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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 788, 4 February 1871, Page 3

The rush to the Little Grey District has turned out to be a "rank duffer," and one ' of the most deliherately planned and cooly executed hoaxes ever perpetrated upon a i mining community. As Baker continued to persist in the truth of his story, the search was continued all Wednesday by Mrs Wonllcy, Government Surveyor, Constable Doriis. and Baker alone, Mr Woolley having ordered back the whole crowd of miners who were following them, under the threat that if they continued to dodge them the search would be discontinued After enduring great hardships, the party returned to the Mia-Mia Hotel late on Wednesday night, and on Thursday morning Baker was sent back to the Ahaura in charge of Constable Dorris while Mr Woolley determined to have another day's search, in company with a number of miners, for the spot indicated, as Baker still persisted in his story. It was with great difficulty that Constable Dorris could protect Baker from the fury of the miners he had so cruelly deceived. On Thursday evening he arrived at the Ahaura Township, and presented a most woe-begone appearance as he was being taken through the street to the lockup. The Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts were sitting at the time, and as there were a large number of men in town, it may be imagined that Baker got a warm reception, and that Constable Dome had all hia work to do to protect him. At midnight on Thursday, Mr Woolley got back to the Ahaura, and pronounced the rush a "rank duffer." The "prospector," Baker, then made a clean breast of it, and acknowledged tliat he had never been up the Little Grey at all ; that he Lad been bribed to cause the rush, and he gave up to the police the name of the person who was in collusion with him ; but they, very wisely, refuse t3 divulge it until he is in custody. When Mr Woolley left the miners were threatening to pull 'down the Mia-Mia Hotel, as they believed that some person connected with it was. at tbe bottom of the affair. Baker was to be brought up before the Magistrate at the Ahaura yesterday or to-day under one of tbe clauses of the Amended Vagrant Act, whioh, fortunately, is elastic enough to reach and punish— but not half severely — the delinquent in this case. In consequence of a pressure upon our space, we are compelled to hold over our report of the County Council andather matters of interest. We understand that Mr John M'Gregor, the recently-elected Lieutenant of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, has been, or will be to-day, gazetted a Fire Inspector for the Borough, vice Mr A. Hosie, resigned. The Panorama of the new Mail Route via the Pacific and across the American Continent is expected to arrive to-day by the s.s, Murray, and will pc exhibited in tbe Volunteer Hall, this evening, at eight o'clock. A full page Supplement containing interesting war news is published with this day's issue of this journal. We learn from the Ross News that 100 ft of the Jones Flat tail-race, which was completed about four years ago at a cost of LIOOO, has fallen in through having been undermined without proper precautions. The Drainage Board are taking steps to repair the damage. An important mining case was heard and decided at the Warden's Court, at the Ahaura, on Thursday, before Mr Warden .Whitefoord. The complaint was laid by Algot Londahl and party, of Half-Ounce Creek, that Dunn, O'Hara and party had cut away, and therein damaged the complainants' head-race. Damages were laid at LSOO. There was a cross-action brought against LondahPs party by Dunn and O'Hnrc for a breach of the Regulation in not allowing a full head of water to run down the bed "f the creek. In the first case judgment was given for the complainants, with damages against the defendants of L 5, which were

inflicted more as a fine on defendants fur interfering with the race illegally than as compensation for any actual injury suffered. In the cross-action judgment was given against Londahl'3 party, and they were ordered to allow the Regulation quantity of water to run in the creek. Mr Wilson was for Londahl, and Charles O'Hara appeared for his party. Mr O'Hara was complimented on the ability he displayed, for a non-pro-fessional man, in the management of such a difficult case. The Court sat, with a short adjournment, from 10 o'clock a m. on Thursday until two hours past midnight. We direct attention to a large sale of Crown Lands in the Province of Wellington which is announced to take place on the 27th inst., at Wellington. The, land for sale is situated in the famed Man.ivatu block, which contains some of the finest agricultural land in tho Colony, Tbe m-til via San Francis ?n was in future to be despatched to New Zealand on the 15th instead of the 10th of eiuh month Assuming that the regulation came into force with Mil! Jaimarv mail, it will n*>t lie duo at Auckand till February 18, according to the i vera^e passage male by the boats now einployeu in the service. Mr Edmund B irff has given noti.-e to the Returning Officer for the Electoral District j of Totara, that he has withdrawn his name us a candidate fur a seat in the House of Representatives for the Totara istrict. The candidates, therefore, are Messrs Keogh, i Hoos, Carreras, and Tribe. It will be seen by the report of the County Council proceedings that the Governor will only remain about two hours in Hokitika, j and will not visit Greymouth at pi'esent, ' but he anticipates being able to do so within a few months. The first number of a new paper is to hand. Tfc is entitled the Ross News, and is published daily in the town of Ross. Louis Hetit reports the arrival of two hundred Chatham Islanders at Te Quiti., Whether they are from Taranaki, or are Te Kooti's followers, is unknown. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., U.M., and E. Wickes, Esq., J.P., Margaret Slattery was fined 10s for having been drunk and disorderly. —John O'Connell was brought up on remand, charged with having wilfully aDd obscenely exposed himself within view of, a little girl on Sunday, the 29fch January, near the Wesleyan Church. Two previous convictions for similar offences were, put in aeainst the prisoner, and he was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor. A second charge of a similar nature was withdrawn. Some time ago, auriferous indications were discovered in the hills in the neighborhood of Lyttelton, and a company was formed to prosecute the search for the precious metal. Samples were sent to Melbourne to be crushed, and although the actual existence of guld was demonstrated, it was in so minute a proportion that the company has given up any further operations, and consented to a "wind-up."

A serious fire broke out the other day on the Canterbury plains. One settler lost 50 acres of growing corn and two horses. The Catholics of Dunedin are making great preparations for the reception of the new Bishop, Dr Moran. A Chinese missionary, attached, it is said, to the Presbyterian body, has commenced his labors amongst his Celestial brethren in OtagoMr Shepherd, formerly of Greymouth, and who has just been defeated by MrHaughton, at the recent election for tho Lake district, in Otago, asserts that Mr Baughton's return was secured by improper means, and states his intention of prosecuting an appeal. At Queenstown, Otago, the thermometer stood at SO <iegrees in the shade a few days ago. The heat has been unusually great in the interior of Otago during the sammcr. The Queensland revenue and returns for the year 1870 are published, and show a gross income of L 743.000, whilst the expenditure amounted to L 770.000. Strawberries, gooseberries, and other fruit are so plentiful in the neighborhood of Invercargill this year that they are quite unsaleable, and are in many ca&es allowed to rot ungathered. According to a Melbourne paper, a strange disease is reported to have made its appear-, ance amongst horses on some of tbe stations on the Murrumbidgee below Wiigga. It commences with a stiffness in the joints, the horse is unable to bend his knees, and in a short time wastes away and dies. Out of six horses attacked on one station, only one is said now to survive. In the General Oovernvient Gazette, of the 20th January, appears statements of the affairs of three mining conferences in Westland, viz: — "The Totara and Jones's Creek Amalgamated Water-race Company."; "the Westland Quartz Mining Company, Ross." ; and " the Greenstone and Eastern Hohonu Water-race and Gold Mining Company."' The first-named company have a nominal capital of L 12.800, all of which is paid up. Scrip to the amount of LB4OO was given to the shareholders, being tbe estimated value of the two races at the time of amalgamation ; dividends to the amount of L 6966 have been paid since the time of registration. The second Company mentioned has a nominal capital of L6OOO, of which only L 278 2s 6d is paid up. L3OOO of scrip was given to shareholders, and .L3OO of calls have been made ; no dividends have as yet been declared. The Greenstone Company has a nominal. capital of LSOOO, of which 1.900 is paid up. Scrip to the amount of L3OO was given to shareholders, and calls to the extent of L6OO have been made ; no dividends have yet been declared.

We are indebted to the courtesy of G. W. Moss, Esq., Secretary of the Murray Creek Cement Gold Mining Company for the perusal of a report from the working manager. From it we hear that the men have cut through the bottom of the face of . the tunnel, and have commenced to drive a lead. Prospects from the deep ground have been tried, and they promise very well ; the manager estimatiug that from half a dozen prospects he tried from the tunnel, the grouud would average from three to four grains to the dish of dirt. It is also stated as an important indication that after wasting off, the dirt that came from the" dish was pounded in a mortar, and gave a similar result — about two grains to the dish. A very serious bush fire occurred on the 25th ult, of which the following is an account : — ' "On the 25th we had a very narrow escape from being burned out; On the 21st the bush in several places was on fire, and so continued, with more or less strength, until it became plain that unless rain came, or the fire was checked by seme means, the results must have been fearful. As a precaution, the powder was taken from the magazine by Mr Stephenson on the 24tb, and placed in the store for protection. Asa gully stood between them, and a small quantity of water running, it was thought to be safe. On the morning of the 25th, there was scarce any wind, the dew through the night had deadened the fires, and to all appearance the worst was over. Things went well until ■ibout 11.30 a.m., when, looking in the direction of the fluming above the tunnel, smoke was seen arising, which showed that the fire had broken out in a place where it was least expected, and, if not promptly got under, woul Ido considerable damage. A hut close to tho fluming was in great danger of taking

fire. The wind at this time was blowing fresh, and smoke was to be seen rising in all directions. The men on the works at once began putting out the fire, and endeavored to save the hut and the fluming. Water being very scarce in this branch and the men being too few in number, the fire spread rapidly, in spite of all the exertions made to keep it under. The alarm was given and men came to the rescue, and worked with a will. In consequence of the moss being so dry, and hanging around the lai'ger trees in folds, when once touched by fire it rose to the top in a moment, and casting sparks all around, set the bush on fire in all quarters. About 12 oVlock, the hut and that branch of the fluming were out of danger, though the fire was raging fearfully at the corner and back of the office, shop, and . smithy Tt require'! all the help in the place to keep the buildings safe. Without being able to keep it from goiua a-head, the main fluinine frmn both branches of Murray Creek n>w appeared to be in danger, aud would have been burned to the ground hud it not been for water running through them. Ity means of stopping the '>oxes at the ends, men could slant in th >.m and throw water along the sides find on the m>>ss «ml fallen wo >d, and so kept the tire off From 11 30 a. in. to | 3 pm. it was a hard fight- sometimes hard j to tell which wouLl come off victorious. - At 5 pm. it had reached up through the gully and past the dun;. In the right-hand branch, the sound .if the tire at time 9 would be fearful, roaring like, an angry sea lashing itself in foam on the rocks ; at others it would resemble a powerful blast furnace in full operai tion. The oldest digger here has never seen j anything like it. Without particularising any, the men in the employ, as well as those who were paid up, worked as if their all depended on their exertions. AJr Kelly, of l£eily's Reef, Mr Brarishaw, stationer, and others, were successful in cutting a trench through th«> moss, thereby turning the fire at a very important point." A serious error was made in the directions upon the voting papers at the recent election at Caversham, Utago. There were three candidates and only one member to be elected, but the votitig paper contained a direction to strike out the name of only one candidate instead of two. Mr J. G. Scott, one of the unsuccessful candidates, has protested against the validity of the election, and the matter is ia *he hands of the Government. It is expected that a fresh poll . will have to be taken. The houses, stables, stockyard, and effects of Mr Thomas Lynch, farmer, at Rocky Valley, about ten miles from Tokomairiro, Otago, were burnt down on Monday morning, the 23rd ultimo, through the chimney of the house taking fire, the tire spreading to the thatch roof, and thence to the stable and stockyard. The house and buildings were insured. The police, we understand, after having made full enquiries, are satisfied that the origin of the tire was accidental. The coroner for the district is of the same opinion, and deemed an enquiry unnecessary. Six respectable residents were summoned before the Eesident Magistrate's Court ot Thursday, charged with bathing within view of Preston road about seven p.m. on the 27th January. It was stated by one of the defendants that there was no notice posted as to the hours during which bathing could be allowed, and that the constable who lnid the information was present before they Btripped, and ought to have warned them that they were doing wrong. They were all discharged .with a caution upon payment of the costs. The Magistrate said that as tbe Borough Council . had neglected to frame bye-laws or fix the hours for bathing in the lagoon, the Police Ordinance provided that any person bathing within view of a place of public resort, so as to offend againt public decency, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. shall be liable to a penalty of L 5.