THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1123, 4 March 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1872.

Another new and rich line of quartz reefs has been discovered and rushed between Larry's Creek and the Lyell. Richer stone than ever is being found at Boatman's ; some of the specimens shown are wonderful lynch. It was reported at the Ahaura yesterday that all the claims at Rainy Creek havo been jumped several times, aud the Warden will have much trouble in deciding the ownership of most of them. The Minister of Public Works for the Middle Island, accompanied by C.E. Haughton, Esq. Secretary for the Gold Fields'; C. Broad, Esq, Warden of the Inangahua ; and A. D. Dobson, Esq, District Engineer, arrived at Ahaura on Saturday Evening. Mr Reeves received a deputation of the residents of the Ahaura and the district, at Gilmer's Hotel, at half -past eight o'clock in the evening. It is understood that the visit of Mr Dobsnn has special reference to the commencement of the Arnold, and Ahaura road, to which Mr Reeves alluded in his reply :to the deputation, a full rcrort of which will bo published to-morrow. Messrs Reeves. Fjaughton, and Broad, left Ahaura for Reef ton on Sunday morning. At the Warden's Court, at Ahaura, on Saturday, a number of claimholders at the Teviot Rush, met Mr Whitefoord, with reference to a settlement of the disputes arising , out of the alteration of the base line, rendered necessary by the change in the suppose course of the lead. It was decided that Grogen and Fraser should be allowed to hold the same area of ground on the new I lino, as they originally occupied on the old one, and that Thomas Fagan and party would have permission to drive from a shaft, which they sunk on the prospectors' claim, for the purpose of proving theirs, Fagan's ground. On Saturday Messrs Maclean and Co. sold by pubic auction the right to the booths. &c.,atthe forthcoming race meeting :— Six sites for booths were offered, which realised tiie following prices : — No. 1, J. Jones, L3O ; No. 2, P. Hjtnney, 1.20 ; No. 3, D. Carroll, L3O ; No. 4, J Johnston, L7O ; No. 5, P. Hanney, L3l ; No. 6, J. Harris, L2S. Tho right to the fruit stall wa3 purchased by G. Cooper, at Lti 10s, and the pastry stall was bought for L 2 10s, by J. Williams. The sole j right of tending horses on tho course fetched Ll4, J. Middleton being the buyer, and the ! right to the cards of the races realised LI 3, bought by W. Kiley, making a total of L 252. • From a return received, we learn that 513 Crown grants of land, in this County, were in the Crown Lands Office waiting issue on the 30th June last, and that, in addition ti» LI each, tho price of the grant, L 243 Gs was owing for thei«- custody. Purchasers of land would do well to apply for th-ir grants, as a . weekly charge in made for'their custody. The Pieraicr proposes sending, &" the course qf a few weeks, draft copies of tho Education and Permissive Bills, which will i be again brought by him into the House of Representatives, to public bodies, aud such | public men as take and interest in these questions, Mr James Burnett, of Njolson, who was formerly a suiveyor on the West Coast, but latterly a member of the firm of E. Buxton and Co., died suddenly in Nelson last week. The Examiner says:— Mi* Burnett's illness had been so little known, ,aud where known so little regarded as being of a serious character, that had he died quite suddenly the ! shock would scarcely tyive been greater. In tho very prime of years, possepscd of a

constitution capable of enduring, great fatigue, his chances of life appeared far above the average of men. Mr Burnett had been unwell witn what is called low fever for upwards of a week, but as far as we 'can learn, his case was nob regarded seriously until the day which preceded his death. The deceased gentleman was of so kindly and genial a nature, that he was beloved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance ; while in business, the uprightness of his character won him universal respect. The case is rendered more painful by the absence of Mrs Burnett and the youngor members of the family at Taranaki. Commenting upon the address presented by the deputation of tho Hokitika Borough Council to the hon. Mr Fox, the Boss News says :— •" With regard to the requests for the annexation of the South- West • -old Fields to Westland, and a railway from Greymouth to Hokitika, we may express au opinion, that if they ww y e 'granted they would effectually establish Greymouth as the metropolis of the new County the annexation would' be to the Nelson severance, whicb has a larger population than Westlaud, and Greymouth would be the political centre, as the railway wouM make it the commercial one. There can be no doubt that if Greymouth, with a more accessible river and ala ge coal supoly, had a railway to Hokitika, it would take nearly all the shipping ; steamers would only call at one port, and the railway would create a. timber trade by opening up plenty of forest, with cheap access. The Hon. Mr Stafford is at present on a visit to Auckland —some say on a political mission of some kind or other. A sawmill (said to be the largest in the Colony) has been started a? Kaipara, Auckland. The manufacture of sulphuric, muriatic and other acids, is about to be commenced in Auckland. At Picton, a building nscd by Mr Peek as a fish-curiug establishment, has beeu destroyed by lire, Mr Peck is a great loser by the fire. The office of revising officer for Nelson, held for several years by the late T. Connell, Esq, has been conferred on Edward Leo, Esq, of Canterbury. The Wellington Independent states that already a large number of applications under the water supply sections of the Public Works Act have been received, chiefly from the West Coast Gold Fields. In consequence of the amount of oscillation in the first span of the Wanganui Bridge, it has been found, necessary to brace it up with ironbark planks. At a native meeting lately heM at Kirikiri, Auckland, a quantity of beer, amounting to a gallon and a half for every man, woman, and child present, was drank, 15,000 flounders and 1600 stingarees were also provided, and ° ample justice was done to them." We are not surprised to learn that but little '" speechifying " took place afterwards. The wonder is that any took pla2e at all. A recent Gazelle notifies that E. W. Bunny, Esq., has been made D.:puty-Com-missioner of Stamp Duties for the Province of Nelson, in the place of John Snarp, Esq., resigned. The Government will very shortly establish a daily overland, mail between New Plymouth aud Upunako, which is at present tbe terminus of the telegraph system on the West Coast of the Sorth Island. The telegraph at Katikati are partly suspended, owiug to a heavy flood. There are no obstacles by the Natives to completing the line successfully. The extreme Hauhaus arc preparing to leave the district, being disgusted at the erection of the telegraph. The buildings forming the storage part of Warmoll's old premises in Wellington are being demolished. After the removal of the rubbish, it is the intention of Mr M' Do well, draper, fotmerly of Greymouth, to put up a handsome building on the site. Mr Morfau Tavaies, the eminent tragedian, is performing witb great success in Canterbury. He made his appearance in tic character of lago, and played Hamlet on the following evening. The local agents of the various insurance companies taking fire risks in Aucklaud; have res lived to employ four night watch nan, and to pay for a sufficient volunteer guard in the event of a fire occurring. These precautionary measures 'would .appear to be. ciii.cd t.»r oy ricant occurrences. The following strange advertisement ap--pears in the Tltame* 'Advertiser:— "S B , who assaulted the Vice- President of the Rollicking Rams last evening, by breaking' an umbrella across his face, is informed that v iless she renders satisfaction by meeting one of the owes in training proceedings will be taken to compel her.-— President Rollicking Kams. The order for the plaut for the Wellington water-works was sent home by the lasi mail. Unhiding freight, it will probably cost L7OOO, while L 13,000 will be spent in labor an material in the colony, making in the total L 20.000 as estimated. It is fully anticipated (says tho Post) that the works will be completed within twelve months from the present date. Tne Riverton corresponuent of the Southland Neies states that some years ago he was prospecting the West Coast from Jackson's Bay to Preservation Inlet, and in one of the Sounds met with a small seam of green mineral which he took to bo copper. On showing some specimens lately to Professor Black and Mr Brunton, both gentlemen at ouce pronounced them to be tiu ore, and subsequently proved them so by conclusive tests. Workmen.are busily employed at Welling*; ton putting together built telegraph poles. These poles ai'e lighter than the solid ones, and being strong arid supple are suitable for exposed hilly places, up which horses and drays could not be taken. They arc in three pieces, bolted togtther, and two meu can carry them easily. The Post understands that tho.se heiug made are intended for some parts of the Buller district, and for the Hue of telegraph to Taranaki. A comparative return of the value of bnsine-s done by tho Telegraph Department in the quarters ending 3lst December, IS7O and 1871', published in the New Zealand Gazette, shows that the cash revenue of the department for the last quarter was LGSO9 12s Cd, being an increase of L 1697 12s lid upon that of the corresponding quarter of the year '870, and that for the same period there was an increase in the value of General Government telegrams to the amount of L 373 23 2d. The Southern Crosa is responsible for the following : — The scarcity of good female domestic servants is severely- felt in Auckland. Not only are housemaids and general servants hard to be got, but the rate of wages demanded is far in excess of anything | hitherto paid. Servauts who understand | housework, and of good character, now de- • I mand wages for their services at the rate of L4O per annum, which is much more than the general run of people can afford or care to pay. The keepers qf registry oftlces inform us that the cause of such a deficient supply is due to the circumstances that any girl of good character and passable looks has not the slightest difficulty in obtaining a husband. Mistresses may not entertain the ; same opinion, but youpg women generally prefer a husband to the best wages that can be offered to them. It is rather curious to note tho various rates of wages paid for

domestic help in the different Provinces of New Zealand. In Christchurch good hous< • maids receive 10s a week ; in Nelson, 8s ; whilst in the County of Westlanrl, which adjoins Nelson, a servant girl's wages ranees from ISte-is- -25s per week. In Otago, house help's of a superior class receive L3O a year Governesses are also subject to like extremes. In Westland, a respectable unmarried educated female is gla.d of a home and her washing in return for her services. In Nelson, the pay is about equal to that of a housemaid. In Auckland, we bolieve the remuneration paid to a good instructress in a private family is from L4O to LSO per annum. Tn Christchurch from L2O to L3O only is paid. In Westland, many governesses, owing to the small amount of remuneration offered them, accept barmaids' places. If they are good-looking, and can condescend to talk nonsence to young men, and hold out hopes of matrimony to old ones, they will roceive from L 2 10s to L 3 per week. 11l Otago barmaids are not generally preferred. "They *re looked upon as bad at giving change. Barmaids have short courtships, and marry suddenly. Courting cannot be done with any degree of comfort over bar counters. A barmaid generally chooses a sensible man who never speut five shillings in drink at her landlord's house. Governesses in Otago marry clergymen. In Christchurch they remain single. Domestic servants appear, as a rule, to marry mechanics, who. after a time, ill-treat theiq. The above statistics have been compiled with some care and accuracy. The provincial land sale in Wellington, advertised for so Ion" a time past, toofc pLioo last week at the Provincial Land Office. The first sections sold of the. West Coast land were three at Campbelltown, which went for L 23 103, L3O Ips-aud LSI. Only one town section at Wanganni was disposed of at LiO 10s. The town, suburban, and rural sections at Foxton, passed the hammer without an offer, as also did the suburban and rural lands at Motoa. For the sections in the thriving township of Palmerston the first bidding of any spirit, was manifested. The lots sold numbered forty-two, many of the buyers being already owners of property in the township. Nine sections of rural laud at F'almerston were disposed of. The Karere block and the Fitzherbert township failed to attract bids. Of the East Coast lands only two sections were sold. The lands disposed of realised no less a sum than L 2870 15s. Among the intelligence brought by the last Suez mttil is the announcement of the continued and increasing demand which exists for Colonial Securities on the London Stock Exchange, and the steady rise in the market value of New Zealand debentures. On November 27, New Zealand consolidated 5 per cent, stock- was quoted on 'Change at lOQij. being a premium of 15s per LIOO, in December, -the same stock was quoted at 102 to 103— equal to a premium of L 2 10s per LIOO. On the 21st January, the 5 per cents, stood at 103 A, or L 3 103 per cent, premium. A return, published in the New Zealand Gazette, shows that the total value of imports at the twenty-six ports of the Colony for the quarter ending the 31st December, 1871, was L 1.055.415. Of this L 429 ,791! were from the United Kingdom, and L 395,598 (or more than one-third of the whole amount) was from Victoria. The total imporrs of the Colony for last year' fell sbort of the amount for the previous year ot L 500 ,222, while the exports showed an increase of L 459.328. " iEgles," in the Australasian, relates the following story of a gentleman who called a meeting of his creditors, and laid his affairs before them. After looking at the books, a friendly creditor,. pointed out that a large business had been done, and still might be done ; but 'that no one, could manage it sc well as the gentleman who had called them together. Ho therefore proposed that the business should be carried on for the benefit of the creditors by this gentleman, to whom an allowance of L7OO a year im'uht be given. But to this the person directly interested promptly and decisively objected. He shouldn't, he said, live on L7UO per annum, and he wasn't going to try. If they wanted cheap labor they had better try elsewhere. The Auckland papers chronicle the death of Mr Christopher Maxwell, who has occupied the position of Chief Interpreter of the Native Lands Court since its commencement, The deceased gentleman was one of our oldest settlers, aud was well liked by all who had business to transact in the Native Lauds Court, en account of his obliging aud urbane manner. His death will be regretted by a larije circle of friends. The cause of his death was cancer in the stomach, from whicl he has suffered jjreat agony for some time past. \ A Mr Thomas John Tester, who took his departure from Nelson in the Cooroug on her last, trip in a somewhat hurried manner, leaving his\ wife, and family to the tender care of a paternal Government, was sent back from Wellington by the Phoebe, and brought up before the Resident Magistrate, at Netson, next morning, when he was fined LI and costs, and ordered to pay 153 a week tosvards the support of his family. His capture iv Wellington is thus recorded in a recent issue of the Post :— " The arrest of Tester, who was remanded to Nelson, this morning, was a .capital specimen of police promptness. Information was received by telegraph that he was ." wanted," and that a warrant had been issued for his apprehension. On the arrival of the Coorong Sergt. Monaghan and a constable boarded her, and immediately discovered the gentleman in demand. He was at work, and endeavored to pass off as pno of the sailors of the vessel, but it would not do, and almost before the steamer was. moored to the wharf Tester was secured iii custody." „A; drunken desperado, rejoicing in the distinsuishednameof Augustus Yelverfcon. was brought before the Resident Magistrate at Nelson, a few days ago. Prisoner had nothing on but a pair of trouseis, and conducted himself in a most violent manner, cursing and swearing at the witnesses ; and during the hearing of the case, he 1 suddenly pulliM a large stone out of his pocket which he threw with great violence through one of the glass . windows. ' Constable Beattie proved the prisoner's arrest on Thursday evening. He had been disturbing a prayer meeting at the Temperance Hall ; ho was drunk and very disorderly. There were four or five convictious against him during the last twelve mouths. He was only let out of gaol on Thursday morning, where he had been doing a sentence of seven days' for drunkenness. Mr Broad sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment with hard labor. '_. , ■ The Waitaluiua correspondent of the Tuapeka local paper says : — What may happen to a n.an in Waitaliuna was exemplified in the ease of a. hardrup digger, who was travelling down country in search of employment. \ In passing through Waitahuua on the 29th January he called at the residence •of afrienpl, but. finding. no; one. at, home he resumed the journey..' -He had not proceeded before he was overtaken by Constable Youngston and .arrested, at the instance of his friend's wife, on a charge of having stolen a one-pound note from her dwelling. The man, of course, protested ho was innocent, and the lady as strongly protested he was guilty, as a neighbor of her's, jiad seen him enter the house. As to the pound haying been removed from where she had placed it, that was quite clear to her mi" d, the last time she saw it about three o'clock in the afternoon, Under the circumstances,

the constable could only do what he did.— lock the man up, Between nine and ten o'clock, the lady's husband, who had beeu to Waipori, returned home ; and on making him acquainted with the state of affairs, he at once told her that it was he who had taken the pound note. No time was lost in explaining matters with the officer in charge, who at once liberated his prisoner, who will carry with him recollf-ctions far from pleasant of his short sojourn in Waitahuna.

A most extraordinary case of subornation of perjury has just been brought to light at Waneanui, the particulars of which, shortly stated, are as follow :—" -Sometime ago a mob of cattle were reported to have been lost or stolen from Mr Pharazyn's station at Waitotara. A man named Edmonds was manager at the time, and the removal of the cattle was enshrouded in suspicious circumstances. Some little time elapsed, aud no clue could be obtained as to their whereabouts. ; Edmonds then made" it his business to see a man named Wood, and in the course of a conversation with him broached the subject of a prosecution against a person named Kelts, of Wangauui, for killing the cattle, in which Wood was to swear that he had seen Kelts kill one beast and bury the hire For tuis service Wood was to receive LI OO and a free passage to any part of the world. Wood made some remonstrance to such a dastardly proposal, when Edmonds hypocritically replied "God knew everything, and he was sure God would carry him through." The proposal went so far, however, ttiat a search warrant was issued aud Keils' premises were searched, but no trace of the missing was found. Wood's conscience at this_ stage pricked him bo severely that he turned round and told the truth of the matter so far at least as Edmonds was concerned, in the prosecution of Kells. Edmonds has been committed for trial at the Wanganui Police Court on the charge of subornation of perjury,"