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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 821, 15 March 1871, Page 2

Up to ten o'clock last night there were to signs of the arrival of the English Mail at Tauranga or at Nelson. As it is now several days overdue, the mail telegrams may be looked for at any hour.

The Banks give notice that this week they will smelt gold on Thursday instead of Friday; and that on Friday (St. Patrick's Day) they will close at 11 o'clock.

The return cricket match between Hokitika and Greymouth will be played on the Camp Reserve here to-morrow, weather permitting. A large number of visitors are expected from Hokitika, through the combined attractions of- the cricket match and the races on the two following days.

A gang of hard-labor prisoners is expected shortly to arrive here from Hokitika, to be employed on road-making.

An accident occurred on Monday morning, at Moonlight Creek, to a miner named James Harding. While at wcrk in his claim, a large stone slipped and fell on him, causing a compound fracture of the right leg. He was brought down to town, and arrived at the Hospital the same evening at seven o'clock. — Another accident occurred in a claim ab Coek-a-Bulla, Eight-mile, yesterday morning. While at work the face fell in on him, and when rescued by Ms mates, it was found that his right leg was fractured. He. arrived at the Hospital at six o'clock last night. Immediately on their arrival at the Hospital, Dr Morice was in attendance on the auffereTS, and they are both now doing well.

Mr Montgomery has kept his promise to the public with regard to the formation of the horse-track from the Arnold Road to the Omotonioto Creek before the races. Over twenty men have been employed in making the road on this side of the river, and it is now so far advanced that eqestrians can ride from town to the Ahaura or Napoleon without once crossing the Grey River. 'The road from town to the Omotomoto Creek 'has been made good by the Bace Committee ; Mr Montgomery has made a track from the Racecourse to Rocky Island, connecting with the road previously made to the Arnold River ; and thence there is a good road to the Twelvemile which joins all the roads to the diggings on the Nelson side. This through route must prove of great convenience to the up-

country travellers. The arbitrators recently appointed will settle the disputed question as to the right to the Arnold Ferry, on this route, and should the verdict be given in favor of Curtis and Co., we believe that the river will very soon be bridged, and |the upcountry road thus rendered complete, and free from the usual dangers attendant upon upcountry travelling.

Mr Dobson, District Engineer, is expected to leave Nelson for Westport and make the journey overland in company with Mr Greenfield, Provincial Secretary. They will probably arrive in Westport in the early part of the ensuing .week. Dr. Giles will probably meet Mr Greenfield and Mr Dobson at the Inangahua, and will afford the former valuable assistance in obtaining what, no doubt, is the object of his visit - the necessary and reliable information to enable the Government to frame the estimates for the approval of the Council.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before J. Greenwood and W. H. Harrison, Esqrs, F.P., the following civil cases were heard : — I). Maclean and Co v Gillon— This case being under the extended jurisdiction was adjourned until the 21st iust, D. Maclean and Co v Johnston (Auckland)—No service of summons, defendant having left the Colony. Wennick v Kennedy—Adjourned to the 21st inst. D. Sheedy v Maher — In this case there was no service of summons. The Clerk of the Court informed the Bench that he had received back the first summons issued, with the intimation from the bailiff at Hokitika that the defendant |was not to be found sA his usual place but could probably be found at another place mentioned. A fresh summons had in consequence to issue. The Bench expressed the opinion that there was a great neglect of duty on the part of the bailiff at Hokitika. Cleve v Walker — L 5 6s lOd ; judgment for plaintiff by default. Cook v Tudor— No service of summons ; case adjourned to the 21st instant. F. and G. F. Bullen v Smith— A fraud summons for L 6 2s Cd. Defendant did not appear, and a warrant was issued for his apprehension. Simmonds v Neilson — A fraud summons for L 9 ss. Defendant was ordered to pay 10s per week, under penalty of seven days imprisonment in default of any of the payments. Ryan Brothers v Codyre -A fraud summons for L 3 2s 3d. Defendant was brought up under a warrant of arrest, he having neglected to obey a previous snmmona. He was ordered to pay LI per week, or fourteen days imprisonment with hard labor.

There appears to be great delay in collecting the census forms both in town and country. Fifteen days have not been sufficient to collect' the papers in the town ; but this must be attributed either to the want of local knowledge on the part of the subenumerator sent up here from Hokitika, instead of a local man having been selected, or to the fact that the remuneration is at per day. The chief enumerator for Westland made a great mistake when he appointed his friends to take the census of the County, and the County Government will feel this, in its most vital part, when the returns are made up ; for, under the capitation system, it will loose hundreds of pounds through the neglect, want of local knowledge, or laziness of the sub-enumerators. Companionship in misfortune is frequently a satisfaction, and as an evidence that we are not alone in this state of things, we quote the following letter we have received from No Town, on the Nelson side of the river : — " As a resident in the Grey Valley District, may I draw the attention of the public, especially the inhabitants of No Town and surrounding district, to the utter neglect of the party who was supposed to deliver the. census papers to those in every hut and tent. Now, I can safely say that there are numbers of huts and tents where there has not been one paper lodged ; in fact, in speaking to men concernins; the census being taken, nine out of ten will say they have heard nothing of it. Now, who is to blame for this injustice, or what can be the cause of it ? Are we, because we are miners, to suffer to be trod upon by haughty superiors— men who know not to over-stretch one limb or lose one drop of sweat in earning their living ? I complain of the neglect as being very inconsistent to the object in view, and an iujustice which we in the Grey Valley willfeeL"

The construction of Addison's and Charleston road has been commenced by two of the contractors, Moore and party and Cox and party.

The discovery of what may prove to be an extensive seam of coal has been made iv Northern Wairoa, Kaipara.

The Thames Advertiser has the following : — " We have been informed of an occurrence (we are assured it is not the only one of the kind that has transpired within the last few days) which illustrates how some of the Auckland gentlemen dealt with their mining property at the Thames, and also shows the peculiar risks attending that procedure. During the time when everybody was anathematising the Thames, it was a common practice in Auckland to transfer scrips in companies to 'dummies' to avoid calls, and with an understanding that the property would be re-transferred if it ever should be of value enough to make that operation worth while. As this was generally done by large holders, and the wealthiest men in the company, the • effect was frequently to burst up the companies, which had to be wound up at great loss to the creditors. A good many companies, however, managed to keep alive, and in some of these now the scrip is of considerable value in consequence of better prospects. In the instance we have been informed of, the gentleman went the other day to his 'dummy' and requested that the scrip be re-transferred, as now, instead of carrying with it a heavy liability, it was worth several hundred pounds. To his astonishment and disgust, however, the 'dummy' refused, saying that he had taken the risk and responsibility, and would now take the profit.'' >

Some of the strange -doings of the members of the Nelson Police Force occasionally get into print. Here is another sample :— At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Brighton, before Dr Giles, R.M., Sergeant M'Ardle was charged with assaulting a fiddler named Kitchener. The circumstances of the case are as follows : — On Sunday, sth February, defendant fell in •with complainant, and accosted him by saying, "Are you. Old Bosh.?" Complainant replied in the affirmative, and then defendant took him by the side of the head, and with hand and foot pushed him out at the door, so that he fell ou some broken glass on his face. This was at the bar of Searight's Empire Hotel. Several persons were presenb. Defendant then took complainant away. The evidence was that defendant was at that time in liquor, complainant not perceptibly so, although he had been so during the previous part of the day. Defendant locked complainant up, and in about half or three-quarters of an hour, when Searight and others came to ask for bail, defendant said he had no prisoner in the lock-up. Mr Broad then came at the request of the parties and liberated the complainant, defendant saying he had no charge against him. Complainant was then half naked, his clothes having been tern off. Defendant offered him a blanket, which he refused as it was a Government one. Defendant then struck or pushed >;him again, so that he fell down. Mr Broad then interfered and got defendant removed Defendant was very excited. Defendant said

in his defence that lie believed he had beea drugged at the Empire, where he had been, and that this prosecution was concocted •against; him. The Magistrate, after a quarter of an hour's adjournment, said that no defence had been slv./vvn. The supposition that defendant had boen intentionally drugged was altogether unsupported by evidence, and in itself improbable. It was true that one witness stated the excitement shown by defendant was not like ordinary alcoholic intoxication, and possibly the liquor he had taken might have been adulterated, but that would be no excuse ; and it was desirable that constables who were in the habit of taking drinks at the public bars should know that the law would hold them fully accountable for their actions. This assault appeared altogether unprovoked and wanton, and the full penalty of LlO, including costs, would be inflicted, of which half would be paid to complainant, not in any way as compensation for false imprisonment, for which he might have maintained an action for damages had he chosen to adopt that mode of proceeding, but to cover his costs and immediate damages. No doubt the previous good conduct of the defendant would be taken into consideration by the Government in any inquiry they might think fit to make in the matter. There were several witnesses called, and amongst them Mr Broad, B.M.