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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 861, 1 May 1871, Page 2

We purposely delay comment upon the action of the Borough Council in reference to the applications of the Tramway and Railway Companies, until the decision of the Magistrate in the civil case heard last week is given to-morrow. Another very successful entertainment -was given in the Volunteer Hall by Mr and Mrs Alexander and Mr Pownall on Saturday evening, to a crowded house. The pro-gramnie-Tvns the same as on Friday night. There will be an entirely new programme this evening, when " Wanted a Star," along with an entertainment called Household Sketches, will be given, and there is every promise of another capital evening's arnuseinent, because "Married to a Tartar" is to be produced for the first time here. The Town Band will attend, and play during the evening. We believe that to-night and to-morrow night are positively the last appearances of these talented artistes in Greymouth, in consequence of engagements in Hokitika. A correspondent in an Otago paper says that no spot on the Otago goldfields has been so prolific in the yield of the precious metal as the district of Upper Shotover. It has produced fabulous quantities of alluvial gold, while its rich tunnelling claims have excised the wonder and admiration of the Province, and we may include places far beyond its limits. From the numerous specimens of golden quartz found in the Shotover River — the existence of rich reefs was never doubted, but the difficulty was in deciding upon their whereabouts, and late investigations have proved that the river from Skipper's Point, for at least seven miles upwards, is crossed by a regular network of reefs, and which, probably, was the main source which supplied the gold to this Pactolns of modern times. To Mr Francis Roskruge, the manager of the Nugget and Cornish Quartz Mining Co., and who is also a large shareholder, must be accorded the honor of finding the exact whereabouts of the gold-bearing quartz lodes here. In April, 1860, while manager of the Sreafc J ScawKraroft Co. at Skippra's Cteek, Mr Roskruge, to make a short cut round a range, followed the course of an abandoned water race, and having an eye to discoveries, his large practical knowledge of quartz mining did him good service, for from among the tussocks of grass he found indications which led to the opening of the Nugget and Cornish reefs, and the establishment of the present prosperous company bearing their name. A meeting of the Paroa Road Board was held at Paroa on Friday evening last, at which were present Messrs Leach (Chairman), M. O'Connor, and Colton. The minutes of the previous general meeting having been read and adopted, correspondence was received, with the exception of a letter from Mr R. Murpby, Maori Gully, of which the subjoined is a copy : — "April, 1870.— T0 the Chairman of the Paroa Road Board— Sir — Seeing you have called for all claims against the Paroa Road Board, 1 wish to inform you that I have got a vtrd : ct against the Board, and unless paid at once, 1 shall endeavor to get it. 1 have never been treated so mean by any one as the unprin» cipled Paroa Road Board. — Yours, &c., R. Murphy." Mr Maurice O'Connor considered that Mr Murphy's letter showed a want of respect to the Board, and moved that the correspondence be received, with this excep- ( tion. Seconded by Mr Colton, and carried. The Governor's reply to the address presented by the Chairman and members of the Board was then read : — *'To the Paroa Road Board. —Gentlemen — I thank you for the welcome which you have given me ; and I am much gratified by the progress which the Road Boards in Westlaud have already achieved. Easy communication in every country enhances the value of produce of all kinds, powerfully promotes trade and commerce, facilitates the administration of 1 justice and good government generally, and advances in many other ways the welfare of the community.— G. F. Bowen.— Paroa, April 18th, 1871."— The Treasurer's report showed a balance of L 5 8s 7d. Report of a select committee on outstanding accounts and the Secretary's report on the Toll Collector's books were received and adopted. It was moved by Mr M. O'Connor, and seconded by Mr Colton, that the Secretary be instructed to writ o to Messrs Kilgour and Perotti, and the manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Hokitika, stating that their over-due acceptances will be met as early as possible, the Chairman remarking that the Board could not afford to pay interest upon the same. Moved by Mr . Colton and seconded by Mr O'Connor, ' ' That the tenders for advertising do stand over until next general meeting. " Carried. The sum of Ld Is 6d was received from Mr Green, the toll collector. Moved by the Chairman and seconded by Mr O'Connor, "That the toll collector's salary, £7, be paid." Carried. Mr Green stated that in some cases he had experienced great difficulty in collecting the tolls, and quoted an instance in which he was compelled to call upon an up-country storekeeper six times during the last month for a small amount-^travelling in the aggregate some sixty miles. The Board instructed him to take such steps as he may deem advisable for the recovery of all outstanding amounts due foi tolls, and in no instance to

give more than one month's credit. Moved by Mr O'Connor and seconded by Mr Colton, "That the Board do now adjourn." Carried. After the close of the meeting, Mr Michael Rowling arrived with a petition to the Hoard, signed by some fifty miners working on the South Beach, and requested the Board to take it into consideration. The Chairman declined to accept it as the meeting stood adjourned, but would instruct the Secretary to call a special meeting for Saturday, 29th nit. — The special meeting of the Paroa Road Board, called for Saturday evening, lapsed, their not being sufficient members present to form a quorum. Messrs Leacb (chairman) and Barnhill were the only two in attendance. A second special meeting is called for this evening to receive the petition mentioned in our report of the last general meeting, of which we give the following copy, in order that the report may be better understood :— "To the Chairman and Members of the Paroa Road Board.— We, the undersigned miners of the South Beacb, beg to submit to your consideration the necessity of taking immediate steps to prevent the leasing of the auriferous land (a beach belt) of the South Beach, which extends from high-water mark to the extent of Stony Lead, a distance of about twenty chains or more. We need not inform you that within this auriferous belt there are four distinct leads of gold, now partly worked, and still retaining a targe number of miners in occupation, and will for years to come. We might also state for your notice that the various water-races of the South Beacb were constructed purposely aud at an immense cost to work the above auriferous beach belt. In conclusion, gentlemen, we most respectfully desire that you will request Mr Warden Revell (who we know will be only happy to accede to your wishes) not to grant any agricultural leases on the said belt of auriferous land. (Signed) Michael Dowling, 3. Byrnes, D. Enright, M. Butler, M. Holly, and 50 others. The riches of Hartley and Riley's Beach, in Otago, are matters of history ; and it is a matter of fact, although it can scarcely be believed, that a portion of the rich terrace on the east bank of the Clutha River, which yielded such splendid results to the two early prospectors whom we have just named, still remains unworked, because the present coach road passes over the well-known auriferous ground. We (Cromwell Argus) understand that two miners, Messrs Barker and Strahan, are so impressed with the value of the piece of ground in question, that they intend to memorialise his Honor t'ne Superintendent and the Provincial Council, to have the present road diverted, causing the traffic to pass over the old route. Messrs Barker and Strahan have been working in the locality for seven or eight years, so they ought to be able to estimate aright the character of the ground. In consequence of the construction of the coach road, about four years ago, they were compelled to abandon. Hartley's Beach, having worked the same as far back as the District Engineer (Mr Greenlaw) would permit. Since then, they have prospected the terrace of the river from Hartley's Beach to Cromwell Bridge, and have failed to find any ground as rich as that of which they have been deprived. They are ready to assist in the works which would be necessary for carrying the road over the old track. If the ground be really as rich as it is believed to be, it would certainly be desirable to render available a piece of land over a quarter of a mile in length, and running some hundreds of yards back from the river. The part of road wished for is one of the worst pieces in the road between Cromwell and Clyde. It is calculated that after the working of the upper seams, the ground would give permanent and profitable employment to a large number of men. The Times of India says : — "The intimation conveyed by telegraph that her Majesty had granted her consent to the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Louise with the Marquis of Lorn has been received with lively satisfaction throughout India. Not a single comment expressive of aught but approval and hearty good wishes has, as far as we are aware, been uttered either through the press or less public channels. India claims a special interest in the coming event, and even goes the length of congratulating herself upou the prospect of soon having a daughter of Queen Victoria in the Government Honso, Calcutta," The Ceylon Observer writes : — " What may be the future destiny of the Marquis of Lorn :t is hard to say; 1 but should he show the needful capacity, there is one great office of the State for which his position as husband of the Princess ; Louise would soon pre-eminently fit him — ' that of Viceroy and Governor- General of 1 India. Youthful as he is, there is no reason ; why we should not have the Marquis and Princess taking up their quarters at Government House, Calcutta, on the departure of Lord Mayo in 1874 or 1875."