Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 940, 1 August 1871, Page 2

Last night, about twelve o'clock, the firebell rang out an alarm. The Fire Brigade and police quickly turned out, and proceeded to the spot, which, was a cottage at the lower end of Richmond Quay, occupied by some women. It appears that several persons were in the house in question when a disturbance ensued, in the course of which a kerosene lamp was thrown on to the fire. The oil instantly blazed up which caused the alarm. Fortunately the flames were soon extinguished, and beyond the breaking of the lamp no other damage was done. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before E. Wickes and R. Reid, Esqrs., J.P., James Birch and James M'Veigh were each fined LI and costs, for fighting in tho public streets. James M'Veigh was further charged with making use of obscene and indecent language on the same occasion, and was fined L 2, or seven days' imprisonment. Julia Yeast was charged with a breach of the peace iv view of a constable, and was fined L 2 and costs. The proceedings of the County Council on Friday were not of particular interest. A sum of L 350 per annum was put upon the estimates for the salary of an Engineer for the County, and it was ordered that tenders be called for the services of gentlemen willing to fill the office of County Engineer, at a salary of L 35& per annum, the same to be advertised in the principal papers in Westland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Applications to be sent in to the County Chairman, not later than Thursday, the 10th instant. Mr Hoos expressed tho opinion that it would be better to pay the officer by a per centage on the work, and allow him private practice, but the suggestion was not adopted. On the motion of Mr Guinness, tenders were ordered to bo called for advertising the Government notices. A return was ordered "of the cost of the prison van, and of all costs which have been incurred upon that vehicle since its arrival at Hokitika up to the present day, and to show under what vote the expenditure on the above was authorised." The Council went into Committee to consider the tenders for supplying stores to the Government. Mr Linton's tenders for supplying the Hokitika Gaol and Lunatic Asylum were in each case accepted ; the only other tenderer was Mr R. Campbell. For the supplying the Greymouth Gaol, only one tender was received, that of Mr M'Lean. It was decided that his tender be not accepted, and that the Chairman be empowered to make arrangements for the supplying of the institution. — The further consideration of the Estimates was deferred until Monday.— The adjourned debate on tho reinstatement of the Inspector of Weights and Measures was concluded, and it was unanimously decided that the Government be informed that it is the desire of the Council that the late Inspector of Weights and Measures be reinstated. We learn from the Hokitika papers that the pheasants that were put on the Longford farm, up the Hokitika River, some time ago, have largely increased, about fourteen or fifteen of them having been seen the other day in the locality in which they were released. A Ross paper says that tenders for the construction of the new road between Ross and Hokitika are likely to be called for within the r>ext ten days. Not more than four weeks will be allowed from the time tenders are called f«>r till they close, so that it is fully expected that men will be at work on the road within the next six weeks. Mr tenders will be immS-r"-* _comnl«ta»The proposed railway from Wellington to Wairarapa and the north, will require a tunnel which is estimated to Co3t from L85,000t0L130,000. The amount of snow that has fallen in the high-lying portions of the Wakatip district this winter is reported to be greater than in any previous season 1863. Owing to the weather having been le. c a severe, the miners in the Arrow district have been able to resume work during the last few days, and some of them have been very successful, One party obtained LIOO per man for a week's work. A man named M 'Donald, the owner of the hotel, has been charged, at Wauganui, with SGtting fire to the Waugaehu Hotel, recently, when a man was burned to death. The police found a portmanteau, books, a bedstead, and other property secreted. The evidence taken in the Magistrates' Court identifies them as M 'Donald's property. Another death by drowning took place iv Auckland harbor recently, under very distressing circumstances. The unfortunate deceased was a lad aged 17, named John Crosbie. His mother is a widow living in Drake street, Freeinau's Bay, and keeps a small grocer's shop. Strange to say, the father of the deceased was drowned at very nearly the same spot. At the sitting of the Warden's Court, at Lake Wakatip, recently, the Chinese litigants set an excellent example. A day or two before they withdrew all the cases between themselves, and deposited for each of the several companies the sum of L 50 — L2OO. The Company that first goes to law is to forfeit LSO, and so on. They have also adopted arbitration tribunals, to whom all matters of dispute between themselves are to be referred. Of course the Europeans would not use these means, but "John" is thoroughly disgusted with the European Courts of Justice. He says that he always goes to the wall, and cannot understand it at all. Hence this new movement, which is likely to be adopted throughout, the district. A few days ago in the Otago Provincial Council, Mr Hickey moved, " That iv the opinion of this Council the introduction of Chinese is detrimental to the interests of this Province," whereupon Mr Barton desired to move the following amendment, " That in the opinion of this Council the introduction of Scotchmen to this Province is detrimental to the interests of the Province" —(Laughter). He moved the amendment because Scotchmen were a frugal and industrious race. After having explained in what other respects he considered Scotchmen resemble the Chinese, Mr Reynolds sail he would second the amendment pro forma, and explained that he had prepared an amendment to the effect "That the introduction of lawyers into the Province— (Mr Barton : Hear, hear)— and especially such lawyers as the honorable member for Dunedin, was detrimental to the interests of the Province. Perhaps, however, it would be far better to move the previous question." Mr Hickey's motion was lost, the voting , being— Ayes, 15 ; noes, 16. We ( Wellington Independent) are informed that the Whakatohea prisoners who were located at Opotiki a few months ago have already several hundred acres in crop, and are conducting themselves most satisfactorily j moreover, they entertain, as do all the Uriweras, the bitterest hostility to the Kink party, for having been the means of leading them into trouble, and finally causing the breaking up of their tribe. It is a satis° factory sign that the Government consider that these men can be sent to keep them company ; and that it can be safely asserted that the chances of our being again involved in hostilities on the East Coast are diminishing day by day.