THE Grey Riber Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 791, 8 February 1871, Page 2

THE Grey Riber Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1871.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cobden, on Monday, a civil case, Boase v. Montgomery, was heard. This was a claim of LlO for the >vrongful taking possession of a horse, and riding him a distance of four miles. It was alleged by the plaintiff that after the travel the horse wa3 knocked up for one month, whereas the defendant said that he rode the horse barebacked' very quietly, and returned him next morning in as good condition as wheu he took him. The Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff L 5, expenses of witnesses L 2 11s ; costs of Court LI, and professional costs LI Is. There was again a good house at the Volunteer Hall last evening to witness.the exhibition of the Panorama of the Pacific Mail Route. We notice that the Panorama will be again shown to-night, with the additional attraction of a representation of an incident in the European war — the bombardment and burning of the city of Strasburg. A most unfortunate accident occurred recently to Mr Rapson, the refiner at the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. This gentleman was occupied on some work with the furnace, when a crucible which he was holding burst, and a quantity of fused gold , ran into his boot, burning the side of his foot in a most dreadful manner. He has since recovered from the injury. There seems to be little doubt that there is a regularly organised gang of incendiaries in Auckland. On the morning of the recent fire, by which the Mudic Hall was destroyed, when two gentlemen went to the fire-bell at the top of Waketield street, to give the alarm, they found the tongue of the bell muffled, aud made fast inside. This was the tire-bell nearest to the burning, and had. thus been carefully tongue-tied before applying the fire-torch. What lingering doubt there might have been about the burning being the work of and incendiary, must now be removed. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, on Monday, John Smith was charged with stealing a horse, the property of Patrick Quinn, a publican, residing on the Greenstone road, within a mile and a-half of the Upper Ferry of the Teremakau, and was committed for trial. At the Coleridge election (Canterbury), Mr Karslake was returned. He is a Government supporter and Protectionist, and polled 85 votes ; Hust, his opponent, polled 27. At the criminal sittings of the District Court at Hokitika, on Monday, Sarah Dugmore was indicted that she did, in the Supreme Court, before His Honor Mr Justice. Gresson, at the trial of David Souter, commit wilful and corrupt perjury, was found not guilty, and discharged. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before W. H. Revell. Esq., R.M., Alexander Stewart, charged with drunkenness, was fined ss. Jessie Bolton was charged, on the information of Mrs Godfrey, with making use of abusive and insulting lauguage, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, and was fined 10a, costs of Court, and professional cost 3. The following civil cases were heard :— S, Egan v. D. Moore and Emma Singer. Judgment for plaintiff by consent for L 7 13s Cd and costs — Basch v. Marks. Judgment by consent for L 3, cash lent, LI to be paid forthwith, and the balance at 5s per week. — Tait Brothers v. Jessie Cleveland. Judgment by default for 32s and costs.— Scblichting Brothers v. Marks. Judgment confessed for LlO 3s 8d

and costs. — Mary Ann Godfrey v. Jessie Bolton. Judgment by default for L 3 12s for board and washing. — Ryan Brothers v. M. Codyre. Judgment by default for L 2 13s 6d for bread supplied— '*. Crump v. T. Jones. Claim of L 7 10s for three weeks' wa»es as barman at the Sydney Hotel. The defence was that the plaintiff was working for his board and lodging, was simply allowedto remain in the house until he got something to do, and there never was any agreement as to wages. Three witnesses proved that the plaintiff told them he was only staying there for his board. Judgment was given for the plaintiff, 30a, the costs to be divided. — Gillon v. P. Quinn. Claim of L 25 damages for illegally distraining for rent at the Greenstone. The case was adjourned for a week for the production of evidence. The revenue of New South Wales for the past year shows a decline, as compared with the revenue of the preceding year, of about LIOO,OOO. The Government of New South Wales have made it a condition, in advertising for tenders for the supplies for next year, that the cental system shall be adopted in the weighing of grain. The Auckland Herald states that, notwithstanding the great distress which it is alleged is prevailing, not a single name has been sent in to the Government for relief, of all the persons who formed the meeting of the unemployed recently. During the last session of the General Assembly, an Act was passed for regulating the sale of spirits and other intoxicating liquors to Maoris in outlying districts. The Act is generally of a prohibitory character ; but it. contains a clause which permits the Governor to suspend its operation in certain cases. A recent Gazette exempts the County of Westland from the operation of the 17th section of the Act, the effect of which is to permit the sale of liquor to Maoris in this part of the Colony. An alarm of fire was raised on Monday morning at Hokitika, and it was found to have occurred in the kitchen of the Gridiron Restaurano, from which volumes of black smoke were emitted. A number of persons were about, and buckets of water were promptly applied, and the flames were got under. The Fire Brigade turned out with their accustomed alacrity, and soon had the engine at work, and in a very short time all danger was at an end. Had the tire occurred at night it is difficult to say where it might have ended. The total quantity of stone crushed at the Thames Gold Fields, during the December month, was 8991 tons 1 cwt 9Ubs, which yielded 18,0860z 7dwt 12gr of gold. A correspondent of an Auckland paper says that he has learned in the course of conversation with the natives of the Upper Waikato that there are many Europeans who make a profitable trade out of selling arms and ammunition to the natives— powder, Uh pnr lb ; caps, os per box • L2O for a doublebarrel gun, ar.d LG for a rifle. The correspondent affirms that the traffic is extensive, and well known to all the Maoris. If such is the case,- how is it that Mr. Branigan has not succeeded in putting an end to it ?

In reporting a recent electioa meeting at Blenheim, the Marlborough Express says : — The usual vote of thanks to the chair closed a meeting at which more libellous language had been used than would make a fortune for all the lawyers in New Zealand, had we put them in print, and the same practice obtained here as in England. A Government return shows that th e value of certain goods imported into Grey mouth from Australia during the last three years, for the production of which there are manufactories in the colony, was L 27,506. The murderer Noble, now lying under sentence of death at Hokitika, in his confession made to the Sheriff, states that he did not open Molaumby's door with a key, but that he prized it open with his axe. He struck the child on the head twice, and then went to the back door and opened it. Hearing some one passing by the house he did not go out. He returned to the bedroom, took the child out, and when near the fence drew the edge of the axe across her throat. He denies having committed any rape on the child. The Hokitika evening paper says that Noble has confessed to the commission of a similar crime previously, but the particulars are not given . . Government appointments are multiplying at a tremendous rate. A very fruitful source of patronage is found in the new Land Transfer* Act, in the appointment of Registrars and Examiners of Titles. Mr Main, the late member for Port Chalmers, and "whip" for t.he present Ministry, has been- appointed Registrar for Otago, at a salary of L6OO per annum. For the Nelson Province th& appointment of Registrar of Deeds under the Land Transfer Act has been conferred upon Samuel Kingdon, Esq., at present a member of the firm of Adams and Kingdon, who will receive a salary of L 450 a year. Mr Shapter of the West Coast is said to have been appoiuted Examiner of Titles under the same Act. at a salary of L 325 a year. The last" named gentleman is a son-in-Jaw of Mr Bunny, member for Wairarapa, who " ratted" from his party last session and joined the Ministerial side, and brother-in-law of Mr Lowther Broad, Warden at Wangapeka. Monday having been observed as a general holiday at Hokitika in the expectation of the arrival of the Governor, the County Council did not meet as usual. We notice that amongst the questions that were on the order paper for last evening was a motion by Mr Guinness — "That a committee be appointed, to consist of Messrs Robinson, Bonar, Reid, and the mover, to take into consideration the departmental expenses paid by the General Government and charged to the County ; to report next week."

Venison is now regularly received in Melbourne from Tasmania by the steamers. The deer have bred so rapidly in the woods of Tasmania that the gastronomic wants of Melbourne as regards venison can be freely supplied, without thinning' too much the wild herds which furnish sport to the huuters. The Superintendent of Nelson has issued the following circular to the members of the Provincial Council :— " Superintendent's Office, Nelson, December 30, 1870.— Sir— The appropriations made by the Provincial Council for the departments quoted in the margin hereof (Hospital, Charitable Aid, Lunatic Asylum, Gold Fields, Wardens' Department, Police Department), proving insufficient to meet the requirements for the current financial year, it is necessary to make further provision for those departments without delay. A special meeting of the Council for that purpose would be attended with great expense to the Province, and considerable inconvenience to those members of Council residing far from the city, and as the Council have on several occasions expressed their wish not to be called together for ordinary business at this time of the year, the Executive desire to ascertain whether the members prefer that the Council should be specially summoned for the purpose mentioned, or whether they will authorise the Superintendent to sign *• Special Orders" for the amount required, and pledge themselves to sanction the expenditure when the Council meets. It is estimated that the total amount for which Special Orders will be necessary for these departments will not exceed two thousand two hundred pounds (L 2200), and the reasons why the expenditure has been in excess of the appropriation are as follows :— Warden's Department— L6OO required. Chiefly OMing to the dis-

covery of new mining districts, the necessity for additional ho'-se hire, and other contingent expenses, and the large amount (viz., L3OO in excess of the vote; required for the payment of witnesses in criminal cases. Gold Fields Police Department— Lßoo required. Several important criminal cases on the West Coasb. The opening up of new districts on the gold fields, and the increased necessity for special constables, additional travelling expenses, &c. Charitable Aid — L3OO required. The depression of the Colony, and consequent increase in the number of destitute persons. Hospital — L 450 required. The Hospital Committee report the excess to be due to the increased number of patients, especially out-patients. Lunatic Asylum— Lso required. Increased number of patients. I have to request the favor of an early reply, as should the Council prefer being summoned, the meeting must take place at the beginning of February. -I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Oswald Curtis, Superintendent. A new project has been started, which may, to a great extent, reduce the time occupied by the transmission of news between Europe and these Colonies. A mercantile firm in the city of Sydney has received advices from Batavia, proposing the running of a steamer between the eastern end of Java and the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria. By this time the connection between Java and India must be almost or altogether completed, and in a very short time the Queensland line will be carried out to the Gulf. So that the establishment of steam communication between Java and the Gulf will afford U3 the means of obtaining newjs from Europe in little more than a week. The distance between the two points is somewhat under 2000 ftiilt'S, so that a fast steamer may make the trip in about eight days. And we may reasonably expect to have, as a general rale, news in nine or ten days from London, coming in every three weeks by that line. A rather heartless hoax has been played upon a digger at Coromandel. On a certain day he paid the priest L 2 to perform the marriage ceremony. The girl went to the chapel, but not to be married ; for on her arrival at that place she told the priest it was only "a lark." The digger, however, was deeply in earnest, and as a consequence has been terribly chaffed by his mates. The ; circumstances has also been made the subject of a local song by Mr Towers, at present giving an entertainment there. [Recently, examinations of competitions from the various Provincial schools in the Nelson Province for the Provincial scholarships in the Nelson College were held. These scholarships, which carry with them a money payment of L4O per annum, while the Governors of Nelson College grant a free education at that institution, and the Masters waive their capitation fees, each Scholarship being thus worth' L 52 10s per annum, were won this year by Hodgson, from Spring Grove ; and O'Connor, from Waimea West. The Nelson College Governor's Scholarships (valued at Ll2 10s each) were won by Hardy and Everett, of Mr Smith's lown School, Nelson.

Upon the subjest of the defence of the Waikato the Southern Cross of a recent date says : -" We are glad to learn that effective measures have been taken for the defence of the Waikato in the event of emergency. Mr Commissioner Branigan, on his recent visit to Taupo, made ample arrangements for the stationiug of a body of men numbering 200 at that place. They are armed with Snider rifles, and are in other respects amply prepared in the event of an outbreak in the Waikato. We believe Mr Branigan intends proceeding to the Thames to enlist a number of smart fellows, who, after a little instruction in drill, will be sent to the Waikato as a reinforcement. We should think there will Le little difficulty in obtaining a force composed of men who have seen service, and who will therefore need little or no instruction. We are glad to see that the authorities are fully alive to the importance of preparins: for any emergency that may arise in the present very unsettled state of the natives." . " Her Majesty's Mail" doe 3 not seem to inspire much respect amongst the East Const natives. The Thames Advertiser of the 19th ult. relates that a Mr James Foley, who arrived at the Thames from Tauranga, by way of Ohiuemuri, states that on the way across he met a native carrying a flour bag tied up carefully. On Mr Foley investigating, he found that the native was smuggling through, in this rather appropriate receptacle, her Majesty's mail ! On Mr Foley reaching Ohinemuri, he .was stopped by a native, who subjected his courier-bag to a strict scrutiny. Nothing like a mail was found, and Mr Foley thought he would be allowed to go. It was not so, however. Mr Foley is well acquainted with the Maoris of the Thames and Tauranga, but his detainer was a stranger. Mr Foley asked that he should be taken to a new house, which was near at hand, and on coming there, he found that the man in authority was our old friend Te Moananui, who is pretty well known on the Thames, and ought to be well known to every taxpayer in New 5 Zealand, for we believe he has got more out of the Government than any man in the North Island. The . natives had found out somehow that they had been deceived, by the adroit trick of the flour-bag. They were very angry, and were determined to let no more flour-baga near the place except full ones from the Government. After some delay, Mr Foley was allowed to depart. According to the revenue returns of the Colony for the first half-year of the financial period 1870-71, a serious deficit threatens to take place before the end of the term. The Colonial Treasurer in his estimate of ways and means put down the .customs revenue at LB I O, OOO . He took credit to himself for his moderation in estimating it at a reduction of L6OOO as compared with the last year's receipts instead of allowing for a normal increase. Yet even this moderate estimate is very far short of being realised. Instead of L 405,500 which ought to have come into the Treasury, the receipts have been only L378.251— L26.749 under the mark; so that if the returns are no better during the remaining half-year, there will be a deficit of upwards of L 50.000. Considering that the year began with a deficiency of -some L 35.000, besides an overdraft of L 60,000, and that the Assembly last session sanctioned appropriations much in excess of the estimated income ; in the face, too, of the large additional liabilities which the colony is already incurring ; this diminution of the main source of revenue wears a very unpromising aspect.

A Martin's Bay correspondent of the Lake Wakatip Mail a&ya : — "We have no exciting gold news to communicate ; but it is fully believed by experienced miners that this is a gold-bearing locality, and that it only needs the men and capital to bring it to light in sufficient quantities to create a rush. Gold has been found uot very far from the south heads, although it is not yet known to exist in payable quantities. ( The settlers not being gold hunters have not formed a prospecting party ; but this i 3 in contemplation, and should it come into operation we confidently hope before many months to send you a shiuing report. Those who have settled down here evidently intend by their own industry to furnish their table with more of the good things of this life than fish and fowl, of which we have abundance, as they have gone to work with a will to level the primeval forest, and force the rich soil that lies beneath it to sustain their temporal interests, and it is gratifying to know that

their labor is not in vain. Already there are a number of nourishing gardens and potato patches that certainly show well for the first year. Parties who wish to get a good farm for nothing, and make a quiet, happy, independent home for themselves, would do well to come to Martin's Bay in February or March next, when, no doubt, many of the , best lots that have been taken up will be forfeited, and will be open again for selection. " Up to the hour of closing of the telegraph office last night, there were no signs of H. M. S. Clio off Hokitika, with the Governor. A telegram from Wellington, in a Hokitika contemporary, informs us that the Governor sailed on Saturday, on the following tour :— Hokitika, Martiu's Bay, Milford Sound, Dusky Bay, Stewart's Island, and Bluff, which he will reach by the Ist March. He is accompanied by Commodore Stirling, and will visit Dunedin and the interior of Otago, Canterbury, and Westland. The return to Wellington will be by the middle of .April. Dr Hector accompanies the Governor, and will examine the geological and other features of the country, and mark points for settlements. Much marine surveying will be done, as the ship Acheron was the only ship of the navy that had visited these inlets since Captain Cook. On Monday, at the Distrbt Court, Hokitika, before his Honor Judge Ward, ' the action of Breeze and wife against Christian, bailiff, was tried by a jury- of four. The circumstances upon which the action was founded are so well known that it is needless to recapitulate them, the evidence given being in most respects precisely the same as that which was adduced in the Resident Magistrate's Court, when Mrs Breeze was charged wifch assaulting Christian, and mulcted in a fine. Mr Newton was engaged for plaintiff, and Mr Button for defendant. After his Honor had carefully summed up, recapitulating the evidence to the jury, he put the two following issues to the jury : 1. Were the alleged trespasses committed in pursuance of the Resident Magistrate's Act, 1867, and was the present action commenced wiohout giving one month's notice to defendant? 2. What damages is plaintiff entitled to ? The jury retired, and after some deliberation returned with a verdict j for §defendant, answering the iirst issue in - the affirmative, and the second as to damages with the word "none," The Fiji Times of the 7th January has an article upon the progress of that settlement, in which some interesting statistics are given. During last year the arrivals of popu?ation at Levuka were 1003, and departures 287, leaving 716 as the increase of the group. Of this increase of population by immigration there were no fewer than 92 children. The foreign laborers imported from the New Hebrides, Kingsmill, and Solomon groups numbered 1700 for the year. The shipping arrivals amounted to about 20,000 tons, and the departures to about 18,000 tons. In Levuka there are three shipbuilding firms, each turning out several vessels during the year. The number of ships arriving at Levuka was 158, of which number 43 came from New Zealand, and an equal number from Sydney ; but, while the tonnage from New Zealand amounted to 2146 tons, that from Sydney amounted to 7000 tons. Of the departures 30 went to Sydney, and 21 to New Zealand. Four steamers, besides the men-of-war, had visited the plane during the year. 2150 bales of cotton had been sent away during; the year, mostly to Sydney— each bale 4001 b The estimated total value of the cotton export is set down at L 85.733 6s 8d ; 165 tuns cocoa-nut oil, L 577 5; miscellaneous, LI 000— making a total export value of L 92.508 6s Bd. In former times oil was the chief export, but now the exports are varied. The miscellaneous exports consist of tortoiseshell, cobra, beche-de-mer, fungus, wool, &C.

As affording some indication of the feelings and opinions of the Roman Catholic community in New Zealand on the subject of education, we give the remarks made by tli « Rp.v. Father Gavin of Nelson at a recent election meeting held by Mr Curtis. Addressing Mr Curtis, the reverend gentleman said : — " As the General Assembly contemplates establishing a new Education Act for all New Zealand, 1 wish to ask you a question about it. I wish to state, first, that I would prefer the denominational system, but as that is not vet practicable, the Colony being too young, I should recommend a system of education excluding entirely religions instruction ; consequently, all .books, prizes, &c, in which thete might be anything contmrv to the tenets of any denomination should he excluded. Or, if there were any religious instruction, it should be after and not during school hours, even though parents objecting might withdraw their children. This should not be done by halves ; if religions instruction is to be admitted, let it be admitted in its entirety ; if not, let it be excluded altogether. (Applause.) In resrard to separate si lools I should suggest an alternative, namely, that such schools should receive the same Government grant as they receive in Provincial schools. We reprint the following presfnant remarks from the NeUon Examiner: — "The occurrence within a week of three destructive fires in Auckland, and each believed to be the work of an incendiary, may well create rvlarm. First, the shin Auckland, lying alongside the wharf, with the greater portion of her cargo on board, is discovered on fire on the morning of the 24ch ultimo, which caused, it is estimated, a loss of property of the value of L 24.000. Two days afterwards, a kerosene store, containing 12,000 cases of that inflammable article, was found to be on firo, which caused a loss of LI 500 ; and, on the following day, the Choral Society's Hall was fUVrmed, causing a further loss of LI 50!) Thase repeated fires, all bearing a highly suspicious aspect, have induced the Government to offer a reward of LSOO for the discovery of the incendiaries, and has led to the swearing-in of special constables to guard, the principal buildings of the city. The large number of men walking the streets of Auckland, vainly seeking employment, and beseeching the Government for food, is a dangerous element,and should warn those who are giving inconsiderate support to the Government scheme of immigration, of the danger of flooding the country with laborers without first making preparation to receive them. Labor so introduced will not only prove a wa^te, Hut it may avenge itself on the Colony for the destitution it suffers."