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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 840, 6 April 1871, Page 2

At a meeting held at Half-Ounce, on the evening of the 2nd instant, at Mr P. Toner's, the following resolution was put and carried without a dissenting voice:— "That we, the undersigned miners and business people of Half-Ounce, have resolved ourselves into a committee, for the purpose of giving a grand complimentary ball and supper to Mr W. Lonargan, on Friday, April 14th." After some discussion, the meeting appointed a committee of management, composed of the following gentlemen : — Messrs T. Weir, John Surgeon, H. Moss, John Hewson, M. Moneton, William Cahul, James Algie, Alexander M 'Donald, P. Toner, and Felix Stratford: The following gentlemen are to act as stewards on the occasion :— Messrs George Bannon, Andrew Nichol, J. Torrens, Potts, Mori, Hasson, Clarson, E. Fein, B. Perrott, J. M'lnro, O'Malley, Craig, J. D. Pinkerton, M. M'Fee, and T. Turvy.

In* our notice of the appointment of the Reception Committee for the Governor, the name of Mr C. Jeffard,.C.R., of the Court Concord^ A. O. F. , was inadvertantly omitted. The mistake was ours, not the committees.'

The RosaNeios states that Mr Carreras has been enrolled as an advocate of the Warden's Court, JLobb. .

The Victorian Co-operative Company, Kanieri ; and Albion Company, Tucker Flat, are said to be improving, and the latter company are reported to have struck a new lead, which it is expected will yield them good returns.

Between the beach and Stafford there exists an extensive flat, and the Independent understands a company has been formed for the purpose of prospecting it by means of boringrods. Should the prospects obtained by this means be favorable, they will sink shafts on the ground. In the event of good wash being struck, the company are prepared with, means to overcome any great body of water that might be found at the bottom.

The Westland Racing Club met on Tuesday evening at the British Hotel, Hokitika, for the purpose of receiving the general entries for the Autumn Race Meeting, to be held next week. The Stewards, it appears, have decided not to hold the meeting until after the arrival of his Excellency the Governor. The following entries were made : —First day: Trial Stakes oE 25 soys.- XXX, ae;ed; Knottingley, aged; Peeress, 5 yrs. Hurdle Bace of 40 soys., 2 miles— Gamester, aged ; Supple Jack, aged ; Sir Tatton, 6 yrs. Town Plate of 50 soys., weight for 2 miles— XXX, aged ; Knottingly, aged ; Peeress, 6 yrs. -Second day : Handicap Hurdle Eace of 50 soys., 2 miles and a distance—Gamester, aged ; Supplejack, aged ; Sir Tatton, 6 yrs ; Tmmp, aged. Selling Eace oflssqvs., of 1£ miles— Knottingly, aged ; Ino, aged ; Eobin Hood, aged ; Saucy Dick, agedi The Westland Racing Club Handicap, of I^lo soys., second horse to receive 10 soys. out of the stakes— XXX; aged; Gamester, aged ; Peeress, 5 yrs ; Sir Tatton, 6yrs. Ladies' Purse, of 25 soys., Welter weights for age, 1£ -miles— XXX, aged; Knottingly, aged; Peeress, 5 yrs ; Sir Tatton, byrs.

■ At a meeting of the Westland Waste Lands Board, held on Tuesday at Hokitika, a letter from Mr James' Wylde, asking whether the Board could grant permission to the Grey Valley Tramway Company to cut timber on the Coal Eeserve and Road Reserves, and also enquiring to whom application should be made. The Clerk (Mr Driscoll) stated that he had informed Mr Wylde, on behalf of the Company, to make the usual application. -

The expected visit of the Governor is exciting some interest iv Boss. By the Guardian^ report of the last meeting of the Road Board, we notice that Messrs Dismant and Cuming brought up a draft address to be presented to his Excellency the Governor on his arrival at Ross, which was read, approved of, and it was resolved that the address be engrossed. It was resolved that the Clergy of all denominations, the Warden, the representatives of the different public bodies and societies, the Drainage Board, managers of steam claims, and the Press be written to, inviting them to a preliminary meeting to make arrangements for the Governor's reception.

/ It is stated by the West Coast Times that, in the event of the arbitrators to recommend a settlement of the question of ferries on the Grey and Arnold Rivers failing to agree, the Hon. Mr FitzGerald, Comptroller-General, has consented to act as umpire. There was lome delay in obtaining , Mr FitzGerald s consent to act, in consequence of his absence

from Wellington, hut his willingness to do so has now Demi intimated by telegraph to Mr Donne. Mr Donne has for several days since his arrival in Hokitika been confined to his room, in consequence of a severe attack of illness. Mr Horton, we believe, is the arbitrator appointed by the County Chairman to act with Mr Donne, who was selected for the duty by the Nelson Government.

The meeting of the Committee appointed to make suitable arrangements for the reception of the Governor, takes place ia the Town Hall this evening, at 8 o'clock. '

A mail for Anstraha will be made up this forenoon and despatched overland to Christchurch to catch the Tararua.

On Tuesday afternoon a fire was discovered in the building erected by Mr M'Beth, adjoining the upper saw mills of Messrs Findlay and Haworth, Hokitika. Fortunately it was discovered in time, and buckets were obtained, from the neighbors ; and, with a copious supply of water, it was soon extinguished. The cause of the fire is at present a mystery. All that i 3 known of the matter is that a " shake-down " and some loose shavings and wood wee found inside, aud the presumption is that some way-farer had occupied the building for the night, and when leaving had thrown down a lighted match.

That fruitful source of muddle, the Westland Public House Acts, has again got the authorities into trouble. All applications for licenses, to be heard at the annual meeting in May, ought to have been lodged atthe Eesident. Magistrate's office some days ago, and no public notice to that effect has yet been given. Indeed all licenses that expire before the September meeting ought to have been heard in May, so that the houses whose licenses expire in July and August; should not be closed until the meeting in September. We fear this will have to be done in a good many instances if the law is strictly adhered to; but the only way to get over the difficulty will be to receive the applications, and pay no attention to the Act.

A Ross joiirnal states :— At Clear Water Creek, on Friday last,' Mulligan and party struck good ground. The wash is ten feet thick, and the prospects obtained are from two to five grains. Wishart's claim is sunk fifty feet; and Parnell's tunnel is paying good wages. Eae and party, at the righthand branch of Donnelly's Creek, are constructing a tail-race. At Donoghue's, Sweeney's party have given up. There were eight in the party, and four of them intend buying the others out, and groundsluicing the claim. The" Prospectors and Sons of Freedom claims were flooded out, but were to start again yesterday. The shareholders in the Sons of Freedom have turned Eobinson's Creek, as it interfered with the working of their claim.

A civil action— Torrens v. M'Laughlin — was brought in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on Thursday last, to recover the sum of LlO, alleged to have been given to the defendant to be paid to Orr and Co., Greymouth, and which had not been so paid. The defence was that the money had been paid as directed, but'this was denied by Mr Orr. The Magistrate (Mr Whitefoord) reserved his decision until Monday, atCobden, when he gave it in favor of the plaintiff, with costs of Court, expenses of witnesses, and professional costs.

A case was omitted in our last from the ♦ c civil list " heard at the Eesident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. It was Johnston v. Bayliss, in which the plaintiff claimed LI 7 for breach of a contract as to the carriage of goods from the Eacecburse to town. Judgment was given for L 3. We believe that after the expenses are paid, the balance of the judgment will be handed over to the Hospital.

At the Eesinent Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before E. Wickes, Esq., J.P., Louisa Hall was fined 10s for being drunk. Albert Nord was charged with being drunk and disorderly. He denied the charge. SubInspector Hickson stated that he arrested the prisoner because he was staggering after a respectable female on the street, and endeavoring to lay-hold of her. Sergeant Hams proved that when the prisoner was brought to the station he was drunk. Fined 20s, or, in default, 48 hours' imprisonment.