THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 895, 9 June 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1871.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before W. H. Revel], Esq., R.M., Edwd. Croak was charged with having indecently assaulted Margaret Cain, on the South Beach, on Monday, the 29th May. The complainant stated that on the 29th she was washing outside, and on going into the house, she saw the defendant there in a stooping position at the fire. When she asked what he wanted, he attempted to commit the offence. She was very weak, having just come out of gaol, but after a struggle she managed to bundle him oat ot tbs house. She followed him outside, and threw abonea at him. She had only seen him once before. E. M. Lyng, a miner, working near Watson's Creek, said that on the 29th he remembered j seeing the defendant go into the com- ! plainant's house, and returned immediately, at most, within a minute, and the coniElainant following and throwing stones at iro. The man went towards the Australasian, and the woman in the direction where her husband was working. She returned in about auhour quite drunk. The defendant stated that, in passing, he went into the complainant's house to Tight his pipe, when she came in and behaved in a most extraordinary manner. He left immediately, but she ran after him throwing stones and abusing him. R Keown, of the Australasian Hotel, proved that the complainant was a great drunkard, and the defendant was a sober man, bearing a very good character. The case was dismissed. An extensive seizure of kerosene was made n.t Hukitika, on Wednesday morning by the Inspector oi Weights and Measures, upwards of 200 cases being removed to the kerosene depot. Taking into account the «tuantity (if oil that has lately been landed here, it seems surprising that not a single case had beyn stored in the building set aside for its reception. If a fire was unfortunately to break out, it would be impossible to say where the conflagration would end, or what damage might be done with such an amount of thai-

inflammable material stowed away in our very midst. On Wednesday night the arm of a mail was found on the beach at Charleston, and was taken charge of by the police. A man's leg was found a few days ago in the same neighborhood, which, from the boot and clothing attached to it, is now believed to be a portion of the remains of the man Enright, who was drowned in the Grey River recently, by slipping off the steps in front of the Eoyal Hotel. The mate of the deceased and a bootmaker are to leave this morning for Charleston to give evidence at the inquest. The Thames Advertiser says that 800 tons of tailiugs from the batteries engaged upon stone from the Cnledonian mine were recently sold by auction. The first lot consisted of 150 tons crushed at the company's own battery in Owen street, which was started at LI, and bought for IA 10s per ton ; lot 2 consisted of 30 tons crushed at the Herald battery,. Beach, which was started at 15s, and sold for LI *2s 6d per ton ; lot 3 composed 350 tons crushed at the Waiotahi battery, started at 12s and sold at L 2 10s per ton. The total amount realished by the 800 tons was L 1637 10s. The Wellington papers have lately seized every opportunity, whenever a shock of earthquake has been felt in the South, of declaring that the ancient distinction of Wellington for frequent earthquakes ought to be transferred elsewhere. We learn, however, from a table compiled from the observations kept at the Government Meteorological Stations in the Colony during 1870, that the Empire City still maintains its pride of place in this respect. The number of earthquake shocks recorded as having i occurred during the year is as follows : — Taranaki, 7 ; Napier, 6 ; Wellington, 9 ; Nelson, 5 ; Chrisfcehurch, 2 ; Bealey, 5 ; Hokitika, 5 ; and Dunedin, 1. None were recorded at the stations at Mongonui, Auckland, and Southland. A correspondent of the Brisbane Courier supplies the following test for determining the quality of kerosene: — "On receiving a tin of kerosene, sample it, then take two or three short pieces of Berlin wool or unravelled string, dip them in the oil, lay them down, light one end, when, if the flame rushes rapidly along, the kerosene is of too explosive a nature to be safely used." It is stated that Mr Bamford has declined the position of Registrar at Hokitika, having accepted a similar one at Tnvercargill. Mr Stewart, a solicitor, of Invercargill, is said to have accepted the registrarsbip at Hokitika, and it is anticipated he will undertake his duties at an early date. The Morning Star Company, at Ross, have now put on three shifts, and have seventeen men on each, which number will soon be increased, as the company have better gold on this bottom than they ever had before. The surveyor at Okarito, Mr Houston, has found a very good track up to the lake country, the distance is said to be nine miles. The chaining and surveying will be completed in about a week, and it is thought with the deviations made by Mr Houston, that the track will not cost as much to make it passable as was at first anticipated. Tive annoYmceumt that Mr Charles O 1 Ueil had been appointed Provincial Engineer of Wellington is incorrect. He has only been requested by the Provincial Government to survey and report as to the practicability of the railway from Wellington to Wairarapa being constructed along the Rimutaka Valley and tunnelling through the bill. The Otago Gold Fields Conference has recommeded that the resolution of the Commission as to the advisability of the removal of Wardens shall apply to all Wardens who have resided for three years in any district iijvki.. tho paooing" or tiie Act. The Commission has adjourned until after the session of the General Assembly. An Order in Council appears in the NtW Zealand Gazette, of the Ist instant, fixing the sittings of the Court nf Appeal to be held in the Supreme Court House, Wellington, on July 3rd, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. A late telegram from England, via San Francisco, stated that the Princess of Wales had had another son, which had died shortly after its birth. The full telegram on the subject is as follows: — "The accouchement of the Princess of Wales was attended with serious consequences. The child lived but a few hours. The Princess is very ill, her condition being considered of a most critical nature. The annovracement of the death of the infant and the serious illness of the Princess causes the deepest sorrow." The Baud of Hope mine, at Ross, was sold by Mr Reeves, at auction, on Saturday last, and realised L 467 16s, in various lots. There was no bid for the pumps and pipes, which, with the winding-gear, remain uusold. Mr Graham bought the horizontal engine and boilers for L 330. The claim was sold to Mr D. Williams for LI. We (Boss News) heard yesterday that the ground was tried in three of the faces, and payable prospects were obtained. The Daily Times says :— " We understand that the accepted tender for sections 2 and 3 of the Clutha railway, extending from Caversham to the Chain Hills, is that of Mr A. J. Smith, for L 21.000. This is exclusive of i rails, sleepers, and ballast. We understand i that the staking out of the ground will be I commenced to-day, and is expected to be \ completed on Monday, or Tuesday at latest, i Mr Smith purposes, in accordance with the American practice, to plough the ground first. The line will give employment to about 300 men in the course ot ten days or so, and we ought to hear no more complaints regarding want of work. We may add that Mr Smith represents a co-operative company of working men. " In proroguing the Nelson Provincial Council, his Honor the Superintendent stated that he would seek the. assent of the General Assembly to the following public works, under the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870 :— A railway from the Port of Cobden to the Brunner Coal Mine ; a railway from the town of Nelson to Foxbill ; a railway from the town of Wesfe« pore to the Mount Rochfort Coal Field ; and the several schemes for water supply recommended by the Provincial Engineer. Proposals should also be made to the Colonial Government for the construction of lines of telegraph from Greymouth to the Ahaura, and from Nelson to Motueka, upon the usual conditions. The proposed annexation of the southern portion of the G-rey Valley to this Province would have his earnest attention when the subject is brought under the consideration of the General Assembly, and he would be guided by the spirit of the Council's resolution in, reference to it, so far as circumstances will allow. The promotion of perminent settlement upon the Gold Fields was a matter of the deepest interest and concern to all parts of the Province, and he would lose no time in taking such steps as may tend to produce the desired results, in the most speedy and effective manner. J The Wellington Independent says :— Baker's Hill again bids fair to become a centre of attraction to visitors, and a souice of more t'aan common interest to Wellingtonians generally It will be remembered that more th.au twelve months ago considerable excitement was occasioned by the discovery of a small patch of alluvial gold. Hundreds rushed to the scene, and hundreds of holes were "punched" down up and down the gully in all directions during the next week, only to be filled up again by the unsuccessful ( ! diggers with a feeling of chagrin for being |

duped by their golden hopes. The original prospectors, however, were determined to persevere a little longer, naturally thinking that where a little gold had been found there should be more. As no doubt existed that it was not to be found in the alluvium, they therefore directed their efforts in searching for a reef. A company, under the title "Baker's Hill Gold Mining Company, Limited," was then formed, and work was commenced. Unlike most of the other companies which sprung into existence about the same time, the Baker's Hill Company did not succumb to the hope deferred which nwketb. the hSarfc sick, and plodded away persistently. Several drives were put in for considerable distances, and each abandoned in its turn for some reason, until at length the final tunnel was opened (the one in which they are at present working). This they determined to drive five hundred feet, deeming that would be sufficient trial. Notwithstanding the numerous difficulties which prospectors have to encounter, the men persevered, without any indication of gold, tor over three hnndred feet. The drive on the whole is a very creditable piece of work, and equal to anything the most skilled miners could turn out. Latterly some indication of gold was noticed in a blue and broken sandstone thickly intersected by very minute quartz veins, and this was verified by actual tests both of crushing, and merely panning off the loose and broken stuff. This, howevei, not being very brilliant, the drive was pushed on still further, when the workers had the pleasure of seeing that the prospect gradually improved. They have now cut this auriferous dyke for about fifteen feet, and report that the prospect h.os improved considerably within the last few feet.