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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1188, 20 May 1872, Page 2

An extraordinary general meeting of the Murray Creek Gold Mining Company is to be held at S p.m. to-day, at Gilmer's Hotel, for the purpose of receiving! tenders for the purchase of the company's machinery, and to consider the advisability of winding up the company. There was but a poor attendance at the Volunteer Hall on Saturday night, when the piece, "The Belief of Lucknow," was repeated. To-night the performance is to be for the benefit of Mr Seymour, one of the most prominent amateurs who has assisted the company since their opening here. The piece promised is "Kip Van Winkle," and from the efforts that are being made, we have no doubt that it will bs produced in a highly creditable manner. The production of this piece has never previously been attempted in Greytnouth, and we hope to see it well placed on the stage. We believe that some further trouble is brewing in re Mr P. Kearns and the miners near the Teremakau. If we are correctly informed he has applied for an agricultural lease over well-known auriferous ground, and miners who have been working on it for years past, and brought in head-races, are either compelled to leave the country or run the risk and expense of an action in the Stanu Wily huvy suUYUu. m ■dixu]oisi>c&. v»"3/an» persecution; and an appeal to the Waste Lands Board will probably be the result. Information was brought to Hokitika on Friday, 17th instant (as we mentioned in our last), that a large number of articles, including some parts of a boat, had been washed on the beach between Dpnoghue's and the Mikonui, leading to the supposition that they were debris from a wreck. Constable Douglas was, in consequence, sent down to make enquiries, and he reported, on his return, that he found a large number of empty kerosene tins and old boots collected together in a heap, and also a piece oE timber which appeared to have formed part of a boat. He examined the boots, and declares that they had all been worn. The articles appear as if they had been washed down the Mikonui, though how they got collected together in one heap it is difficult to say. Iv consequence of the recent bad weather, the Reefton mailman did not arrive uutil yesterday forenoon. To enable tho public to answer their correspondence, the time for closing the return mail is extended until 11.30 a,m. to-day. We regret to announce that yesterday, while engaged in tracking a cargo boat opposite the Twelve-Mile, two horses, belonging to Mr T. Olsen, were carried away and drowned. Pull particulars are not to hand. Arrangements were concluded on Thursday for the transport of the machinery for the Band of Hope Company, Nos. 1 and 2 south, Shiel's, from the Inangahua landing to Reefton. Mr T. M'Kee has undertaken to convey the plant, and it may now be very shortly expected on the ground. The foot-races between Messrs Twohill and Drake come off on the race-course this day fortnight. In the meantime, Mr Drake will have to re-visit Hokitika in connection with the Stephenson-Burford troupe, but we believe he will be here in plenty of time to meet his engagements. The Inangahua Herald of Saturday reports: — "A serious accident occurred on Wednesday morning to a laborer named Jas. Williamson, whilst employed on the telegraph line between Reefton .and Mia Mia. It appears that a large tree, in the act of falling, brought down with a smaller one," which struck the .unfortunate man on the head, causing a severe cut, the full force of the blow falling on his right shoulder. Up to the present time the patient is in a very serious condition." A numerous audience was present at the Court House, Ahaura, on the evening of Thursday last, on the occasion of the second musical and literary entertainment given by a few of the amateurs of the district. A small charge was made for admission, to defray the cost of lighting, &c, and at eight oVlock, when the entertainment commenced, tho body of the building was filled. Mr I>. Pow. a.lj opeued. with a selection of operatic .lits on the cabinet organ. Mr Webb followed with the song and chorus "Oh gently breathe." This was succeeded with a reading by Mr Whitefoord, the subject being Goldsmith's "Story of the Cinese Matron." Mr G. L. Greenwood sang "My memory turns with fondness back " very sweetly; and the "Singing Lesson," as given by MrPownull, caused great -laughter. Mr Greenwood next read a selection from Artemus Ward, describing the immortal showman's courtship with Betsy Jane, ,at the fence dividing the pastures of the Wards and the Peaseleys. The bonds of sympathy and harmony which so beautifully united the houses of Ward and Peaseley were accounted for by tho facts, among others that, both families had the measles at the same time, and that the brown mares of each had a white star on' the forehead. The reader

could scarcely proceed with this part of the entertainment owing to the merriment it created. . Mr Webb sang " Ever of thee ;" and the first part concluded with selecticn3 from ''Zanrpa," by Mr Pownall. The second part opened with a march, " Priere," on the organ, followed by a song and chorus, "Weeping, sad and lonely," by Messrs Greenwood, Potts, and Webb. Next. came a reading on "Law," very appropriately, by Mr W. S. Staite. The celebrated case "Bullem versus Boatem" was done full justice to by the reader, who was loudly applauded at the finish. This was followed by a comic song from Mr W. J, Potts, and a reading "The proud Miss M 'Bride," by Saxe, given by Mr Whitefoord. Several other songs .and recitations were gwen in succession, including the famous legal dispute, "Grim versus Lapstone," humorously rendered by Mr Potts. The entertainment concluded with a selection of Irish melodies by Mr Pownall, on the organ, and this gentleman's rendering of some of the inexpressibly beautiful airs from Benedict's Opera of the ' ' Lily of Killarney " was highly appreciated and enthusiastically applauded. It was announced that the next entertainment would be given on Monday, 27th May, on which occasion it is expected lady amateurs will take parts. In the meantime the committee will be glad of the assistance of those gentlemen resident in the district who are known to possess ability in this direction, but whose natural diffidence stands in the way of their distinguishing themselves. As an instance of the difficulties at present encountered by Rcefton companies, the Herald says : — " A portion of the machinery for the Wealth of Nations Company is now lying at the landing. Tenders were recently invited by this company for conveyance of a shipment to arrive from Westport by boat to the landing ; but such has been the demand for boat freights that we believe not a single tender was received from any of the numerous boat crews plying on the Buller river." Some of this plant was precipitated into the river when the Charles Edward carried away the wharf last week. The Hokitikians have published their race programme for the Queen's birthday and the following day. On the first day there is to be a Maiden Plate of 7 soys ; a Trotting Eace, for a similar amount ; a Handicap of 20 soys ; a Volunteer Race, of 15 soys ; a Maori Race, of 3 soys ; and a Hack Race, of 5 soys. On the the second day there is to be a Hurdle Race, of 15 soys ; a Handicap, for the same sum ; a Ladies' Purse, of 7 soys ; a Female Maori Race, of 3 soys ; and Cheroot and Consolation Stakes, of 5 soys each. The amounts given are certainly not large, but we hear that good sport is anticipated nevertheless. The latest, Auckland paper to hand, gives the following news from the Thames Gold b'ield t— "The present stagnation of the news market is unprecedented in the annals of the place, and if the arrival of the wishedrfor blasting powder had been much longer delayed, a very lamentable state of things must have ensued ; as it i% the number of men out of employment is seriously large, and hence, excepting in the few exceptional cases where something has been laid by for the rainy day, the pinch of poverty is already making itself felt. It is to be hoped that this will be the last crisis of the kind that the Thames field will ever be subject to. The news of the arrival of the Strathnaver with powder on board was received here this morning with feelings of the liveliest satisfaction, and, if some of it is forwarded by to-night, to-morrow will witness a general resumption of work in those mines where the use of powder is in indispensable. It will, however, take a week or so to shake off the depression which has fallen upon the field. " The following is the Provincial Bill introduced into the Nelson Council in reference come on 'for cliscus I siofa"To 1 -iuorwV. n "' l .n.Yiyi the preamble admitting the necessity for the road, and quoting the Nelson Waste Lauds Act as empowering such a mode of payment, the Bill says:— "l. It shall be lawful for the Superintendent to enter into one or more contracts with any person or persons or company for the construction of a dray road from the Arnold River to the town of Ahaura, in the said Province, or any part of such dray road, in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon between the Superintendent and any person or persons or company agreeing to construct the same, and to agree to give such quantity of the waste lands of the Crown in the Province, not exceeding in the whole five thousand acres, as payment or part payment ' for the same as shall be agreed upon between them ; provided always that not more than one acre of land shall be given for every pound sterling expended in the construction of any such dray road. 2. When such contract shall have been made, the land so agreed to be given shall forthwith be withdrawn from sale, 3. No grant of such land shall be 'made until the whole of the work included in the contract shall have been completed according to the terms of the contract as certified as provided by the said Act." A singular circumstance occurred the other morning in the Wellington Gaol. Rewi Tamanui Toti Toti, who was oue of Te Kooti's men, and was condemned to death for being implicated in the Poverty Bay massacres, and whose sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, has been suffering from an affection of one eye for nearly the whole of the three years which he has been in gaoL Proper treatment was provided, lotions and other medical matters were given him, but nothing did his eye any good. At length he felt something in his nose, and another Maori, on investigation, drew down a wooden spear point about two inches long, and an inch in circumference. His explanation is that many years ago —how many he does not recollect —he was spearing pigeons in the bush, when a spear penetrated the corner under the eyebrow, between the eye and the nose. It was not extracted at the time, and since then he had completely forgotten it. It must have penetrated the spongy bone between the two plates of the skull, and jn course of years worked downwards till at length it came out through his nose, haying been in his head more years than he can remember. The West Coast Thnes, of Saturday, has the following:— "A man of color, named Joseph Evans Whidby, made an application yesterday to Mr Patten, while sitting on the Bench, to be dealt with on a charge of forfery which he said had been hanging over im in Victoria for some years. What he said he wanted was to be remanded to Melbourne on the charge. Mr Patten told the man that if he was in destitute circumstauces and wished to get to Victoria he should apply to the County Chairman. Whidby than left the Court and proceeded to the police camp, where he remaiued for some time, outside the gate, evidently in the hope of beiug arrested. After a while he went away and brought down a bundle containing his clothing, which he threw within the camp yard and then he went away again, but his eccentric proceedings at length brought about that which he had evidently been seeking for, as some short time after Detective Browne was sent in quest of him aud he was locked up. We learn that the man was discharged from the lunatic asylum only about ten days ago, to which place he was, committed from Grey mouth. Since his .discharge he has been conducting himself iv so eccentric a way as to lead to, .the conclusion either that he is deranged/or that he wislwd to be deemed so. He says be has a

wife in Melbourne, and he has been continu- ! ally writing about her on bits of paper which lie stuffed into various places at the LiterarySociety's rooms, with what object it would be difficult to say. The charge of forgery to which, he referred in the Magistrate's Court, is, however, a fact. He was arrested here in 1866 on a warrant sent over from Victoria, but the depositions which accompanied the warrant did not disclose sufficient grounds for his being remanded to Victoria, neither was there any evidence as to the Magistrate's signature to the warrant, and Whidby was therefore discharged. He will be brought up this morning at the Resident Magistrate's Court, and will lio doubt be remanded for medical examination. An exceedingly amusing incident happened on the passage of the ss Maori from the south, on the 10th inst. It appears that a lady and gentleman, the parents of a child two months old ; joined the steamer at Timaru. On their arrival at Akaroa, they proceeded on shore to look at the township, leaving the baby in their berth. The steamer left before their return, and had proceeded as far as the heads before the crying of the infant led to the discovery that neither of its parents was on board. Captain Hart immediately bputed ship, and steamed down the harbor to the amazement ef the Akaroa people, who rushed down to ascertain what was the matter. Meantime, the father and mother of the child had availed themselves of the steam launch to oonvey|them to the head of the bay, in order that they might go over to Pigeon Bay, and proceed to Lyttelton by the Halcyon. The launch, had proceeded for some distance before the return of the Maori was observed. Her head was at once turned towards Akaroa, and after the lapse of some minutes the parents of the child we r e placed on board the Maori, and she resumed her passage to Lyttelton, where she arrived about two hours later than would have been the case but for this singular and amusing contretemps. ____^______