Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1184, 15 May 1872, Page 2

Some very encouraging accounts from the reefs reached town on Monday afternoon, and capital stone continues to be got in a number of claims, Mace and Co. 's machinery keeps steadily at work without hitch or stoppage. Their dam has been enlarged, and they have now an abundance of water for all necessary purposes. Other parts of the district are looking well, and the only complaint is the want of easier communication with the seaboard. The rain fell in torrents all yesterday, and the town presented a miserable appearance in consequence. It also rained heavily during Monday night, and a heavy fresh rci suited. No damage was done, however, in any part of the tow j, nor have we heard of any up the country, though, as a matter of course, the flooded state of the rivers effectually cut oil all communication with the upper districts. We are informed on good authority that Mr Dobson, District Enginoer, has, in accordance with instructions from Mr Reeves, Resident Minister for this island, terminated Courtney's contract for the formation of the road between the Mia Mia and Reefton, and that the Government will complete the work. The reasons for this course are said to be the incapacity of the late contractor to carry out his contract,' and the slow progress that he was making. Under the altered circumstances we hear She road will be finished ready for traffic in a very few weeks. The best thanks of the community are due to the authorities for the prompt action they have taken in the matter. Water at the South African diamond fields costs 3d a bucket. Tobacco is being successfully cultivated at Wairoa, near Wanganui. Steps are being taken in Auckland to form a company to work the Waikato coal beds. The people of Napier have been in luck lately. On two different days a sperm whale was cast ashore in the harbor, and promptly killed and secured. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Elizabeth Hutchins appeared on remand, charged with having assaulted Michael Clancy, with intent to do. him grievous bodily harm. The particulars of the case appeared in yesterday's issue, and no fresh evidence was adduced. Mr Perkins addressed the Court for the defence, contending that defendant used no more violence than was necessary to repel the violence used by complainant, and under those circumstances the Magistrate would be justified in discharging the accused. Defendant also made a statement, admitting that she had thrown the tomahawk and struck the complainant, but said she did so in self-defence, as she was frightened both for her own and husband's life. The hearing of the case occupied two hours, without eliciting one new fact in connection with it, and resulted in the defendant being discharged, the Bench being of opinion that in acting as she had done, she was justified by the circumstances. The Magistrate, after giving his decision, made some very strong, but very deserved remarks on the unwilling manner in which some of the witnesses gave their evidence. The assault cases against Michael Clancy were then brought on, and his Worship gave judgment on them.- Before doing so, evidence was called as to the character of defendant, when Mr Sheedy and Constable M'Cormack came forward on his behalf. The Magistrate, in giving judgment, said that there could be no doubt that violent and premeditated ! assaults had been committed, and in such .cases it was his duty to commit offenders to gaol, without the option of a fine. The assault on Mrs Hutchins was most unmanly,

but considering that it had in some measure brought its own punishment, he would act leniently in regard to it, and would fine defendant L 2 and costs, or one month'a imprison tuent with hard labor. Mr Guinness, on behalf of defendant, applied for time to jay, which was refused. The fine and costs amounted lo L 8 18s 6d, and in default of payment, defendant was removed in custody. Patrick Farley, who appeared in a state of intoxication as a witness in Court on the previous day in connection with the same cases, was brought up and fined L 2 for contempt, or, in default, 48 hours' imprisonment. He also was taken away in custody. There were some half a-dozen civil cases, but none of the smallest public interest. Notwithstanding the threatening weather and the muddy streets, the attendance at the Voluntear Hall last night on the occasion of Mr Burford's benefit was very good, and, considering the elementary difficulties, very large ; the front was moderately filled, and the back seats were crowded. The beneficiaire well deserved the compliment, for such it may be considered ; had the weather been more favorable, we are sure that the hall would have been crammed. The piece selected for the occasion was "The Ticket of Leave Man," one of the most striking plays that has been brought out in modem times, and we were really surprised to see it produced so creditably under such difficulties as the management must have had to encouuter. Mr Burford, as Robert Brierly, was exceedingly good, whilst Miss Stephenson made a charming May Edwards. The other characters were also very well filled, the amateur portion of the company showing manifest signs of improvement, consequent on the drilling they naxe gone through during the last fortnight. The whole performance was exceedingly creditable, and is well worth a visit. We understand that it will be repeated to-night. To-morrow's. entertainment will be for the benefit of Miss Stephenson. We omitted to say that in the course of the first act Mr Oakey, jun., gave some selections on the concertina, playing particularly well and with great taste, and receiving a well merited and unanimous encore. The following are the dates fixed by Mr Warden Whitefoord for holding Courts in the Grey Valley district for the ensuing weeks. At the Ahaura, on the 16th, 20th, and 27th instant, and on June 3rd ; at No Town, on the 22nd instant and June sth ; at Cobden, on the 23rd instant and June 7th. These are Warden's Court fixtures only. The Wakalip Mail rather ambiguously expresses its "thanks to the Government for some heavy Blue-Books." The Wairarapa correspondent of the Evening Post writes :— " Tenders, I understand, will shortly be invited for the erection of the largest woolshed of any that have as yet been built in the North Island. The quantity of timber that will be xequired is something enormous, as it is proposed to make shearing sheds large enough to hold 12,000 sheep at one time. Miss Aitken, whose readings are still remembered by many people in this district, has arrived in Auckland, from Sydney, by the Hero. The insurance companies in Auckland have agreed to pay their share of the reward of L5OO promised on the conviction of the person who set fire to the Music Hall. A correspondent in the Daily SoutJiem Cross suggests that the Government should offer a premium to married people for all children after the sixth. The Cross calls it a felicitous question. The following appears in the advertising columns of the Taranahi News, of the 20th ultimo :—" Horse for sale. — A young mare that will carry a lady very quiet and. easy to catch. Apply to " The great number of marriageable young ladies at New Plymouth, and the greater dearth of eligible bachelors may account for the young ladies being very quiet and easy to catch. -<Egles in the Australian says :•--" A canvasser of a life assurance office -he doesn't represent the European now— was so vigorous in his solicitations that he enraged the gentleman whose premium he was trying to get. c No,' said he, ' I won't insure my life — but if you could insure my] soul I might give you a turn.' ' Oh, no,' was the reply, 'we are strictly a life office ; we don't take fire risks " The Dunstan Times says :— " The terraces and gullies at the rear of Clyde are beginning to create quite a stir among the mining community ; and if all the schemes to bring water on to them are but carried out a busy and happy population will soon be located there. Four different companies, with an aggregate quantity of about thirty heads, are making the'preliminary surveys." At the meeting of the medical profession, recently held in Auckland, the subject of infant mortality came up for conversation, when, according to the Southern Cross, the astonishment of the professional men present seemed to be, not that the rate of death was so high, but that it was not a great deal higher. Two major causes were adduced for the high death rate amongst the children —the liberal use of "soothing powders," which had a really soothing effect ; and the great amount of artificial feeding of children which existed here. If mothers were to nurse infant children in the same manner Nature intended they should, the death rate would rapidly diminish. Steadman's soothing powders were said to contain a large percentage of calomel, and after partaking of them for some time the mouths of such children assumed a sloughing condition. The TM2)cka Times writes :— Relative to the system the Colony is in future to be governed under, the Council (Provincial) can, however, do much useful work. The will of the people, repeatedly expressed, is that provincialism shall be abolished, and in its stead substituted a more efficient form of self-government. A. glorious opportunity is therefore afforded to this — it is to be hoped — the last Provincial Council which will ever be elected in Otago. Let its members brinef their influence to bear to inaugurate the shire system. The movement only wants commencing to receive the approval and support of the other Provinces. If the Council does this, the gratitude of the electors of Otago will smooth its dying moments, and past misdeeds will be forgotten ; and when provincialism has ceased to exist, it will be remembered only with feelings of respect and admiration." We mentioned some days ago the fact that the Tichbbrne claimant had been a resident in Wellington. The New Zealand Herald adds another missing link in the chain of evidence in this case, and says the three-masted schooner (American) Osprey, which appears to have been treated as a myth on the trial, was in these seas at the time stated by the claimant. The year previous to the date mentioned by De Castro or Tichborne, she loaded at Auckland with potatoes and general produce for California, where gold had been discovered ; and so careful were those on board not to betray the secret, that a considerable sum was refused by them for a newspaper or commercial items, until they had completed lading. They then supplied the local press with the first intelligence of the discovery of gold in California and the "rush" there. It would appear by the evidence of De Castro, that he was picked up by the same vessel, and carried to Port Philip (now Melbourne), on her following voyage. The. probability is all in favor of the truth of this part of the claimant's statement;