THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1572.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1216, 21 June 1872, Page 2

THE Grey Riber Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1572.

In our telegraphic column will be found a notice that between Caswell and Thompson Sounds, on tho southern portion of the West Coast of this island, a portion of what was presumed wreckage was found. The intelligence at first seemed startling, and it was supposed that the discovery would give a clue to the fate of some missing vesseL Investigation, however, proves that such was not the case. After receiving the telegram late last evening we made every possible enquiry, applying first to Mr Whitmore. From that gentleman we learned that papers of the description stated, that an illustrated family Bible of the kind recovered, that beadworked slippers, cheque-book, and invoices in every way answering the description given were washed away during the great flood of February last along with Mr Whitmore's premises. On further search, we discovered that Mr Wiokes lost a quantity of timber, and the kauri might very probably have come from the premises of Mr Wilson, boat-builder, who suffered on the same occasion. The bowsprit and planking may be accounted for by spare spars being floated away in comnany with a very larga extent of protective timber that would in all respects resemble ships' planking. How such a heterogeneous mass of flotsam and jetsam found its way more than two hundred miles to the southward wo leave our nautical readers to determine. It can only be a proof of the enormous strength of the mass of water coming down the Grey, and the distance out to sea to which debris must have been taken under its influence. We remind cur readers that the burlesque of " Ixion" is to bo produced at the Volunteer Hall this evening. As we have already stated, great pains have been taken in its production, and it will, it is expected, be the best entertainment of the kind given in Greymouth for a long time past. We understand that the difficulty of pow der storage is. still unarranged, and that the Collector of Customs has been unable to find a different resting place for his dangerous charge up to the present time. It is to bo hoped 'hat something will be done, either by the (Jeneral or County Government in the erection of a safe receptacle for it without further loss of time. The accounts coining from up-country relative to the roads are deplorable, and traffic, even over the best of thorn, is largely inter* fered with, owing to the late bad weather. Koadmaking is an impossibility ; and unless a favorable change takes place shortly, the works in progress will occupy a long time in completion. Though comparatively fine weather has prevailed for a day or two, it has not as yet effected any improvement, and travellers complain loudly of the difficulties that now beset them. The annual grant from the Nelson Government to the Grey Valley Agricultural Association has been received by the Treasurer of the Society. A miner named William M'Neisce broke . the small bone of his right leg through slipping and falling upon the floor at M'ta- I roe's Hotel, at the Little Grey Junction, on Tuesday, 18th inst. The Committee of the Presbyterian Church met in the Vestry, on Wednesday evening, Mr Glenn in the chair. Present— Messrs F. Hamilton, Thompson, Barkley, M 'Milton. M'Lean, and Kerr. After the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, Mr Barkley, hou. treasurer, submitted to the Committee their financial position, showing that tbero still existed debts amounting to about L3OO on tha

church. Some conversation took place as to the beat means of liquidating the above, when it was resolved that a bazaar should bo held at the end of the year for that purpose. As the success of carrying out such an undertaking, almost entirely depended on the assistance given by the ladies of the congregation, it was agreed to call a meeting of the Presbyterians on Tuesday evening, to be held in the church, when a report and financial statement would be read, and the matter of a bazaar fully gone into. After a vote of thanks to the chair, the Committee adjourned, i Mr Bayliss, Reefton mailman, who arrived in town last night, reports that the track over the Saddle has been blockaded with fallen trees, caused by the late heavy snow storm, and that it is quite impassable for horses. The carriers and packers in the up-country districts are about forming an association for their mutual protection and benefit, -and to look after the interests of the carrying trade generally. A preliminary meeting was held , at Pinkerton's Hotel, Ahaura, on the evening of Wednesday, 19th inst. The present condition and future prospects of the trade were freely discussed, and it was the unanimous opinion that in the face of the extremely j high price to which horse feed has risen and was likely further to rise, and the almost impassable condition of the roads, the rates for freight at present ruling were too low. In consequence of the state of the tracks it requires nearly double the amount of horse power to draw the aatno load now which it did three months ago, while the price of feed has risen nearly 10'> per cent. Chaff on Totara Flat was then advertised at L 8 to LlO per ton. and the price is now Lls to LlB. There were not an) formal resolutions put before the meeting, but it was decided to call a general meeting of the trade, to be held at Pinkerton's Hotel, on Monday, Ist July. A curious discussion on what may be called a point of legal etiquette, took place during the hearing of a casein one of the upcountry Courts recently. A female witness was about being sworn to give evidence, and when the orderly of the Court offered the, biblo to her, the band she held forth to receive it was covered with a remarkablj ueatly-fittiug olive-colored kid glove. The orderly desired her to remove the glove, whereupon the counsel on the side for which the witness appeared, remarked, that it was not a matter of any consequence, and that as the weather was so cold the witness might retain her glove as it was. On this the learned gentleman on the opposite side insisted on the glove coming off and appealed to the Court. The policeman who was about to administer the oath was obdurate, and ap : parently horrified, for he observed 'ht during an " experience of twenty years in such matters, ho never saw the like," and ho evidently regarded the whole proceeding as a species of sacrilege. The Magistrate threw oil upon the troubled waters, by saying that it was the usual custom to take tl'c oath while the Scriptures were held in the uncovered hand, but he was not aware that the ceremony would be less solemn er binding on the conscience in a lesser degree if the hand were kept covered. The argument was cut short by the lady herself removing her glove, which she had been endeavoring to do all the time, but the intense cold numbing her fingers delayed her. In the same case another witness, refused to take the ordinary form of oath from conscientious scruples. A form of affirmation, which he declared to be binding on his conscience, was administered to him by the Court. An industry worthy of notice has been initiated by Highland settlers at Saddle Hill, near Duneain, namely, the manufacture of hives. The only materials employed are tussock grass, the ever handy flax, and a wooden bodkin. The grass is coiled, with strips of flax, into the form of a cone, capable of containing 601bs of honey. From the warmth aud comfort the bees experience, they are much more active in culling honey. Persons who have used them affirm that one hive of this kind is worth three boxes, both for quality and quantity of honey. A man can make one a day with case, and it sells for seven shillings. A meeting of the Rifleman Relief Com* mittee was held in Lyttelton on the 13th inst. We take the following report of proceedings from the Lyttelton Times :— Mr P. Cunningham occupied the chair, and called on the nun. secretary (Mr J. Carder) to read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were confirmed. The secretary stated he had sent out the lists through the colony, and also given lists to several gentlemen both in Lyttelton and Christchurch. He had replies from Wellington, Nelson, and Auckland, but no money had been received from these places. He was pleased to say that subscriptions had been received from Mr Daly, of Akaroa, Mr M'Laren, of Wanganui, Mr Philpotts, of Picfcon, Mr .Holforth, of New Plymouth, and a telegranvhad been received from Captain Turnbull, of Hokitika. He had also received a cheque from Captain Milton, and Mr Joynt had paid in an account to the credit of the fund. The lists, as distributed by the secretary, were handed in by the recipients. The chairman said that the sum received up to the present time, including Hokitika, - amounted to L 309, but as the secretary had informed him that there were several lists yot out, he thought it would bo better to adjourn the meeting for a week. It was resolved that this should be done, and that all outstanding accounts, since the loss of the schooner, should be got in by that time. The Inangahua Herald of Wednesday last has the following in reference to a young man lately well known in the trade in this town and Hokitika : — "There is grave apprehension that a fatal accident has befallen a young man named Frederick Hodges, a compositor by trade, who was recently connected with the Grey Valley Times. Lately Mr Hodges has acted as assistant to Mr John Miinson, bookseller and news agent of this town, and acting in that capacity proceeded, to the Murray Creek reefs on Saturday last, with newspaper and periodicals. Since then he has not been heard of, but no anxiety was felt at his lengthened absence until Tuesday. He was last heard of at the. Victoria Company's claim, Kelly's line, on Saturday last, about half -past two o'clock p.m., and it is now supposed that some serious accident must have befallen him, but of what character is matter of conjecture only. A broken limb, fall into a snow drift, or fatal blow from the falling branches overweighted with snow most readily suggest themselves ; but, from the length of tone that has elapsed, even if the nature of the accident left him conscious, it is almost certain that h<3 must have perished from exposure during the present severe weather. A search party left town at daybreak this morning, who will trace the missing man to his last place of call, so that ere nightfall the cause of hia \ absence will have been ascertaiue<l. We v m only indulge a very faint hope that our worst i fears will not be confirmed." The occurrence of small-pox in Auckland and Wellington has set the Boards of Health throughout the Colony on the gui vive, and every precaution is being taken to guard against the ravages of the grim visitor. The Wellington Evening Post of a late date says s— The Government at length are taking steps to erect, on Somes' Island, something like quarantine buildings, and we understand that it is intended to have the work pushed on with all speed after the opening of the tender?, which will be in a day or two. The proposed buildings will provide accomraoda- ' tion for about 300 people, and will be fenced

off into three compartments, viz., for convalescents, slightly infected patients, and for an hospital. The convalescent side will include a day room, luggage shed, pantry, kitchen, scullery, washhouse, and ironing room, with a separate building for sleeping wards. The slightly infected department will include a day room, luggage shed, and sleepiug wards ; while the hospital will have rooms similar to those in the convalescent side. A surgeon's house commnnicating on one side with the infected building, and on the other with the hospital will also be built, and will include sitting and bed rooms, library, surgery, bath room, fee. If ,the plans are carried out, the buildings will 1 be neat in appearance and comfortable. The roofs will be corrugated iron, the 'walls weather -boarded, and the inside lined. Verandahs will be erected in several positions, so as to inoiease the comfort of any future visitors. The Ros3 Guardian states that an accident happened at the Golden Gate claim, Guardian Flat, on Friday. It seems a haira strap broke, and the whim, becoming detached from the horse, flew round with great rapidity ; one bucket ran up to the poppetheads and broke a beam, while the other went pell mull down Hie shaft and broke the well-boards. It is a miracle that the horse was not killed, but somehow it escaped without injury. Some delay occurred in getting in a fresh beam, and the men did not ; get fairly to work till midnight on Sunday. ! The Hokitika Star of Wednesday says : — ' We mentioned in our last issue that payable gold had been struck in another claim at the Woodstock rush. We are now in possession of further particulars. The claim is owned by O'Donoghue and party, and is the second claim from the prospectors. Tho tunnel is in about seventy feet, and the prospect obtained is four grains to the dish. Several other parties are expecting to strike the run shortly. A passenger by tho Albion from Wellington, states that Mr Kaye, who was a few days since removed to the quarantine station at Soames 1 Island, Wellington BLarbor, suffering from Bmall-pox, had been ill for upwards of a week before the nature of the disease was known, and it is consequently feared that the infection has been communicated to other persons.