THE PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY. JULY 29, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1247, 29 July 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY. JULY 29, 1872.

At Gilmer's Hotel, this evening, a meeting of Masons interested in establishing a Royal Arch Chapter is to be held, and tomorrow evening, at the same place, there is to be a meeting of applicants and intending applicants for shares in the proposed Building Society. Messrs H. Jackson, the Nelson Provincial Auditor, and A. D. Dobson, the Provincial Engineer, arrived at Ahaura on Thursday, en route to Reefton. They were detained at Ahaura during Friday, in consequence of the flooded and impassable state of the rivers, but they proceeded on their journey on Saturday morning. The boatmen on the Buller are actively employed in taking in freight for Keefton. No fewer than ten boats were loading on Monday, and the aggregate, freight could not have been less than sixty tons. On Saturday, in the Greymouth Resident Magistrate's Court, Charles D. Hard wick was charged by Mam ice O'Connor, Chairman of the Paroa Road Board, with embezzling funds. On the application of Inspector HicksoD, the case was remanded until Friday, 2nd August, .for the production of further evidence. " Tlie bualucoo vf tlio Worion'o Onurf. at Mindermann's, Inangahua, is increasing. The number of applications for hearing, at the last sitting there, necessitated the Couit being kept open until an unusually late hour. A fresh rush took place last week to Candlelight terrace, No Town. It is reported that gold has been found at a higher level than the present workings. A man named Thomas Stewart, a native of Scotland, and generally known as Tom the Painter, missed his way through a snow storm at Hyde, Otago, and died from exposure. At a meeting of the Grey Valley Agricultural Association, held at Lardi's Hotel, Totara Flat, on Wednesday, 24th instant, Messrs D Donald, R. M'Neill, M. Savage, W. Methven and R. Alcorn were appointed a Committee to f elect suitable land on which to hold the annual ploughing match, which will take place next month. The late rains have made the Reefton road frightfully hard to travel. For three miles from Christy's it is almost impassable for man or beast. In consequence of a number of country residents having been prevented from visiting the town during the recent wet weather, Mr Solomon, the optician, has arranged to stay another week m Greymouth, so that they will have an opportunity, which may not occur again, of ascertaining the actunl condition of their visual organs, or of being optometrically suited with pure Brazilian pebble spectacles or eye glasses. The optometric apparatus, and calculation of the focal length of human sight, are entirely Mr Solomon's own invention, and the nlost perfect method of guaging the eyesight known to modern scietce. Those who suffer from defective vision should not allow Mr Solomon to depart from Greymouth without testing the value of what his skill, ingenuity, and perseverance as an inventor have achieved. Two narrow escapes from drowning took place in the Grey River, near the junction of the Little Grey, on Friday. A packer for Mr James M'lnroe attempted to ford the river, driving loaded pack-horses before him, but he was carried away and swept over the falls. He was rescued by catching hold of the tail of one of the horses and then being towed ashore just before he reached the confluence of the two rivers. In the other case, a packer for Messrs Kennedy Brothers, farmers, Totara Flat, was riding across the ford in company with Messrs Hayes, draper, Ahaura, and one of tne Messrs Kennedy. The horse of the packer stumbled when in the middle of the river, and threw the ridei' who was taken away by the current. Ho fortunately got foul of a snag some distance lower down, to which he clung until he was with some difficulty rescued by his companions.

At the annual meeting of the Greymouth Literary Society, held at the reading-room on Friday evening, Mr Revell, as chairman .of the committee of management, presented the report for the past year. It c mgratulated the society upon its progress, upon its financial position, and upon the additions which had lately been made to the library. Daring the year there had been sixty members on the roll, the average being fifty, but the committee considered that the number mml.t have been much greater, and recommended that ladies should be admitted to membership at half the ordinary subscription. The reading-room continued to be supplied with the leading English, Australian, and New Zealand papers and periodicals, and the library consisted of 500 new ami standard works, nf which there were 377 issues to subscribers during the past half-year. Twelve entertainments had been given by the Society duiing the year, the gross proceeds amounting to Ll3B Bs, which, after deducting Ll7 lls 6d, net proceeds of entertainments in aid of the Grey River Hospital, and L 53 15s expenses, leaves a balance of L6l Is 6d, in favor of the Society. The receipts from all sources had been L3lB, leaving a balance of L 3 14s over expenses. Further additions to the library had been ordered, and the c»m-

mittee trusted that, wfc a good library, next year would show a larger amount ot support from the general public. A vote of thanks was recorded to the retiring committee, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year— President, Mr Revell; Treasurer, Mr Cavanagh; Secretary, Mr Hindraarsh ; managing committee, Messrs King, Newton, Greenwood, Reid, and Browne.

• An amateur vocal and instrumental musical entertainment was given on 20th July, in the new National School House, at No To\t j, in aid ot the liquidation of the school building fund. The principal singers were Misses Ferris and Ferry and Mrs Braid, and among the gentlemen performers Messrs Benjamin Gam, Joseph rarfitt, and Joseph Edwards. The amateurs acquitted themselves creditably, and their efforts were demonstratively appreciated by the crowded audience. At tne conclusion of the entertainment, Mr John Livingstone, the honorary secretary to the School Committee returned the thanks of the Committee to the ladies and gentlemen who had kindly assisted at the performance, and to the large number of persons in the hall for their attendance and patronage. Mr Livingstone also stated that tne proceeds of the entertainment would free the building from debt and leave a handsome balance in hand. This announcement " brought down the house" again, and forthe twentieth time during the evening. The school is now open for the reception of pupils, and is under the direction of Miss Margaret Ferris, daughter of Mr D. Ferris, draper, NoTo\m

In its stock and station report of the 22nd inst, the Lyttcllon Times says— "The news of the West Coast markets is very contradictory—telegrams quoting beef up to 30j per 1001 b, whilst private advices of actual sales fall very far snort of that result. This matter is attracting the attention of both sellers and buyers for the Hokitika market, and the wish seems, general that a regular system of reporting the transactions on the other Bide should be initiated."

The troubles of traders in Westpoit may be estimated from the fact that a' local tobacconist advertises himself as " on the Wallabi track," appealing to his customers to " look for the house on wheels."

The periodical entertainment of the Ahaura Amateur Musical and Literary Society was given at Ahaura on the evening of Friday, the 26th inst. The performance, which consisted of songs, readings, and recitations, by ladiei and gentlemen amateurs, passed off admirably as usual. The society huve made new and valuable acquisitions in Madame Mondado and Master Willie Smith. The lady sang (with the words in the German language) some of the charmingly beautiful songs of the Fatherland, besides rendering with exquisite taste a simple English ballad. Master Smith may almost bo considered a native of Ahaura, as his parents have resided for seven years in the district, and he is ouly 14 years of age. This young gentlemau r O3sesses a voice of the very finest tone, and if he had the advantage of proper musical culture and instruction he would make an excellent singer. The singing of Messas Webb, Greenwood, Potts, and James, the readings of Messrs Whitefoord, F. Guinness, and Greenwood, and the recitations of Mr Henry James were highly appreciated and evoked enthusiastic applause. The hall was filled with an attentive and discerning audience, the greater portion of which was composed of ladies, and altogether a pleasant evening's amusement was provided by the society. The next meeting will be on Friday, Ond August.

A meeting convened by the Mayor has been held in Hokitika to receive comtnuni* cations in respect to the purchase of a steam fire- engine. A communication was read from Mr Bonar, in reference to Messrs Shand, Mason, and Co.'s patent vertical Bteara fireengine, which could be procured from Sydney or London for L4OO, but which, with expenses and extra fittings, would bring the cost, landed in Hokitika, to L 570. On the motion of Mr Jack, it was resolved to request Messrs Bonar and Hoos, to move the County Council to supplement, by a grant of L2OO, the amount of L 360 promised in subscriptions from citizens. It was also resolved to request the Borough Council to assist by a subsidy in aid^

Highly favorable news has come to hand from the Lyell district. A ffairs in the Little Wonderland Excelsior claims are progressing most satisfactorily, A report is current that in Zala's claim 201 b weight of nearly pure gold has been obtained. We (Westport Times) do not vouch for the perfect accuracy of the statement, but we have good reason for believing the report substantially correce. We, have seen a specimen recently taken from the claim* which contains in reality as much gold as stone, being what Victorian miners were wont to term "plum duff" quartz ; the patches of bright glittering gold, being as large as plums in a Christmas pudding, and as thickly packed. Some exceedingly good specimens have been also brought in from Clark's Just in Time Claim, which should gladden the hearts of present or prospective shareholders.

A melancholy suicide has been committed in the Thames district. The suicide was Mr Matthew John Perston, the well known Secretary of the Kauaeranga Board. While ttu^ Board was sitting, Mr Cameron, the engineer, discovered marks of blood outside an inner room of the premises, in Sealeystreet, where the Board holds its meetings. Having his suspicious aroused, the door was burst open, and Mr Perston was found in a kneeling position on the floor, with a rifle between his legs, and a bullet wound through his forehead. He was quite dead. At the meeting of the Board there was strong ground fot suspecting that Mr Perston had used a sum of money belonging to the Board, and this, probably, so preyed on his mind as to induce him to commit the rash act. Mr Perston was. .widely known, and much respected. He enjoyed the confidence of the present Board, and of that previously in office, was an efficient and obliging official, and a man of superior education and attainments. He was a native of Glasgow, and had been in the colony some years. He leaves a wife and large family.