THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 851, 19 April 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1871.

We are informed that considerable disappointment w.as felt by the children who were present at the Governor's reception I yesterday at His Excellency not having addressed them. The omission was entirely an inadvertant one, and as no intimation of the i wish of tue Committee that His Excellency should do so was made, the Governor was in no way responsible. We are sure that nothing could have afforded His Excellency greater pleasure than to thank the little folks who gave him so heartfelt a welcome. Those who had the control of the arrangements should have caused it to be intimated to His Excellency that it was the wish of the children to have a few words from the j Covemor, and we are sure the request would j have been most willingly acceded to. | The Ball Co-nmittee meet this afternoon at five o'clock, at Gilmer's Hotel, to complete •ibeir arrangements. Mr Warden Whitefoord announces that all claims on the Nelson South-West Gold, Fields are protected to-day, and that the Brunner Mine is open for public inspection. The baloon did not ascend last evening, in consequence of the strong breeze blowing. Should this evening be calm, a trial will be made, after notice has been made by firing a shot. The Bishop of Nelson and Mrs Sufcer have arrived at Nelson from Dunedin, having accomplished the journey from Nelson to Otago and back overland. In our correspondence columns appears a letter from a miner at Clifton, who with very good reason complains of the manner in which the business of the Warden's Court there has been neglected. From various -sources we have learned that a most serious amount of trouble and annoyance has been occasioned by the non-appearance of the -Warden^ on the days appointed for a sitting of his Court. Men who had cases in Court, or who have been subpcened as witnesses, have just ground for complaint when, after walking several miles through the bush, they arrive to find the Court without the Warden, and perhaps after kicking their heels for some hours being told that the Court is adjourned. The absence of Mr Warden Revell on some of these occasions was excusable on account of bis indisposition, but some arrangement ought to have been made for the public convenience to prevent the vexatious disappointments to which those who had business in the Court House have been subjected. Thelast sitting day of the Warden's Court at Clifton was marked by the same absence of the proper officer as the two former ones, and on this occasion the only conceivable reason for the Warden's non-appearance was that for some purpose or. other he had gone to Hokitika. During his absenc 3 there great inconvenience and expense was caused to parties having cases in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Gfeymouth which ought not to have been inflicted upon them. A little more evidence oh the part of public officers of a due sense of their responsibilities to the public,, whose servants they are, would be very desirable iv Westland generally. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, William Crooke, a miner at Welshman's Terrace, was charged, on remand, with attempted rape on Maria Monguillet on the Ist inst. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, who was a mate of the complainant's husband, went to the hut and asked the loan of a brush. She talked to him for some time, and asked if he would take a couple of cabbages home. She went into the garden to do some work, and he made indecent proposals to her. She told him to go away, but afterwards came out and sat down on the doorstep talking to him After a time he caught hold of her, and they had a struggle, she clinging to the verandah post, and he trying to drag her away. She called "Charlie," and Charlie Travis, who was working in a tail-race near, called out " Hullo," and the prisoner went away. The cross-examination elicited that two miners heard' the complainant cry for. help, but it was such an ordinary circumstance for Tier to be making a noise that they took no notice of it. They also said that she did not bear a very good character, having previously ran away with a man, was frequently drunk, and took liberties with men. It was three days after the alleged assault that she told her husband, and ten days after it that she laid the information. It was also admitted by the prosecution that she had said some months previously that' she would get the prisoner into trouble, that she would give him two months' imprisonment. Mr Newton, who appeared for the defence, called no witnesses, but simply commented on the evidence, and asked for a dismissal of the charge. The Magistrate said that if any assault had taken place, the complainant had brought it upon herself, and, under all the circumstances of the case, ' the charge would be dismissed. ! A correspondent sends the following : — The ball and banquet given by the residents of Half-Ounce to Mr William Lonargan was an unqualified success. The room was beautifully decorated, and at 10 o'clock the company assembled commenced their work in earnest. The whole district w&s represented — miners from Duffer's, Noble's, Napoleon, and the Little Grey Junction mingled with the busy throng,; and goodfellowship, kind words, and generous thoughts prevailed. The ball-room was most densely crowded, and two sets double sides were kept alive throughput the evening. It was rather a striking contrast— the well-dressed gentleman and the miner in his moles, the man of fashion -and the laborer, but, still, no disturbance whatever took place, ; The ball was intended merely to testify in a public manner the regard in which Mr William Lonargan was held by his fellow townsmen. At one o'clo'ck the party adjourned to supper, which was held at the opposite hotel. Every delicacy of the season was provided. Mr Drury was called to the chair, and proposed

the first toast, viz., "The Queen and Royal.. Family." The next .toast was *' The Agricultural Interests of the Grey, Valley," proposed by Mr Young and. responded to by Mr Martin. The "Mining Interest" and. "Our Working Warden" were then given by Mr Houston. Mr Thomas Weir then proposed "The Ladies." " The Guest of the evening" was then given by the Chairman, who expressed th 6 pleasure he experienced in finding so many present to do honor to him on the occasion. He paid a very high compliment to Mr Lonargan, and resumed his seat amidst cheers. Mr Lonargan briefly returned thanks to the ladies, chairman, andmembers of committee, when dancing, was resumed, and continued till eight o clock next morning. The. working committee deserve praise for the satisfactory manner in which they did their work, and the secretary deserves every credit for the way in ] which he superintended the affair. ' Old horses are being utilised in the Wairanga by being boiled down. It is said that the results are about £4 per horse. Who will now say that theie is nothing new under the sun. A man has been arrested in Auckland who is distinguished by the following list of cognomens ; — James Hewson Moore, alias James Hewson, alias George George Gibson, alias George Edward Ringland, alias M'Allister, alias " Ginger Moore." A Wanganui paper has heard that two women have died from the effects of immersion, or baptism, in the Manawatu riVer. The ceremony a religious one, and performed for spiritual benefit, but regardless of physical consequences. The Wanganui Chronicle says that Mr Claridge offers to erect a reservoir in a central part of the town, to contain 9000 gals; of water for the sum of £30, and suggests that the Fire Brigade accept the offer, and see it carried to completion. On Monday forenoon, an accident occurred on the Ricearton road, near Christchurch. ! It appears that Young Austin was driving in a buggy, when the Horse took fright near the Plough Inn. After going about 100 yards, the buggy capsized, and Austin and the two occupants were thrown out. All of them were much cut and bruised, and Austin had his head cut in three places and his right knee dislocated, the wheels of the buggy haying dragged over him. A very serious fire took place on Tuesday night last on the farm of Mr Charles Reid, West Melton, Canterburj , which resulted in the total destruction of some LI2OO worth of grain. ,From the manner in which the fire appears to have" started, there is little doubt but that an. incendiary has been at. work. The stacks were built in two groups, so that the fire 1 could scarcely have been communicated from ono to the other. The grain, we believe, was insured .for LIOOO. A reward of LIOO has been offered for the discovery of the incendiary. A gentleman in Nelson, says tha Mail, bas received a letter from Mr Reuben Waite, how at the Karamea, which contains some "interesting information relative to mining affairs in that district. As yet, he says, there is no rich ground discovered, hut several parties are out prospecting. Those at work on Fenian Creek are making from L 4 to L 5 per week, but the road over which they have to carry their provisions is something fearful, and yet a much smaller and better track might be made at a very small expense. The men now say there is any amount of ground that will pay L 2 or L 3 a week.

By'all means, says the Wanganui Chronicle, be a troublesome person, and you are sure to be provided for. If you move quietly on, . minding your own business, nobody will care a straw for you. Not long ago, Topia, because he had been in arms against the Government, was made a Native Agent with a very. good salary, considering that he had nothing to do, and indeed was not wanted to do anything. But the salary was not enough. He has now got a house and an acre of ground, near the hospital, presented to him. Topia comes to Wanganui occasionally, and the Government fancy he wants a town house, and of course he has got it. —Let us point a moral by contrast. Colonel M 'Donnell spent the best years of bis life in the Colonial service. He had his faults and his failings as we all have, but he was ever faithful to the Government. He cannot get the slightest recognition of his services, although solemn promises have been made to him again and again. '• Look on this picture and on that:" A great scandal Las taken place in reference to the conduct of the Rev — . Wilson, Presbyterian minister, of Turakiua and West Rangitikaj in the Wellington Province. A pro .re nata meeting of the Wellington Presbytery was held at Turakina on the sth inst. The accused agreed to lay his resignation on the table after evidence had been taken, on which the following motion was carried : — " That the Presbytery, having heard the whole of the matter respecting the res nata, determine, . concerning' the jama, to assist procedure meanwhile, there being no real evidence before the Court in support of it, but on the ground of the breach of promise and the aggravating circumstances connected therewith, they agree to accept the resignation of Mr Wilson now laid upon the table, to administer censure, anil to suspend him from the office of the Holy Ministry sine die.