THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 826, 21 March 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1871.

Only a few days more remain during which registration can be effected this year, and it is advisable for all who are entitled to have their names on the roll to see that they are properly registered. This should be specially attended to by those who have changed their qualification during the year, or, indeed, during the last three years, for the roll has not been properly revised during that time. The Government still persists in its determination to throw obstacles in the way of the registration of the electors, by refusing to provide the necessary printed form. Applications are being made every day at the Resident Magistrate's Office for these forms ; but, as none are to be had, many go away without lodging their application, rawer than go to the trouble of writing it out according the schedule of the Act. Bather than. see so many of the residents in the district disfranchised by a piece of meanness on the part of the Government, registration forms will be supplied at this office, free, after to-morrow. Our telegrams inform us of the arrival at Wellington, from England, of the ship England, with Bishop Viard, and Father O'Reilly, who was formerly Vicar-General at Wellington, and who resigned and went home some eighteen months ago. They are accompanied by other three clergymen. The party was received on landing, on Sunday last, most enthusiastically by an immense crowd. To-day we publish the prospectus of the Grey Valley Tramway Company, which recently received protection for a line of tramway from town to the Grey Coal Reserve. In order that all may participate in the undertaking, the capital is fixed at L6OCO, iii LI shares. At a meeting of the shareholders of the company held yesterday in the Tramway Chambers, the office-bearers were elected for the year, whose names will be found elsewhere: Twenty-four of the shareholders were present either personally or by proxy, and it was decided to commence the work of formation directly the first call is paid up. Some tenders for supplying timber for the line were laid before the meeting, but it was decided that the company should erect a steam saw mill on the line of road, as they will be enabled to procure black birch timber, which is recommended by the engineer as much more durable than pine. The meeting of the General Assembly is further prorogued to the 22nd May. This will probably be the last prorogation prior to the actual meeting of Parliament. The Shenandoah claim at Kanieriis improving its yields, and good dividends are expected from it. Quartz from New Caledonia has been tested at Sydney, and has been found to contain payable gold. We are informed that Miss Edith Palmerston (Mrs Alexander) will shortly give a series of entertainments in Greymouth. It was intended that there should be several private matches on the Racecourse yesterday, but the heavy downpour of rain, which lasted the whole day, prevented anything of that nature being attempted. We believe that the "settling" on the late races will take place to-night, at the Albion Hotel, at eight o'clock. The boisterous weather which prevailed last night interfered considerably with the success of the Catholic Church Bazaar. We have to remind our readers that they will have a final opportunity to-day of visiting the visiting the bazaar, as it terminates this . evening. All who have a liking for bargains ought to be present, as the large balance of valuable goods remaining on hand will be disposed of m lots by public auction. At Wellington, on Thurday {last, as Mr Holmes was leaving the Queen's wharf, with the attention,of returning to the pilot station at the Heads, his intention was attracted by a man on the wharf to some object in the water. He immediately steered the boat in the direction indicated, and saw a lad about ten years old, named Bragg, about a foot under water, lying on his back, and gradually sinking. The bow oarsman made a grasp, but missed him ; the second oarsman, howevei, was, more fortunate, and caught him by his clothes, bringing him to the surface. The lad was immediately taken on shore, and soon recovered. A person jumped off the wharf in a most praiseworthy manner; but he would have been too late to save the kid, as he was sinking fast, and quite exhausted when taken out of the water. This is the fourth time that Mr Holmes has been the means of saving life in this harbor. To-day we give tbe result of the firing for the championship of New Zealand, in the shape of a copy of the telegram received by the General Government at Wellington from Auckland. Lieut. Wales, of the Dunedin Rifles, is the champion for the year, and the seven highest scorers in the match were all Otago men. That Province has cause to be proud of its Volunteers ; and, no doubt, they will receive & fitting reception on their return home. ' In the Tatanaki Provincial Council, the other day, Mr Symes asked the representative of the Government if any claim for L9O had been sent in for inserting in the London Times tun advertisement on three occasions. He would also like to see a ccpy of the advertisement j also the account.— Mr Whitcombe said an account had been received by the Government from their London agents for inserting in three issues of The Times the unclaimed exchanges— each insertion occupied a column of that journal and cost L3O 10s. The charge seemed exoritant, but they were compelled by the Act to advertise in Tlie Times. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yes* terday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., R.M., William Harper, charged with drunkenness, was cautioned and dismissed. Peter Moore, tor committing a breach of the peace, in view of a constable, was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment. — George M'Donaghue for resisting the police in the execution of their duty, was fined L 5, or in default 14 days' imprisonment. — William Munro, charged with being drunk and incapable, was dismissed with a caution.— Barbara Weldon was charged with being drunk and disorderly, at one o'clock on Sunday morning, and was fined LI or 48 hours' imprisonment. She was also charged under the Vagrant Act with being an habitual drunkard, having been thrice convicted since January. There were eight previous convictions against her here, and thirty-five in Hokitika. The Magistrate gave her a severe caution and " one chance more," and discharged her. Ellen M'Davitt, charged with being drunk and disorderly at two o'clock on Sunday morning, was dismissed with a caution. She was further charge^ with making use of obscene language withi

hearing of a public thoroughfare, and was fined L 3 or fourteen days" imprisonment. —Julia Yeast was charged with making use of obscene and abusive language within the hearing of passers-by in Gresson street. Mr Guinness appeared for the defendant, and as no date was mentioned in the summons, he asked for an ad j ornament. The case was adjourned until Tuesday. Mary Ann Sodgers was charged with selling, on the 11th, certain spirituous and fermented liquors in her house in Gresson street, without a license. David Morris, a boatman, stated that he and a man named Little each had a glass of port wine in defendant's house. They had no porter. He knew that defendant went into the house only that day. They went there to visit, and did not purchase any liquor. Defendant offered the liquor. When Constable Keating came in witness was drunk, and was having a row with Little. He got the liquor that made him drunk all round town. The constable came in twice. Oswald Little stated that he was in the defendant's house on the night of the 11th when the constable came in. He thought they had two drinks each, to which they helped themselves out of a bottle of wine standing on the table. There was a porter bottle on the table. He called for no drinks and paid for none, as he had no money on him. Constable Keating stated that on the night of the 11th instant, his attention was drawn to the house occupied by the defendant in Gresson street. The side door was partly open, and two men were pulling the defendant about. There were porter and wine bottles on the table. He left and returned in a quarter of an hour, as the row was stiU going on. The front door was locked, and he went round to the back-door, which was open. The house was all dark, and as he was striking a light, Morris ran past him, and he found Little lying on the floor, with his face cut and bleeding. place was fitted up as a public-house, and a license was granted for it a few days ago to a man named Shiels. He saw no money paid for liquor. The case was dismissed. Charles Hansen, for allowing two horses to wander at large in the streets, was cautioned, and dismissed, on. payment of costs. Harry Dufty was charged, on the information of Francis Kent, with making use of insulting and abusive language, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Tin complainant saii he did not wish to press the charge, as the defendant had since apologised. The Magistrate cautioned the defendant that he had laid himself open to a fine of LlO, but as the charge was not pressed, he would not inflict as heavy a fine as he would otherwise have done. Fined LI and costs. John Davidson v. Mary Ann Murphy.- This wa3 an application to alter an order of the Court as to the maintenance of a child, on the plea of inability to met the payments, The Magistrate made an order for final settlement of the liability by the payment of L2O, LlO cash, and the balance in one month. We understand that Mr Warden Schaw's duties are co be performed during his absence by Mr Warden Price, who will be removed from Okarito for that purpose. The Okarito district -will most probably be placed under the authority of Mr Tizzard, the Collector of Customs at that port. As it is more than probable that Mr Schaw's leave of absence will be permanent, the arrangement now mentioned may be confirmed. It is not likely, nor is it necessary, that a separate Warden should be appointed for the Okarito district, as with a small additional salary Mr Tizzard can easily perform the whole of the duties on behalf of the Government. The following verbatim report of a scene in Court, " not in Ould Ireland," is given by the Lyttelton Times :— Policeman (Irish, of course) — The pris'ner was quite aisy ; he came of his own ackar-rd. Judge (with a slight suspicion of the brogue)— Did ye say, witness, that the pris'ner came of his own accord, or with a card I Policeman — Of his own ackar-rd, your Honor (spelling it triumphantly)— k-a-r-d, your Honor. Registrar (with more than a suspicion of the brogue)— Shure, your Honor, he manes accard. (Laughter.) Crier (rank Irish) — Silence in the Coort ! Counsel for defence (also from the land of praties)— now, witness, ye were saying the pris'ner came ov his own acchordj what followed afther that ? The writer of the Perrybingle papers in the Melbourne Daily Telegraph relates that he saw a queer sight in Collins street. A strong woman, seemingly from the country, was prowling down the street in one direction, and looking in another. Presently she bounced full butt against a blind man, and knocked him clean off his pins. "Ah," says the athletic female, " both drunk." "No," answers the knocked-down man, " I'm blind — not drunk." "Just so," goes on the woman, " and I'm blind-drunk. It the same thing." Thereupon Bhe picked the chap up and led him away— the blind-drunk leading the blind-sober. A ram start to look at. The Southern Cross contradicts the report that Sir George Arney is to retire from his position as Chief Justice, and that Mr Dudley Ward is to be made a pusine Judge. The amended Rules and Regulations for the County of Westland are now being printed, and will shortly be generally circulated. This would have been done sooner, but it was only by the last Gazette to band that the Governor delegated to the County Chairman authority to sanction the new rules. They will most probably be published in the next County of Westland Gazette. During a recent heavy gale at Wellington great damage was done. The Independent says : — The singular effects of the late gale on trees and shrubs is so striking as to draw forth comment from all quarters. Everywhere, very sheltered spots only excepted, have the ravages made by the storm been veiy severe, the effect being very unpleasant to the eye. All forest verdure bears the appearance of having undergone the effects of five rather than of the opposite elements, a great number of trees and shrubs which should now be in full foliage not bearing a ; single leaf. All herbaceous and other softwooded plants have the appearance of having ' undergone a severe forest-burning. i On "Friday afternoon (says the Boss Guardian) t the sixth bottom was reached in the drainage shaft at a depth of 262 ft. The ?rospects are about 1£ grains to the disb. 'his bottom being only struck, the depth of washdirt has yet to be ascertained. The Morning Star shaft is now down 226 ft. They have passed through the fourth bottom, which promises to pay handsomely. The depth of washdirt is about 6ft. This company washed portions of the dirt that came from the fifth bottom of the drainage shaft, and are quite jubilant with the results. An amusing incident cropped up in the Supreme Court at Wellington a few days ago on the calling on of the case of Francis Eochez alias Manilla, who is charged with a breach of the Arms Act. It appears the prisoner is a native of Manilla, speaks little English, but claims to speak the Spanish language pure and simple. The difficulty then appeared to be the finding of an interpreter, and on Mr Izard mentioning the name of a Mr Lawrence for the office, his Honor inquired of Mr Izard where the gentleman named was to be found, whereupon a sepulchral shriek, approaching that of a wail of lamentation from a " departed sperrit" at a spiritual sceance, discovered the indispensable Mr Lawrence to be at the back of the crowd in the top gallery. A few preliminary questions from his Honor revealed Mr Lawranee to be a native of Gascony, in the south of France, and that he based his knowledge of Spanish on the fact that he was born

within sight of the Pyrenees. Being rather dubious of Mr Lawrence's fitness for the task he had undertaken with such willingness, his Honor suggested that the two should undergo a preliminary "jabber," which they did, though not in a very satisfactory way, mutilated Engi'sh having to do service in the explanatory parts, in which it appeared that Mr Manilla was just about a match for Mr Lawrence. For the moment uncontrolable risibility reigned around. All the witnesses in the case being Maoris, and the prisoner a professed Spaniard, the prospect of such a Babel was not pleasant, and his Honor confessed himself m a quandary. On his Honor notifying to Mr Lawrence that he thought he was not equal to the task, that gentlemen offered to make a small bet with him that he would translate all that was to be said into French, Spanish, or Latin, with unerring certainty. This his Honor declined, and cut the gordian knot by postponing the matter, telling Mr Izard that lie would expect him to provide a competent interpreter, if there was one to be got.