THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1871.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1047, 4 December 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1871.

To-day we give a full reporb of the debate which took place in the Borough Council on Friday evening on the relative merits of the two proposed routes for the Greymouth and Marsden road. A resolution was passed in favor of the Sawyers' Oeek and Limestone route, and it was proposed that the opinion of the ratepayers should be taken by a vote by ballot. It was objected, however, that this course should be initiated by the ratepayers themselves, and not by the Council, and it was ultimately resolved that piocecdings should be delayed until Wednesday, in order to give the residents an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the action taken by the Council. , It is now for the ratepayers to say whether they desire that a public vote should be taken. If they express the wish the Council will make arrangements to give effect to it, and -if they do not, the resolution which was arrived at on Friday evening will be transmitted to the authorities. ' A meeting of the subscribers to the Greymouth Christmas Sports was held at four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, at Gilmer's Hotel. On the motion of Mr Maxwell, Mr W. F. Strike, was voted to the chair. Mr James Payne was appointed secretary and collector. The chairman stated that himself and Messrs Morton and Maxwell had canvassed the town for subscriptions, and had succeeded in raising L 135. It was then resoWed that a committee of thirteen be appointed, consisting of the following gentlemen, to make the necessary arrangements for carrying out the wishes of the subscribers : — Messrs W. H. Revell, Donald M'Lean, W. F. Strike, Maxwell, Kerr, Fitzgerald, M 'Millan, Whitmore, Walton, Wool cock, C. Holder, Purcell, and M. Levy. Mr M 'Millan was appointed treasurer. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the busiuess of the meeting. A meeting of the Committee will be held this evening at Gilmer's Hotel, at eight o'clock. The usual monthly meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade will be held to-night at 8 o'clock sharp. In consequence of the English mail being overdue, the Victorian Spiritualists have declared that the mail steamer has foundered, the passengers are saved, but the mails lost, and that the Queen died on the 14th October. The Committee recently appointed to carry out the arrangements for the Annual Regatta at Christmas time, have issued a very attrative programme of sports. The prizes are valuable, and arc sure to attract a large number of competitors both, from town and country. The members of the Greymouth Cricket Club are requested to meet at the Melbourne Hotel this evening, in order to make final arragnements for the match with Hokitika, which comes off on the 9th inst. The valuation of the city of Wellington amounts this year to L72,4'20, or L3OO more than last year. The Greymouth Kangers fired a match on Saturday last with No. 1 Company, Dunedin. The City Guards, a company that has a great reputation for shooting, and is commanded by the present champion of New Zealand, Captain Wales. The Greymouth men shot pretty steadily, making about their usual average, or rather less ; but at the conclusion of the match they looked upon it as a certainty that they had been beaten. When, however, the Dunedin score was telegraphed by Captain Wales as 337— ours being 398— great surprise and gratification was felt. The Dunedin score, however, if carefully telegraphed, is so low that there must be some special cause for it. The return match will probably throw more light on the relative merits of the teams. The detailed scores of our men are as follows : —

A narrow escape from what might have proved a fatal accident occurred about noon, on Thursday last, on the Hokitika Elver, when the hospital boat was crossing over, deeply laden with passengers. The river was "Very rough at the time and the waves washed over the bows, more water being shipped than could be got rid of by the united efforts of all hands, who, for the purpose, put their hats into requisition. The boat was getting filled, and fearß were entertained that it would founder, but, fortunately, the stiff breeze blowing at the time kept thp boat up just long enough to enable the passengers to land at the North Spit, the boat befog taken by the current close to the mouth of the river. Amongst the passengers in the boat were Dr Maunsell, aud Mr Wilkinson, the secretary to the hospital. Altogether there were nine E arsons in the beat, three of whom wej?e oys. "With regard to the work now in progress I on the Marewhenua Gold Field, Otago, the Mount. lda Ghionicle's correspondent writes : — " The following facts will show the faith which is still entertained with regard to this field :— The Mosquito Company has already cut eight miles, and has yet six more to cut. The Golden Hill has cut eight miles, and has yet three more to cut. The cutting in the last race is very heavy, and there are ten men engaged thereon Butting and Son have already cut about ten miles, and have yet five miles to cut. They are busily engaged in cutting the Bushy Creek race, about seven miles long. This race is well out, but the water U very light. Nimino and party are extending their, race seven miles, iuto the

Sheepwash Creek. Even with the small tributary water at their command, they have already taken over lOOoz of gold at different washings-up. Mr Cairns's party have recently had a washing-up with tail-water, and obtained 250z. This party is now cutting a race into the main river, and will, when the work is completed, have one of the best water supplies on these diggings, being at a very low level. Six miles of race are already cut, and an extra two miles gutting will bring them to the river." An English paper reports the death of Lieutenant-Colonel B. H. Eager, of the 40th Regiment, who at one time held the position of assistant adjutant-general in Tasmania. After sketching; the early career of Colonel Eager, the account states: — "In the year 1855 he served in the Crimea on the staff of the quartermaster-general, and was employed as field officer in the Land Transport Coips. He took an active part in the organisation of the volunteer force under General M'Murdo, and afterwards held the assistant-inspectorship ofvolunteers. Subsequently he was appointed assistant adjutantgeneral in Tasmania. On the outbreak of war in New Zealand in 1863, Colonel Eagar at once offered his services to the general in command, and proceeded to the colony with all the available troops which he could collect; for the promptitude with which he brought this valuable aid to the colony he received the thanks of the Governor of New Zealand. On quitting Tasmania, Col. Eagar received the thanks of the Government of that colony for the success that had attended his administration of the volunteer force, and for the efficient state he had brought it into during the few years itjiad been under his command." v*-r ""' "~: ■■ Commenting upon the" late meeting of Mr Harrison with his constituents at Greymouth, and the series of questions forwarded by Mr Lahman, the West Coast Times says :— "The whole affair was in fact an ovation to Mr Harrison, and he was for the time the lion of the evening. Fe had not, however,, any victim offered to him as a sacrifice. Mr Lahman, whom he would have devoured, chose the better part of valor, and, exercising a wise discretion, forwarded a protocol, in the form of a string of written questions, instead of placing himself bodily for immolation. It can scarcely, however, be conceded that our County Chairman has come off with flying colors. There is something exceedingly undignified, riot to say puerile in the proceeding, and we cannot help thinking that Mr Lahman has evinced but little appreciation of what is due to his position. But setting that aside, the course he pursued was but • playing into Mr Harrison's hand, and he was not hkel/to omit availing him* self of the advantage. Every question, from the first to the eighth, afforded him an opportunity of raising a laugh against the questioner, and of increasing the goodhumored satisfaction with which he was himself being received, but the answer to the last question was the climax of the whole, ana must convince Mr Lahman that though he escaped any personal antagonistic demonstration from his constituents, he gained nothing in their estimation by Mr Harrison's replies. It is to be hoped that the lesson Mr Lahman has received will be serviceable to him, and that he will in future bear in mind that, as County Chairman, he owes a duty to the whole County, and is not required to shape his course by the whim or caprice of any section."

40.0 Vol. Broadbent ... 34334 Sergt, G. S. Smith 23332 Cor. Moss ... 23442 Dr Morice .. 43443 Col.-Sergt, Chamberlain ... 44334 Vol. Kevell ... 42323 - J. Smith ... 43234 Ensign Hall ... 42442 VoL P.W.Paul... 04243 — W. S. Smith 23403 500 44444 33334 33344 02233 03434 24304 44332 30323 24023 23333 600 Tl. 20324 48 32444 46 03243 44 43233 43 03303 41 42330 39 02320 39 30203 35 02042 32 20030 31 398