Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1086, 20 January 1872, Page 2

The labor market at Reefton is quite glutted, i Hundreds of men are walking about doing nothing ; there is rumor of their intention of jumping the leases. As we previously mentioned, a rush to Boatman's set in from Reefton on Saturday last, the cause of the rush being the finding of a large quantity of loose quartz containing some very good specimens, but no defined reef has as yet been found. The one-mile race between Messrs Pat Twohill and Vanghan, of Maori Gully, in which the former receives 50 yards start, takes place on Tuesday next, on the Racecourse, and not on the Camp Reserve, as previously announced. Kelly and party, at Murray Creek, have made arrangements with Mr William M'Lean for crashing 600 tons of stone at LI 2s 6d per ton. Considering the amount of capital expended, and the risk attendant upon conveyiug machinery, the price arrauged for seems very reasonable. Owners of quurtz cannot grumble at such a moderate demand. The Excelsior troupe of Minstrels make their debut this evening, at the Volunteer Hall. Among the novelties that will be produced is the Pedestal Dance, described by the Melbourne press as being most vniyue. The troupe also includes two lady minstrels, who are above the average. There is no doubt but that they will command a good house. A man named Richard Haworth, a brickmaker, was drowned in the Clutha river (Ofcago), at midnight on the 9th inst. In. tending to cross over to the Island, he in company with a friend or two, was endeavoring to get into boat, and slipping, fell into the river. Mr E. A. Drury writes its as follows: — " One of your Reeftou correspondents having stated ' Kelly's shares are also improving in consequence of their litigation being at an end,' and this being incorrect, I deem it my duty to state that preliminary steps have been taken to bring tbe matters in dispute before a superior Court." In another column we publish the programme of the Greymouth Jockey Club Annual Races, to be run on Monday and Tuesday, the 18th and 19th March. Five races will be run on the first day, viz., the j Trial Stakes of 30 soys, Lottery Plato of 25 soys, Jockey Club Handicap of 200 soys, Hurdle Race of 50 soys, and the District Plate of 40 soys. On the second day, the Greyraouth Jockey Club Hurdle Handicap of 75 soys, Town Plate of 100 soys, Scl'ing Stakes of 20 soys, Hack Race of 10 soys, Gold Fields Handicap of 100 soys, aud Consolation Stakes of 20 soys. Total, 670 soys. The programme, which it will be seen is ot a very liberal character, will, no doubt, be the means of attracting a good attendance. The Waste Lands Board will sell, at Hokitika, on Monday, the sth February next, at noon, fifteen ten-acre, one sevenracre, and one five-acre blocks, adjoining the Sawyers Creek road and ikortli Town Belt, Greymouth ; one two-acre block on Donnelly's Creole road ; one four-acre block afc Marsden; one five-acre block near the Arahura road ; one two-acre block in Stafford Town, making a total of 175 acres. The Ross News says that mining at Woodstock and along to Arthur's Town is very little changed during the past four years. The whole country is sluicing ground, and wanting water and labor to open it. The one is now supplied by the long tunnel party, who have ten heads of of water available at a high level, and Bone and party have com* menced a heavy job in the shape of a tailrace from the river to the flat above Woodstock, where there is 30ft of wash below 30ft of stripping. As a rule miners are making wages in this locality. On Wednesday last, wMlsfc Messrs Pollock and Dixon, the contractors for the first portion of the Marsden and Greenstone road, were coming down the New River, near Marsden, with ten of their men in a canoe, it upset and capsized the whole of the party into the stream, which was then much swollen. Had it not been for the presence of mind of one of their number, Mr Heatou, the accident would probably have terminated more seriously ; as it was, all hands managed, with great difficulty, to reach terra firma only the worse for their ducking. The Thames Guardian contains some plain speaking regarding the immense staff of military hangers-on who are now sucking the life-blood of ,\he colony. It says :— The public at large have no idea whatever of "how we are governed." If they had the faintest conception of the truth, we are convinced they would at once rebel against the huge imposture known as the New Zealand Government. The number of colonels, majors, and captains to be met with at every street corner, billiard-room, hotel, club, and public office in Wellington during tho ses sion, and we suppose still more so during the recess (when obtrusive members are not about), pass« 3 belief. A staid civilian would

imagine that tho colony contained nothing but soldiers, else these sons of Mars could .have no possible occupation in the martial line, But somehow, they do mysteriously find employment, and receivo high salaries, and look upon the plodding colonists who butter their bread, as a veiy vulgar set of . creatures indeed. There gallant fellows are to be found acting as committee clerks when not otherwise attached to tho public service, and of course look forward to regular employment through friends at head quarters. Bad as this may be. however, it is not worse than tho state of things which exist in the regular army, for that New Zealand maintains a Large standing army on paper is beyond a doubt. In one place we find a not over-wise ex-subaltern of cavalry dubbed a lieutenant-colonel, and entrusted with the command of the infantry, volunteers and militia of the district. This gentleman is a large figure at a review. He is utterly unfitted for the command entrusted to him, but as military loafers are objects of paternal solicitude by the Government, he receives a salary at double the rate of pay allowed by the Imperial Government for the colonel of an infantry regiment. Elsewhere throughout the colony may be seen majors commanding districts, who have "won their spurs " through political intrigue or undisguised toadying "the powers that be," but who arc innocent of their duties, and could no more take command cf a battalion on parade than they could fly without wiugs. These home-made soldiers are also highly paid, their work- being performed by the ] sergeant-instructors provided by the Government to compensate in some measure for the incompetence of the commanding officers. In Chambers at Christchurch, the other day, his Honor Mr Justice Gresson announced a decision of some importance — to the effect, as we understand, that it will no longer be necessary for a creditor desiring to have the power to arrest his debtor, to obtain the order which has hitherto been usual,, withdrawing his protection during the suspension of the order of discharge. The protection will henceforward be taken to be withdrawn by the fact of the suspension of a discharge ; and it will in future be necessary for debtors desiring to avoid arrest during the time of suspension, to get a continuance of their protection endorsed upoa the order. On tho 30th ult. Mr Warden Beetham held an inquest at Pleasant Creek, Skippers (Otago), on tho body of a miner named Peter Taylor, who had died suddenly the previous day; It appeared froin+he evidence fiat deceased, who was stated to be a native of Scotland, and about 40 years of age, was attending his horse the moment before he fell dead at the animal's feet. A verdict was returned that the cause of death was disease of the heart — On the sth instant, a woman named Annie Couzins, wife of John Couzins, miner, was found dead in Gabriel's Gully. It is thought that the deceased, while walking homewards, must have fallen down, and so brought on the hemorrhage from which she died. At the coroner's inquest on the following day, a verdict of "Died from hemorrhage of the womb" was returned. The deceased was 29 years of age. On the occasion of the last flood in the ' Waimakariri a man in the employ, we believe of Mr Coutts, of Kaiapoi Island, had a fortunate escape from a seiious accident. It seems Mr and Mrs Coutts had returned from Christchurch, and being unable to ford the river with the trap, went to where the ferry boat plies across the cutting ; there their servant came to meet them, but when in mid-stream the wire rope snapped, sending the boat adrift. A small paddle in it he was unable to use to get the boat ashore, and was soon carried to Whites bridge. Here a friendly rope was thrown to him, which he caught, but the ether end was accidentally let go, so that the boat again was adrift — threatening soon to carry it out to sea. In despair he again tried to use tho paddle, when he succeeded in steering the boat in shore. To forge or to commit any other sin in the calendar, should, taking a worldly view of it, be done well and artistically, and in puch a way as "not to be found out," but it reads rather out of place for a Judge, from the Bench, to inform his prisoner that he had made a mess of it, as Judge Chapman did when ho sentenced a forger in Dunedin, recently. The Judge said — "The forgery in this instance had been committed in a very clumsy manner ; the prisoner must have known, in fact, that detection would take place in a few hours after the offence was committed." And again, in the very next case, also one of forgery, the Judge commisserated the prisoner's want of i common sense, for he said—" As in the last case, the offence had been so clumsily committed that a grain of common sense would have shown the prisoner that detection was inevitable in a few hours afterwards." Perhaps if tho prisoners had shown more smartness the sentence recorded might in each ease have been milder. The Imperial authorities have communicated with the Victorian Government, through tho Board of Admiralty, instituting enquiries into the capabilities of the Meat Preserving Companies to supply any demand made upon them. This fact, together with the latest news from home, relative to increased consumption of Colonial preserved meats, should instigate our local companies to renewed exertions, as it appears that this article of produce is at last gaining the appreciation of the public at home. While on this subject we may notice a letter in the Medical Times and Gazette, "on the food of the Army corps, during the recent manoeuvres," in which the writer, a physician, states ■:--" The Australian mutton, coming after the fluid nutriment just described, had the advantage of contrast. It was liked by the men, and seemed in every way a valuable aid to tho victualling of an army. It was in 61b or 81b tins, which would pack better if they were square instead of cylindrical.'' Mr T. B. Gillies, Superintendent of Auckland, at the termination of a speech to tho electors of Auckland City west is reported to have said with reference to last year's deficit of L.136,000, as shown by the last financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer : —There was one means by which the growing deficit might be met. That was by making the waste lands of New Zealand the property of the whole colony. No Government would be worth the name of (aoverhment until they met that problem. The provinces of the South have received more from these lands than would pay for the war expenditure and three million loan. These lands were the sources from which immigration and colonisation would be most legitimately maintained. These would promote the settlement of tho colony, and not the English capitalist. The following mining items are taken from the Bruce. Herald, Otago :—" Tbe trial crushing from the new reef between the Tokomairiro River and the Round Hill only yielded odwt per ton. The reef has been traced to within a short distance of Dewe's farm, and wa understand that on a spur leadiug into Old Identity, gold has been found in some of the loose qnartz lying on the surface. Further piospectiiig may develope something in this direction. It will be iv the recollection of many of our readers ,that some years ago very rough gold intermixed with quartz specimens, was found in this neighborhood, and it is reported that Dr Hector, when visiting this same district some years ago, expressed an opinion favor: able to mining enterprise there. The sluicing i

claims— Coombes and Co., Hardy and Co., and Margrie and Co. —are all at a standstill for want of water. The late discoveries at Tuapeka, in addition to the Table Hill prospects, have induced a considerable amount of prospecting, which it is hoped will be the means of discovering further profitable enterprises, at the same time we would advise caution to be exercised on the part of capitalists in investing largely oninerely problematical results. The only claims that have yet obtained payable results in the way of quartz claims are the Ocean View and Alexandra Co., and from the low price shares are valued at by the holders of these claims, it is evident, considering the ease with which they have obtained their stone, they anticipate considerable expense in working their mines. The water shaft contracted to be sunk on the Alexandra claim towards their boundary adjoining tho ground jumped by Dyer and Co., has been given up by the contractors, they paying forfeit. The contract was for 50f fe at 30s per foot, and after sinking 27ft, the contractors have given it up. The reef, it appears, dips very suddenly in this direction, and the water is likely to prove a rather heavy undertaking." Referring to the approaching release of the Maori prisoners, a correrpondent writes to the Wanganui Herald as follows :— " Is it possible that these murdering cannibals are about to be let loose once more upon society? Has Mr Fox forgot the cutting speech he made against the Stafford Ministry for their unw.arraD table delay in hanging these same murderers ? If they murder us in our turn will they then be once more pardoned? If, on the other hand, we kill — murder, if you like— them on the first favorable opportunity, shall we also be pardoned, or would our fairer skins entitle us to the privilege of hanging in strict accordance with justice? The natives destroyed the settlers' property and hunted them from their homes, and the settlers have not yet been compensated for their losses. Are the settlers expected to rub noses with these natives on their return? The settlers, as a Volunteer corps, caught many of these natives and handed them over to the Government, innocently expecting they would be fairly dealt with. If the settlers have to catch the same natives again, are they expected to again hand them over to the Government alive. All these questions being apt to puzzle a poor countryman, you would confer a favor be publishing them in the hope that somebody may answer The " Loafer in the Street" writes as follows to the Canterbury Pres~$ :— " I see Mr H. H. Hall, of San Francisco service, has filed his schedule in Sydney. His liabilities : are, I observe, L 17.419 5s 3d ; assets, L497s 6d ; deficiency, Ll7, 363 18s Bd. What an enviable position. If Trabbs declared himself unable to meet his engagements to-mor-row morning, and failed to the amount of L 25, assets one shilling and an aluminium chain, ah ! what a rogue he would be. Trabbs would have lots of kind creditors to oppose such a dishonest rouge. If Tiabbs got a clean bill of health, it would be well for him. These two-penny-half-penny failures are a mistake, and are a quite devoid of credit to any insolvent. But to fail for thousands — that's the idea. Poor fellow— gigantic speculations—utter failures, assets nothing to speak of— wife and famity, &c. Speculator come out with credit, and it's quite his own fault if he be not in a position to do it again in the course of a twelvemonth. But how is it done in the Irst instance ? Where are the confiding banks or capitalists that will give you tick to the tune of thousands ? Who knows ? I wish I did. I should like to be insolvent under some circumstances. A well managed failure is one of those tides which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. It is a tide I should like to have an opportunity of floating on." By the last mail Dr Peatherston informed the Government that after many complications regarding the dispatch of suitable immigrants for New Zealand from the old country, he proceeded to Aberdeen, and there placed himself in communication with a committee, formed by the residents for promoting emigration, but he foun,d thai; a,U the single women they proposed to sendoVt were innoates of, or recently discharged from re.« formatories, and that the committee expected the Colony to accept boys from the Industrial Schools, nut who had as yet learnt no trade. As these classes of emigrants were not such as New Zealand desires, it is needless to say that "no business was. done." The AgentGeneral had, with his wonted sagacity, anticipated that the Government would find out the necessity of conducting immigration on one system, and had already commenced to ignore the Provincial schemes, and elaborate a system similar to that adopted by him in regard to emigration from Scandinavia. In North Europe Dr Featherston has been very successful, and he only regrets that he had not proceeded thither earlier in the year, as the season had closed when he wrote. He has ,made arrangements for the shipment at regular intervals of GOOO carefully assorted emigrants from Scandinavia and North Germany. A. highly respectable firm at Hamburg had entered into a contract for the shipment of emigrants at prices much below the rate charged from England. The e,migrant3 will consist of as many single women as can be secured, not more than 200 single men, and the remainder young married "couples with I from one to three children each, all to be selected from the rural districts. At Christiana arrangements were made for 3000 Danes, and a similar arrangement was about being completed at Gothenburg. The passage money to be paid by the Government is LlO for each male adult, and Ll4 for each single woman. The object of this plan, instead of a uniform rate of Ll2 all round, is to induce the agent to procure as many single' women as possible. The ship England was to sail on the 4th December, for Wellington, with 100 Scandinavians, and another ship, with 150, was to sail in January, for Canterbury, it is expected that when the Agent-General is made aware of the steps taken by the Assembly last session to place immigration entirely in the hands of the General Government, J)e will be able to initiate a thorough and systematic canvass of the United Kingdom, and very much enlarge his immigration operations.