Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 863, 3 May 1871, Page 2

The English mail via San Francisco is due at Auckland to-day by the first of the new line of steamers, the Nevada. From the reputation this vessel has acquired of being a fast boat, we may receive the telegrams of the news brought by her at any hour. The question of deciding upon the course to be pursued by the Nelson Government with respect bo the supply of water to the Gold Fields under the Public Works Act, 1870, has been in the first instance remitted to a select committee of the Provincial Council, consisting of Messrs Gibbs, Tarrant, Raid, Mackley, the Provincial Treasurer, the Spaaker, and Mr Donne, the said Committee to have power to call for persons and papers. In the Nelson Provincial Council, on the mation of Mr Luckie, a select committee has been appointed "to inquire into and report upon the circumstances under which arose the defalcations of Francis Harris whilst ; holding the office of Provincial Sub-treasurer on the ' West Coast of the Province." The mover, referring to the discussions which had taken place in the Council prior to Harris' frauds being detected, said : — There was also last year a kind of spurious excitement rering the treatment of Francis Harris by Council, although there were some of us who did not scruple to express doubts then

that worse than carelessness would be discovered if inquiries were made ; a prophecy which proved but too true. Some members took action for which they were blamed both in and out of the Council last year. He now sought to vindicate that action. No one could be more grieved than himself on comparing the position of Harris then with his position now ; and that position, and the result of last year's action, showed a deeper necessity for ascertaining the-means by which such large defalcations wore accomplished, and the means oi preventing their possibility in any department in the future. The following is an extract from a letter received by W. H. Harrison, Esq., M.H.R., from the Provincial Secretary of Nelson, on the subject of the proposed railway from the Brunner mine to the port—" The Colonial Government has undertaken to submit to the General Assembly a survey for a railway from the Brunner mine to the port, with the view to the Una being executed with colonial funds, and that the question of the route will be decided by the Colonial Government." The annual licensing meeting was held yesterday morning, in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The Justices on the bench were— W. H. Revell. Esq., R.M. ; W. H. Harrison, Esq., J.P. ; and E. Wickes, Esq., J.P. There were sixteen applications for licenses, but only three of them had been lodged in time. Mr Revell said that as no notice had been given to the public in proper time for applications to be lodged, owing to some misunderstanding on the part of the authorities, the Bench would take the applications into consideration. The following applications were reported favorably upon by the police, and were granted :— Samuel Gilmer, Gilmer's Hotel ; Isaac Abrahams, Duke of Edinburgh Hotel ; Mary Dugojan, Canadian Hotel ; Daniel Sheedy, Brian Boru Hotel ; Patrick Hanney, Hanney's Hotel ; George Frederick Maxwell, Cosmopolitan Hotel ; Richard Slattery. White Horse Hotel; J. T. Fitzgerald, Dan O'Connell Hotel ; Thos. Bailey, Full and Plenty Hotel ; George Martin, Cove of Cork Hotel ; James Morton, Oriental Hotel ; James Middleton, Wharf Hotel ; Alfred Chesterman, Sydney Hotel; Louis Anseline, Golden Age Hotel. The applications of James Johnston, John Quintan, Edwin Ashton, and James Howie, were not lodged in time for the police to examine the applicants' houses and report, and the consideration of them was adjourned until Friday next, at eleven o'clock, to which time the Court was adjourned. Daring the proceedings, when the application of Mary Duggan for a license for the Canadian Hotel was called on, the Bench had a consultation as to the advisability of granting a license to a single woman. Mr Revell said the Bench had before it the recommendation of the Grand Jury at Hokitika, to the effect that in future no licenses should be granted to single women. In this case, the applicant was already in possession of the license, and the Bench would not interfere with existing rights ; but no new licenses of the kind would be granted. Mr and Mrs Alexander gave the last of their series of entertainments at the Volunteer Hall last evening. The performance was for the benefit of the Town Band, the members of which have performed every night during the visit of these artistes. There was an average attendance, but not what it ought to have been, considering the object for which the performance was giver, and the excellence of the acting. Mr and Mrs Alexander leave this morning for Hokitika, and we are glad to learn that they have every reason to be satisfied with their visit to Greymouth. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, Mr Revell gave judgment in the civil case- Grey Valley Tramway Company v. George Mvir — which was heard on the previous Tuesday. He said this was an action brought to recover a. riM^to on au suams agreed to be paid by the defendant on signing the prospectus and memorandum of association—ss per share, or a total of LI 2 10s. The certificate of the incorporation of the company had been put in, showing that the company was duly registered under the Joint Stock Companies Act. The memorandum of association was witnessed by Mr Alexander Montgomery, and on the 2nd of March the company was incorporated. The copy of the memorandum of association put in showed that George Muir's name was written in the original in pencil ; but against that, a copy of the prospectus and memorandum was put in, showing that George Muir did sign it in accordance with the 13th section of the Act, which provided that any person signing a printed copy of the prospectus and memorandum should be deemed to have signed the original ; each signature was to be attested by one witness at least, and that was to be conclusive evidence that he had so signed it. The 13th section of the Act, as read with the 12th section, said that the memorandum shall be delivered to the Registrar, who shall register the same. By that, he considered that all the printed or written copies which had been signed by individuals becoming subscribers, should have been sent to the Registrar. This had not been done ; only a single copy had been sent ; and he took it that the Act had not been complied with? on that point, because all the signed copies ought to have been forwarded to, and retained by, the Registrar. With respect to the signatures of Muir and several others, the Act provided that each signature should be attested by at least one witness ; but from the evidence given in the ] case, it appeared that Muiv signed a copy of ! the memorandum, and it was not attested until after the company had been registered, when Mr V/ylde affixed his attestation to it. That was another point upon which the Act had not been complied with. There was another point with respect to the calls. Those who signed the memorandum were bound by certain conditions j they agreed to pay half-a-crown per share on application and half-a-crown on allotment, and whenever they signed they were liable to pay these amounts, which were then due. The promoters were the persons who should have received these amounts ; but no money was called up, either on application or allotment, when the memorendum was signed. The promoters did not collect the money then due. They allowed the company to be registered, and it passed out of their hands into those of a registered company, which was bound by the rules laid down in the Act. These amounts not having been called up, all the unpaid capital of the company could be called up by a direct resolution of the directors. But, in this case, no call had been made by the directors, in accordance with the 61st clause of the Act, which provided for the keeping of correct minutes of meetings, and that the making of every cail shall be by [ direct resolution of the directors ; and the [ production of the minute-book, duly signed by the Cbaitman of the meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the making of the call ; and twenty-one days' notice must be given to the shareholders before the call is payable. But from the evidence in this case, and the production of the minute-book, no such resotion had been entered, and, accordingly, the Act had not been complied with in this respect. The defendant did not conlirm his action in any way ; for, on the 15th, he sent a letter withdrawing his name from the list of shareholders. On the points raised, the nonsuit would be granted, with costs. A meeting took place on the evening of the 29th ult., at Hay ward's Hotel, Hatter's Terrace, Nelson Creek, to take into consideration the present price of beef and bread. There were about seventy persons present. Mr M'Entee, on being voted to the chair, stated the object of the meetiug, viz., that

the miners of the district felt that the price of beef and bread was not in accordance with those ruling at other places, such as No Town, &c. Although they had arranged with the bakers to alter the price of the Is 6d 4-lb loaf, the butchers would not listen to their request for a reduction in the price of meat. The question was then put jiad carried, to give the general support of the miners to any butcher who reduced the price of meat from the present rate of 8d per lb. A committee was formed to carry out this resolution, consisting of Messrs M'Entee, Flannagan, Kelly, Nicholas, Bulfin, and Larking. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting terminated. The Estimates for Public Works on the South-West Gold Fields for the ensuing year have been published as follows : — Butter Valley.— .Roads, South Buller district above Lyell, L 50 0; do, Westport to Lyell, L 100 0; do, Inangahua Junction to Murray Beefs, LI6OO ; Protective Works, Westport, LISOO. Total, L 4600. Grey Valley.— Dray Road, Twelve-mile to No Town, LBOO ; do, Nelson Creek to Ahaura, L 250 0; do, Totara Flat, L4ooj Totara Flat to Junction of HalfOunce and Duffer's, L 50 0; Horse Road, Three-mile Bush, Little Grey Valley Saddle, LIOOO. Total, L 5200. General. — Road, Charleston to Westport via Addison's, L 190 0; do, Westport to Cobden—Maintenance, LI2OO ; District Roads, LIOOO ; Harbors, Signal Stations, and Removal of Snags, L 50 0; Buildings, L2OOO ; Cemeteries, L 250; Streets and Local Improvements (to meet subscription), L 15 0; Roads and BridgesMaintenance, L2OOO ; Beach Road, Brighton to Razorback, LIOOO ; Brunner Coal Mine, LSOOO. Total, Ll 1,000. A petition against the proposed removal of the telegraph station to a more central position is being got up by Mr E. B. Fox. In our report of the last meeting of the Fire Brigade an error occurred. Mr Hosie was thanked, not for "the loan of flags," but for " the gift of the Brigade flag." Mr Henry Handyside, who recently held the appointment of warden's clerk in the Upper Bulier district, was not long since removed from that office, and a committee has been appointed by the Nelson Council to inquire into the circumstances. The settlement of lands on the SouthWest Gold Fields is occupying the serious attention of the Nelson Government and Council. On the 26th ult. Mr Donne moved — " That a Select Committee be appointed to consider and report upon paragraph No. 11, of the speech of his Honor the Superintendent, having reference to opening up lands upon the Nelson South- West Gold Fields for settlement ; such committee to consist of Messrs Macmahon, C. Kelling, Reid, Mackley, the Provincial Treasurer, the Provincial Solicitor, and the mover." The lands referred to were those suitable for agricultural settlement in the valleys of the Buller and Grey and their tributaries, and also the valley of the Inangahua ; and it was desirable for the Council to decide as to what was the best method of dealing with these lands. Mr Gibbs seconded the motion, and the Council adopted it. We regret having to record the death of Mr Frank Rutherford, which melancholy event occurred on the 27th February last at Yokahama, Japan, from small-pox. Frank Rutherford was for many years connected with Cobb and Co., and was widely known both in Otago and Victoria. All who knew him, we are certain, will deplore his untimely decease. Apropos of the approaching departure of Dr. Featherston, a subscription is on foot in Wellington to purchase a testimonial to be presented to him before he leaves the Colony. It is to be a general thing throughout the whole Province, and it ia expected that bebwcua X.ISOO and 1,2000 will In* collected. Large subscriptions are not being asked for, but small ones from everybody. On Monday evening a special meeting of the Paroa Road Board was held, called by request of Messrs M. Dowling, J. O'Connor, and Thomas Colton, to consider a [petition fiom the miners of the South Beaoh, relative to agricultural leases. Present : — Messrs Leach (Chairman), J. O'Connor, Colton, I and M. Dowling. Mr M. Dowling stated that he was requested to present a petition from the miners of the South Beach to the Board, and laid the same upon the table. The petition, which has already appeared in our columns, was then read and received. Moved by Mr M. Dowling, and seconded by Mr Leach, "That the Board go into Committee of the whole, to consider the petition of the miners of the South Beach." Carried. While in Committee Mr W. H. Barnhill took his seat. After some considerable discussion, Mr Colton moved, "That this Board do concur with the prayer of the petition, and that the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr Warden Revell, and also to the Waste Lands Board, in reference to the auriferous nature of the said belt of land." There being no seconder, this motion lapsed. Mr M. Dowling moved, "That this Board do concur in the prayer of the petition, and that the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr Warden Revell, and request him to grant no agricultural leases on the South Beach Auriferous Beach Belt, as indicated iv the petition." There being no seconder, this motion also lapsei. Mr Leach moved, and Mr John O'Connor seconded, "That in accordance with the prayer of the petition, this Board recommend the District Surveyor to advise the Warden of the district not to grant any agricultural leases where there may be the slightest indication of the ground proving auriferous." Carried. The Board then resumed, and the resolution of the Committee was brought up and adopted. The Board then adjourned. AY c learn by late papers that Mr Sutherland has found a new and better defined reef in the Wairau, adjoining the one now being worked by the Sutherland Geld Mining Company. We learn that a nugget of gold of about eight ounces in weight has been found on Salisbury's Open in the Motueka district. The n".gget was attached to quartz. We trust that this discovery may lead to a more important one, the opening up of a new gold field. By the Gazette it appears that Frank Hamilton and party have applied for a mining lease of ten acres at Murray Creek, Inangahua. The application will be considered on the 17th June. The Westland Independent of yesterday says:— "lt was broadly stated that the Chairman of the County Council had resolved on exercising Ms power of veto on the rate that the Kanieri Road Board propose levying in their district. We have reason to believe Mr Labman is not at all inclined to interfere in the matter, and that he will have the good sense to allow elective bodies, like that in question, to manage their own affairs in spite of any impertinent agitation that may be got up in Hokitika.