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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 995, 4 October 1871, Page 2

The usual monthly meeting of the Greymouth Fire Brigade was held on Monday evening, at the Brigade Hall, Captain Amos in the chair. The. secretary reported the receipt of a donation of L 2 from G. Perotti, Esq. The honorary members subscriptions being overdue, the secretary was instructed to inform them of the fact. The subject of providing a ' reading-room for the use of members of the brigade was then brought up and it was unanimously decided that a room should be provided, furnished with papers, chess and draught-boards, &c. Any contributions towards the above object will be thankfully received by the officers of the brigade. The challenge for the return cricket match between the members of the brigade and the Grey River Cricket Club will be played on Saturday week. The remains of the late Alexander Barbour, who was accidently killed at Moonlight Creek on Friday, 29th September, were interred at the Cemetery, at the Aiiaura, on Suaday last, i The funeral was numerously attended. We learn from the West Coast Times that Mr W. Weir, late of the firm of Weir Brothers, Hokitika, has been found dead in his bed at Christchurch. Information reached the police at No Town, on Monday, that a serious assault had been committed at Deadman. Creek during the morning. The full particulars were not to hand, but it appears that in the course of a quarrel between two miners, one of them, a Maori, struck the other a blow on the head with a long-handled shovel, and fractured his skull. Constable Jeffries left No Town at midday on Monday to arrest the Maori. It is stated, says the West Coast Times, that the County Chairman haa been requested to pay a visit to Wellington. By whom he was requested, and with what object has not transpired. Rosa seems a peculiar place. Recently a clergyman found it incumbent on him to reprove '•' The amusements of the people," in the shape of a discourse against cock-fighiiif, and now we find that even the Cliurch itself is not proof agaiust disturbances. The Ross Neios of Monday says, under the rathei strange heading of "Safe Keeping": — Two men were apprehended last evening, at the Church of England, previous to the commencemeut of the service. One of them— a poor creature whois reported to be deranged— had taken his seat in the church, and be*

came very demonstrative, when the police were compelled to take him m custody ; the other, under the influence f>f liquor, expressed a determination to enter the sacred edifice, and was very soon accommodated with safe quarters, where he manifested his indignation for the kind attentions paid him by kicking his prison walls violently— an amusement he indulged in rather too often to be pleasant to his neighbors. Both cases will probably be brought under the notice of the Bench this morning." bo evidently there is nothing certain about it.

An objection of an unusual nature was raised at the Warden's Court, on Monday, during the hearing of the case of the North Star Company v. the Leviathan Water-Raoe Company, by Mr Guinness, on behalf of the Leviathan Company. Mr Guinness objected to the evidence of one of the witnesses being received, on the ground that he was an Atheist and did not believe in a future state. On being questioned by the Warden, the witness indignantly repudiated the charge, and the evidence was proceeded with.

Mr George J. Woolley, who has for the Sat 'three filled the office of District and ining Surveyor on the Nelson portion of the Grey Valley Gold Fields, has been removed to Westport to take charge of the Buller district. Mr Woolley performed his onerous and difficult duties in an efficient and impartial manner, and the quickness and energy he always displayed in getting through the public business was remarkable. He bears with him the best wishes of a large circle of friends iv the Grey Valley. Mr Henry Lewis succeeds Mr Woolley.

At a meeting of the Hokitika Hospital Committee, held on Monday night, the Hon. J. A. Bonar in the chair, it was resolved " That the legal opinion of Mr Button be taken to ascertain as to a criminal prosecution being instituted against the West Coast Times, in consequence of the article published in that paper." The motion was carried without dissent. The article complained of was published in Monday's issue of that paper.

A fatal accident occurred about eight miles down Tuapeka Flat lately to a Chinaman named Ah Lee. It appears the unfortunate man was sinking a shaft, when about a ton of clay slipped from the side of it, and fell upon him. His brother and mates, who were working about ten yards from the hole, hearing the noise caused by the falling earth, went to his assistance, but their help was of little avail, a? he must have met with an instantaneous death. Upon removing the clay, they found the body much bruised, and one leg broken. The body was removed to the Tuapeka Hotel, to await an inquest, which was held, and a verdict of "Accidental death" returned.

The Southern League says there is a rumor of a union between the Otago. Wesleyana and the Otago Church of England. In Ireland these two bodies contemplate union. Numerically, it is expected that the English Church will be the gainer, if the alliance evertakea place.

The Hokitika Star says it will probably be remembered that a few days since a deputation of miners waited upon the County Chairman, for the purpose of representing to him the injury -which would be caused to \pany water-races and claims in the event of the Stafford road being constructed as proposed in the specifications. The Connty Chairman and the District Engineer visited the ground the following day, and after making a thorough investigation of the whole matter, it has been considered advisable to make a deviation from the original route in section five, so as to prevent auy injury being done to the claims. We understand that recommendations to tins effect have been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works ; and as the proposed alterations will not involve any additional expenditure, we have no reason to doubt that the suggestions will be acted upon.

The Dunstan Spring Meeting (Otago) took place on the Sth ult. The weather was anything but favorable, the. wind being very high and accompanied by showers of rain. About 2 o'clock p.m. a whirlwind took Dr Burrows' stable, at the hospital, clean away, not a vestige of which is in its original place ; one sheet of iron was carried by the wind across the Molyneux river to the Earnscleugh river. A dray, stationed near the said stables, was set in motion by the wind, and blown down the hill and into the hospital building, greatly damaging the same, which is greatly to be deplored, owing to the funds of the said hospital suffering from the withdrawal of a part of the usual subsidy by the Government. As to the races, the first event was a Handicap Hurdle Race, won by Musician ; Maiden Plate, by Master King ; Handicap Race, Brunette ; Hack Race, by Moselle ; and Hurry Scurry, by Musician. Each race was well contested, but the attendance of visitors was meagre in the extreme ; in fact, never was seen so small a meet on the Dunstau course.

A young man from New Zealand, who may be known to some of our readers, has recently run a short, but brilliant, career in Melbourne. A late Argus says — " A young man, a chemist by trade, arrived about four weeks ago in Melbourne, took lodgings in Latrobe street, and on Saturday, after bank hours, went to Mr Josephs', jeweller, in Swanston-street, and bought a diamond ring and a necklace, valued at L 22, in payment for which he gave three cheques which made up the amount. He then wept to the drapery establishment of Mr Charles Wakely, in Bourke-street, and bought a tie, for which he paid with a cheque for LI, and received the change. On Saturday evening, being anxious to see the Zavistowskis, lie took a young lady who was employed at the Colosseein, to the dress circle of the Theatre" Royal; and acted the 'swell' in approved style, the Colosseum waitress wearing th» diamond ring and neck-chain. On Sunday he went aboard the mail steamer, where the young woman saw Miss Bessie Gregory, whom she had known previously, aud on whom she bestowed the diamond ring and necklace as mementos. The young man was minus a front tooth, and wishing to liave the defect remedied, he went on Saturday night to Mr Miers, dentist, next door to Mr Josephs', and Mr Miers took a model of his mouth, preparatory to supplying him with a tooth. On Monday morning he went back to Mr Josephs', to make a fresh purchase, but was there told that the cheques he had given on Saturday night were dishonored by the bank, aa there was no account there. He said, " Nonsense ! come along," and went with Mr Josephs to the bank, explaining by the way that he had no open account, but had a deposit receipt lodged to his credit. They entered the bank together, and Mr Josephs went into the manager's room, to see the manager, but wheu he came out to announce that there way no account there, tho young man had vanished. A subsequent proceeding on the part of the' young man was to go to the Orieutal Restaurant, where he bad dinner, wl'ieh he paid for by a cheque for L 6 4a, receiving the balance ill cash. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and in the evening Detective Mackay, seeing a man answering his description staring about him in Bourke street, remarked to him that he seemed to be a stranger. : "I am," said the young man, sailing pleasantly, and disclosing a row of teeth with one vacancy. Mackay concluded him to be the offender, and further inquiries confirming the buspicion, locked him up He was taken before the City Court as Maurice Devereux alias Sleghman, and remanded. •