THE PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1228, 5 July 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1872.

The general subject of the Iced government of the West Coast, and the particular recommendations which have been made by the member for the district, Mr Harrison, are likely soon to be discussed at a public meeting m Greymouth, and. we hope also, at public meetings held in every town on the Coast. So far as Greymouth is concerned, the meeting will probably be held next week, when the whole subject will, no doubt, be fully discussed. With a view to eliciting this discussion, and of promoting the settlement of the question, so far as an expression of public opinion can go, a number of gentlemen met last evening with the object of arranging the preliminary steps for such meeting, and. of drafting such resolutions as they might deem most likely to meet with popular approval. It is reasonable to suppose that, in doing so, they would be perfectly unanimous as to the necessity of a change in the present form or forms of representative and administrative institutions on the West Coast, and, whatever differences of opinion there might be, they could only be as to details, which will be more appropriately discussed and settled by the Legislature.

The Fourth of July failed, for this one year, to be observed in Greymouth as it has usually been. , There was not to be seen a single representation of the Stars and Stripes fluttering from any one' of the numerous flagstaff*, unless it was at the Retreat Hotel, nnd if there were any American men about —whither born, cradled, w whitewashed on the great Republican Continent— they must have been more about private bars and their own business than in the public streets. This failure to celebrate the birthday of American Independence and the memory of the Father of his Country, was probably due to the absence of Father Maxwell, who has been in the habit of- giving an annual spread on the anniversary of this great day since Grepmouth was Groymouth. Mr Maxwell, it appears, happens to be in Westport "on this auspicious occasion," and in that community there is to be found congenial company at any time— but especially on the Fourth. At the InangaEua, we notice, in " commemoration of Washington,'"

there was to be a "ball extradrdinaiy," whatever that may be. We notice further that commemorations of the kind are becoming common now-a-days. The freshest thing in commemorations that we have heard of for some time is the commemoration, in a small Scottish town, of the Battle of Bannockbura ! Is it fair comment to say, in view of such a circumstance, that the spirit of independence is not dead, but scotched ? Tne installation of officers of the Hand of Friendship Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., took place last evening at the Lodge-room, Gilmer's Hotel. The following members were installed for the ensuing term :— Brother J. E. Hawley, N.G. j Brother Savage, V.G. ; Brother Jno, Steele, E. Sec. The N.G. and V.G. appointed their respective officers, and the brethren afterwards adjourned to partake of the usual installation supper. Mr Mir fin, overseer of works on the Nelson side of the Grey Valley, along with Mr Button, barrister, of Hokitika, arrived in town last evening from Reefton, having made the journey by way of the Saddle Bush track, which was lately so impeded by the fall of trees that there was little expectation of traffic upon it being resumed, for some time. According to the instructions of the Provincial Government, however, special efforts were made to clear the track, and Mr Mirfin and Mr Button were among the first to make the journey after this clearing had been partially effected. Another opportunity|of forwarding letters and papers for the San Francisco mail will be afforded by the departure, this evening, of the steamer Wallace — the arrangement being that the mail steamer shall leave Nelson on the Bth inst. There has been a very general expression of sympathy with Mr J. W. Hall, of this town, who has been bereaved by the sudden death of his wife, and who has lately sustained other domestic losses by the accidental death of both a brother and a son. Mrs Hall gave birth to a daughter on Monday last, and, although she was up to that time in her usual health, she underwent a sudden and unfavorable physical change, and, notwithstanding* the attention of two of the local medical men, and the exercise of all the skill that the circumstances permitted, she rapidly sank and died at a late hour on Wednesday night. Mr aud Mrs Hall have for several years beenresidents of Greymouth, and such a succession of bereavements as Mr Hall has ttustained has naturally evoked the most tender sympathy. It was the fate of the Nye-Matthews-Donato -Wolfe -Thornton -Cripps-Ingles-Amy company to have another unfavorable night for their performance, or, at least, for the attendance of the intelligent public. Thero was in the atmosphere an extreme moistness, which reduced itself to the shape of heavy rain, aid, by so doing, |reduced|the very justifiable desire of many to see Miss Matthews and Miss Nye, and reduced also the pleasure of hearing the latter singing one of the best songs in the burlesque. Throughout the performance, it was a decided case of patter verms clatter, but the performers proceeded with their programme, and the Durlesque of "Don Giovanni" was very favorably received. Donato danced again with all the vigor and grace which are so astonishing in one whose physical appliances for the purpose of dancing are reduced to a minimum. This evening is the occasion of Signor Donato's benefit, and it is to be hoped that, for at least one evening out of the several on which the company have so creditably performed, there will be a large attendance. The company, as it happens, have not come to Urey mouth afc a favorable time, and they have very successfully contended with other unfavorable circumstances which those acquainted with the irritations associated with stage management are best capable of appreciating. The well-filled playbill for to-night entitles them to a well;fiUed house.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, George Cooper and J. Hicks were charged with a breach of municipal bye-laws by obstructing the thoroughfare. The offence was in each case admitted, and a fine of 53 paid, with 6s 6d costs. There were only two civil cases disposed of — Hamilton v. J. Conway, Maori Gully, in which judgment for L 5 went by default, and F. Badger v. J. Cortigan. The claim, previously heard, was for L 5 17s 9d, and order was given for a warrant to be issued on application. The opening of the Loyal Reefton Lodge O e . Oddfellows, M.U., is to be celebrated on the 29th inst. by a ball. Mr Mirfin, overseer of works, arrived in Reefton on Monday, and from him the Herald learns that fifty men had been put on the work of opening the Saddle track. The obstructions, therefore, were not so formidable as was anticipated, and the cost, of the work has probably not exceeded L7O toLSO. The Masonic Ball] held at the Town Hall, Hokitika, on Wednesday evening, was in every way a great success. The attendance, says the Times, was unusually large, and although admission was nob confined to gentlemen privileged to wear the insignia of the Ma.onic craft, yet there were very few amongst the sterner sex present who did not bear upon them some sign that they were united in the mystic tie. Altogether, it was undoubtedly the best ball given in Hokitika. The Rev Mr Flavell, of Charleston, is at present at Reefton, where he has been holding religious services and • delivering lectures. Miss Stephenson and the members of her company were to give a performance last evening in the Hokitika Theatre. The will of the late Mr George Martin, of the Pier. Hotel, Wellington, when read, was found to include a bequest of LIOO to the funds of the Wellington Hospital. A most successful experiment in the conveyance of live trout to a distant stream has been made by Mr George Balfour. He started from Christchurch with two dozen young fish in a can provided for the purposeby Mr Johnson, curator at the Acclimatisation Gardens, and travelled .ill the way to the Lyndon station, Waiau, in the Nelson Province, considerably over 100 milns, where he arrived without the loss of a single trout.

The accident on the Hau-hau Tramway, which resulted in the death of Mr Ridley Little, a gentleman connected with the business of Mr Kortegast's brewery, and much respected in Hokitika, is thus described by the local paper :— Mr Little was proceeding to the Hau-hau on horseback, and when about 600 or 700 yards beyond the Halfway House he met one of the tramway trucks, laden with, firewood, coming to town. He turned b.iok, and got off the line to allow the truck tr. pass, but as the truck came on tho h •rsc l)i > i:.ime restive, started away, and fell wiih its 'iilerdown the terrace, which at that *[■•* is ..l»-.ut 25ft deep. James Sheedy, the mvi uho was driving the truck, at once ; ran to render assistance, but finding that Mr Little was insensible, Sheedy mounted the horse and rode to town for medical aicL He returned immediately with Dr Rosetti to the scene of the accident, but Mr Little was already dead. The body was conveyed to the Marquis of Lome Hotel. In the Nelson Appropriation Act there is provision made for the office of Inspector of Leases at the Tnangahua. The salary voted is L3Ol, and the duties of any such officer as may be appointed, include, with questionable propriety, the rendering of clerical assistance in the Warden's office at Reefton. In Auckland the appointment of Inspector of Leases is one of some importance, and bis powers,

as defined by s;ec ! al Act, are considerable, t ing parallel t> and similar with those of a Warden. J'n tiis instance the duMes of the officer to be appointed are not as yet defined, but it was the imderslandiig in the Council, when the vote wai agreed to, that the inspectorship vas to inc/ude supervision both of mining am 1 agricultural leases— an apparently wise im u^ement which, it is to be hoped, w r l be carried out.

In the listrict Cou/t, Charleston, Judge Harvey, in fte cate of Jeremiah Sheehy, a bankrupt, o^ered a criminal information to be made out under Clause 303 of the Bankruptcy Act, sub-sections 3, 4, and 9. The bankrupt was then ordered into custody, to be brought np on the succeeding day for trial. We understand that thirty-seven so called " Btatufe adults" have been sent for by this mail taroujk Mr J. Wylde, immigration officer, Greymouth. The majority of those thus smt for are married couples with their children. Mr David Craig, a sub-contractor on the Clutba Railway, while drivJuga dray, met with a serious accident. The dray capsized, the torse was kil'ed, and Mr|Craig, stunned and internally hurt, lay by the roadside all ni»ht, until he wai severely frostbitten; Johii Ward, arrested. in Grey mouth on a charge of perjury, haß been committed > for trial ly the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika. At tin luangahua Mr Broad has consented to hold temporarily the appointment | of sheriff. This we believe to be an initiatory step to the holding of periodical sittings of the District Court in the Inangahua district. ... Hazelmayer, the celebrated magician, assisted by''Mr J. Small, annonnces that he will shortly give'afew farewellperformances in Chrißtchurch. Mr Morton Tavares, who has completed a successful tour through Otago and Southland, also intends to re-visit Canterbury. The following were the resolutions passed by the meeting of the Kanieri ratepayers held in Wagner' 3 Hotel, Hokitika :— "That the Kanieri Road Board and the County Chairman be at once proceeded against, by information, for their illegal action in respect to the rate levied on properties within the district; and other constitutional means adopted to avert tho consequences of future illegal action by the Board." "That a memorial be prepared and signed for presentation to the Governor of New Zealand, praying him to appoint a Commission to inquire into the working of Eoaa Boards generally in Westland." It was announced that numerous parties had promised to contribute to a fund for the purpose of prosecuting the information in the Supreme Court. Much has been said lately about the rise in the price of iron having checked the construction of railways in. New Zealand, or, more properly, having prevented contracts for their construction being entered into. On this subject a Chicago railroad organ says : — "The great increase in the price of iron, largely caused by the extraordinary activity in railway construction not only in the United States, but in Europe and elsewhere, has a noticeable effect on all new enterprise.'' It speaks of a rise of lOdol per ton ; of English mills refusing to accept orders to be filled before 1873 ; of American mills being crowded for some time ahead ; and of no immediate fall being anticipated. The Belgian works are said to be as crowded, some firms refusing contracts to be filled by the spring of 1873. As to the cost of iron in England, a paragraph from the speech of the Chairman of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company at its recent annual meeting, will be interesting. He said— " Taking the coat of iron, and steel chairs and rails, which form so large an item in railway expenditure, just a fortnight ago we made our contracts for iron and steel rails and chairs for 1872. In regard to iron rails, we had to pay LlO 10s a ton as against L 6 18s Get in the previous year. As regards steel rails we had to pay Ll3 5s per ton as against LI I 7s 6d. For chairs we had to paid L 5 5s 7d as againt L 3 9s Gd."