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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1164, 22 April 1872, Page 2

Mr William Pitt, barristei.nt-lav, met with an accident on Friday while returning to Reefton after attending the sittiug of the District Court at Greymouth. He was riding through, the Saddle Bush, when his horse stumbled and fell on him, while strug(ling through one of the numerous "glue-pots" with which the track is studded. It being nearly [lark when the accident happened, Mr Pitt suffered the inconvenience of being compelled to stay in che bush .all night ; but otherwise he was not seriously injured. The learned gentleman reached Keefton in safety on Saturday* The Sluicers' Arms Hotel at Napoleon Hill, built by the late Mr Edward Flinn, was destroyed by fire on Friday last. About six o'clock in the evenitig the persons about Mr M'Laughlin's store noticed flames issuing from all parts of the building, and although every effort was made to save it, in less than twenty minutes the house was totally destroyed. The house formerly known as the Morning Star Hotel, which stood next door to the Sluicers' Arms, also caught fire, ami the building had to be pulled down in order to save M'Laughlin's store and hotel alongside. The origin of the accident is supposed to be carelessness on the part of the occupier of the- Sluicers' AVins in" piling too great a quantity of firewood into the fireulace. The occupants of the house, a Mrs Smith and her children, were paying a visit to a neighbor when the fire began, and the doors being locked, the inside of the place was gutted before the five was noticed. The damage done, although not very great, will fail heavily on the losers. The Sluicers' Arms was the property of Mrs Smith, a widow with four childien and her house, furniture, and clothing of herself and children are all lost. The Morning Star was the property of Mr M 'Laughlin, and he purchased it specially to keep parties from getting possession of it, whose carelessness might endanger his own premises adjoining, by fire. On this occasion Jie had a narrow escape, and but for the exertions of Messrs R. Routledge, J. C. Craig, James Lock and others, his extensive premises, containing a large and valuable stock, would certainly have been destroyed Two rather serious accidents occurred during the progress of the fire. Mr Morning Star, trying to remove some of the inflammable materials of which it was composed. The ridge gave way and the roof fell inwards, carrying Mr Routledge along with it. He was for a time enveloped in smoke, dust, and flames, and he was badly scorched, besides being much bruised. Mr James Lock, in rescuing Mr Routledge, had his hands and face singed, the whiskers being entirely burnt from one side of his face. A subscription has been set on foot for Mrs Smith and her children. The tender of Mr R, H. Baylis, for the conveyance of mails between Greymouth and Reefton, has been accepted by the Government. The service is to be twice a'week eaoh way— leaving Grey mouth at 9 30 a.m. on Monday and Thursday, aniving at Reefton at fou>- o'clock on Tuesday and Friday ; and leaving Reefton on Wednesday and Saturday, reaching Greymouth on the day of starting. The servieo is to be commenced to-day, though the hour of starting will he^ater ti^an the hour to be regularly ohserved afterwards. Some uneasiness is felt as to the safety of Air Geoige- Sadler, the express-man betweeen Greymouth and Reefton. He was last, heard of at the coal-mine, on his way up on Thursday, and, according to the latest reports from Reefton. he had not reached that place on Saturday. There is a preBumption, however, that on this occasion he did not take the usual road ; hence the delay in arriving at his destination. The most important item of intelligence from Ross is that an application was made to the Warden, on Thursday, by William Boycl and party for a prospecting area near the new Hokitika road, about four and a half miles from Ross, and the same distance from Aylmer Lead. — Among other local items, the News reports that a miner, named Watson, met with a serious accident while felling a tree on Wednesday. He was struck by some of the branches and seriously hurt in the back— The beach road to Okarito is passable . now— even at high water — between Ross and Okarito, with exception of Wanganui Bluff, which remains impassable for horses. Mr Tizard, who came through on Thursday, had to leave his horse at the Wanganui, and walk on to the Waitaha. The other bluffs have had tracks cut around them. Wearein receipt of a copyof the I nangahua Herald of Saturday, in which we find the following items of local intelligence .-—The application of Charles Crowle and Walter M'lntyre, for agricultural leases of ground, situate a mile below the junction of the Buller and Inangahua, have been recommended by the Warden. — A piece of quartz from Potter's claim, Larry's, yielded 3dwt of gold, or at the rate of 84oz to the ton.— Mr Richard Rowlands, of Westport, has purchased a, quarter-share in the prospector's claim, Larry's, for Ll6O. — The contract has been let for the supply of rails for the Reef ton and Murray Creek tramway.— lt is expected that the opening of the Loyal Reefton Lodge will take place on the 3rd proximo. — Two quarter shares were purchased during the past week by Mr Pollock, of Hokitika, in the prospectors' claim, Larry's. The price has not yet transpired. Machinery, consisting of a single battery of five head of stampers, will probably be placed on the ground ready for working in four months, and the wheel will be constructed with sufficient power to drive twenty heads, as other fiteen stampers will be added. The shareholders have decided to throw their shares into scrip, and the company will be named the Caledonia. By the Warwick, which arrived at Por Chalmers, the Government has received about 180 tons of rails, fastenings, and plate* layer's tools for the Clutha Railway, and also about 500 tons of iron girders for the Waitaki Bridge.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dun- ; i edin, on the 9th mat., Thomas Patfirson, t master of the Pakeha,.*was informed against t by Sergeant Golder, for having brought into « Jfew; Zealand" tin said vessel one George King, \ a convicted felon from Western Australia, a ; jenal settlement, contrary to the Act, 1867. l The Bench, on hearing the explanation of the master, who produced a*eerfcincAte signed by the Collector of Customs,atie Vasse ( W. A. ) that George King was a free man, and. had liberty to leave the said^Colpny, dismissed the case, saying in face..)<& such certificate they could not convict the master of wilfully ■ infringing the Act. The Marlborough Express is still suffering from that exceptional disease of newspapers — an excess of advertisements. In its "latest number, the Expreis says :— '• The quantity ; of mattei which we have issued this week is so much in excess of the space at our disposal in the Country Supplement, that we have left over some portions also of that until next week. It is becoming evident to us that, before long we shall be under the necessity of again enlarging our journal, in order to make room for the favors of our friends, and the publication of current matters of interest." Referring to the recently reported discovery of gold in tiie Upper Waikato, a contemporary says : — "An experienced digger, who has prospected between Wanganui and Upper Waikato, tells us he is confident those districts are auriferous, and partly alluvial, and says he and his mate obtained some gold thereabouts several years ago, but they were ordered off by the Kingites. Recently a large number of Waikatos were about to start for Tuhua to dig, but were restrained by Tawhiao. Rewi and some followers were en route for Tuhua on the Ist inst. There is reason for believing that the greater part of the rough country lying between Cambridge, Lake Taupo, and Wanganui, is gold-bear-ing." Frederick Plummer, the notorious prison breaker, with two other prisoners attempted to escape from Mount Eden Gaol last week. Plummer got away some distance when a warder ran in front of him, and presenting a pistol at his head arrested him. The half-holiday movement has extended to Oamaru, where Thursday i 9 the day pro-, posed for the half-holiday. It is also proposed that the shops on the ot er days, with the exception of Saturday, should not close later than six. As an illustration of the productiveness of the Wakatip district, the Mail says :— " Mr Flint, of Frankton, has obtained a splendid yield of wheat from a little less than ten, acres of maiden ground. We are informed that when takeu to the Brunswick Mills for gristing it amounted to 702 bushels, each bag averaging about 4 bushels 15 lbs— more than 70 bushels per acre." The Rev Mr Bailey, of Christchurch, has been making from his pulpit sweeping attacks on the theatrical profession. Mr Hoskins lias answered him through the local papers, and has more than given the reverend gentleman a Roland for his Oliver. ; John Chinaman, when unacquainted .with • the English language, is sometimes put to sore straits, and exhibits considerable inge- [ nuity in explaining his requirements. Last : week an iustance of this, which transcends . anything we have previously heard, occurred ! at Waipori. A "heathen," says the Tuai peka Times, went intoa store in that town j to purchase eggs. Forgetting (if he ever ; knew) the English name of eggs, and seeing none displayed, he made super-celesbial lin- . gual efforts to make the storekeeper underL stand what he wanted, but without avail. Finally, the Chinaman selected an onion 3 somewhat resembling an egg in appearance, • and imitated the process qi laying, winding. *y-» Kir flrmninnr Viia orma dnrl oqnlrlincr nff.f>i« j the most approved manner of a hen exulting . in this successful accomplishment of egg- [ laying exertions. So faithfully did he adhere to every feature of egglaying, as , practised by feathered bipeds, that the storekeeper had no difficulty to comprehend j his pantomime. The affair is stated by our i informant to have been almost indescribably r grotesque, and it had the effect of temporarily destroying the equanimity of those i who witnessed it. Recently a mare's nest was discovered by - a Canterbury resident, who imagined that a . piece of cloth suspended in a church in that r Province to hide some paint pots, &c, was , intended to represent the veil of the Temple. , The Oamaru Times, referring to this mci.- . dent, says : — The circumstance reminds us ' of sometbing of a similar character in our . own Province. At a church south of Duni e'lin, .in alfcar-do'li of velvet was presented > by the ladies of the congregation to the ; eloquent llev Mr S -, and emblazoned i on it, by clever hands, guided by pi hip and loving hearts, appeared : the sacred monogram, I. H.S. On the appearance of this, a gentleman, whose church education was yet rather incomplete, gave t notice of his intention to forsake a Church which permitted such ritualism. The good clergyman, astonished, and evidently pained, said " Why would you do so ? What offends you ?" " Why, them letters on the communion table. '.' "Do you know their meaning ?" asked the clergyman. "Of course 1 do," replied the anti-ritualist ; •J they mean / Bam Saved ! and it's too much for anybody to say of himself because he goes to our church to say his prayers.' Mr Larnach, of the Bank of Ota<ro, has given a cheque for L 34.905 12s 6d, the balance of the purchase-money for the Moa Flat sale. This includes the value of about 9000 acres which Mr Clarke's agent has agreed to take in lieu of money payment for compensation and survey. Mr Bell, one of Mr Brogden's engineers, has been visiting Little River, Canterbury, for the purpose of inspecting a plan of draining Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth into the sea, by means of a tunnel, cut through the rock into deep water. >.' . A contemporary says : — " A new industry has been started in the Colony— Auckland boasts a bellows-maker. He asks for a protective duty." The Wellington Post has been shown a sample of gold, some lOdwt to 13dwt, by the mining manager of the Morning Star Gold Mining Compauy, the result of a crushing of five tons of stone. Although from previous trials the returns have been nil, it is evident in this instance there is gold in the claim, and hopes are entertained that Wellington may yet boast of its gold field. An interesting volume on the fishes of New Zealand has just been published by the Colonial Museum and Geological Survey Department It contains a catalogue with diagnoses of the species b} r F. W. Hutton, F.G.S., assistant geologist, "Notes on the edible fishes," by James Hector, M.D.j F.R.S., and twelve lithographed plates, giving the outlines of 45 different kinds of tish. > Dr Hector, the Government Geologist, arrived at Picton by the Wellington, for the purpose of visitiug and reportins; unon the various gold-bearing reefs in the Province of \ Marlborough. When the visit was first contemplated, the newly discovered Eavenscliff , reefs had not been brought into notice, and it is at present uncertain whether the Doctor will be able to afford time to visit the Sound and to give an opinion as to the probability of ' further rinds being made in that direction. ? '

The man Peter Langton, who committed such a murderous assault on DeLainey at Riverhead, Auckland, lately, was brought into town by Detective Ternahan, and safely

lodged in the lock-up. : The faijtso! this c*p- *i ture are briefly as follow :- Detective . <•. nahan left Auckland by ! the s.s.- Gemini on • ( Saturday, iporn ing, arriving at SRwerhead in t the afternoon. He there met "Detective >y Jeffrey, who had ridden out of town on horseback, and the officers agreed to take different t routes. Ternahan proceeded to the Wade, which he reached by-dark. Fiam information which he there received, he continuerl his journey to a lonely spot about three miles beyond Hatfield's Hotel, and between i Riverhead and the Hot Springs. His information was to the effect that at this spot he would find Langtbn and ' his paramour, who was living with the unfortunate man Detainey at the time of the assault. Hie arrived at the place — a" very secluded one — about midnight, and, according to his information, he there found atent. He carefully drew: aside the door, went in and struck a lighb, when, sure enough, he found Langton an I Mrs Smith. Langton at once took the almn, escaped from under the tent, and made off into the bush in his night clothes. But Ternahan followed him closely, and very sion overtook and captured him, guided by his white shirt. He took him hack to the tent, where he made him dress, and brought him on to Auckland yesterday as above. The woman Smith was not arrested, but she was given to understand that she had better ace nnpany them, which she accordingly did, and she will be brought before the Bench the first opportunity. A man named Langmuir has been missing for some time in the Province of Marlborough. Traces of him were lately got, and, after a search, lasting a considerable time, the efforts of the search party were rewarded with success, Mr Williams and Mr T. Jackson having both come upon the unfortunate man at the same time . Six weeks exposure to the elements, without shelter, without fire, without clothing, without food almost, or only such as could, be procured from the native berries and shell fish in the shape of pipis and winkles, would not assist to improve a man's appearance, and it may be imagined in what condition the poor fellow was when he was discovered. Without unnecessary delay, Langmuir was brought to Picton, and placed under the care of Mr Cawte, who very soon made a great improvement in the outward appearance of the unfortunate man. On Thursday, Langmuir was brought before H. D. Church, Esq., R M ., who, after hearing the evidence of the medical witnesses, committed Langmuir to the Picton Gaol, as being of unsound mind and dangerous to himself. Mr Frank Guinnesa, we observe, has complied with a numerously sijned requisition from inhabitants of the Grey Valley, inviting him to become a candidate for election as a member of the Nelson Provincial Council. The nomination takes place at Cobden, at noon to-morrow. Instrumental music, as an aid to the psalmody, was introduced in the Presbyterian Church yesterday. The instrument used, though well adapted for the purpose, is oaly in temporary use, it being the intention of the congregation to procure a thoroughly suitable instrument from Melbourne. From the balance-sheet published in this day's Argus, it will be seen that the Garrick Club, after paying expenses, was able to hand over to the Volunteer Fire brigade, the sum of L2O 4s, as the proceeds of the performance lately given in aid of their funds. The action brought before the Supreme Court, Nelson, by Mr Henderson, to test the validity of the election of a member of the Marlborough Provincial Council for the Lower Wairau, has been decided against him. An almost inexhaustible case, in which the parties are Keetley v. the General Government, has been under hearing for some days at the Court at Kaiapoi. It is the first case tliab haa oeen ueara unaor one immigration and Public Works Act, 1871, and the delay has been principally caused by the argunieuts on legal points raised by the representative of the Government. The most important point yet raised is, " Whether the claimant can be allowed to produce evidence to prove loss and damage to business ; or, whether the evidence must not be confined to proving deterioration in the value of bis land and buildings." At the last hearing of the case, Mr Maude argued that Mr Keetley could not claim damage to his trade through the construction of the railway works, and he cited several new cases in support of his contention. Mr Joynt, for the claimant, argued contra, and cited numerous cases to prove that an action could be sustained against the Government or any railway company for damaging a man in his business. His Worship and the assessors have yet to give their ruling «n the legal question, and the case will then proceed at a more satisfactory rate. Intimation has already been made of the death of Mr Edward Norman, proprietor of the United Service Hotel, Auckland. Mr Norman came to Melbourna about thirty years ago, where 'he established himself in a very large brewery in Fliuders lane. He afterwards embarked in business as a wine and spirit merchant, and, in the course of a a few years, amassed a large fortune. He subsequently returned home to England, from whence he started for the Continent, Having visited every important capital in Europe, he subsequently travelled in America, North and South, besides visiting other parts of the world. Six years ago Mr Norman settled down in Auckland. He was well known to a very wide circle of friends, but he was better known and will be longer borne in grateful remembrance by the large number of persons to whom the deceased gentleman in his lifetime extended a helping Band in the exigencies of their need. Mr Norman was a Mason, and a member of the Order of Oddfellows. Mr James Smith is expected at Dunedin, from Melbourne, to lecture on a variety of subjects. Mr Smith is ' a gentleman of .literary reputation, was formerly editor of the Argus, and is said to be a very able lecturer. He has espoused spiritism and is likely to enlighten the Dunedinites on that occult subject. ... Telegraph stations and post office buildings are about to be erected at Hurunui and Waiau.