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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1178, 8 May 1872, Page 2

Another deliberate and most shameful attempt has been made by the Nelson Examiner to mislead those who are fortunate enough to peruse its columns with regard to the distribution of the share due to Nelson of the Middle Island Railway Fund, set apart by the Public Works and Immigration Act, 1870." The Welling + on Independent points out, as we have previously done on several occasions, that in round numb ers the amount due to the Province of Nelson was about L 66,000, and it was the intention of the Provincial Government if possible to"expend this money upon that province's railway from Nelson to Foxhill, leaving the Gold Fields without a penny of this expenditure. But during the session of 1871 the members for the Nelson Gold Fields succeeded in carrying an appropriation of 4-llths of the whole sum for the purpose of constructing roads to connect the Grey and Buller railways — leaving a balance of £42,000 available for similar purposes elsewhere in Nelson province. But Mr Curtis, always attempting to foster the districts of Nelson proper at the cost of the Gold Fields, made an effort by a sido wind, to divert i6OOO for a work outside the district contemplated, and luckily Mr Fox was on the spot and put a stop to the little game. Of course Mr Curtis was angry, and this is how his organ the Examiner puts the matter : — " The political importance which Nelson may obtain from her nominal possession of the West Coast, has not availed to protect her from the ET6AiU'Wl'OrU» Jwi-linK Vino ]<»+<»1" V»n/vp An>?n ro'tHe settlecfpor lions of the province in the distribution of the Nelson share of the South Island Railway Fund. We fondly hoped, and had a right to expect, that at least L6OOO of that fund would be spent in connecting the Inangab.ua with the Upper Buller. Such an expenditure would have been, as the law provides, within the South-west Gold Fields, and would have equally benefitted the goldmining population of Reefton, and the Waimea farmers. The manner in which Mr Fox has juggled the province out of any advantage which it might have gained by so fair an arrangement, is fresh in the public mind. The farmers and stockowners of Blind Bay must deplore that peculiarity of Mr Fox's idiosyncracy which enabled him, in spite of the most positive evidence, to declare that the Lyell road was not within the SouthWest Gold Fields." From this it would be inferred that the whole of Nelson's share of the Middle Island fund has been given to the West Coast gold fields, whereas as a matter of fact L 42.000 is still available for expenditure upon the settled districts of Nelson. If the road mentioned is of so much importance, why does not Mr Curtis ask the Government, under the Aot of last session, to construct it?

We recently referred to the very unsatisfactory way in which the road contract between the Mia Mia Flat and Reefton was being conducted, and it is exceedingly satisfactory to find that the General Government have been on the alert in the matter. The following telegram was received by Mr J. Kilgour yesterday, as Chairman of a Committee, from Mr Reeves, Minister for Public Works for the Middle Island, and has been courteously placed at our disposal. It runs as follows :— "Sixty men were on the work on the 30th April. Courtney was then directed to increase the number to 150 by tbe 4bh ot May. Mr Dobscn goes to Reefton to-day, and if the proper number is not at work he will cancel contract, put on large number of men, and finish it in three weeks, weather permitting. We can reply on behalf of the Greymouth public that that will do for us, and what is more, we are in the highest degree obliged to the Resident Minister for the promptitude he has shown in the matter. Were all Government people like him there would be less discontent, and could he inspire the Superintendent of Nelson with the faintest scintilla of his energy the South-West Gold Fields would contain a happy and satisfied population. We have at least the satisfaction of knowing that we have an energetic representative of the General Government in this island, and that the works are not likely to sleep.

Whether owing to an exhumation of the Governor's notice, or to other causes, a sort of general awakening amongst Government officials seems to have taken place, and they have become aware of the fact that tomorrow is the day appointed as a thanks-, giving-day and holiday for the restoration of the health of the Prince of Wales. It is notified by all the Government authorities — General, County, and Provincial — that the day in question will be so observed. ; It will also be seen on referring to our advertising columns that special services will be held at Trinity Church at 11 a. m.

The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade, took place on Monday evening last. The secretary reported he had received a cheque for L2ofrom the Garrick Club— after paving for enclosing side;entrance and cartage, and there would-be a balance of LlB to be placed to the funds of the Brigade. A unanimous vote of thanks

was passed to the members of the Garrick Club for their assistance. A similar vote was passed to the Greymouth Brass Band for their assistance on the same occasion. A cheque was also received Eroin>W. M. Cooper, Esq., for L 3 3s, towards the expenses incurred at the late . bush fires. The testimonial prepared by Mr Hindmarah for , presentation to Mr George King, late deputy 'foreman of the No. 2 Hose Company, was I laid before the Brigade and gave general satisfaction. It-was decided to make arrangements to have gas laid on in the Brigade Hall. - , - .■-..,-.-, . v ; - In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, the only case on the sheet was one in which Enoch Holloway was charged, with threatening the life of George Bryant, of Rutherglen, and the latter prayed that defendant might be bound over to keep the peace. The defendant professed penitence, and promised that if he was only let off this time he would turn over a new leaf altogether, so the Magistrate took a merciful view of his case, and bound him over in bis own security of L 5, and two -others of L 2 10s each, to keep the peace for two months There were several civil cases, but none of the smallest public interest.

There was a well-filled house at the Volunteer Hall last evening to witness the production of the grand drama of "The Sea of Ice," for the first time in Greymouth. Considering the smallneß3 of the stage and the few accessions at command, the drama was placed far beyond the expectation of the most sanguine, and the piece passed off very creditably and very smoothly indeed, thanks to the good acting and good management of Mr Burford and Miss Stephenson, both of whom sustained their characters remarkably well. The great scene, the breaking-up of the sea of ice was well managed, everything considered, and will be improved on repetition. The amateurs who assisted filled parts very well, although they should not allow the prompter's voice to be heard so often. Miss Stephenson and Mr Burford deserve much credit for the able manner in which they played their parts, and they received the deserved applause of the crowded audience. The same piece will be repeated tbis evening, when, there is no doubt, there will be a crowded house to witness this ; sensational drama. ■. ,-; Eight hundred and fifty-eight bags of tailings from the Thames were lately shipped to London from Auckland. Beetroot is being successfully grown in Auckland for distillation purposes, An agitation has been commenced in Melbourne with a view to the visit of another All England Eleven, and from the warmth with which it has been taken up, there is reasonable probability of the project assuming a practical form.

The Caledonian mine at the Thames has struck a fine leader near the Young American Company's ground. Shares have risen to L 27, and sales are active at that figure.

In the Melbourne Industrial School classes in telegraphy have been established with success.

The foundation stone of an Episcopal Church at Warrington, near Blue&kin, in Otago, was laid on Sunday, the 14th ult.

It has been suggested that at the colonial prize firing next year, 1 the competitors and the staff should be camped near the butts, and thus save the time and expense wasted in conveying the men to and from the butts each day.

We (?, dependent) are given to understand that immediately upon the return of Mr Reeves, the Resident Minister- for the Middle Island, to Wellington, the Governmeut will institute an inquiry into the working and management of the Government Print- ;~«» n0;,.... ,....; a.. -. ..: — i- .wviry nil 6 «,»ua» of complaint which have been presented to the Government at different times by the employees in the establishment.

The Wanganui Chronicle says : — " When we last saw Colonel Gorton, he was deep in the work of rescuing a bald-looking hair broom from oblivion, as of course all things bearing the colonel's mark must be returned to store when. expended, as a proof that the civil servant in whose charge the article has been has not appropriated it to his own private use. What a nice old curiosity shop the colonel will establish in Wellington when all the old useless lumber which has accumulated in the back yards of Government offices during the last twenty years, comes to be carefully gathered up and forwarded.

Tht numerous friends of the late Mr Pagan, of the Post Office Department, will be glad to learn that, with the prudence and forethought that had distinguished his character, he had availed himself while in health and strength of the opportunities so amply afforded here for the insurance of his life. We are informed that he held a policy in the Government Assurance office for LSOO, and also one in tbe Australian Provident Society for the same amount. The bonuses attached to the latter had increased the value of the policy to L 543 4s Bd. These were both promptly paid, and we hear that the widow and family are proposing to return to England in the Celseno, which will sail in a few days from Wellington.

An awfully sudden death occurred in Auckland a few days since. Two men were walking along the pavement opposite the Union Bank, in Queen street, when one of them suddenly stopped short, turned to his side, and exclaimed, "Steve, hold me!" The man dropped down on the pavement and died instantly. He was picked up and conveyed to the hotel where he and his mate were staying at. The, deceased's. name is Abel GolcUworthy, had been long subject to fits, and had fallen down in one the day previous, in the Greyhound Hotel. He was sensible of his affliction, and was afraid to move about without some one being 1 in. his company. Some time ago we mentioned that Mr W. Innes, of Port Chalmers, was engaged in manufacturing' cod liver oil, which had received a favorable verdict from Dr Hector, and which had been found in practice to be as efficacious as any imported. Prom our Melbourne files, we learn thar this oil has also been favorably regarded by. the Medical Society of Victoria. The Argus, in its report of a recent meeting of that body, says, "A sample of cod liver oil, prepared by Mr William Innes, of Port Chalmers (New Zealand), was exhibited. It was of a pale color, limpid, and had the characteristic taste and smell of the best examples of this drug. It was pronounced excellent in all the required qualities, so far as these could be tested without the aid of chemical re-agents." ;

The other day we published a few details of the damage done by recent floods in Canterbury. We have since learned that in the Terauka district, a large amount of damage was done, and a young man named George Bradford, son of a farmer on. the Waitohi .Flat, was drowned in attempting to cross tbe river. The body has since been recovered. The suspension bridge, which was erected some thirteen months ago by tbe Geraldine [ Road Board across the Temuka, from Hoiloway's to the Waitohi Flat, came to grief, i the supporting piers in the river bed being carried away, the superstructure fell into the water and became a complete wreck, drifting across, and, lying alongside the southern' bank. Ou the southern side of the river no particular damage is reported except that to the Opibi bridge, or rather bridges. There are two. of these bridging two streams of the river, and they are connected across the intervening spit by a raised embankment. The bridge across the northern or main stream is intact, sftvo that a large hole is scoured out of

the approaches on either side. The bridge over the southern stream is a complete wreck ; the piles which were too short in the first, place, have been completely undermined by-- '.the scour of the current, and -have dropped into the holes, carrying the superstructure with them. The bridge was not washed away, but the damage is so thorough as to be quite, irreparable, nothing remaining, but to build an altogether hew bridge. "The destruction of this bridge .occurred , about four o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the water at that time being, close to the capsills.of each'of the bridges. 1 ' " ' '" " % -,-

It is reported that Sapper 'Earl's splendid^ score of 87 out of 100 for the. Cadet championship of New Zealand, has been beaten by; a member of the Wanganui Cadets, who made the magnificent total of 94, What was looked upon as a certainty for the Christchurch Cadets, has therefore been carried off by Wanganui, though it is said that Earle would have lost the coveted prize on other grounds ; in short, that he was some two or three days, over the maximum age for cadets when he fired for the Colonial prizes. The returns of the Wanganui firing have not yet come to hand, but when they do, they will certainly be worth inspection. >

A. remarkably harrow escape from a fatal accident occurred on the Ferry Road, near Christchurch, on Friday last; ' It would appear that a boy about sevon years of age, the son of Mr Dixon, butcher,. Ferry Road, was alighting from the step of the Sunnier coach, near the Opawa Road, when he fell, and a buggy coming from the . opposite direction passed over bis head. -Serious wounds' were necessarily inflicted, and when picked up the boy was insensible. Dr Coward was 1 called in, and. found that besides the external in-; juries, concussion of the brain had been' caused. Happily,- by careful attendance and| skill, the injuries did not prove fatal, and the boy is now progressing favorably towards recovery. \ ; • ; ' . \

The Evening Post says:— ;". The espionage 'system encouraged by the Government, pro-: duced fruits even-in connection with;thede-; tehtioh of the ship England in quarantine. An officer on board the vessel had occasion to write a private note to one of the passen-: gers on the island. The recipient of the letter, after reading it, tore it in pieces and; threw it away. A 'gentleman' employed, by the Government gathered up the pieces, pasted them on a .sheet of paper, and forwarded them to the Board of Health.. But he forgot he was not dealing with any head of a! Governmental department, and when he; asked a member of the Board if the. muti-' lated letter had been received by them, ;he was met with an indignant ' Yes, sir ;■ and burnt immediately^ without being looked A gossipping correspondent writes fromWellington to the New Zealand Herald as; follows :— " Sewell has been delivered of a' good thing. He resolves to go in strongly; against the Disqualification Act, as costing; too much money. At present, when you pay! an honorable member his price, he has to resign his seat ; the consequence is that you; have to buy his successor also, and so on adinfinituinj whereas if No". 1 of the series con-! tinues to hold his seat, he may be considered: as full-gorged— not entitled to ask for more.: — Featheiston was offered knighthood by the Home Government, and laughed in their faces. — Much discontent in some quarters about the/expenditure of the borrowed money; not so many pickings (for colonists) as had been hoped. I will guarantee the Fox Ministry against suffering for their \ sins, but not against coming to grief for their; virtues." . . • ;