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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 923, 12 July 1871, Page 2

We again remind our readers that the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Grey River Hospital will be hell this evening at Gilmer's Hall for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the outgoing Committee and electing a Committee of Management for the ensuing year. The remarks we felt ourselves compelled to make on Monday on the unsatisfactory arrangements for advertising those Government notices to which the utmost publicity is necessary, has called forth a strong article ia the West Coast Times on the same subject. Our contemporary says in a portion of its article :—" But on the same grounds that our Greymouth contemporary complains of only local publicity being given to some announcements, the residents of this district have reason to complain of only partial publicity being given to similar announcements here. The Government, in fact, chooses to patronise a publication which retails at second hand, and without bearing any portion of the expense incurred in obtaining it, that news which is best calculated to bring a paper before the general reader, and which is consequently best calculated to promote the publicity of the advertisements which may appear in its columns. It chooses to I patronise what is utterly beyond the power \ of anyone to carry out without destroying — : as it has most notably done in Hokitika — the chances of men of printing profession earning a decent livelihood, and without reducing the publicity of such notifications as emanate from the Waste Lands Board to the merest minimum. We should be no advocates, any more than our Greymouth contemporary, for anything but fair publicity to Government announcements at fair and reasonable charges, and these have at no time been exceeded. It is, however, altogether the opposite of economy to confine the publication of such annonncements as those affecting the disposal of Waste Lands to the extent of absolute concealment of their contents. We could cpote instances in which, bub for mere accident, this concealment wtmlil have proved to the County a source of ocniiiny at the rate of pennies at the cost of extravagance at the rate of pounds." At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. H. Re veil, Esq., R.M., James West was fined 5s or 24 hours' imprisonment for being drunk and incapable. The following debt cases were disposed of :— D. Girdwood v. Prank Volich— claim of 1416 5s 3d, judgment confessed. Kennedy v. Shannahan— adjourned by consent for a fort.

night. Glenn Bros. v. Dennis Doyle— as this summons had not been returned from the Ahaura, the case was adjourned to Thursday. Jones v. Earwig— judgment by default for LI 15s and costs. M. Cassius v. J. Graham — a fraud summons for L 2 3s. As the defendant was in very indifferent circumstances, the Magistrate allowed defendant two months to pay the amount. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Cobden, on Monday, before C. Whitefoord, Esq., E.M., the following cases were dis 1 posed of :--Forsyth and Masters v. Mabille and party, Half-Ounce— claim of L 29 18s Id; judgment for L 22 4s, and costs of Court, each party to pay their own expenses. Mr Perkins appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Newton for the defendants. — Tobias Glennon v. James Burke — claim of 15s ; judgment for plaintiff, with costs, 195. --Nelson Education Board v. William Grey— claim pf LI for education rates ; judgment confessed, with costs. — Education Board v. William Long — claim of L 2 for education rates ; judgment confessed, amount to be paid at the rate of 5s per week, or one month's imprisonment. A meeting of the Grey Valley Hospital Committee was held on the evening of Monday, 10th inst., at Pinkerton's Hotel, Ahaura. The meeting was called chiefly to arrange about liquidating the account of the sawyers who cut the timber for the building, and who were pressing for their money. It was decided that one-half the money should be paid on Tuesday, llthinst., and that the balance, together with the carpenters' account, would be paid in two weeks. The building would then be free of debt. To meet these liabilities it was stated that several of the subscription lists had not oome in, and that no return had been made of a number of tickets for the late concert and ball, which had been distributed throughout the district. We are requested to state that the Committee desire all parties having subscription lists or tickets in their possession to forward them at once to the Hon. Sec. It was announced that Messrs Stephens and Barron, two gentlemen totally disinterested, had been unanimously requested by the Committee to audit the books aud accounts, and prepare a balance-sheet, and that they had consented to do so. The further consideration of a motion with reference to the opening of the institution was deferred until the auditors sent in their report. After transacting other routine business, the Committee adjourned to 13th July. The Fourth of July was celebrated at Murray Creek in a manner worthy the occasion. A number of ladies and gentlemen, the elite of Reefton and the reefs, assembled at Mr James Stevenson's Hotel, at Cement Town, to commemorate the anniversary of American Independence, and, at the same time, to bid farewell to Mr C. A. Page, one of the first settlers on rhe Inangahua, who is now about to leave New Zealand on a visit to America, his native country. Dancing had beeii kept up with spirit for several hours when the company adjourned to the supper table. On the removal of the cloth, the toast of day, "America as it is," was given from the Chair, and eloquently responded to by Mr O'Donovan, who reviewed the rise and progress of the American Union, and after alluding feelingly to the late civil war and its disastrous effects on the nation generally, said one good at least for the cause of human freedom had come out of it, namely, the emancipation of the slaves. He drew a comparison between the almost unfettered individual liberty enjoyed by the citizens of the United States and the despotic manner in which the populations of Europe, with few exceptions, were governed, and concluded with a graceful eulogium on the Union and its institutions. The health of the guest of the evening was given by Mr Bray, and appropriately responded to by Mr C. G. Page, who proposed the health of Mr Stevenson. The toast of " The Ladies" was given from the Chair, and responded to by Mr Gulline. Toasts were drunk in honor of Messrs Bray, O'Donovan, Gulline, M'Entee, and other gentlemen, when dancing was resumed and kept up till all hours in the morniug. Mr Wra. Stuart, Hokitika, has been appointed Curator of Intestate Estates, vice R. Abbott, Esq., deceased. The la3t County of Westlancl Gazette contains a notice that the Governor's delegate has granted to Englert and party, at the Lagoon Lead, Greymouth, a (special claim of two acres, subject to the conditions that five men are to be employed on the claim, and that one pound per annum is to be paid as rent. The grant is made under the twelfth section of the Gold Fields Act, 1866. The Governor's delegate announces in the Comity of Westlancl Gazette that he intends to grant leases to the following persons : — M'Grath and party, two acres, at Patterson's Creek, Upper New River, for five years ; Richie and party, three acres, at Patterson's Creek, for two years. Several long notices from the Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands, Westland, are published in the County Gazette, altering the boundaries of certain blocks of land and withdrawing others from sale. As the Waste Lands Board does not publish these notices in the local papers, we must refer our readers to the Gazette for particulars. According to our Hokitika contemporary, "Another venture in pearl-shell fishing, promising, if possible, even more successful results than the speculation noted several months ago in various colonial journals, will be undertaken shortly, under the auspices of Captain Edgar, late of the schooner Emma Paterson, which was wrecked a shorb time ago at Fiji. Captain Edgar, who is (in so far as has yet been ascertained) the sole survivor from the lost vessel, arrived here from S5 dney lately, and has brought with him specimens of the pearl-shell alluded to. They are very large, and of fine quality, and are said to be much superior and more valuable than any which have yet been seen. The precise locality where this shelf is to be had is, of course, known only as yet to Captain Edgar, and it is said there are persons in Sydney ready to take the matter up." The gold produce of the Ross district bought by the three banks, during the past six months of this year, is stated by the feoss Neios to be 17,200 ounces, which gives an average yield of LI per week for every man, woman, and child in the district, We learn from the West Coast Times of yesterday that the man M'Convil, who was injured at the Victoria claim, Kanieri, a day or two ago, still remains insensible, and has not spoken since the accident, Concussion of the brain is supposed to have taken place, and in all probability an operation will be performed by the medical men who are in attendance. The patient is in such a dangerous condition that his removal to the Hospital cannot be attempted. An accident occurred to Rae's coach in crossing the Totara break-out on Saturday. Mr Taylor, the driver, says the Ross News, with his usual care, placed his passengers in the ferry-boat, and proceeded to the mouth of the river to cross, and in doing so the surf lifted the body off the coach, so that the king-bolt was lifted out, and the fore carriage disconnected. The horses plunged along with the fore wheels. Mr Taylor jumped into the water and kept his reins in hand. The coach was afterwards got out safely, not in any way damaged. The Canterbury Press, of the 4th instant, says : "We hope, for the sake of the credit of Christchurch, that it will be a very long time ere we are again called upon to chronicle such a disgraceful fiasco as the so-called twelve-mile champion race which took place

yesterday, at the Plough Inn. During the past week rumor has been rife respecting the event of this race, and it was openly stated that there would be no race, a statement which yesterday's proceedings showed was not wide of the truth; Only one of the champions put in an appearance, and Bird ran off the distance himself, doing the distance in 1 hour 16min. 50sec. He ran very unevenly throughout, spurting a little in ; some of the laps, and in others going lame on one foot. Murfitt, who ran with him from the start, deserved great credit for the plucky manner in which he stuck to it, the more so as it is his first essay at long distances. The time of each mile was as follows:—lst, 6min 3sec ; 2nd, 6min ssec; 3rd, 6min ssec ; 4th, 6min 6sec ; sth, 6min 9sec; 6th, 6min 12sec ; 7th, 6min I7sec; Bth, 6min 57sec; 9th, 6min 43sec; 10th, 6inin 24sec ; 11th, 6min Bsec ; 12th, 6infn 7sec. In the last lap of the last mile Bird put on a spurt, and came in amid loud cheers. The course was in a most unfavorable condition, being heavy in the extreme. We are informed that Austin, the pedestrian, who is now staying in Hokitika, has received a telegram from Bird, saying that he will be in Hokitika on or about next Saturday. A coi respondent informs us that the winner of the Derby for 1871, the Zephyr Colt, is the property of Baron Rothschild, by Parmesan out of Zephyr. On the occasion of the Baron winning the Oaks with Hippia, in 1867, Komping Girl and Achievement also ran a dead heat for second honors. We regret to learn from the Tuapeka Times that scarlatina has made its appearance in Tapauui. A correspondent states that a son of Mr James Kerr, aged five years, died of the dread scourge on the 23rd inst., and that two other boys about the same age — one belonging to Mr Perdue, and the other to Mr Allan — are now suffering from the same disease. Our correspondent informs us that since the malady has been proclaimed scarlatina, the blame of introducing it into Tapanui has been laid to the charge of a person who had recently arrived from the Teviot, where aMr Pry had just died. It is feared the infection is being spread by the children attending school. The late session of the Otago Provincial Council has been prolific in the display of personalities. A few nights ago Mr Bathgatn endeavored to be very facetious at the expense of the member for the Lakes, Mr Haughton, whom, in a very labored lllustpation, evidently the work of days, he compared to pulex irritans, anglice a flea. As might have been expected, the Provincial Solicitor had not long to wait before receiving a "Koland for his Oliver." In the course of the debate upon going into supply, Mr Haughton observed that "the allusion of the Provincial Solicitor, though intended to be very severe upon himself, reminded him of a peculiar and very beautiful characteristic of some nations— mostly savage— who had romantic affections for some animals ; the Arab, separated from his native desert, pines for the horse which has borne him safely in peace and war. The sound of the " kaur de vaches" draws tears from the eyes of ihe Swiss exile — and the pride of Peebles (Mr Bathgate's birthplace) is its fleas ! The arms of that ancient burg are a "fleece of wool," well known as harboring these interesting insects, and the place is notoriously infested by them." Mr Haughton then proceeded to read and comment upon Mr Bathgate's election speeches, causing much amusement by the constant references to accepting office at LlOO or Ll5O a yeai*. From official returns of the affairs of various mining companies in Westland, we collect the following information : — The Totara and Jones's Creek Amalgamated Water Race Company, Boss, has a nominal capital of Ll2,S(n ; the amount of paid-up scrip given to shareholders, is LB4OO (being the estimated value of the two races at the time of the amalgamation) ; the capital is divided into 1280 shares, all of which are taken up, no calls have been made, and the total amount of subscribed capital paid up is L 4400. The company numbers 17 shareholders ; the amount of cash in hand on June 9th was L 7 15s lid, and L 8875 has been paid in dividends.— The "Morning Star Gold Mining Company," Ross, has a nominal capital of L 16,000, and paid-up scrip to the amount of L 7866 13s 4d was given to shareholders. The capital is divided into 480 shares, of which 464 are taken up. The amount of calls has been L 5826 10s, and the total amount of capital paid-up is L 13.693 3s 4?. There are 16 shareholders, and.LB7ohas been paid in dividends. — The "Will and the Way Company," Ross, has a nominal capital of L 490 0; no paid-up scrip was given to shareholders ; there are 910 shares amongst 21 shareholders, and the total amount of capital paid-up is L 3699 6s lOd. No dividend has been declared. — The ' 'United Miners Gold Mining Company, " Ross, has a nominal capital of L5OOO, divided into 1000 shares, all of which are taken up. Calls have been made to the extent of L 612 10s, and the total amount of capital paid-up is L 536 15s. There are 23 shareholders. — The "Ross United Steam Drainage Company," Ross, has a nominal capital of L6QOO, divided into 1200 shares, all taken up. Calls have been made to the extent of L6OOO, and the capital paid-up is L 5775 6s 6d. There are 228 shareholders, and no dividends have been declared. — The " Argus Gold Mining Company," New River, has a nominal capital of L 2400, divided into 12 shares. Calls have been made to the extent of LI 673 18s 1 6d, and no dividend has been declared. The company is now being wound up. — The "Shenandoah Gold Mining Company," Kanieri, has a nominal capital of L 1836. Paidup scrip to the amount of L6OO was given to shareholders, and the capital is divided into 36 shares. Calls have been made to the amount of LI 188, and the amount of capital paid-up is L 1774. No dividends have been declared. The "Westland Quartz Mining Company," Ross, has a nominal capital of L 6000; paid-up scrip to the amount of L3OOO was given to the shareholders, and the capital is divided into 1200 shares. Of these, 1150 have been taken; calls to the extent of L 360 have been made, and the amount of subscribed capital paid-up is L 292. The company is not now in operation.—The "Scandinavian Gold Mining Company," Ross, had a nominal capital of L 11.250, divided into 1125 shares, of which 1050 have been taken. Calls have been made to the amount of L7BOO, and the amount of subscribed capital paid-up is L 7535 14s 4d. This company is not at present in operation, but L6OO has been paid in dividends.