Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1202, 5 June 1872, Page 2

An adjourned meeting of the Murray Creek Gold-mining Company will be held this evening' at eight o'clock, at Gilmer's Hotel. The last ceremony in connection with the late foot-race took place yesterdaj , when the stakes were handed over by Mj Kerr, of this office* to Mr Drake, in the presence of Mr JR. J. Tonks, of the Albion Hotel. We have heard no more of any future match, and it is hardly likely that another will be made. A benefit will be given to-night*to Mr Cooper, at the Volunteer Hall, Miss Clara Stepheuson, Miss Fpl!aud, Messrs Burford, Bromley, Drury, JPoole, and a host of amateur talent assisting. The entertainment promises to be are of the best that has been, : for not only is Bulwer's well-known play of "The Lady of Lyons" to be given, but a musical interlude in which Mr Bromley and others will appear. We need hardly say that Mr Bromley is a host in himself. Mr Drury, of whom report spealc3 highly as an amateur, undertakes the part of Claude Melnotte, and all the characters are said to be excellently filled. We have no doubt the house Mill be. crowded, and hope that the benefit will be a bumper. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterdaj', E. Byrne, charged with being drunk, was dismissed with a caution. Several civil cases were .disposed of, in which neither plaintiffs nor defendants pat in an appearance, aud others that went by default, but none of them were of the slightest public interest. An action was brought by the Secretary of the Paroa Road Board against a resident on the race-course roat), to recover L 2, rates alleged to be due for property abutting on the road, Mr Perkins appeared for the defenant, and explained that he would take a technical objection to the case proceo ing, viz., that Mr Wolters,' the secretary and rate collector, had not proved his appointment. He said he would not have done this but forthe fact that the deiendant had never received a farthing's worth of benefit from the Board now Buing him. They had not expended a single shilling on the road during a course of years, whilst defendant had laid out between L2O and L3O in labor alone, and yet they called on him to pay rates. He made out a very clear case, and said that but for the injustice that his client was suffering from, he would not have raised the technical objection he had done. Mr Wolters replied, pointing out that the 70th section of the County of Westland Act authorised him to sue, and> that the proof Mr Perkins demanded was not necessary. After some discussion and deliberation on the part of the Magistrate, a verdict was given for the amount claimed, the objection being over-ruled. This concluded the business, and the Court then adjourned. On Thursday, 23rd ultimo, a miner named Arthur K. Maloney had his leg broken while at, work in Mr Brown's sluicing claim at Nhseby, Otago. Tunnelling will be commenced in the Dan O'Cornell Company, Kelly's line, in a few days. A painful accident occurred on Saturday night to a fine little girl, about three years old, the only child of Mr Wanston, of Melville street, Dunedin. The parents, having put her to bed, locked the door, and leaving a lighted candle on the table, wen,t down town. A woman passing heard the child cry, and spoko to her through the m Indow. Shortly afterwards she noticed an unusual glare from the window. After some delay, the door was broken open, when the child was found to have been badly burnt on the left side, arm, and face. DrCowie was soon afterwarts in attendance, and did all that could be done for the little sufferer, who was last night in a very precarious condition. We observe from the Bishop's charge as delivered in the Canterbury Synod, that owing to want of funds it is proposed to dispense with the services of the missionary clergyman, the Eev W. H. Cooper, at the end of the present month. The Auckland Ice Company intend to make ice-chests to. supply the Southern province?. We take the following items of mining'iutelligenco from the Tuapeka Times .-—Several parties have recently set to work in the vicinity of old ground on Mitchell's Flat, Waipori. The prospects have been highly satisfactory. There is a large quantity of ground of similar quality in the Waipori district, which only requires the presence of population to yield up its auriferous treasures. Burnett and party, in Long Gully, Waipori, have been washing during the last six weeks, and expect to finish in about a fortnight. From indications, the result is expected to be more than satisfactory.- The Chinamen on the Beaumont Flat,- judging from the large quantity of ground they are turning over, must be getting plenty of gold. On the same flat, a party of Europeans have set in to open some ground. At the Teviot all the miners are busily at work. The river is low, and there is every indication that, it

will remain so during the winter. The plan of using trucks on the claims is becoming I general. Prom Table Hill we learn that the \ Alexandi'a Company 13 the only one milliug stone, and that it is keeping ten heads going. The reef in this claim is looking well It is reported that Mr Dyer has sold his claim to Mr A. M'Laren. No arrangements have,. however, been made for the crushing o£ h tone ff6m the claim J rv: The lioss A T eivs tells^'us^ttiat -the Hercules stcam-purap ceased pumping on Sunday mormug about . four: o'clock, having disposed of all the available timber, and there is every probability that the upper workings of the Star aud Excelsior claims will bo flooded out this morning. A rumor was flying round yesterday that our tradesmen were about to subscribe the amount of the Star's rates, for the purpose of starting the engine aga?n, but we have heard nothing definite on that point. * We learn with very great regret that Mr St. John Branigan, pn Saturday evening last* received a paralytic stroke, which has deprived him of the use of his right side. We feel sure the news of Mr Branigan's misfortune will evoke universal sympathy throughout 1 the Colony. One of the European prisoners, named Alexander Dillon Harvey, clerk, age 43, native of Scotland, died in the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday evening, at about six o'clock. _ The deceased was sentenced at Tokomairiro, on the 30th April, by Mr J. P. Maitland, E.M., to one months imprisonment wichout labor, on a charge, under the' Vagrant Act, of having insufficient lawful means of support. On the following day he was received into gaol, but, owing to his debilitated condition, was at once removed, by an order by his Honor Mr Justice Chapman to the hospital, where he remained until his death. We believe it is nearly nine years since there has been a death, amongst the European prisoners confined in the Dunedin Gaol. The deceased came from Melbourne to Otago in the Gothenburg, in the year 18G2. • .' , . Mr Reid has given notice of his intention to move jn the Otago Provincial Council, "That this Council is of opinion that it is highly expedient to encourage the establishment of a paper manufactory within the Province, and with that view recommend the Government to offer a bonus of LISOO, payable on the proper initiation of such an industry, on such conditions as the Government may approve ; and in the event of any liability being incurred in that behalf, the Council pledges itself to vote the sum necessary to discharge the liability which may bs incurred under this resolution." The stable of Mr Alexander Garside, at Anderson's Bay, near Dunedin, was burnt down. The fire is supposed to have been caused accidentally. * • The filly Lurline, entered for this year's Derby which was offered at Mr Nosworthy's sale at Ham on Tuesday last, has, we understand, been purchased at a good figure to go to Otago. The Timaru Herald says :— " A private telegram received on Monday by a Timaru firm, from a well-known London broker says, that in April the sales were flat and irregular. Ordinary wools were Id to 2d lower than at the February closing prices. Pine wools were stationary. The Qdccnstown correspondent of tie Cromwell Argus writes: — "I hear a new method of dredging is about to be tried 611 the Shotover, the floating dredge being dispensed with, and the operations conducted from either hank. The most important advantaise • claimed for the invention is that the depth of water in the river is unimportant." A new definition of " a gentleman P was given u\ fcLo Wellington Court the other day, when a witness said a man was a gentleman because "he did nothing." On hearing this Mr Justice Johnston said he had heard the word "gentleman" defined as "one who sppnt other people's money." Sunday last, the Tuapeka Times says, "was a gala day at the Tuapeka Chinese Camp. A. largo number of Celestials assembled at the Chinese Empire Hotel to compli* ment Mrs Cbew Lain on her marriage (which took place the previous Tuesday), and these compliments, as is customary with Chinese on such auspicious occasions, took the tangible form of presents either of cash or articles of value. It is stated that the lady received presents to the value of between L2OO and L 300." The half-yearly meeting of the Grand Orange Lodge, Middle Island, New Zealand, was held at Cbristchurch on the 16th inst. At the meeting we learn from the Press, "communications were" read from the different Provinces, including Otago, which showed that Orariseism wa3 progreasine very favorably there." We clip the following from the^ Wahatlp Mail:— Those Heathen Chinee have been setting another example to the European population, in the way of how to do the thing properly, or not to do it at all. Some dispute arose yesterday morning, between two companies working at Big Beach, as to the way one of the companies was niaking or cutting a tail-race. One company thought they would be ruined by it ; the other company said they would not. " Too muchee talkee " led on to a challenge to fight, and soon bpth sides arrayed their men, aud something very much like a pitched battle ensued. Those put hors de com&atfbytueweaprmsused-thelong-Landled shovel— were pretty numerous, and afforded some scope for the services of the Chiuese doctor, an our own JSsculapius, Dr Scott. As soon as the. battle was over, those on both sides who had escaped comparatively free, rushed to the lawyers, and besieged the police, as well as the Court. Each side wanted to give the other instantcr into charge. However, as the battle is to be fought over again in a more ijeaceable arena —the floor of the law Courts— we shall find out more particularly the cause, effect, and results. • « A fire was discovered in the viciuity 0* Mr Bauchop's stcain saw mills, in Deborah Bay, near Port Chalmers, at S p.m. on Thursday, by Mr Stevens, a resident close by. Mr Mason, another resident, was iv the Port at the time, having left at home his wife, mother, daughter, and W. Parker, a mau servant. Stevens and Parker endeavored, to put the fire out, while Mi3s Mason, like a young Grace Darling, took a boat and rowed it up herself to Port Chalmers, whore she gave information of the fire. While she was so engaged, the chief officer and carneuter of the ship Wild Deer, who were out fishing with a boat's crew, on discovering the fire, immediately rowed on shore, and proceeded to the spot. The carpenter, who had formerly been engaged in saw-mills, disengaged the valuable saws, &c, and the crow were thus enabled to save a large amount of valuable property. On Miss Mason's information being received, the owner and a number of volunteers proceeded from the Port, and assisted those already at the fire to put it out. Sergeant Colder and his constables •: rendered valuable assistance, and returned from the scene about midnight, The half of the large shed covering the works was saved.* One of the volunteers, in assisting in this work, had { his clothes completely destroyed. The loss sustained is estimated at from L3OO to L4OO, none of which is covered by insurance. Too much praise cannot be given to Miss Mason •for .having unaided, and in the dark, rowed tft&'itowfc up to the Port to give information;^- ■•'.'■■