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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1173, 2 May 1872, Page 2

Some quartz was brought in yesterday from the North Beach that was full of metal, thought by the discovers to be copper, but which we are told was only pyrites or some other valueless substance of the kind. As a matter of course the finders were greatly disappointed. It is probable that a requisition to the Mayor, asking him to call a public meeting to consider the question of the formation of the road between the Arnold and the Ahaura will be presented to-day or to-morrow. The importance of the subject cannot be overrated, and it only needs some energetic and united action to obtain all that we want. The General Government is favorable, the Provincial Council is sitting, and. a very little pressure will obtain what is so greatly wanted. We mentioned yesterday that a pedestrian match between "Drake and Twobill had been made. We omitted to state that the first deposits, L2O a-side, have been paid into our hands as stakeholders. There is every chance of an interesting match, both competitors having a lar^e number of admirers. In our telegrams of yesterday, the financial statement made by the Superintendent of Wellington on the opening of the Provincial Council was accidentally credited to Otago, being placed under the head of Dunedin, and in the news from that part. The Nelson races have been postponed until next Tuesday, owing to the inclemency of the weather. We are informed that the contractor for the road between this and Omotumoto Creek is pushing the work on vigorously, and that there is no doubt of its being completed within contract time. A rush took place in the Reefton district a few days ago, but we have not received any particulars xespecting it. It is to a spot about two miles up Garvey's Creek, near Rainy Creek, but that is all at present that is known here. The drawing of prizes in aid of St Patrick's Church will take place on Friday night, at eight o'clock, in St Patrick's School-room, Gresson street. Owing to the match with P. Twohill, for LIOO, Drake has forfeited the LlO deposited in his match, with Lewin. Manning has accepted Dan Twohill's challenge, and is prepared to run him any distance from 100 yards to a mile, in a week or a month. He has deposited LlO in our hands as a proof that he means business, and is ready to sign articles at any time that D. Twohill may choose. Arrangements are in contemplation to float a Machine Cnmpany for the purpose of erecting machinery at Larry's. An excellent water supply can be easily obtained, and the facilities for placing a large crushing plant on the ground are considerable. The levelling of the line for the Reefton and Murray Creek Tramway has been commenced. Eight men have been employed during the week on the work, and about ten chains have already been got ready for laying sleepers. The work of clearing the west end of Broadway, Reefton, from the Government buildings to Messrs Arkell and M'Phee's brewery, has Been commenced and will shortly be completed. Thia will render the thoroughfare passable for a distance of threequarters of a mile. As a proof of the value of sluicing ground at Fox's, Waimea, may be mentioned the fact of a claim there having been sold on Saturday last, by public auction, for the sum of LB2 ; Mr Richard Seddon becoming the purchaser, and the claim being re-sold privately shortly after for L9O. A|Maori, who brought some fine specimens in co Wanganui the other day, was dreadfully disgusted when the blow-pipe revealed that what he had looked upon as auriferous quartz was only pyritous, and his specks of gold but flakes of iron. The usual meeting of the Grey River Hospital Committee was held at Gilmer's Hotel last evening. Present : Messrs Kennedy (chair), Nancarrow, Gilmer, Kenrick, Maclean, Masters, Newton, Arnott, King, Greenwood, and Reid. The minutes of the previous meeting having been lead and confirmed, correspondence was read as follows : — From the County Chairman, stating that the money voted for the female ward would be paid when the building was finished, and on, condition that the Nelson Government paid an equal proportion. — Received. From the Secretary of the Hokitika Hospital, enclosing accounts for the maintenance of Grey District patients in that institution.—Received. Consideration deferred until next meeting. The accounts for the month, amounting to L 232 38 lOd, were laid on the table and passed. The Visiting Committee reported the state of the Hospital to be satisfactory. There were 18 patients admitted during the month, 19 discharged, 2 died, leaving 27 patients in on April 30. After a careful investigation into a charge of insubordination against Mrs Riley, cook, the charge was proved, and she waß discharged. The Treasurer reported having received the following aums during

the month :— Payments by patients— W. Thomas, L 5 ; Richard Randall, 15s; Isaac Tivett, L 3.14; W. West, 10s; Westland subsidy for December, L(JS 4s 4d ; do do for January, ,L 67 3s 6d ; do ..do for February, L 63 16s 2d ; subscribers' tickets, LI 4s ; balance of Nelson subsidy for February, L 26 9s 2d ; Nelson subsidy for March, LlO3 18s 9d ; sale of vegetables, LlO 7s. It was resolved that the collectors appointed for the East and 'Middle Wards be requested to send in their lists. The Visiting Committee for the month are Messrs Gilmer, Revel], and Greenwood. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday Enoch Holloway was charged on information with having damaged a door, the property of James Hamilton, at Rutherglen. Sergeant White applied for a remand until Monday next, which was granted. William Weeks was charged with assaulting his wife, Jane Weeks, and in the information she alto prayed that defendant might be bound ov to keep the peace. On the case being calls' the complainant did not appear, and complainant was discharged with a caution. In a civil case— Woodhall v. Lodge — there was no appearance of either plaintiff or defendant.

Yesterday's Inanjahua Herald says :■— "Crushing operations are still suspended at Mace's battery owing to want of water. The slight rainfall since the 23rd ultimo barely sufficed to give sufficient water to continue washing for thirty-six hours; and although, in anticipation of rain, the fires were lit on Monday morning to renew working, it was necessary to let them out again, as the weather cleared up. A meeting of the shareholders was held on Monday, when, we believe, it was determined to abandon the proposition to construct a dam in German Jack's Gully, the dra"? area being found to be too small to afford any great relief. It is probable that the company will resort to pumping the water back into the dam, in order to economise the fluid.',

. Another rupture has occurred in the Government Printing Office arising out of a difference of opinion between the Government Printer and the compositors as to the rate of remuneration to be paid for the setting of a Maori work. "The men considered themselves so much aggrieved," says the Wellington Independent, "that the whole of those whom it was proposed to employ upon the work preferred to leave the office. The commission which the Government must institute may possibly devise some means to prevent the recurrence of disputes in this office. They are becoming so frequent as to suggest a want of tact in the general management of the establishment,"

The celebrated play "The Octoroon" was produced last night, at the Volunteer Hall, by Mr Burford, in a style that really equally astonished and pleased. The house was full, both front and back seats, and those who attended had the fullest value for their money. When the piece was announc 1, it was supposed that it could not be played on such a limited stage and with the local talent at disposal ; but the manner in which it ran completely dispelled that illusion. The old story of slavery and its attendant curses has been often told, and "The Octoroon" brings the subjeut vividly before the imagination. The character of Zoe was really admirably rendered by Miss Stephenson, and she received repeated and deserved applause during the progress of the piece. Jacob M'Closkey, the unscrupulous slave dealer, was capitally given by Mr C. Burford, and his ability in this line of character was mani-' fested conclusively. Salem Scudder was well represented by Mr Seymour, and Mr Elmer did a capital Indian business as Whanotee. Uncle Pete found an excellent representative in Mr Poole, and indeed the same may be said of all the characters. The ladies deserve more than a passing comment, but we are compelled to withhold a detailed notice owing to the late hour at which the performance closed. We can, however, candidly state that it was exceedingly good, and well worth a visit. It will be repeated to-night, and those who have not seen it should avail themselves of the opportunity. Mr Burford at the close of the performance thanked publicly the band and the amateurs who had rendered assistance.

At the Warden's Court yesterday an application was made by Ravisen and party tor a quartz-mining lease between the coal pits and Still water Beach. The applicants asked for certain relaxations in the conditions of the Gold Fields Regulations which were in the power of the Warden, under the 28th clause, to grant. It seemed that applicants had already spent LlO3 in opening up the reef and only required the indulgence till they had struck payable gold, rir Warden Revell said that he would recommend the application to the Governor's delegate, who however would have to determine the conditions on which he would grant the leuse. With reference to the rent asked, L 5 per acre, he thought it too much, and had on a previous occasion recommended that it should be reduced to L 3. He' would make a similar recommendation in the present instance. We sincerely hope that the applicants will be successful in their quest, for in that case Greymouth may have a reefing district of its own. within a few miles of its doors.

Only a year or two ago Mr W. H. Harrison proposed to confer on Westland Corporations power to levy fire rates for the maintenance of efficient brigades, and to ensure the utmost possible protection from fire. Hokitika was then aghast at the proposition, and so warm was its opposition that the subject was dropped, and legislation in connection with it abandoned. Recently, however, the Hokitika Corporation have reached such a stage of impecuniosity that they have been compelled to withdraw the Firs Brigade grant, and as a matter of course that most useful body, having no funds, threatened to disband; The Hokitikians have thus so far roused themselves as to call a public meeting, at which the very course proposed by Mr Harrison, namely an amendment of the Corporations Act, so as to permit the levy of a fire rate was agreed to. So much for inconsistency ; a common danger, no doubt, makes converts at times, and this is the most recent example of such being the case. We have had an opportunity of inspecting the plans of an apparatus invented by Mr Crossley, now of this town, which seems highly necessary for adaptation by the mining companies who are crushing or about to crush at the reefs. In its very simplicity its excellence is constituted, as it neither requ'ves extra gear or runs any dang3r of breakage or stoppage to the works by g siting out of order. It is simply a patent ripple wherein the quicksilver is made tj act as wanted, despite of cold or atmospheric influences. As it is well known that mercury at lddeg. below zero freezes harder than solid iron and cannot possibly act as a recipient of gold, and then also contracts to one-third of its dimensions when active and well disposed, we can easily imagine that any means that can remedy such inactivity in this most necessary aid to gold-saving must be of great importance to the district. Such a want Mr Crossley's ripple professes to meet. This ! plan has been successfully adopted at Wood's Point, where the atmospheric influence exercises such a depression upon the mercury as to render it almost totally inactive. The same affair was also experienced upon some of the claims upon the Thames, and it was not until Mr Crossley's apparatus was brought into use that the real value of the stone was known, _ The deterrent influences that operated against the true testing and amalgamation of the quartz, gold, and quicksilver, in both these places are much in excess in the

Reefton district, inasmuch as the cold fa greater and the humidity is more. W e also know from specimens shown that gold of a^ very fine floury nature'is; obtained in many of the claims, and when such is the case, unless.it is caught by some very strong arid, powerful recipient the veriest trickle of water will carry it away. In the design we have mentioned all such difficulties are met by merely being able to keep up a requisite temperature of such a heat as to enable the mercury to act as wanted. The ripples are kept in* a continual state of agitation during the crushing, and receives all the matrix into a 9in trough, through which the mercury is at times running. Attached to this is a pipe which receives a continual supply 'of steam, ,'hich traverses through the three or four uroughs that may constitute the apparatus. Along with this are other appliances of a Substantial nature that act in conjunction to keep the mercury alive, while attached to them are the usual boxes and plates in ordinary use. It has, however, been proved in every case whern these ripples have been tried that from 95 to 98 per cent, of the gold produced has been got in them, and this result has been wren there have been silvered plates, blankets, and plush used in long fluming to catch what might have been missed in the first instance, In crushing by this process, as we have already observed, cold and like deterring influences upon the mercury are combated, and we should therefore welcome the introduction of such an aid as Mr Crossley has invented It is simplicity itself, and when once looked at by experienced miners will, in our opinion, be immediately adopted.

We are informed by an old Auckland resident that the George Christian, mentioned in our last as haying saved the life of a girl on board the Aiiel, is great grandson of the well-known Fletcher Christian, Lieut R.N, the leader of the mutineers of H.M.S. Bounty, Captain Bligh. Lieutenant Christian, with Quintal Adams and others, formed the settlement of Pitcairn's Island. Some years ago, the island being, found inadequate in its resources to supply the wants of the inhabitants, they, were removed to Norfolk Island ; several of them used to come over to Auckland with the Melanesian Bishop. One of the brothers of George Christian Was killed six years ago, when the late Bishop Patteson attempted to land on one of the islands ; this man rowed in the boat with a poisoned arrow in his breast for about half an hour, but at last died.

The Ross News is responsible for the following:—"We have often drawn attention to other .natural products of the County besides gold, but we were not aware till yesterday that beneath the surface of .Tones' Flat an article of value of an entirely different character was to be found. We do not allude to coal or titanic sand, but to a discovery which is almost unique, and due to the penetration and observation of Mr J. Thompson, the Tunnel Inspector of the Drainage Company. That gentleman, in his subterranean explorations, discovered in the sand of one of the tunnels singular serpentine marks, which, apparently, traversed the whole length of it, and on pursuing his researches was astonished to hear mysterious splashings, such as, with the marks, would have made a more superstitious person fear that the evil one wai up to some of his old serpent tricks ; but, nothing daunted, our hero pushed forward, determined to do or die, and was rewarded by a sight of what proved to be neither ' a spirit nor goblin damned,' but a fine silver eel, about three feet lon j, with which he grappled. The pursuer having no claws, his eelship took advantage of that saving clause, and made his slimy way into the realms of darkness ; but Mr T. intends fishing again with a toastingfork. May success reward his labors !'