Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1085, 19 January 1872, Page 2

The Key. G-. T. N. Watkins met with an accideut near Ahaura, on Monday. The reverend gentleman was riding to Napoleon, accompanied by Mr Percy Wakefield, clerk to the Court at Ahaura, and when near Mulvey's Faim the animal Mr Watkins was riding became restive and threw his rider. Mr Watkins was severely shaken by the fall, but he was sufficiently recovered to enable him to proceed to Greymouth on Wednesday. The Collins and Carroll Excelsior Minstrels announce that they will give their first entertainment in Greymouth, at the Volunteer Hall, on Saturday night. The Hokitika Borough Council dead-lock has been brought to an unexpected close by the resignation of Mr J. B. Clarke, both as Mayor and as a Councillor. A horse recently died after being cruelly tortured in the stables at the rear of the Court Houfce, at Ahaura: The body was tumbled over the terrace into the dry river bed below, where it has been allowed to remain unburied. The stench arising from the putrescent carcase is abominable, and disgustingly*' annoying to the residents of the whole town, especially those living in the neighborhood of the Police Camp. There seems to be no means of punishing those who are responsible for the perpetration of this villainous attempt to introduce a pestilence into the township and thus imperil the health of the inhabitants. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. W. Revell, Esq, R.M, Edward Collins was charged with being drunk and disorderly. Constable Flannagan proved that he arrested defendant, who subsequently escaped from him. Defendant denied being drunk, but his Worship, considering tie charge proved, fined him LI and costs. The same defendant was charged with unlawfully resisting the police in the execution of their duty. It appeared from the evidence of Constable Mannagan that early on the morning of the 10th) instant, he saw the defendant drunk and disorderly near Mr Wickes' timberyard. He spoke to him, when defendant pulled his whiskers. A struggle took place, and he called for assistance, but the first man whalame helped the defendant, in consequence %f which the defendant escaped. After further evidence had been given defendant was fined L 2 and costs.— Mrs Carslile v. Miss Smith, a claim for L 2 8s 6d for work done ; judgment by default with costs. Among several distinguished visitors, a former Mayor of Greymouth arrived at Ahaura on Tuesday, en route to Murray Creek. Although his ex- Worship is a comparaI tive stranger to the up-country districts, he does not appear to be a stranger to the residents in them, judging from the enthusiastic reception he received. He was extensively "interviewed." and his progress was considerably impeded by the number of deputations which v aited on him. He held numer-ously-attended levees at Camptown and Ahaura, and it was nearly dark before he was suffered to proceed on his journey. A meeting of the shareholders in Kelly's claim on Westfield's reef, Murray Creek, was held at Keefton on Monday, 15th inst. It was decided that the claim should be registered at once under the Limited Liability Act, and that a company should be formed, to consist of 20,000 shares of LI each, 10s paid up. Messrs Hankin and Faler are to be the legal agents, and it is also decided a competent mining manager should be appointed without delay. Arrangements have been made with Messrs W. M 'Lean and Co for the crushing of 1000 tons of quartz, about 500 tons of which are now at grass. In the meantime, the present holders of the claim are assisting Messrs M'Leau and Co to get their machinery into position. The present condition of the protective works should naturally cause alarm for the safety of the lower end of the town from Boundary street westward. It is now about a month since we drew attention to the unsafe and rotten nature of the works, and expressed an opinion that if something was not done quickly a serious calamity would happen. Since that time and only a week since, about two chains of the work in the neighborhood of Johnston street gave evidence of weakness, and one afternoon the piles and several of the stringers broke, and as a matter of course the parapet gave way also. Steps were taken to repair it temporarily, and so the works are at present botched up ; but it is not only in the fact of the whole of the works being carried out to sea by the next heavy fresh that the only danger lies, the road will go with tnem, and. as the set of the river is about the centre of Richmond Quay, it does not require a prophet to point out that it is more than probable that Richmond Quay may soon form a portion of the bed of the river. The road is cracking and giving way in every direction, while the miserable apology termed the inner protective work, but which certainly has done some good in keeping the road together, has given way in various places, and without immediate steps are taken to strengthen it the whole of the drunken-looking structure will give way en masse, and it will be a repetition of the early days of Hokitika and Westport. It shows a strange supineness that in a town like Greymouth, which has the materials to hand in abundance for forming a substantial work at a comparatively trifling expense, that it has not been done long ago. There is certainly nothing to prevent the laying of a line of tramway rails down to the foot of the rock at the upper end of the town, where an inexhaustible supply of limestone can be obtained, and two or three men could keep a couple of trollies constantly going backwards andiprwards, and the stone could be deposited .on the inside of the protective works, which would not only settle firmly, but present an effectual barrier to the inroads of the river. Once done it would not need being constantly kept iv repair. It is as well for the Borough Council to look the difficulty in the face, and if Greymouth is to be a lasting place, effective measures should be taken at once to commence the works. We learn that a few days ago Messrs Scahlan and Dungan, M.C.C.'s., accompanied by Mr John O'Connor, of Paroa, had in interview with the County Chairman; with regard to the dangerous channel which the New River had recently cut across the beach. Mr O'Connor undertook to confine the river to its old bed course, if he obtained protection for his bridge at Paroa, and promised to put the same in a proper state of repair, and allow all foot passengers to cross free. The County Chairman received the proposal favorably, and promised to assist Mr O'Connor as far as possible, if be succeeded in carrying out what lie had said, ho would receive protection under tho Bridges and Ferries Act. After the members of the Council present had pointed out to the Chairman the necessity which existed for some decided action being taken in the matter, they withdrew. i Mr H. T. Green, of Dunedin, who is building the boat for the Otago crew in tho coming Intercolonial Rowing Match, has bo far re*

covered from his illness as to be able to go on with the work of her construction. The boat will be ready about the 20th inst. She is now all planked up, and only requires her covering, inside.work, and outriggers. The crew has how been finally chosen, and consists of Messrs H. T. Green, S.A. Green, Mackley, and Alexander Grant. Tt is very unfortunate for Otago men that Mr H. T. Green has been so long confined to the house. The other members of the crew, however, have been in regular training, so that the time has not been entirely lost. ■ ' " " At the Resident Magistrate's; Court, at Ahaura, on Thursday, 18th instant, John Gagliardi was fined Lls, with costs, for sell- :- ing spirituous liquors at Half-Ounce without a license. — Geo, Nelson sued Patrick Grogan, of Greyraouth, for L 5 13s, the value of a saddle alleged to be illegally detainei by him, and also for LlO special damages. The case for the plaintiff. was heard, and on the motion of Mr Guinness the case for the defendant was adjourned to January 25. There were a number of cases disposed of, and the Court was adjourned to January 25. —In the Warden's Court, J. F. Johustone, of Antonio's Flat, sued Mrs Catherine Bergin for possession of a section at Antonio's Flat. The section was ordered to be ojiven up within seven days, and the defendant to pay the costs of tbe suit. The Court was adjourned to 25th January. The Otago Daily Times has been permitted to see a private telegram from London, received via San Francisco, which contains the following information of great interest to a large part of the community :—" New Zealand meats in active demand at improved prices." The message is dated i 2nd December. Harvest operations on a small scale have commenced in the East and West Taieri, Otago, and next week on some farms the harvest will become general.^ The drought now existing is the most severe that has been experienced for many years. The pasturage is almost completely destroyed, the fields being browned and parched. Springs and rivulets are so much dried up that farmers are put to the greatest inconvenience to get a supply of water for their cattle. The trial of a model of Captain Thomson's patent ship anchor took place at Bluff a few days ago, before Captains M'Lean, Lawrence, and other nautical men. The new anchor was unanimously declared superior to all others. Fiji news has reached us to November 29. ! We observe that the community has reached a sufficiently advanced stage of civilisation to contemplate providing for the payment of members, and a Bill to that effect has been introduced into the Assembly.: As small coin is rather scarce in Levuka, a publican has issued Is and 2s notes. News has been received that the schooner Peri had proceeded to Biva for the purpose of seizing the Solomon Island natives who were on that island from the Meva cutter. The Government have also despatched the Jeanie Duncan for the same purpose. In order to provide for their safe custody upon arrival in Levuka, it is intended to build a strong wooden house for their reception, as well as for the custody of the eight Malicolo men at present in the hands of the police. These latter were recently removed from the present station house and locked up in a building at the rear of the stores of the Messrs Huntings, Totoga, in order to provide room for the daily requirements of the place. The boat race between the crews of the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne tool? place on the 23rd ultimo, at Sydney. The weather was fine, with a light easterly wind. No less than five steamers had been engaged for the accommodation of spectators, and sc great was the interest in the race that eacl steamer was crowded. The betting, which during the morning was 3 to 2 on Sydney, became level later in the day, but the Sydney crew still remained the favorites. The course was the Paramatta River, and the distance to be rowed over about three miles and a half. The Melbourne men won the toss, and selected the eastern side of the river. The start took place at three minutes past five, and both crews got off well together. For the first half mile there waa but little difference between them, but it was observed that the Melbourne men were pulling a faster and better stroke, After passing the first point the Melbourne boat tool; the lead were a length ahead, which was increased to two lengths at Kissing Point, and three after passing Gladesville. The Sydney crew then made an effort and succeeded in reducing the distance by a length, but the Melbourne crew, pulling well within themselves, again went away, and at Bedlam Ferry were six lengths in advance of theii opponents, and at this point the race was virtually won. After passing the next poini the Melbourne coxswain mistook the course, and this mishap enabled the Sydney crew tc decrease the distance by three lengths, bu< although struggling gamely to the finisi were unable to obtain any further advantage. Melbourne won by three lengths. Time, 27m. 555. The Melbourne boat had a narrow escape of being swamped near the finish, owing to the swell caused by the passiug steamers. The race caused great excitenieni amongst the spectators, and the winners were loudly cheered at the conclusion, Melbourne orew— Johnstone, Barker, Carter, Colles (stroke), Phillips (cox.) j • Sydney erew — Teece, lceton, Yeomans, Fitzhardirige (stroke). The prospectors of the recently discovered reef at Gabriel's Gully, Otago, are reported as vigorously pushing forward operations for testing it. They have stoped in about 20ft from the back of the drive, and have also sunk an air shaft. They have sunk about 10ft down on the reef, the prospects of which seem to improve with the depth j about 4ft from the top the reef wideus from 3£t to sft, and carries the latter thickness down. The stone is hard and compact. Numerous specimens in which gold was distinctly visible have been obtained. During the week a number of trials have been made, rough, of course — the stone being merely pounded with hammers and washed in a tin dish or shovel — and in every instance with highly satisfactory result. A parcel of 31b of the hardest quartz, in which the presence of the precious metal could not be detected, was crushed in a mortar in Lawrence, and yielded a large number of specks of gold. It was not treated with mercury, and consequently a large quantity of the gold was lost, as it is exceedingly fine, paint gold in fact. This shows that gold is distributed throughout the stone, and is a very good indication, as the best paying reefs in Victoria present similar characteristics. The casing yields at the rate of half apenny weight to the dish. The average dip of the reef up to the present depth is lft in every 2ft. It is proposed by the prospectors to oend a few tons of the stone to be crushed ai the Otago Pioneer Quartz battery at Waipori. tf hat the reef is gold-bearing has now Ijeeri satisfactorily demonstrated, and it. shows every indication of being payable ; 'nevertheless, until we ascertain the result of crushings of considerable quantities of stone, we shall refrain from expressing a final opinion upon it". The Otago Daily Times of January 11th states that, the following ministers will represent New Zealand at the Australasian Wesleyan Conference, which will be opened it Melbourne to-day:— Revs J. Buller aiid D. TV. Rigg, Northern District, Auckland j Revs T. Buddie and J. W. Watkin, Middle District, Wellington, Nelson, &c j and Revs k. Roid, W. Morley, R, Bavin, and A. R.

Fitchett, Southern District ! (the Middle; Island, Nelson excepted). The Conference; is expected to be attended by about 140, ministers, being representatives * from '-all^ parts of Australasia. The chief business concerning New Zealand to be treated of in the Conference will be tho consideration of an application to grant separation to the Church in* NeWZealand, and to' allow 'it^tfthave its own Conference and .system of Church Government. • We understand that tbe New Zealand representatives are hopeful ■of having -this application- granted^ either "rir this year's sitting;of the; ... Conference, or at that of next year.