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Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1027, 10 November 1871, Page 2

Yesterday was to all intents and purposes a general holiday, all the places of business being closed, and everybody seemed on pleasure bent, except the denizens of the Resident Magistrate's Court, who flew the union half-mast high, which, taken in connection with the news recently received from England, is a rather symbolical sign. The annual ball of the Greymouth Volunteer Rangers was given last night at the Tolunteer Hall, in honor of the anniversary of the Prince of Wales Birthday. Unfortunately, the weather was very unpropitious, ; as rain fell in torrents during the greater ' part of the day and night, converting the streetß into water pools, and rendering it extremely unpleasant for ladies especially to venture out of doors. Notwithstanding this serious drawback, the company began to assemble early, and gradually the large hall was quite filled by one of the gayest assemblages that has ever met in Greymouth. Dancing commenced about 10 p.m, and towards midnight the scene presented was very grand, as the company appeared bent on thorough enjoyment, and joined with much spirit in the various dances, to the inspiriting strains of the Volunteer Band. Happiness appeared to reign supreme, and thoae who did not enjoy themselves had only themselves to blame, but those were very few indeed. -It is scarcely necessary to say that dancing was kept up vigorously until daylight this morning. The great success of this ball was materially assisted by the improvements which have lately been effected to the Volunteer Hall. Its appearance has been completely changed. It has been lined throughout with wood, the stage has been shifted back a distance, a gallery has been erected for the accommodation of the band, and the building is now brilliantly lit with gas. Last night the hall was hung with banners, and the walls tastefully decorated with military devices. A large supper-room had been erected for the occasion adjoining the building, in which a splendid supper was served, and abundance of refreshments were provided throughout the night. This department was confided to Mr James Johnstone of the Melbourne Hotel, and his efforts certainly justified the confidence which had been reposed in him. The ball was in every particular highly successful, and the result was greatly assisted by the very excellent music of the band, and the well-considered arrangements of the Committee. We are requested to remind our readers that Messrs D. Girdwood and Co. will sell the Court House Hotel, Gresson street, by auction, on the premises, to-day, at 12 o'clock. : A nugget, weighing upwards of four ounces, has been- brought into Blenheim by Mr Birss. It; was found near Bartlett's Creek, and is slightly impregnated with quartz The Gr«ymoufcli' Rartger Volunteers fired off the match with the Wellington Rifles at the butts yesterday. As the Wellington Volunteers could only select eight men to fire in the match, the local company had to reduce their numbers accordingly. The following are the scores made here. • The three highest are ties ; but as Volunteer Paul made the highest score at the long ranges, he holds first position ; —

The fourth competition for the . Company Rifle took place at the range yesterday, and resulted in vol. Geo. Taylor again winning. The weather was very changeable, bright sun and heavy showers alternately; in fact, towards the end of the competition, it became so bad that several men retired, and did not finish their shooting. The score of the winner, who received 20 points in the handicap, was 68, Vol. Revell, receiving 3 points, being second, with 63, and Col-Sergt. Chamberlain, scratch, with 59. We regret to record an accident happening to Mr P. Kyle, of Thompson, Smith, and Barkley's establishment. Mr Kyle was riding a rather spirited horse on the South Beach yesterday, when it stumbled and threw him, inflicting a rather severe wound on his forehead. We are happy to hear that he is progressing favorably. The Otago Daily Times has the following notice of a marriage which took place recently in Dunedin : — "A. marriage of a kind as yet rare in Otago took place yesterday, November 1. The parties to the contract were a dashing young Chinaman, engaged in market gardening and selling cabbages and lettuce, and a European, a blooming young damsel of twenty summers, whose beauty, it is presumed, had touched t>ie tender heart that beat beneath the Asiatic okin. It may be stated that yesterday. forenoon two car- I riages dashed up to the Registrar's Office. From them, surrounded by an admiring crowd, stepped forth the bridegroom, bride, bridesmaids, and groomsmen. The bride, the bridesmaids, and a European groomsman were dressed in the orthodox wedding costume, and, altogether ' elegantly got up.' The bridegroom and the two Chinese groomsmen were equally resplendent. They entered the Registrar's Office, the crowd forming a guard of honor along jthe passage leading thereto, and before the Registrar, Mr Street, the knot was tied. The deed being done, they entered the carriages and drove off. Later in the day the house of the happy pair was literally besieged by intrusive youngsters, who, uninvited, came to congratulate them upon the event." According to a Wauganui paper, " this is not the golden age of politics,, or perhaps it is its golden age literally, when gold is chiefly paramount. Hence the Government, with money to spend and offices to give away, have carried the Brogden Contract, No. 2. We do not seek to join in unmeasured depreciation of this contract ; there are, no doubt, good . points about it, although it is hacd to say what sort of. -points it may have, after it is further modified, as there will be power taken to modify it ; but we feel perfectly assured, if it is ratified by the House, that it will be found in many essential respects a mistake from the outset, and that the longer it goes on the greater will the mistake turn out. to be. , Heaven grant us a good deliverance. Messrs Brogden will profit by it; probably Mr Yogel will do so

too; the country will be a loser, and the settlers, like a second Issachar. will have to crouch down between two burdens. The thing has been got up in haste; it wiH be repented at leisure. An Auckland pedestrian, named Gwynne, backed himself to walk 18 miles in three hours, but failed. The police of Auckland have been laying informations against publicans for selling liquors on Sundays, and several of them have been fined LlO and costs. We (Maryborough Neios) have been given to understand that Tom Carr, of Hawkesbury, a man 55 years of age, has offered a wager of L 5, which has been accepted, that he will walk a distance of 144 miles in 36 hours, to accomplish which he will have to keep up an average of four miles an hour for 36 consecutive hours. The following items of Parliamentary news are from late Christchurch papers : — The Ciril Service Act Amendment Bill has passed. The Supplementary Estimates have been passed, but the vote of LSOO for the introduction of salmon was rejected. The list of proposed exemptions from the new duties, including meat preserving, brewery, and distillery plant, coulters and ploughshares, castings and fittings for agricultural machinery, wire, tramway materials for harbor and dock works, was thrown out. The Premier on the 6th inst. laid on the table a copy of Bishop Patteson's memorandum to the Synod of Dunedin on the subject of the shave trade. In doing so he expressed the sorrow and consternation he experienced by the tidings of the Bishop's martyrdom, saying also that no language could designate the baseness of the wretches who by illegal practices had incited the natives to revenge. He would to-morrow move an address to the Queen, praying her to take steps to suppress the infamous slave ! trade. A numerously attended meeting of residents of Ahaura and the surrounding districts was held at Gilmer's Hotel, Ahaura, on Monday evening, 6th instant, to make arrangements about the forthcoming race meeting. Mr Frank Guinness was called to the chair, and after reading the circular calling the meeting, asked if any person present I had resolutions to put. An irregular discussion took place on the points of etiquette and practice and on matters, altogether irrelevant to the object for which the meeting was called, as explained by the Chairman. It was at length moved that the number of stewards should be fifteen, and a list of names was read, which included residents of each of the different districts. An amendment was moved that the number should be nine, on the ground that it would be impossible to get such a large committee as fifteen to attend meetings, or to act harmoniously. The amendment on being put was lost, and the original motion was declared carried. Further discussion here ensued, which ended by a motion, or a further amendment, being proposed, that some twenty-five other gentlemen (whose names were read), should be added to the list of stewards. The Chairman ruled this to be irregular, and it was ultimately arranged that the whole of the gentlemen (some forty in number), whose names had been submitted to the meeting, should be requested, by circular, to meet together at Ahaura, on Monday, 13th November, and that they should appoint fifteen stewards from among them, these stewards to fix [the date of the race meeting and arrange other matters connected with it. It was further decided that in the event of the non-attendance of any gentleman so receiving a circular, at the meeting to be held on Monday next, the absentees should be considered ineligible to be proposed or act as stewards. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.

Vol. J. Smith 42203-11 Ensign Hall 34432—16 Vol. Kevell 44443—19 Vol. Morris ...: 44343—18 Vol. Broadbent^y-. ;..,.. 44432— 17 Col-Sergt. Chamerlain . . .43433 —17 Vol. Moss ;,.. 33342- 15 Vol. Paul 33332—14 400 yds. 02422—10 03002— 5-26 34222—13 02300— 5—34 33042—12 02300— 5—34 33334—16 20033— 8—42 34442—13 34222— 1&-43 43423-16 22344—11—44 23333—14 43444—15—44 33423—15 34233—15—44 500 yds. 600 yds. TL