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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 864, 4 May 1871, Page 2

We would suggest to the County Chairman, on behalf of the County, to forward a collection of specimens of the gold found on this Coast, to the forthcoming Industrial Exhibition, to be held at San Francisco on the Bth August. We have no doubt that arrangements could be made with the Banks by which, on a guarantee being given by the County, they would lend specimens for the purpose. If the collection were accompanied by a short descriptive pamphlet it would be exceedingly interesting to our Californian cousins, and might lead to beneficial results to the County itself, in the shape of promoting the emigration of Californian miners to these goldfields. It will be seen by advertisement that a special meeting of the ratepayers from Tainui street eastwards is called for this evening, at the Union Hotel, on business of importance. Referring to the reticence of the opening speech of the buperintendent, the Nelson Colonist says :— " For example, on the subject of the annexation of the district from Greymouth to the T'eremakftu, the speech is silent as respects any opinion of the Superintendent o? his Executive. But it fails not to Bet out that it will be desirable for the Council to express its opinion on the question for the guidance of the Legislature. 2s o doubt this is very good advice, an excellent precept ; but it would have been improved by example. On a question of this kind, it would only be natural that the Superintendent should indicate in his speech what are the opinions of his Government, how far they go in the direction of annexation, and whether they are desirous of increasing our boundaries, or permitting a possible dwindling process, and an excision of territory, which is almost a certainty if a standstill position is assumed in this matter of annexation." A case of small-pox is reported to have occurred at Auckland. The sufferer is stated to be a young girl, ten years of age, who had been properly vaccinated when an infant. At a meeting of the XJ.C.C. Club held in Christchurch the other day, a letter was read from Mr A. R. Guinness, of Greymouth, requesting to be informed whether a match could be arranged with Westland for next season, upon terms similar to those upon which the annual match with Otago is played. The secretary was directed to forward a copy of the letter to the secretary of the Christchurch Cricket Club, requesting him to lay it before his committee, and stating that the U.C. CO. were favorable to the establishment of the match, but desired to have the opinion of the C.C.C. before replying to Mr Guinness's letter. The last surveyor's peg of the telegvaph line between Stony River and New Plymouth has been driven into the ground near the Post Office, New Plymouth. The line between Patea and Hawera is completed, the poles having been erected and the wires stretched on them. The telegraph staff are now engaged in fixing the poles between the latter place and Oeo. A case of nearly fatal poisoning, from the careless and reckless use of a useful medicine, took place at Half-Ounce on Monday night. A female, who was suffering, it is said, from toothache, had been using chlorodyne, and in an agony of pain she swallowed the contents of a full bottle at a draught. She became insensible shortly afterwards, and those about her becoming alarmed at the symptoms, procured the attendance of Mr Taylor, chemist and druggist, who administered .the usual remedies in such cases, and, after some trouble, succeeded in. bringing the patient round again. The usual dose, as directed by the label on the bottle, is from 10 to 30 drops, and there were 240 drops in the draught taken by the woman. The Auckland Herald has been permitted to inspect the designs of a very comprehensive system of fortifications for the port and harbor. The method proposed is peculiar. It is assumed that the configuration of the ground is already of such a character as to obviate the necessity of extensive masonry. The leading idea is, that Mount Victoria, the North Head, Rangitoto, the Bean Rock, and the point near St. John's College, if armed with batteries of sufficient power, would cover effectively both entrances to the harbor, and be all but impregnable. Instead of immense masses of masonry being constructed, all that would be requisite would be the excavation of those sites, so as to afford space for working the guns. This plan would have the advantage of affording all kinds of facilities for auxiliary construc-

tions. It is assumed that England, in the event of danger arising, would aid in creating an impregnable refuge for her ships in these seas. It is computed that for the completion of the work the proceeds of the sale of certain valuable grounds in the city would be sufficient. A meeting of the Westland Waste Lands Board was held at Hokitika on Tuesday, but bhe business transacted was of no importance to auy residents in this district. The Board adjourned until tke next usual day of meeting. There is a bust of the Queen over the front of the Auckland Post Office. Some time back the most prominent of Her Majesty's features was knocked off, and the bust still remains in its mutilated condition, greatly to tha scandal of loyal subjects. Most praisworthy activity is being displayed in forming new A\ickland volunteer and cadet corps. In the latter it is proposed to enrol 300 youths, and little difficulty would be found in obtaining twice the number. A rifle association is likewise contemplated, which bids fair to become very popular. The Lake Wakat'qj Mail thus bears testimony to the satisfactory results of the agricultural leasing system on the gold fields : — It is always a pleasing task to record the signs of improvement going on in the district, and there is little doubt that the last six months those signs of progress have been more generally noticeable than for previous years. Homesteads have been erected, and dwellings put up or extended by residents in outlying localities, some of stone, but the majority of wood. — showing that, as a class, our settlers under the agricultural leasing system are blessed with abundant crops and highly remunerative profits on their produce. We learn from the Wellington Evening Post that Colonel Whitmore has gone to England. A writer in that journal commenting on his departure, says : — " Well will it look for us in the old country when it is known that Colonel Whitmore, whose name is familiar in every house, has returned a beggar, after spending the best days of his life in the Colony, though billets are daily being made for the parasites of the Fox-Vogel Ministry, and the Colony plunged ieeper into debt in hopes that they may be able to retain the reins of the Government." The Provincial Government of Auckland, in consequence of representations made to it with regard to the Gold Fields officers being engaged in mining speculations, has issued a notice to its employees that no officer ia to have any interest, direct or indirect, in auy mining adventure, on pain of dismissal The Auckland people have already legislated, to put a check on the liquor traffic, and it is now suggested to prohibit by law persons under age from smoking ! We suppose they will propose to stop whistling in. the street shortly ! A letter from Chatham Island says : — "At the final settlement of the native land question a few months since, it may be remembered that the Morioris, or aborigines, very justly received a liberal grant of country. Since then, we are glad to perceive a decided change for the better in their mode of living — in fact, a spirit of improvement seems to pervade the remnants of a race which at one time seemed utterly incapable of progress. On the land awarded them they have commenced, building whares in straight rows, after the manner of English cottages, and cutting bridle paths to the various settlements. They are now the general sheep-shearers of the island, and money so earned is thrown into one common stock, to be laid out in the purchase of grass seed, sheep, and other pastoral and agricultural requirements." An Auckland paper states that Sergeant Egan, of the Armed Constabulary, stationed in Auckland, has proceeded to the Fijis by the s.s. James Paterson, under orders from the Curator of Intestate Estates, to take possession of the property of the late Mr Gillnour, who died on the passage from Levuka to Auckland. The following mysterious paragraph |is from the Wanganui Herald of April 8 : — 11 Wanganui Money Market.- The L 5 note offered at Mr Ohadwick's sale this week, was sold, after spirited competition, for L 5 2s 6d. This enterprising individual, who put the note in the auctioneer's hands, received his account sales for L 4 17s 4£d, five per cent, being deducted for auctioneer's commission. " From the remarks of a Tasmaniau paper on the recent Conference held there, we take the following ;—" By the returns furnished at the Conference, it appears that there are 27,720 members of the Wesleyan denomination in the Australian colonies { but these form a small proportion to those who attend the services conducted by ministers. Partly dependent on the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist connection is an extensive and highly successful missionary enterprise in the islands of the Pacific. In Fiji alone, there are reported 22,799 church members, with 5318 on trial ; and through the whole missionary field in connection with the Society there were 949 churche 0 , 396 other places of worship, 37 missionaries and assistant-mis-sionaries, Ssl catechists, 2390 day-school teachers, 1168 Jocal preachers, 3431 classleaders, 28,011 members, 9115 on trial, 4706 catechumens, 1077 Sunday schools, 57,768 Sunday-school scholars, and 129,765 attendants on public worship. In addition to this, there is a special mission to the Maoris, and also one among the Chinese in Victoria. "