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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 816, 9 March 1871, Page 2

Yesterday the machinery and plant on the ground of the Moonlight Quartz Crushing Company were gold by auction by

Messrs Nanearrow, Henderson, and Co., and knocked down for LIOO. The surplus plant belonging to the company, lying in town, were soli for about L4O; the original cost being LIOO. "We may mention that the Moonlight Company expended on their operations over L 3600. — The same firm also offered for sale M 'Henna's Royal Hotel and Ked Lion Brewery, Ahaura, but withdrew them as no eligible offer was made: There was no business whatever at the Kesident Magistrate's Court yesterday. The adjourned sitting of the Licensing Bench takes place to-day at 11 o'clock, at the Court House. The telegram libel case has been adjourned for a week to enable the Crown to call rebutting testimony. We have to remind our readers that a soiree will take place in the Wesleyan Church this evening. There will be some instructive and entertaining addresses delivered, interspersed with singing and recitations. By an oversight we omitted to mention the name of Mr Coutanche in the list of hotel proprietors whose licenses were granted on Tuesday. Mr Coutanche's house was formally reported on by the police, and the license granted without comment from the Bench. The Governor is expected to arrive at Dunedin on Thursday night. The city declines to give his Excellency a public reception, because he would not come on an earlier day. He holds a levee on Monday. We are requested, on behalf of the Grey Eiver Hospital, to acknowledge receipt of the following donations :— Parcels of linen from Mrs Leving, Mrs Simpson, Mr Kent, Mr Hawley; papers and periodicals from Parkinson and Steel, Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., T. A. S. Kynnersley, Esq, Mr W. Dale, Thompson, Smith and Barkley, Daily and Weekly Argus office, and Evening Star, The following amounts have been collected by Mr Rugg, the Superintendent, from the patients named : — Patrick Carney, L 3 ; It. Reynolds, LI ; Alexander Day, L 4; Gilbertson, H ; Martin Geeghan, L 3; Michael Madden, Lo ; Monl-guillat, LI ; donation box, L 4 2s ; total, L 22 2s. The forthcoming race meeting promises to be by far the most successful, as far as concerns the quantity and. quality of competing horses that has ever been held here. Among the notables openly spoken of are Peeress, Lacenfeed, Flying Jib, Misfortune, Arundel, Economy, Vulcan, Gamester, and nearly a score of others of lesser note. When such compauy as this comes together the lovers of sport will necessarily congregate, because in this island it is a rare occurrence to find so many good animals competing at one meeting. Everything is in capital order, and the fall of rain yesterday has done wonders for the new course in places where, although it was thoroughly level, it remained light and sandy. From all appearances the meeting of 1871 promises to be the best and most successful ever held here. • The Masonic ceremony of the consecration of the Grey River St. Andrew Lodge, S.C., and installation of officers, took place at the Masonic Hall, Gihner's Buildings, yesterday afternoon. Bro. Harvey, R .W. M. , S. C. , and P.G.S,, S.C., assisted by Bro. Lazaar, R.W. D. G. M., and Bro. Cuddeford, R.W.P.M., conducted the ceremony, and installed the following officers : — Bro. Cooper, R.W,M. ; Bro. Anchor, R.W.D.M. ; Bro. Arnott, R.W.S.M.; Bro. Kent, S.W. ; Bro. May. J.W. j Bro. T. Kenrick, S.D. ; Seabrook, J.D. ; Bro. George, J«G. ; Bro. Fowler, Tyler ; Bro. Shaw, Secretary ; Bro. Rolestone, Treasurer. A most eloquent and impressive address was delivered to the newly-elected officers and members of the Lodge by Bro. La2aar. After some initiations had taken place, the Lodge adjourned to a banquet at Bro. Anchor's, at which the newly-elected R.W.M. presided, being supported on the right and left by Bros. Harvey, Lazaar, and Cuddeford. Bro. Kent occupied the vice-ebair. After spending a very pleasant evening, the company dispersed shortly after midnight. The supper provided for the occasion by Bro. Anchor was one of the finest ever laid in town. C. E. Haughton, E3q., M.H.R., is at present obtaining information for the General Government as to the best means of providing water supply on the Otago Gold Fields. In addition to making a personal investigation of the subject, Mr Haughton has caused a number of printed questions to be circulated atndhgst the miners, in order to obtain the fullest expression of opinion on the subject. The questions relate to the character of the mining in each place j whether the existing water supply is sufficient ; if there exists in the neighborhood payable auriferous land not commanded by the present water supply, and its area; whether the water supply is derived from artificial sources in the hands of men mining their own gronnd, or is it, or any part of it, held as separate property, and let to the miners ; and if so, at what price per regulation head ; if there is such land, does there exist any source or sources from which water could be obtained to command it, and if so, where is the locality, its distance, quantity of water available, and nature of the country with regard to the probable cost of construction of a race or races. The miners are also asked if they think the proposed system of subsidising the water supply of the gold fields is one likely to promote the interests, and consequently increase the number of European miners? And: Should it be decided upon undertaking the construction of the works indicated, are they of opinion that, when completed, they should remain in the hands of the Government ; the water being at a minimum price per head to cover maintenance and expenses ; or can you suggest any other practicable arrangement ? In districts where labor is both scarce and dear, would it be practicable to obtain the assistance of the miners themselves in the construction of the works, the men employed receiving sustenance money, and taking out the balance of their full wages in water ? The high price of butchers' meat on all ' the up-river diggings, with the exception of No Town, has long been a just cause of complaint with the miners. The fault does not lie entirely with the up-country butchers and slaughtermen, because they are placed at a (disadvantage in having to travel to Hokitika to purchase their stock, except when a chance mob happens to arrive per steamer at Greymouth direct. Whether it be the want of confidence among the storekeepers in Greymouth as a market, or whether it be that sales are more readily effected at Hokitika, certain it is that stock has frequently been driven through the upcountry towns to Greymouth, thence to Hokitika, and then sold at auction to the butchers residing in the Grey Valley Gold Fields, and by them brought back to thair slaughteryards and shops, thus entailing an additional cost of L 2 or L 3 per head on the cattle, and a consequent high retail price to the consumer. This hardship to the miners is now likely to be done away with, as we learn that Mr R. Alcorn, of Totara Flat, near the Ahaura, is now offering prime beef, of his own fattening, at sixpence per pound, delivered to all parts of his immediate district. The Westland Waste Lands Board, besides disposing of a number of applications for the purchase of land, discussed on Tuesday (says the West Coast Times) one or two important subjects associated with the settlement of the County. One of these was the "lifting"

of reserves— the ve<y extensive and ill-chosen reserves which ex : .s!i throughout Westfand. lb was snggesfced by Hr Hoos that every veserve in the County should be annulled, and afresh reservation be made of lauds for specific public purposes, and the Board resolved upon the appointment of a special day for the consideration of the whole subject. Upon the opening of the land beyond the Kokatahi at "not less than 10s per acre," as proposed by the County Council, there was a discussion which virtually ended in the establishment of a deadlock. The majority of the Board contended that the Council should have specified the price. The mitiority, consisting of Mr Lahman, and, to some extent, of Mr Evans, considered that "not less than ten shillings" was sufficiently explicit. Our space does not permit any reference to be made to the matter, but, while expressing the hope that dubiety as to words may not lead the General Government withholding their consent to the opening of the land for sale, we quote for the consideration of those who are learned in legal phraseology, the clause upon which the dispute hinges. It is as follows : — " All rural land shall be open for sale at a fixed uniform price of one pound per acre in blocks of not less than twenty acres Provided that under special circumstances it shall be lawful for the Governor upon the recommendation of the County Council and Waste Lands Board to authorise the sale of special blocks not less in area than one hundred and sixty acres at an upset price of not less than ten shillings per acre such price to be fixed in each case by the Governor upon the recommendation aforesaid. "