's operations. Saturday was the day appointed for the deposit with the Returning Officer of nominations for the seat in the Borough Council, vacated by Mr W. F. Strike, one of the members for the West Ward. There was only one nomination, that of Mr F. C. Dupre, and yesterday, at noon, he was declared duly elected by Mr Moore, Returning Officer. The sale of the sites for the booths, grand stand, gates, &c, at the Ah aura Races, will take place on the racecourse, near the Ahaura, on Tuesday, 31st inst. (to-day.) Mr Macassey, of Dunedin, has consented to stand for Waitaki ; he is is opposed by Mr Steward, the editor of the Oamaru Times. Correct returns have not been made of the polling at Riverton yet, but the following will be found to be approximately correct : — M'Gillivray 171, Wilson 36, and Lowe 26. Inspector Shallcrass, head of the police force in the Nelson Province, has just returned from an official visit to the Grey Valley district. He arrived at the Ahaura on Wednesday, and visited the outlying districts on the following days. The Inspector made some slight alterations, but generally he found the force in a satisfactory state, and the district comparatively free ;from crime. A native chief named Solomon Patu Pokoheki, of Riverton, has consented to become a candidate for the representation of the Southern Maori Electoral District. It is rumored that Mr 3 Boulton, the heroine of the Drybread body-snatching case, who was "sentenced to three months' imprisonment, was, after three weeks' incarceration, liberated on the petition of some Dunstan residents, The Rev. Father Bensfeld is now on a visit to the up-river districts. The rev. gentleman held divine service at Mr M'Kenna's, at the Ahaura, on Saturday morning. Mass was celebrated at Napoleon on Sunday morning, and prayers in the evening. It is the intention of Father Bensfeld to visit the Inangahua and Murray Creek reefs, returning to Greymouth by way of the agricultural district of Totara Flat, where he will stay at Mr Thomas Harron's. The official declaration of the poll, in the election for ttie Grey Valley District, was made yesterday at noon by W. H. Revell, Esq., Returning Officer. He read the detailed returns which have already been published, showing that 863 votes were recorded for Mr W. H. Harrison, and 679 for Mr Mr P. A. Buckley, while 28 votes were informal, making a total of 1570 votes polled in the district. Mr Revell then declared Mr W. H. Harrison duly elected to represent the Grey Valley District in the General Assembly. There were only some halfdozen electors present, and no speeches were made. Mr Wm. Fraser, of Earnscleugh Station, Otago, intends to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the Dunstan in the Assembly. Preparations for the work of forming the railway to the Clutha are now being made. Work will be begun upon section 1, between Dunedin and Caversham, and tenders for it are now being called for. Instructions have been given to the engineer, Mr W. N. Blair, to proceed with the formation of about 15 miles of the line, and we understand that it is his intention to let the works in contracts of from LSOOO to L 20.000. A serious accident occurred to a fine little boy, a son of Mr Peter Mulvey, Dairy Farm Hotel, near the Ahaura, on Saturday last. The child was playing with a shingling knife, and when trying to imitate the operation of shingle-splitting, he struck his left hand with the knife, and almost cut off the first joint of the thumb. Surgical assistance was at once procured, and the little sufferer is progressing favorably. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. H. Revell Esq., R.M., and E. Wiekes Esq., J.P., an information was read by H. Raphael against J. Johnston for using threatening and insulting language in a public place, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Newton appeared for complainant and Mr Wilson for the defendant, and on the application of Mr Newton the case was adjourned until this morning for the production of a witness. — Two carters were fined for allowing their horses to stray in the streets. — Robert Gamble, Paul Winneck, and William Scanlan, were each fined 10s and costs for removing gravel from the lower end of Gresson street without permission. They all pleaded that they were simply working for wages, and doing what they were told by Martin Kennedy, carter, who was employed to ballast the brig Magnet. The Magistrate said he would draw the attention of parties who were in the habit of carting gravel from the streets to the fact that the fine was L 5, and he would be compelled to inflict the penalty in future, in order to put a stop to the practice. — Honora Lodge was charged, on the information of George Garside, with making use of abusive language in a public place. It appeared that the defendant had quarrelled with her husband, and had abused him in the publio street for an hour and a half,

B aking use of most filthy and abominable language. The complainant said he was sorry to have to bring the case before the Court, but he was compelled to do it from the frequent occurrence of similar scenes. In fact, the defendant and her husband had become a perfect nuisance in the neighborhood, and he would, not press for a conviction if they would leave. Mr Blackmore corroborated this evidence. The defendaut now said she would leave the neighborhood, whenever she had enough money to do so, whereupon the complainant offered to pay any reasonable amount to asssist her to go. The Magistrate gave the defendant a very severe lecture ana caution upon her conduct, and, in order to give her a last opportunity to clear away, reserved judgment until Thursday. Charlotte Crisp, who styled herself an upholstress, charged Mary Ann Rogers with wilfully and maliciously dangering property to the value of 15s, and also asked that the defendant should be bound over to keep the peace. Evidence was given of the damage done to the property, and also frequent instances of violent conduct and threatening and insulting language towards the complainant. The defendant, was fined 10s and costs, ordered to pay the amount of damage done, and was bound over to keep the peace for three months, herself in LlO, and two surities in L 5 each. Alexander M'Farland, a miner, 44 years of age, had one of his legs broken, and was otherwise much crushed by a fall of earth, whilst working in his claim at Surface Hill, Naseby, on the 3rd. On the 13th inst., mortification apparently set in, it was thought advisable to have his leg amputated, which was accordingly done. After the operation he gradually sank until the morning of the 17th inst., when he died. Previous to his death he made a will, bequeathing his property to big sister in Scotland. — Another accident from a fall of earth has occurred at Surface Hill, a miner named George Garth having had his leg broken. With regard to the amended Mining Regulations for Westland, in the County Council on Friday last. Mr Robinson moved— 15 That the Council go into Committee for the purpose of considering the Mining Regulations and amendments proposed by the late mining conference." He said the matter was one of very great importance. It was certainly late in the afternoon, but it was better to commence at once. The Chairman proposed that the motion should be allowed to lapse for the present. Mr Button suggested, as an amendment, that a Select Committee be formed, to consist of Messrs Scanlan, Barff, Robinson, and the mover, to report within ten days. Mr Barff considered the appointment of a Select Committee would be useless. Mr Reid would second the amendment. Mr Guinness was in favour of the appointment of a Committee, butthought it better to posponeit, so that Judge Ward might be asked to assist on the Committee, in conjunction with the Wardens. The Chairman would support the appointment of a Committee. Mr Robinson aid not oppose the amendment. It was carried unanimously. The Wellington correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says the new Government House is likely to be finished this week, and preparations for enlarging the Government offices, in accordance with the votes passed for the purpose last session, have been commenced. The additions being made to the front of the present building -will scarcely add to the beauty of it. New departments and new offices are, however, being created so rapidly that increased accommodation is absolutely necessary. I saw an estimate the other day, made by a person who should know, and L 25,000 a year was the amount put down as about covering the salaries of the new appointments made in the civil service within the last year or so. The Wakatip races (Otago) were a failure, though the attendance was good, The Town Plate was a genuine "sell," and the "pot" on the Wakatip Handicap boiled over. For the Maiden Plate Mr Grant's Flora was first, and the same gentleman's Charley second. The Town Plate of L 75 was won by Mr Ray's Misfortune. Southern Chief was withdrawn, and another horse started. The winner was hooted, it being evident the race was a made up one. The Waimate correspondent of the Tbnaru Herald writes :— "Andrews and mate have arrived at Waimate from the new diggings. They have brought a fine sample of reel: gold — about two ounces, in good rough pieces, most of it mixed with white quartz. There is quite sufficient to show there must be a reef in close proximity to their sinking, if not a rich one.", Messrs Blacklock Bros, and Calder and Co. have christened their nugget reef at Skippers, Otago, the May Queen. The celebration of the ceremony was well attended. The prospects of the reef are promising. The Cromwell Argus states that a foolhardy attempt to swim across the Molyneux was made at Clyde last Monday afternoon, by a man who was considerably more than "half-seas over." This adventurous individual had, according to his own accounts, left his swag on the opposite bank of the river, and was desirous of re-crossing the ferry to obtain it. Whilst waiting on the punt till the ferryman should arrive, some one who was with him at the time jokingly told him that he could not swim the river, whereupon, to the astonishment and horror of his companion, the half-drunken man pulled off his boots and jumped off the punt into the river. Being an excellent swimmer, aud that pait of the river being comparatively smooth, he made rapid progress down the stream for a distance of about 300 yards, until he reached a rocky point opposite the Police Camp, when he made for the shore, and reached terra firmain safety. He seemed much chagrined at not finding himself on the other side of the river when he landed, but did not again attempt the hazardous experiment. During the last session of the Assembly the General Government set aside a sum for division among the Road Boards of the Colony. In connection with this matter, in the County Council, on Friday last, Mr Robinson moved — "That the Chairman of the County Council be requested to submit to the Colonial Secretary the desirability of dividing equally between the Road Boards of the County the sums voted by the General Assembly during last session, for the year ending September 30, 1871. Such division being, in the opinion of the County Council, more equitable than that proposed by the late County Chairman, Conrad Hoos, Esq." His reason for bringing this motion forward was that the late County Chairman proposed to divide the money as follows :— To the Paroa Road Board L5lO, Totara Board L6lO, Arahura Board L5lO, Okarito L 750, and the Kanieri Road Board was to get only L 350, which he thought very unjust. The principal reason the Kanieri Board had so smalla sum allotted to it was because it was always out of debt. Mr Reid seconded the motion. After some discussion the motion was carried on the voices. The following is an extract from the report of Mr Warden Pyke of the Dunstan district, Otago :— ln the Clyde division some dredging has been done, the river having maintained a sufficiently low level ; but the season was too far advanced to permit of continuous work. Some good bars have been struck, however, and these are now under protection for the season. Bank • sluicing is being vigorously carried on on both sides of the river below the township. Between the camp and the hospital heavy inroads have been made into the Flat, and 1 am informed

that as the workings are carried inwards, heavy shotty gold (quite unlike the river gold) is met with. On the Cromwell road small parties of men are found working on either bank from a little above the Clyde Perry to Cromwell Bridge, and I have not the slightest doubt that the flats and terraces on either side are payable right to the base of the mountains. Above Hartley's Beach the ground continues to yield profitable employment to European sluicers, and the beach itself, after eight years' fossicking, is yet being wrought by Chinese miners. Below the Falcon Hotel, Elliot's party have struck very rich ground, which haudsomely remunerates their labors. They say the gold becomes heavier the farther they work in from the river side ; and this would seem to be the general characteristic of the ground. Opposite the Half-way House a party of Chinese miners have undertaken and carried out to successful completion a work which the Europeans have been pondering over for years without the pluck to attempt it. A flat or terrace of about ten acres in extent, skirting the river, has long been known to be auriferous ; and this has been taken up as an extended claim by the Chinese. To work the ground, they have, at great expense, and with much labor and perseverance, constructed a race from the Leaning Rock Creek, carrying it around perpendicular rocks, under roads and across gullies to their claim, which is now in full working order. I have not yet ascertained the exact result, but one thing is evident— they ! are satisfied. This race is really an admirable piece of work ; although running through gravelly soil along the steep face of the range, not a drop of water escapes, and the nuniing is equally perfect. The News of the World says:— "The Germans have established at Versailles the most effective battery ever planted before a besieged city. They have accumulated there vast stores — presumably of fresh meat, flour, vegetables, and the like, for the use of the Parisians as soon as they surrender. The food question is an important one for mankind wherever located, especially in the city of Paris, has it on previous occasions overshadowed all other considerations. In- 1793 the great trouble was that the Constitution, which had been drafted with so much care, could not be got to work ; likewise that there was no bread. Probably, the latter was held to be the overwhelming misfortune. In 1848, the situation was summed up in the popular demand for 'bread or lead.' If history teaches anything, it is that the gay Parisian will pub up with almost anything but short commons ; hence the accumulation at Versailles of stores of all kinds, labelled, ' For the people of Paris when they agree to surrender. The object is to make the hungry, stomachs within the walls the sure allies of the Germans. Come out to us with the keys of the city in your hands, and you will be treated in the most sumptuous manner. The value of Alsace and Lorraine, even the imperious exigency of sacred soil, it is believed, will shrivel up into absolute insignificance beside a loaf of bread, in the apprehension of a hungry man long condemned to horseflesh, and a scanty supply of even that."