THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1200, 3 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDA Y, JUNE 2, 1872.

We are informed that Bishop Viard died at Wellington at 3 p.m. yesterday. He had be3n unwell for three or four weeks previously. -

A quantity of crushing machinery for the Wealth of Nations Co. at the Inangahua was landed on the wharf, on Saturday, and will be speedily forwarded to its destination. The two Government inspectors of the Westport and Reefton road nave now laid off that portion between_ Pern Flat^and. Messrs Pell and Atkinson expect to have their section of the Inangahua road completed this week. The Acting-Diatriot Engineer has now 250 men employed on the road in course of construction between Reef ton' and Squaretown, and very great progress is being made. The telegraph line is also cleared, with the exception of half a mile, and on Monday the contractor will commence erecting the poles between Squaretown and Devery's Terrace, leading to the Little Grey Junction. One of the storekeepers at Murray Creek has commenced to repair the road leading to Kelly's line of reef. Although obviously the duty of the Provincial Government to see to works of this kind, it is doubtless necessary for the residents' themselves to do what they can in improving the communication, seeing that the Government refuse to > take any steps in the matter. The Rev Father Pertius was to hold farewell services yesterday morning and evening at Craig and O'Brien's Hotel, Broadway, Reefton ; after which he was to return to the Groy Valley, the permanent field of his labors. During his frequent visits to Reefton—often made at great personal hazard— the reverend gentleman has earned the name of a faithful pastor, and has gained the sincere attachment of his numerous congregation. The duties in future "will be performed by a gentleman now on his" way from Wellington. The machinery for the prospecting claim, Anderson's line, arrived in Westport by the schooner Prosperity, on Wednesday last. The r^ter-race will be completed in about a week, and when that is done the tramway will be commenced. The contractors driving the tunnel have about eight feet further to go in order to complete their contract. Recently in the tunnel there have been indications of the driving becoming easier. For a long time post the weekly progress has not exceeded six fuet. The unfortunate man. James Williamson expired at the Hospital, Reefton, on Monday morning last, after undergoing intense suffer* ing. At the inquest, the jury found that the deceased, James Williamson, died from the injuries received by a tree falling on him, The jury wish to add that, in the absence of any other qualified medical testimony, they are unable to say whether the deceased received the treatment necessary in such cases. The coroner, in dismissing the jury, stated that he perfectly concurred in 'the finding. While recently at Westport he had stated to Drs Hector, Gile3, and Thorpe the particulars of the injuries received by the deceased, and they were of opinion that they were of a character which held out But a very faint hope of his recovery. , It is the intention of some Westport speculators to erect machinery on the prospecting claim, Larry's Creek. ' Antonio Zala, the prospector of the Lyell reef, has applied for a lease of ground situate west of the prospecting claim. The Stephenßdn-Bnrford troupe commenced another short theatrical season on Saturday nighi, at the Volunteer Hall. There was a very good house, and the piece selected was "The Peep o'Day Boy." The regular com. pany was assisted by some of the members of the local Garrick Club, and we niust say that it is seldom any piece has been so well placed un the stage, and all the parts so well filled as on Saturday night. Several times the principal actors ;arid actresses wete called before the curtain, and. ,911 one occasion there was a narrow cscape'frosa a serious accident. ABjMisa Stephenson and Mrs Drake were being led across' the .stage,., pno of tjieir dresses came in contact with the foot-lights and took fire. The gentleman who was with them, hid the presence of mind to extinguish the 1 flame .iv a moment, otherwise the lady

would have been badly burned. The company will play again to-night, ' the pieces being "The Siego of Straal3und,"ancl the "Peep o' Day Boy." Cables and party, at Boatman's, have accepted tenders for driving their tunnel at tlie rate of 25s per foot. This will naturally appear a low figure, but for some distance at all events there are no great difficulties to be contended with, and at the saiie time tho timber required for a considerable distance is ready cut and dressed on the ground. ] Gaffney's prospecting claim have now got their tunnel in 156 ft, the driving becoming harder every foot they go. Owing to the boats not being up, their truck wheels and other tools required _n the working of the claim are not to hand, thus causing a temporary stoppage. They are in the hope of cutting the main reef in a very short distance. On Wednesday last a fatal accident took place at Appo's Gully, Collingwood. As Mr Ernest, a resident miner, was at work in the end of the drive putting up the pipe for hydraulic mining, whilst working the pipe upwards towards the surface of the hill, a great body of earth, mingled with a large quantity of surface water, fell upon him, and he was driven against one of the props , and his body completely jammed up. Death must have been instantaneous. Last * Monday a deputation from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce waited upon Mr Seed, Inspector of Customs respecting Customs drawbacks. The deputation recommended a refund on all duty paid when the marks ot the packages are undisturbed, and presented a scale of drawback on goods repacked. The deputation also recommended the abolition of limitations as to the time and the places for goods to be exported to. Mr Seed concurred in the recommendations, and said the Government was anxious to remove all trade restrictions consistent with the protection of the revenue. The Dunediu Evening Star of the 22nd ult. reports t — " This morning, about half -past ten o'clock, a little boy of the name of Allan Duff, aged four years, fell from off the protection embankment lately constructed by prison labor at the bridge leading from Castle street to the" bush of the old Botanic Garden. The part of the brnk he fell from was about 99ft above the bridge; but the current, which is still strong and deep from the late rain, carried him underneath the bridge. The warder on duty at tbe place where the accident occurred called Sergeant Fergusson, and showed him the spot. The setgeant immediately went into the water and brought the drowning child from the bottom, the water at the spot being Bft deep. Dr Sorley was sent for, and is of opinion the boy will recover."

The Inangahua Herald says that the crushing at Shiel's prospecting claim proceeds but slowly, in consequence of the indifferent quality of the wood used as fuel, which recently has been mixed with coal, obtained from Murray Creek at a cost of Ll2 per ton. The company, some considerable time since, applied for a grant of land for the purpose of obtaining coal, but the usual red-tape system of the Provincial Government having been adopted, the party only very recently obtained the grant. Since then no time has been lost, the line for a tramway having been already cut, and a contract let for the sleepers and vails. Meanwhile the coal is being transported on men's backs at an enormous expense. Owing to the inferior quality of the fuel, the engine has not been working full speed, and they have been unable to put through more than twelve tons daily. We understand that a gentleman thoroughly skilled in the saving of gold has been engaged by the company, aud is now on his way from Auckland to take charge of the tables and amalgam. Much difficulty is to the presence of hostile minerals, and it is supposed tliat a considerable percentage of gold finds its way' over the plates and blankets. Owing to these causos the washing-up is likely to bo delayed about a fortnight. The scene of the new rush at the back of Woodstock was visited on Friday by a correspondent of the Went Coast Times,' who reports as follows :- On arriving at the prospectors' claim, the party were found at work in bringing in timber for a small tramway, which they ore about to lay down in the turineL They expect to be able to commence washing in about a month. For that opera, tion they have good facilities, as from the tram at the month of the tunnel they can tip the stuff over about 20ft right alongside their sluice-boxes, and the stuff will not need any further, shifting. The prospectors have cut a small race from the creek close by, which will give them plenty of water for was'aing-tip in anything like wet weather, of which Westland is seldom without, and in dry weather they can occupy themselves in driving for more washdirt. The lead near the mouth of the prospectors' tunnel shows the best prospects. Tt is 2Cf t wide and from 4ft to sft deep. There is another lead about 70ft or 80ft within the tunnel, the washdirt of which is from Ift to lSin thick. The prospectors have driven through it GOft, and have riot yet .'come to the end of its width, and though only shallow at the commence--ment, its gets thicker towards where they they have left off tunelling. The prospectors are very sanguine of having a pile claim, which will give them three or four years' work. About 100 yards from the prospectors' claim, on the other side of the creek, a party of four m*n from the Kanieri took up a claim yesterday and commenced working. They had only driven 2ffc or 4ft into the hill when they struck gold, which, in their opinion, will pay well if the prospects continue the same. They do not believe that they are on the same lead as the prospectors, bat consider they have struck another one.