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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 794, 11 February 1871, Page 2

The annual cricket match between the elevens of the Hokitika and Greymouth Clubs takes place to-day, on the Hokitika cricket ground. The Greymouth eleven started yesterday afternoon by a special trip of Oobb's coach. There is every prospect of the weather proving favorable for the friendly contest, and it. is to be hoped our men will Lave a good account of their opponents. For a long period the Roman CathoVc community of this town have been desirous of extending the accommodation in St. Patrick's Church to meet the requirements of the increased ' congregation. Recently they h-iv^ commenced extensive alterations, which, when completed. « ill make itnne of f .hf» most, commoilions r<>li iou^ e<lifie ■■& in WY-st-land The iipcp^sary ad-Htions have entailed c-insi l'>i-a''l« cx -i en-'p. anW the menhirs »f th" e.hu eh p-o osf t • oS'f'fU' a norMon of • '■• if li'i 1 ili'.' by ''i '<•'-' of--' 'Vz-i;i>\ « hi' 1 ' 1 M-:?; i.. hA -.<"fV- V '..-k. ''=1 .l.i-i ' P t inlc'- •>- '■ Th:'. : > --n:ißi^*ee. mvi' !.;„!_ ... ...v „ <-„...,. ■. ...] „ ! „-. 1,., . <?.•<-•<■■ h., - .:..;* !!)..:, ..:. .-;,! .vi'U. >;.;. U 'n^.i.ir. <;.! ';. > iw~ o !v '>v ' '!i • Cit'ivili" Cto :i: •. ■? •■ '•"*■ ' " m >•» ers i>f or.her PhrMfti'i;! cj'.Vo!v> -h ~v. -Is of which have been on s..venil rif»cisi'< •» aivm^vtcd by the aifta of those who now ask for a reciprocation nf go»d wishes. The Ladies Committee comprise the wives and daughters of the leading Catholics in town and country, and we learn that the display of the stalls will equal anything of the kind that hfis graced the boards of any previous bazaar in Greymouth. We should state that contributions will be thankfully received by any of the Ladies' Committee, or by the clergy of Sfc Patrick's Church. We have to acknowledge receipt of No. 1 of the New Zealand Wedeyan and Christian Observer, a new journal punched in Christ church, and edited by the Rev. A. Robertson Fitchett. The name of the editor is a sufficient guaiantee that his journal is ably conducted ; it is also very well printed, and altogether a valuab?e addition to the literature of the colony. We can assure our Wesleyan friends that this undertaking deserves their hearty support

In another column will be found an accunt of a most melancholy accident which occurred on Thursday evening, by which Mr E. H. Davis, Assistant-Geologist to Dr Hector, lost' his life. Mr Davis had for some time bee»i engaged in a scientific examination of the coal deposits of the Grey district, and was returning from an inspection of the coast line between the Grey and Razorback Point. On arriving at the Tenmile Creek, a narrow but rapid stream, with a shifting bottom, he rode in expecting to cross easily, as he bad done the day before. A slight fresh had, however, occurred in the meantime, and the creek was runniug both deep and stron". He md his horse we.re suddenly carried down and swept into the surf. The horse was recovered, but its unfortunate rider was drowned. What adds to the calamity is the fact that there is a safe bridge over the creek, about a mile away from where deceased was drowned, and it was in endeavoring to save ahnut half an hour's detour that he met his sad fate. Mr Davis was a risingand talented officer of the Geological Survey Department, and had been specially seWted for the important enquiry nreviously alluded to. He bad completed his investigations, arid was on his way to town, expecting to reach Wellington by the next steamer. Immediately on receiving the sad news of his death, Mr Warden Whitefoord telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary, asking for instructions as to the final disposal of the remains, which will be interred in the Cobden Cemetery on Sunday Mr Davis, we are sjrry to hear, leaves a widow in Wellington.

The Otago Company at the Blue Spur, Tuapeka, have sunk a shaft 80 feet in the cement from the present workings, and have not yet reached the bed rock. Their object, wo understand, has been to prospect the cement, which, in some claims, has proved to be very rich in the vicinity of the reef. At Christchurch. a little eirl named Eliza Brown has been killed by the kick of a horse tethered in a school play-ground The jury very properly cond mn«?«l the practice of putting horses in such enclosures. A curious snpeimen of art in wood-rwvi'U' is now on exhibition at the Ahaura. It is a nvxiel made from -rift of th<» original He-'isrns pr-pvred fo- th • Burke nnrl Wills mo'iu'nen* in Victoria. Th« design co'isists of ,m «*l«i.< . ratelv finished base, -nrmnnnto'l bva "ed 'shnl and tablet on which- rest* tho fn -etvai ur . On three sides of the postal are nvinov 1 taM-'ts. be.iri'ig M.c iniMuls nf Rivke. Will-, an:l Gray, with liu/en.lury in.-icrL.ti.inß ; - lain ■,' to th**ir melancholy fate ; and »n the j fourth Bide' nre inscri'««d t! c initials an 1 a 1 leornnd referring to King (the snrviv r of the ' expedition), an<! to the saving of bis life by the ahoriirina! naMves. Springing from the ' tablet on which the urn is placed are four fluted columns, supported by ornamental buttresses, and crowned by as many arches, with a crown and freize, executed according to the Roman order of architecture. The appearance of the urn, thus enclosed, as it were, within a quadruple arch, has an appropriate and artistic effect. The design ig continued with ornamental work, and another ' and smaller pedestal, on the four sides of

whinh are medallions, indicative of the different nationalities of the people of thcolony which was foremost in its endeavor* to do honor to the memory of the great ex plorers. Above this is another tablet and pedestal, on which are carvings in relief, re presenting the mining, agricultural, pastoral, and commercial pursuits of the people oi Victoria. This pedestal supports anothei mortuary urn, without ornament ; and tin whole is surmounted by interwoven wreaths of immortelles, and capped with tha figure i of a human hand, pointing heavenward. Thi:beautiful specimen of the carver's art is th property of Mr Charles Harvell, of th< Ahaura, and was executed by that gentlPTnai during bis leisure time, while engaged i> i gold mining in Victoria. It was exhibited in the Fine Arts department of the Victoria) Exhibition of 1867, and it was one of th articles selected by the Commissioners for a pace in the Fine Arts Exhibition which was held after the Industrial Exhibition wn* closed. The model is constructed of American spruce pine, with the exception of some of the minute details in the fretwork surrounding ohe base, which were injured during the transit of the model from Victoria. The damaged portions have been replaced with carvings made from New Zealand white pine, and the contrast in the colors of the two timbers has a fine effect. At the Waipuna Rush, at Noble's, Day and party's shaft is now down over 80 feet. The bottoming of the shaft is anxiously expected, as it will be a test of the value of the lead if the party strike gold. On Saturday last an elderly woman named Eliza Adams deliberately attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the river Avon Christchurch. She was fortunately observed and after some trouble taken out of the water, but was so exhausted that she had to be conveyed to the hospital. She was not in a fit state to be brought up at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday, and was accordingly remanded. In the Totara District election for the House of Representatives it was, says the Independent, on Thursday supposed, from the returns then to hand, that Mr Tribe was the successful candidate, but the contest was a close one, and has resulted in a victory for Mr Keogh . Other returns that we have received make., only a difference of two ; but be it which way it may, it is certain that Mr Keogh is the successful candidate. The following returns will be found, we think, correct : —

Next month, *he first of Mr Webb's steamers, the Nebraska, will reach New Zetland. Under the contract entered ii.to by the Postmaster-General with M- eilsnn, she will l^avH San Francisco on thr. 16rh of flic p.fiaeiH mo'ith an-l is the contract tiny t'> uckluul is t.w. 1 1 <■ y - f ■ >n •* ilsivs. *ho wi ! l ; > .hie tt- c. .>n the 12 h March. \n in - s' :j ( ••■) ••;■ . we • ii •;■ n-i.l liv \V\> '''\>. _' . . kv .■! '.c >n "ie ■■■-■■.■ -s •■■v. .<..> " •'• ■• ■ *■'■•' .iv- i I'ijr oi .i--ui)i. of j : .in.. i ri'i cs■ ol f ii ■• r. \o !i OS f)f nje-iHj v A few lays i^o. the "ol!e<t inh ibita >t '' <>f kirit'« was buii-d, havi-ivr be-->i foiin.l dead in i>is nwl on the *>r« j ceUnr day T >is is only the third natural death which has occurred since the settlem-nt <>f the district The Warden, wi'h all the other inhabitants of the town, attended his remains to the cemetery, where the English service was read by the lay-reader.

Dun ford's accommodation -house, on the Rakaia, was totally destroyed by fire on the night of the Bth inst. The building was insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for Ll5O, and in the London and Lancashire Company for L3OO, and the stock and furniture were insured in the New Zealand Company for L 350. Information as to the cause of the fire is not yet to hand. It has been for some time rumored that the Bank of New Zealand had restricted its advances to the General Government on account of the doubt as to the new loan being\raised. A quasi contradiction to this report^ has been given by the Ministerial journals, but there is little doubt of the correctness of the rumor. A thoroughly reliable correspondent writing from Auckland on a recent date says: — <l lt is well understood that the Ministry have been peremptorily restricted from further advances by the Bank. L 228.000 of the so-called Treasury Bills were due in last September, and another L 150,000 fall due during the present year. These the Government have power to renew till 1874. but in the present, state of European affairs it is doubtful if the renewal for so short a period can he accomplished at the minimum fixed by the Act ; the only resource is therefore the loan of L 500.000 authorised at the last session, and which is to be negotiated on the best terms obtainable. A large portion of this loan is already forjestalled for Defence purposes, while heavy advances— such as the L 23.000 for Busby's claim— have been made against the Public Works Loan, which there seems now but little prospect of negotiating. It will be plain from this that the Government is in a position that must make them dread intensely tLe least collision with the Maoris. Their organs therefore cry place, but they well know how hollow is the hasis on which it rests. Connected with this subject, it Mill be as well to refer to the stoppage of advances to the Government above mentioned, as 1 hear that the Directors of the Bank have authorised a contradiction of the rumor in other provinces. Whether that contradiction is absolute as to any action having been taken, or merely that the terms of the rumor are incorrect, I cannot say ; but as a matter of fact it is universally credited here, and although repeatedly alluded to in print, and talked of | everywhere, has not been contradicted. As the rumor runs, Mr Murdoch, the Inspector, a')d Mr Williamson, one of the active Directors, went to Wellington specially to lay the subject before the Government when Mr Yogel was there. A correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writing on the subject of water supply to the sold fields quotes the following statistics furnished by the Wardens respecting the existing w.-tter works on the Gtasro Gold Fields, which, with' the writer's criticisms, we publish for general information : —The HJumnean mining population of this Pr-ivince numbers 485|) ; the number nf wa^r races, 574 ; the heads of water which th»y carry. 1479; w«t of einnto-nc ion, T .214 607"; their nresentest.i-n -ted. valu .. LI8O.2!)1 ; number ->f re<«prvoi>B, 333 ; coat, nt cons*rn-<M<in 1 46.238 ;- r .* e .nt value. LU, 157 Ad 1 Mi« 0 wt- ot' t.lie ••PSMrv»v-« fci the 'o«t of the "-arses a 1 if- »ive<? 1,280 845 The'r »«ire * rfc e« ciitio'i^in v.i've siiows L46."»97. It'uiLh b ! Jis'ovVwhv su.'h a de'vecia itvi if water i« -o much needed ? I will «.ive one or tw o ciuses Ist. Many of <iw wafrr races are brought on hi fjronnd of a very poor charact.pr and the mine's cannot afford to pay a price for water commensurate with its c r >st. 2 d. The ground which the water commands is rapidly being worked out, and in the course of a few years many of the water races «i!l be useless for mining purposes. It will therefore be seen that that description of property is year by year lessening in value. The above statistics show 1479 heads of water used daily on the gold fields, or 1,267,007,440 gaUlons per day of 24 hours.

ft will be s 3 en that to keep a population o under 4000 employed an outlay of L260,84ft had to be incurred. So to double our minim opulation a like expenditure will be re quired ; and 1 will assert, without fear of inntradiction, that the same body of water ;ould not be supplied to payable ground for anything like that sum It is a well-known ''act that every drop of water worth having s already secured by the minors; and 1 should like to know where the Government is to get water to fill reservoirs, and how the supply is to be kept up ? How many will "•-hey require, and what will be their cost, to -apply daily the enormous quantity of ! . 267, 077, 440 gallons, wnich is at the present ime consumed by less than 4000 miners ? \ Phe whole European miners only number 1850, and it must not supposed that they ire all engaged with the water. Many are employed at quartz reef, dredging, and many other pursuits. The Oreenstone district, although better provided with a water supply than most oi ■he other districts, is at present suffering, as far as the terrace workings are concerned, a kind of relapse. The claims on the Duke of Edinburgh Terrace are at a standstill, in consequence of the Hohonu Water Race being I under repair; the proprietors, at present, beinE engaged in widening tbeir race, and raising the fluming to the level of the terrace. However, by this time, the race will have been completed, and the water running through it ; but. in consequence of the dryness of the weather, it is not likely to contain more than five or six heads of water, a quantity quite inadequate to hydraulic the area of ground at present opened up." At the Greenstone Creek the miners are doing well, the drought being favorable to that kind of working. The miners at Maori Point and Ar«us Terrace are all at work and doing pretty fairlv — from L2 los to to L 6 per weekThe raceholders on Argus Terrace are prospecting the ground in the vicinity of their races.

Tt is satisfactory to find that the Otago Daily Times fully agrees with us on the question of placing the administration of the Gold Fields under the General Government. That paper of the 4th instant says ;— The wants of tho miners are needs of the State, and the upmost attention is due to them from all who would aspire to be ranked as statesman amonest us. That the attention they deserve has not been accorded to them is the conviction of all who have studied the subject, or compared what has been done in this regard in New Zealand with the course taken in other gold -producing colonies. How far this i& due to the fact that the General Government of the colony has never directly interested itself in the cold fields — that they have always been looked upon as matters of purely l«cal concern is a problem worfchyot'aftentive investigation. Forourown part we are inclined tn think that, fchetirop has arrivpd when this state of tbiticjs should be brought to an end In whatever wav we measure it. the exld-njinin" intpresfc in Npw Z'Viland is exoeeie'l by none in importance. Whether we look to the present or to the futurp. ift hrig specin' claims on onr atfc-ntion. Tn p' r ery oVh°>* c^nnt i- v i>i which <rold mining ri -'uv y bus a.«ssnmel such o r imen«i''<ns» a« it Ins her-v we 'in ' Us mlwe^s fl-jc^-l nn^cr t'i" ere of a Minister nf St-atp, a*id the authnriftv ruvi mvn emenfc of eve y public nrittei" connec^d wit-h iH co •ce*itr. i »>en l in a sn°ci'!)l d«nartment of the Suwmie Govern-" nvnt of th« co'intry. Th's i<s what we nee-1 fn V-Tv Z'alird. The Provincial sv->t<»m stands in the way of it. ami it raiv be. Counted whether s=o long as that, system continues in f-.rce. the" reform we aHvocatp can j dici'iuslv be undertaken. This i* indeed one of the many arguments in favor of constitutional changes, by whinh our system of double Government may be got rid of.

Some of *he strange scpnes attendant u^on a sitting of a Native Lands Court, are thus described by an Auckland correspondent : — The Lands CVrart has been for some time in session, and for several days occupied wi";h the disputed ownership of Te Aroha Mountaiu and surrounding land on the Upner Thames, claimed by two rival tribes. The examination is confined chiefly to old men, who brighten up when recounting the victories of their respective tribes, and with vehement gesticulations fight their battles over again to the intense delight of frifinds and followers. Outside, in the meantime, young Maoridom, in dresses of the most varied character, may be seen lolling and smoking, cooking mussels and potatoes in huge pots, or playing at quoits and pitch and toss in the barrack-square. The Court is worth a visit. It is held in a large unfurnished building, formerly one of the military stores in Britomart Barracks. At one end of the room a dozen chairs and two or three common tables are provided for the Judges, Native Assessors, lawyers, and interpreters. One of the Judges is Mr Manning, whose " Old New Zealand" and "War in the North" have made his name a household word. In person he is tall and thin, but uncommonly active and athletic, with one of tht.se full well poised heads and determined faces which command attention everywhere. The walls of the building are fitted all round with cupboards, some 4 feet high . On the top of these cupboards, and on military bedsteads ranged in front of them, from one to two hundred of our Maori friends lounee in all the poses which a semisavage freedom may dictate. Some are dressed in the best and most recent styles, with perhaps a handsome native mat over their suits of broadcloth, by way of ornament and greatcoat. Others are got tip most grotesquely, and affect shawls which they wear as kilts, with the upper man rigged in tall black hat, coat, and waistcoast, while the lower is provided with long dirty and stock ingl ess boots. The effpet of a partial adoption of Highland tastes, and a very plainly exhibited dislike to breeches, is peculiarly incongruous.

Carreras. Woodstock . 4 Ross ... 82 Donoghue's ... 7 FJokitika ... 1 Dkarito ... 4 Hoos. 0 5 2 7 0 Keoga. 10 73 20 5 27 Tribe. 8 87 21 0 11 Total ... 75 14 131 128