Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1249, 31 July 1872, Page 2

The Borough Councillors of Greymouth and their officers seem to be rapidly resigning their duties, or they desire that they shall be asked to do so by the public The state of the town, in many minute but essential particulars of good civio government, is Bimply disgraceful. The condition of the wharf and its approaches is a hindrance to business, a source of danger to the lives or limbs of man and beast, and an offence'to the senses of sight and smell. Impediments to traffic abound, while no facilities to traffic are afforded ; every gangway is a mantrap suoh as would render the captains and owners of vessels, if they were guilty of similar negligence, liable to heavy penalties ; and what should be preserved as a clear thorough' fare is made the repository of drays, empty cases, the dirty contents of dustbins, and other articles too numerous and unsavory to mention. There is no similar state of things to be seen alongside any wharf in any other town in the Colony. The streets are a series of miniature swamps, through neglect in cleaning the side-channels, and are in some instances absolutely dangerous to riders or pedestrians by heaps of sand and shingle, stones, and logs being left in positions' where traffic is most regular and constant. The footpaths afford a variety of exercise to wayfarers by the extraordinary alterations of level within the shortest possible distance, and by the entrances to cellars being permitted to project inches or feet above even the otherwise irregular surface. A description of similar small details in which indifference to the ordinary duties of a Public Works Committee or of public officers is plainly exhibited might be prolonged figuratively and literally ad nauseam. For the present, however, a simple reference to the subject may serve some good purpose. We eincerely hope that it will do bo, else it will be necessary to denounce, at pretty

frequent intervals, the present 1 state of things, or for the inhabitants to send a fortnightly deputation to the Council Chamber. The Corporation has, no doubt, large undertakings to execute, and considerable responsibilities to meet, but these are not sufficient to excuse their neglect of rainuti» which involve comparatively srna" outlay, and which ought to be as much attended to as major matters by every well-regulated ratepaying community.

Depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank are cautioned that in sending deposits by young children 'they -are doing bo at their own llsk. The notice, we understand, became necessary in consequence of some young messenger in Greymouth losing the money he carried before lie reached the office.

At the Resident Magistrate's Comi yesterday, before R. 0. Reid and E. Wickes, Esqra., Justices of the Peace, the following civil cases were heard :— Doherty v. Captain Absutn. Mr Newton appeared for the defence, and took objection to the manner in which the account was made out, the par* ticulars not be?ig sufficiently stated. The defendant did not appear personally. Ihe objection was overruled, but judgment waß given for the first two items, amounting to L 2 12s, and costs.— Young v. Mirfin : This was a claim in which the venue had been changed from the Ahaura to Greymouth to recover the price of two ladders, loss of time, and legal expenses, amounting to Ll9 10s. Mr Newton appeared for the plaintiff, and as the defendant did not appear, and it was stated that he was engaged on Government duty on the Nelson aide, the c*se was adjourned for a fortnight, on (payment of witnesses and professional costs. The following judgments were given by default-i^-J. C. Moore v. John Curtis,. L 6 10s; Cohen y. Kittle, 11s 6dj M'Millan and Taylor v. Mrs Trahey, Ll3 12s 6d ; R. Card v. Somerville, L6 l9s 6d.

On Monday evening a meeting of Masons was held, with the object of forming a Royal Arch Chapter under the Scottish Constitution. Bro. W. M. Copper, who was in the chair, explained the steps which had been feken with a view of procuring a Chapter, but, on it being stated that the Masons under the English Constitution contemplated taking similar steps, a committee was appointed to confer with the brethren working under the English Constitution, and to carry out the object of the meeting. Last evening there was a meeting of brethren of the English Constitution, Bro. Moss in the chair, when a deputation fro«n the meeting held on Monday was received, and the question was brouglt forward as to the advisability of cooperation, so as to &lye support to one Chapter in Greymouth. On the withdrawal of the deputation it was unanimously resolved, after discussion, that a Royal Arch Chapter, under tint English Constitution, should be, at once foimed. A committee dt Royal Arch' Masons was formed, and a large amount was subscribed to carry out the objects of the meeting. The petition for the dispensation will be forwarded this mail to England, and instructions were given to procure the necesßary paraphernalia.

A very numerously-attended meeting of intending shareholders in the proposed Building Society "was held in Gilmer's Hotel, last evening, at which the secretary, Mr Webb, read the report of his canvass through the town. The total number shewed 2 applications in class A, and 248Jin class B, and this was deemed so satisfactory that it was resolved at once to float the society. A motion to this effect was accordingly made and unanimously adopted. A provisional committee to draft the rules upon which the business of the society should be conducted comprises the names of Messrs Holmes, Newton, Stark, Eenrick, Morice, and R. C. Reid, with power to add to their, number. This cotnroittaolinDtoou directed to bring up their report on Monday evening next, when it is to be trusted, now that the scheme has been fairly launched, all shareholders, intending shareholders, or persons desirous of information regarding the benefits derivable from such societies will bo present. At the same meeting the permanent directory will be chosen, when only those of the first two classes above-named can vote. Much of the future prosperity of the society depends upon the action of the next meeting, and it is to be hoped that a large assemblage will be present to consider the propositions to be laid before them.

The Church Times copies' the following bona fide advertisement from a Kent paper : — "Notice — In consequence of , the practical teetotal bootmaker of , being very ill, in consequence of having caught a severe cold through attending Divine service on that cold damp night, New Year's Eve, in the large room connected with Ebenezer Chapel, v— , he therefore begs that all the Christian ministers who are personally acquainted with .him will offer up prayers to Almighty God for his safe recovery to perfect health, at the many churches and Christian dissenting chapels in many !irge towns that he has very much frequented in his younger days, as hundreds of the poor in and the surrounding villages are I waiting for him to supply them with more cheap strong boots and shoes from his establishment, — — , which has been established for more than three years." The inhabitants of the Waimea district, Westland, have resolved to erect a monument to the memory of the late Dr. Matthews. Mr Robert Walker, Hokitika, announces the early conversion of the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre into a gigantic concert hall, where "talent" direct from Melbourne will nightly appear. ' A man named G. H. Chamberlain has been arrested in Hokitika for alleged syr • tematic robbery from the premises of Cowlishaw and Plaisted. ' ' The Hokitika .Hebrew congregation have publicly presented to Mr Alexander Singer a handsome silver cup and a beautifully illuminated address in recognition of the valuable services 1 rendered by him to the congregation. ..

One of the most important measures brought down by the General Government this session is the "Tramways Bill." The main object of the measure is to facilitate and regulate the working of tramways. The bill as at present drawn pp consists of three parts, which contain 65 clauses. Part I deals with the preliminaries necessary to be observed before sanction can be obtained for construction. Part II refers to the manner of construction ; and Part IIF provides for the description of carriages, security for maintenance of traffic, license, discontinuance of tramways, the insolvency of promoters, the purchase of tramways, the tolls, byelaws, offences, and other miscellaneous provisions dependent on those already enumerated. At some convenient opportunity we shall publish in detail the provisions of the Bill. ■ i Clerical editors of newspapers do not appear to distinguish themselves by refinement of style or amenity of language, if we may judge by the following extract from a leading article in the Indianopolis Evening Journal (U.S.), of which the Rev G. C. Harding avows himself -to be the editor.":— "The redheaded and ribald wretch who* edits the Sunday Slinger has lately been straining his giant intellect in the production of that.very delicate and finely -flavoied species of wit which consists in the invention of spurious ' middle names for the subject of. his satire.

We appreciate this sort of humor, but we do not '-ke to indulge Jn it. It is too er'iaustive. But we can do it. For instance, the name of the Baturaine and sorrel-topped gladiator of the Slinger is Enos B. Reed. We don't know what the ' B. represents **i the grand combination, but we will assume it to mean Booby, Beat, Baboon, Bilk, Bloak, Boanerges, Bunghole, Bots, Butter, Bingo, Bose, Brss, Bnmpk : i, Baggß, Barber, Bat, Baby, Baoksheesh, Blackmail, Bandana, Bandicoot, Bard, Bawbee, Beans, Beast, Beauty, Boots, Bedaub, Bespatter, Bl' iker, Blowhard, Bogey, Boar, Boovy, Brass, Bray, Beer, Brickton, Buchu, Bugle, Buffoon, or Bustard, and we have w*t enough in a single, paragraph to last the Slinger a twelvemonth. It isn't so very exhausting after all."' The Tltames Guardian says:— "Wiiilst we have bren all talking of finds of coal at a distrnce from tb'a (Ustiict, it has been found quite close to Shoiulanr 1 The man who found the seam repoits that, where struck, it was a large body of coal, over 9ft thick. A landslip, however, during the late wet weather, came down and completely covered up the place where the seam was first found. He, however, found the run of it in the bed of a creek, rid brought a sample dowu to to\ia. Mr A. St. George White, late of the Theatre Royal, Christchurcn, is'now under treatment in the Wellington Hospital, for consumption, with but little or no hope of recovery. A subscription, for the benefit of his wife and family, has been set on foot by Mr Morton Tavares, ; i Christchnrch. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Stafford, on Friday, the 26th instant, seven suits were brought against Dennis Hannan for the recovery in each case of LSO penalty, tor sitting on various occasions, ana at different dates, as a member of the Arahura Road Board, after he had become disqualified) in consequence of having taken an office of profit under the Board. Judgment was given by consent in each case, with coats of Couii. . Reports of speeches in the American congress, said to have been delivered in condemnation of the Webb line, were recently published. It now appears that the speeches were Bpoken early in 1871, and had reference to the subsidy applied for by a China line and not Webb's. The Dunedin Star calls on the Daily Times to explavi the part it took ?u the tiiok. Mr Todd's auotion-room, Hokitika, Bays the West Coast Times, was filled on Monday by a large crowd of persons anxious— or, perhaps, only curious— to learn the result of the sale of mining interests in the Inangahua district. The following lots were knocked down to bidders :— 65 scrip, Caledonian Prospecting claim, at 17s each ; 20 scrip, Wealth of Nation?, 30s each; 30 scrip, Weßtlaud Quartz Mining Company (Rody Ryan's), 13s each. The remainder were withdrawn. The Ancient Order of Foresters, according to the Foresters' Monthly Journal, have increased their numbers by 19,581 during, the past year, while the sum of L26,ooohas been added to the reserve fund of Courts and Diutricts. Taking into account the Juvenile ' Societies and the Second Degree (the Ancient Order of Shepherds), the members now! number more than half a million, having funds invested to the extent of L 1,527,939,, 527,939, as a provision against siokness and death. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on a recent morning, thirteen individuals were charged with drunkenness. In explanation of the' appearance of so many persons upon " the simple charge,"' it is mentioned by the Independent that three of them were recent importations by the Schiehallion, half the whole number were sailors belonging to the ships in harbor, and the rest were persons of weak intellect; who, overpowered by the eloquence of the speakers at a meeting on the subject of small-pox, had drowned their- terrors in the "floeing bole." . Hie Hon John Hall's acceptance of a seat in the Legislative and Executive Councils is thus commented on by the I/yttelton Times : —The plain fact is, the step Mr Hall has taken cuts in two ways, and both are decidedly unfavorable to the aspirations of those who, without being able to enunciate a policy and form a party, have still a strong desire to see the present occupants of the. Treasury benches ousted. On; the one] hand, the defection, as' they will no doubt consider it, of so prominent a n an as Mr Hall from the ranks of the so-called Opposition is at the same time a sign of their weakness and a distinct declaration that, in his opinion, the interests of the oountry are not to be served by a change of Ministry. On the other hand, the position of the Government Liust necessarily be strejgthened to a much, greater extent than that of their opponents is weakened. The gain, however, is in our opinion not so much to the Ministry as to the colony, and whatever may be said to the contrary by his former friends and admirers, Mr Hall deserves the thanks of all those who wish, well to the policy of peace and progress. ; Referring to the death of Inspector Morton, formerly of the Otago Police Force, an Auckland correspondent says :— Poor Morton died yesterday at the Asylum. His mind had utterly gone. Generally, his complaint caused morbid melancholy, but at times he would get into passions so violent that restraint became necessary. Gradual exhaustion ended in a quiet and merciful' death, which was in his case the only relief possible. Many old friends in Otago will sj japathise respectfully and sincerely with his widow, left with a young fanvly on an isolated cotton plantation in Fiji

Mr Luckie, in moving the . adoption of the address in reply to the Governor's speech, took the opportunity of saying a word or two for his countrymen in the capacity of immigrants. He would like, he said, to see brought out to this colony a large, proportion of Buch men as he had seen in different parts of Scotland— a sturdy, hardy race of people who would be willing and able to undergo privation for the purpose of securing comfort and '.happiness ; and among the classes of peasantry none that 'he had the opportunity, of seeing in the agricultural districts of Scotland possessed so much of that determination and perseverance which were the certain elements of success as was to be found in the .fishing communities. He would* be very glad to see the Scotch element introduced. (Hear, hear, and langhter.) They were a people who possessed all the characteristics of success however humble their origin ; and the. "Hear, hear," which he had just re« minded him that twenty-one members of of that House were from the north of the Tweed, and "he took that as one of the bestevidences that the people to whom he had been referring possessed the elements of buccess, and would form a very desirable ingredient in any community.