Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 970, 5 September 1871, Page 2

A case very similai to that of the old Stony Lead purchase has cropped up Regarding auriferous land near the Teremakau, over which an agricultural lease has been in existence: during the last two years; The whole of the circumstances were referred to arbitrators, and the report was handed to the County Chairman on Suiiday last, but he thought lit to leave fdr Hokitika early yesterday morning, without seeing either of the parties concerned, both of whom were at the Warden's Court -yesterday, or leaving any record of the report. However, the substance of it has transpired, and we will take an, early opportunity of laying the facts before , our readers- , ■ ; ; Today We publish reports of public meetings held at the Half-Ounce and Granville townships regarding the mismanagement of the Nelson South-west Gold Fields by the Nelson Provincial Government. The resolutions passed at the late Abaura meeting, asking the. General Government to take over the control of the Nelson South-west Gold Fields were, at. both meetings unanimously adopted, and the petition was numerously signed. Sb'eets of tlife; petition'for signature have' been forwardeil "to Baxter's Creek, Callaghan's, Moonlight, Noble's, &c, and members of the Committee intend visiting Nelson Creek, r Red 1 Sack's; and ■ No: Town . The whole Grey Valley district is unaniinuos on the subject, and .the memorial -will be forwarded to Mr Harrison by the first oppo£r tunity, although it is doubtful if it will be in time for the adjourned; debate; on his resohi- : tions, which takes place in the House on the 7th hist. Mr Hackett, Engineer-in-Chief, reports as follows of tho; Westlahd Water Races :— Part 111. of the "Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870/' gives power to the Governor, at the request of Provincial Legislatures, to construct works for the supply of water to Gold Fields, and appropriates the sum of L 300.000, not exceeding LIOO.OOO in any one year, for that object; the sums expend ed to be charged against the Province in which, the expenditure takes place. The only action undor this authority has been taken in tj\e Thames Gold Fieldi- and in the Wcstiand Gold Fields. At the Thames a survey is in progress;; and jn Westland, three schemes for water supply for the Mi&buni,. Kar.ieri, and Waiinea: or: Arahnra districts have been proposed. Of these, the surveys tor Mikonui and Kanieri districts had been made and plans prepared for f> private companies, and have now been; obtaineij

by the General Government ; the survey for the Waiinea district has been authorised and is in pr. t Tu33. The District Engineer will furnish a report on each. The number of preliminary considerations essential to the greatest utility of water-race works — She variety of subsequent contingencies on which, after the works are constructed, that utility depends, and the comprehensive range of their operation— render necessary the utmost care and circumspection before any large expenditure on such works is incurred. Tho district to bo drained, the gold fields to be served, the course and construction of the work, and other important matters connected therewith, have all to be scientifically and practically considered. 1 think* that when any largo work of this kind is proposed, a Commission combining engineering and geological kuowledge and practical experience of gold fields, should investigate and report on the proposal, and recommend what they think should be done. I append a return showing the expenditure on account of surveys for water-races. It amounts to L 409.

A t the Resident Magistrate's Court yester" day, before W. H. Revell/ Esq., R.M., Geo ; Henry was fined 103, or, in default, 48 hours -imprisonment, for being drunk andj disorderly. At a meeting of the Public Works Committee of the Borough Council held last evening, the tender of Mr M. Kennedy for the formation of Hospital-street, was accepted. The road is to be metalled 25ft wide, and two footpaths 10ft wide each, the whole length of the street. This work lias long been much needed, and as it is a leading thoroughfare to three of the Churches, it will not only confer a benefit upon the residents, but also upon the public in general. Cummins, defendant in a debt case at Tauranga, has been committed for contempt of Court, for asking the Magistrate to take a pint or beer. A telegram was received by the Pedestrian Sports Committee, on Saturday, from Messrs Harris and Hewitt, stating that as they expected to run a match with Pcnticost for LIOO yesterday, they could not leave Christ-' church before this morning's coach, but that they would start then for certain, so that they may be expected here on Thursday. Both Mr Walker and Mr Kennedy have lodged deposits on a rifle match to be contested shortly at Auckland. According to the Herald, the drama of " Formosa" is meeting with " extraordinary success" in Auckland. A gas company, with limited liability, has been formed at the Thames. The capital is L 23.000, in shares of L 2 10s each. The Golden Gate Extended Company at Ross have now about 300 ft of rails laid in their main drive, and intend opening out today. The prospects obtained are reported to be "first class." : An impression prevails at the Thames that specimen-stealing 13 freely indulged in there, but it is found very difficult to bring home a charge of this sort. The following gentlemen were nominated for the vacant seats in the Borough Council, yesterday,, at the Town Clerk's Office, viz, for the East Ward, Messrs A. R. Guinness, and G. Smith ; for the Middle Ward, Mr Edmund Wickes ; and for the West Ward, Mr W. J. Coates. The polling day for the East Ward, the only one iv which there will be a contest, takes place on the 14th inst. The other two gentlemen will be declared reelected to-day. A correspondent writing to a Wanganni paper says : — "I hear that the legal profession of Wanganui have divided the town into blocks, (eight) so as to equalise the taking of the population through tlie Bankruptcy Court " We understand that a petition is now being numerously signed by the miners throughout the South Beach and New" River districts in favor of the direct route for the maiu road from Marsden to Greymouth, in opposition to the contemplated route via the Omotumotu Creek. A petition to the same effect will be circulated in town either this afternoon or to-morrow. The Chvistchurch Artillery made some good practice the other day, nearly eveiy one of the shots from the Armstrong guns striking the target full, so that it was completely battered. The range was 1200 yards. Theplaut, &c, of the. Grey Valley Times newspaper was sold by public auction by Mr F. Guinness, at Ahaura, on the 2nd September. Mr Alexander White, the mortgagee, became the parchaser for LSO. The book ' debts of the estate, and tlie cottage, furniture. &c, of the late proprietors were afterwards disposed of at merely nominal prices.

In the Warden's Court, at Greymouth, yesterday morning, before JJ r Warden Kevell, the following cases were disposed of :— Kerns v. Wilson and party. — This was an action to recover the sum of Lls, for #amage done to plaintiffs agricultural Jease by defendants, who were mining near the Teremakau. Mr Perkins appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Newion for defendants. Patrick Rerns stated that he was the holder of an agricultural lease of 10a- 2r under cultivation, on the north side of the Teremakau. It was fenced opposite Wilson's garden. On the 17fch August he gave notice to Wilson not to undermine or bring his fence down, and he replied that he did not know whether he would bring it down. On the 20th he saw them mining underneath the fence. Wilson said the ground would not stand, and in the evening about 33ft of the ground slipped away into Wilson's paddock. The fence gave way on the 26th to the extent of 33ft. The ground was sandy, with a firm surface. It was a two-rajl fence, . made up with logs. The damage could not be repaired uutler a mouth. ' William Wilson said lie had been mining neat the Teremakau for three years. They washed' away the stuff towards Kerns', The greatest width of the hole near Kerns' ground was about Sft. They mined to within \ 2ft of Kerns' ground/ with a slope of 6ft.' He saw some of the ground fall, but was never endangered by it. JI« told Kerns that, the ground would not staud heavy weather. They nevec touched ■ the ground after .the 19th On the 24th they did rome near 'tlie the ground, iv question. ,. It would be Sft from the fence' to the base of the stripping. He would put up the fence in half a day, or ropaii it altogether in a day. It was through their working that the fence gave way. Win. Heffermau and Charles Hassard, miners, deposed to measuring the ground which had given way. They found the depth from the sui face to tlie bottom of the paddock was 13t*t. It would take a month to make the damage good. This closerl the plaintiffs case. William Wilson was then called by Mr Newton,, aud gave similar evidence, to that -given iibover • '• John" Wright; v anbth'er l of the defendants, stated that they never worked the ground after- recivingnptiee from Kerns. -. 1 hey were 2ft away on the surface from ; the fence, and a slope of about 6ft — making a distance of Sft altogether! • The width of the lead was about 40ft. The wet weather caused the fence to slip. He thought that froni 6ft to Sft would be quito sufficient to protect the fence. Would undertake to repair it in a day . In cross-examination! witness ; stated that he did uot think it necessary to leave a base of 10ft. The grqund would nqt have s|ipped if they had not been working. ' Robt. Wright, Samuel Hill,, Robert . Hill, and George Barries gave . similar' eviderice, the only additional fact being that the fence was erected over an old paddock, which had been filled in. Mr Newton <vnd Mr Perkins having addressed the Court on behalf of their r»-

spective clients, Mr Warden Pvevell, on giving judgment, said that according to Bern's evidence he gave Wilson and paity notice 911 the 17th August to discontinue working, and on the 24th he said he looked over the fence and saw the defendants working undermining the ground. If there were 2ft of surface left, as the defendants had all sworn, and the ground was of the loose, sandy character, as described, it was not likely it would have romained any time. It had been proved that the fence was built on the site of an old paddock, and this was, he thought, one of the principal reasons of the land slipping. It was the duty of the defendants to keep such a distance away from the plaintiff's property so as not to injure it by their woi kings. The damages he considered were excessive, and I he should give judgment for L 3 and costs.

The body of a runaway German sailor was found a few days ago on a run in the Amuri district, the unfortnnate man having died from exposure. ; A large grass fire, extending over a considerable tract ■of country, has taken place iv Canterbury, to the south of the Rakaia. The New Zealand cross for acts of valor, or decorative distinction for signal acts of gallantry, recommended by the commissioners in the Colony, and approved by the Home Government, is a silver Maltese cross, with a six-pointed gold star on each arm, with the words "New Zealand" round the centre, encircled by a gold laurel wreath, the cross to be surmounted by a gold crown and attached to a crimson riband by a silver bar and ring. For additional acts of bravery or devotion a silver bar is to be added accoss the riband, having a plain surface ; burnished, and inscribed with the date of the occurrence for which the bar is given, .and the name of the action, if any; • The Southern Cross has the following :— "It does not -appear that the principles of ' temperance 1 have been inculcated in everyone who is an enrolled member of the 'Temperance Society. ' One instance of very great intemperance, or at least impatience to argument, has lately come to our knowledge. It appears that one of the local 'temperance' men went- to hear the Rev. Wardlow Davies preach last Sunday evening. While • that rev. gentleman was advocating liberty of conscience to all, and upholding the principle that good men could be found out of the ranks of the teetotal advocates, one of his audience seems to have entertained quite a different idea, and, because the floor of a church on a Sunday evening did not afford au opportunity of contradicting the preacher, the ' temperance' advocate seized his hat, left the church in high dudgeon, and report says that he 'shook the dust from offhij • feet' as he left the precincts of the church." The following testimonial to John Arthur Hams, late Sergeant of Police, Greymouth, was signed by nearly the whole of the business people of Greymonth, and recently presented to. Mr Hams .—" We, the undersigned inhabitants of (ireymouth, having heard with regret that you are about leaving this district, cannot allow you to depart without offering a small token of our esteem for the very civil and courteous manner in which you^at all times, discharged,, your duties in connection with tho public. We therefore beg j r ou will accept this testimonial, earnestly , expressing our wishes that you may long be spared to enjoy the blessings of health and prosperity." In a recent issue of the Wellington Evening Post the following instance of Government interference with the telegraph is thus given: — A circumstance occurred on Saturday last in connection with the Telegraph Department that certainly needs explanation. As our readers are aware the Government piece Hands on Hanmrd struck, ou what they deemed sufficient grounds. Their reasons were telegraphed, to their fellow-workmen throughout the colony. Hearing that some men Mere coming from Hokitika and Greymouth, they presented a telegram at the offico on Saturday as follows : "If they come, will be ratted." We may add that "ratted" is a term amongst printera that implies something similar to being sent to Coventry and regarded as a black sheep by the priuting fraternity. These simple words, however, alarmed the operator, so that he declined to send the message without referring it to head-quarters, though eventually, after some delay, it was despatched. The printers, not to be done, had reoouse to a ruse, which was eminently successful. They tot their message literally, or very nearly.; literally, translated into German, and addressed it to a German in Hokitika ; the unsuspecting cle.ilc,; without the least hesitation, telegraphed itstraight away, and it no doubt reacted its destination without difficulty. It may be a matter ot joke that the Government were outwitted, but a serious question arises as to how far, and under what circumstances, telegraph operators are justified in declining to forward messages. The whole meaning of the telegram in question was exactly what we have stated' arid no more, and how the office would be justified in delaying its transmission a single moment we are at a loss to understand!; the fact is another indication of the Star Chamber kind of authority that the existing Ministry exercises in all departments. ;..... , • : ■ ■

An Otago contemporary, referring to a communication of its Riverton correspondent, mentions the return of the party who went to Preservation Inlet to prospect for slate : — We yesterday saw some specimens of the shite, &c, and can corroborate the remarks of our correspondent, who writes as follows : — Messrs M'lnnea and party, who left Riverton for Preservation Inlet on 29th ult., returned on Wednesday, 16th instant, bringing with them from thence a few specimens of slate of very good quality. That from Coal Island greatly resembles the Port Madoc slate, and some other is similar to the Bangor. The specimens were, obtained from the beach below high water mark. The limited time and appliances at the command of the party prevented their doing anything more than ( prove that the * material, of a good and valuable kind, , exists there. The' slate, I am informed, lay at angle of 45deg. from the beach rising upwards into the MM. It may possibly crop out on the surface, and will require s'ome considerable quantity ■of labor to determine whether slates of a marketable size can be •obitainld. Of that I think ; there is every- probability, and when we find that iniS6S 188,000 slatesv besides slabs; &c. ! , ; were imported •fronvGreat Britain and elsewhere" into this colony, if we desire t6 encourage and develop bur resources this matter is surely worthy of attention Wh.en we consider the many important pui>' poses for which slate (independent of roofing) is used, its strength,' durability; and the comparatively small amount of labor in Gonvertingaod adapting it to various ,require- ; meuts, and thatwe have men on the spot * willing; and able ..to'/, turn to account in the; best manner this valuable material, they should surely be encour^ed to do so. ,The i party also state that in tne same vicinity— viz., at Chalky Island- stone adapted for flagging and kerbing may be found in abundance, and that these materials may all be transferred from the quarry., direct, to. tho ship. I was for nearly thirty years practir cally engaged in the slate part of the- business — using during -.that period slate from various Welsh and Irish quarries— so that I write, from experience in this matter. ,;