Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1255, 7 August 1872, Page 2

By a telegram from Wellington, and also by letter from Westport, we are informed that the Provincial Government of Nelson have employed Mr Anslow, of Westport, to canvass for signatures to a petition against the separation of the South- West Gold Fields from that Province, asatptesent constituted and much misruled. In compliance with a motion made by Mr Harrison during the last session of the Assembly, the Wardens of the different .Gold Fields have furnished the General Govern-' ment with reports upon the past, present, and prospective state of their several districts, and these have been printed, along with an elaborate report by Mr Haughton. At the earliest opportunity we shall quote the salient points of Mr Haughton's report, as well as the reports forwarded by Wardens Whitefuord and Revell. Tt was stated in one of Greville's telegrams that it was generally believed in Wellington that the Government were paying O'Coaor's expenses in connection with the inquiry by a Select Committee into his conduct and the conduct of the Nelson Provincial Council. On the appearance of the telegram, one of the West Coast members of the Nelson Council communicated -with the Colonial Treasurer, and he is assured by Mr Yogel that there is not a word of truth in the statement. The old favorite play " The Green Bushes" is to be performed on the Greymouth stage this evening, Miss Stephenson taking the part of Miami, and Mr Burford that of Wild Murtough. "An Object of Interest" is the name of the after-piece. It need scarcely be said that Miss Stephenson is to take part in it also ; the name is sufficiently suggestive of the fact. For Friday evening Bulwer's play of "Money" is announced. "Conspiracy" is apparently becoming a common crime in the country. Mr R. J. Seddon, dating from the significantly-named locality of "Big Dam," Waimea, offers to pay a reward of L2O " to any person ghing him such information as will lead to the conviction of the persons concerned in the conspiracy in connection with the cases brought on Friday last against him as Chairman of the Arahura Road Board." The monthly meeting of the Grey mouth Volunteer Fire Brigade was held on Monday evening. Captain" Amos and twenty-four members of the Brigade were present. After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of previous meetings, there was read a letter from Mr J. A. Whall, tendering his resignation as a working member, and enclosing a cheque for LI Is, as his annual subscription j to the funds of the Brigade. It was decided to offer a reward of 10s Gd, in addition to the usual charge, for the first horse taking the engine to a fire. A letter from Messrs Scott and Wilkinson, of Hokitika, as agents for the Victorian Insurance Office, was afterwards fully discussed, and the Secretary, Mr Moore was instructed to reply to the same, stating that since insurance had become general in Greymouth, the funds of the Brigade had decreaspd, and that if the Brigade were to be maintained, in a state of efficiency, liberal contributions towards its support would require to be made by the Insurance Offices. The resignation of Mr Stewart M'Dowell as a member of the Brigade was accepted, and, on a ballot being taken, Messrs Steel, Wilson, and Williams were declared duly elected as member*. The report of County Council proceedings in yesterday's Went Coast Tinm contains the interesting statement th,at, in a discussion on the Estimates, Mr Dungan, Mr Barff, and^ Mr Fox expressed themselves strongly against Chinese immigration. Mr Josaph Small is understood to be at present in VVestport, on his way to the other towns on the West Coast, as the agent and assistant of Professor Haselmayer, the celebrated conjuror. In the County Council, on Monday, according to the reports in our Hokitika contempirory, there was a short discussion upon the proposal to go into Committee to consider the Estimates, but the motion was passed, and in Committee a number of items were agreed to without amendment.— The items under tbe head of County Gaol provoked a ong and stormy discussion, and on the motion of Mr Hoos, seconded by Mr Barff, they were postponed for further consideration. — The consideration of the question of compensation to -Tramway Companies was adjourned until the following day on the motion of the Chairman. — Mr Fox moved — "That the anuiul grant of LSO be placed on the Hstimntf s to subsidise the Greymouth Fire Brigade," but on the suggestion of th ; Chairman and by leave of the Council, Mr

Fox postponed the motion until the Estimates were again under consideration.— Mr Robinson moved— "That a committee, consisting of Messrs Bonar, Fox, and the mover, be appointed for the purpose of considering the necessity of repairing the overland track from the Christchurch road to the Province of Nelson, via the Tereinakau and Hurunui, to report in seven days." Mr Bonar seconded the motion, which was carried on the voices. —Mr Hoos moved—" That a return be laid on the table to show the reimbursement of criminal prosecutions from the Nelson Province, as also from maintaining the signal station at Cobden, and the maintenance of prisoners and lunatics. 1 ' Mr Barff seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before Mr Revell, Thomas Henry Morrison was remanded to Hokitik* on a charge of larceny as a bailee, the property alleged to have been appropriated belonging to Mr J. M'Beathof that town.— Two men named John Nugent, alias John Leonard, and David Morrow, alias Hans Clarke, were remanded until to-day, on charges of drunkenness and assault.— -Daniel Godfrey and Murdoch Callan, charged with having committed a breach of the Municipal bye-laws, by removing gravel from the end of Gresson street, were each fined 20s and costs.— A few civil cases were heard, in the majority of which judgment went by default.

Chamberlain, charged with burglary, was to be brought before the Resident Magistrate at Hokitika yesterday, when it was understood he would be remanded 'till Thursday for the production of further;evidence.

The comedy and burlesque company, of which Miss Cassy Matthews and Miss Nye are members, returned to Christchurch by the Rangitoto, on the Ist inst.

A fire broke out at Miss Carmody's City Hotel, Charleston, on Wednesday morning, but the flames were promptly subdued before much damage was done. This is the second time a fire hus occurred at the "City."

A landslip, caused by the recent heavy rains, happened on Sunday last, at Giles terrace, Wesfcport, whereby all the water running in the creek was dammed back, and work in the sluicing claims, for a time, put an end to. All hands turned out on Monday and Tuesday to remove the obstruction, and have now cleared a channel for tho water. Another slip also occurred further down, carrying away one of Harrison's flood boxes in the creek, and causing considerable delay to ordinary work. It was fortunate in one respect that the Blips occurred on Sunday, because, had it been during ordinary working hours, it is far from improbable that some serious casualty to human life would have followed, as in both places miners are usually working.

A rather singular case of window-breaking occurred in Wellington lately. A mob of sheep were being driven up the Beach, and when opposite Mr Cohen's shop, at the corner «)f Harbor street, a wether, tired ot the control of the shepherd and his dog, made a sudden bolt, and, as the readiest means of escape which presented itself, jumped through Mr Cohen's plate-glass window. It alighted safely behind the counter in the midst of a shower of glass, having cleared the goods displayed in the window. Here it remained in charge until arrested 4 by the shepherd and dragged forth by the bind leg.

Mr Brogden has not got his laborers on such cheap terms as. we were first led to suppose. In the first place the Messrs Brogden had to provide them with passages ; in the second, they had to furnish them with outfits, varying from a cost of L2to L 7; they pay their fares to London, find them bedding and mess utensils, and lastly guarantee them work in this colony for two years at 5s a day. In some cases the "men leave their wives and families- behind them, and the latter receive 12s a week' while the men remain in Messrs Brogden's employ. The men are at liberty to work for other employers before the two years expire, on paying what they owe to Messrs Brogden.

The past twelve months in the Dunstan district proper, that is, including Black's, Drybread, and the diggings under the Dunstan Range, has been, for gold producing, the worst ever experienced ; the summer and autumn being exceptionally dry, not above a third of the water as usual available, followed by the most severe of winters, locking ground and water up entirely in its iron grip.

The Marlborough Express learns that there is a person resident in that Province who is able to give important evidence relative to the Tich borne case. The person is well known and entitled to credibility. He was a seaman on board the Osprey on her voyage to Melbourne, and recollects distinctly the picking-up of a person who, from the description, he believes was the claimant, and whomv he could identify if it was that person. He remembers all the circumstances connected with the event, as well as the day and date on which it occurred.

A worthy J.P,, resident not ten miles from Nelson, was lately accosted in the street by a respectable-looking individual, who, on the good magistrate failing to recognise him, merely said, " Don't yon recollect you gave me two months" at such a place and such a time ? On the explanation which followed, it turned out that the interlocutor had been brought up before the magistrate as a runaway sailor, and that during the consequent incarceration he had resolved on mending his ways, a resolution ho had practically carried into effect, as manifested not only by his comfortable appearance, but by his grateful recognition of his judge and quasibenefactor.

Several cases were brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court, Stafford, last Friday, in which members of the Arahura Road Board were proceeded against for penalties under the County of Westlaud Act. The first case heard was Currie v. Seddon. Plaintiff sued defendant for LSO penalty, alleged to have been incurred by him for sitting as Chairman of the Arahura Road Board after he had been incapacitated by reason of his having a contract with the Board for the construction of a track. Mr Button was for defendant. The evidence of Mr Byrne, secretary to the Board; of Dennis Hannan, and John M'Whirter, mrmbers of the Board ; and of defendant himself, was to the effect that in January last, defendant called the attention of the Board to the need of repairs in the track referred to, and there being no funds in hand, defendant was authorised to get the work done. Defendant himself offered either to advance the money or to employ a person to effect the necessary repairs and pay him on behalf of the Board., The Board agreed he might do either, and he ; accordingly employed a man, and in proof of his having done so he produced receipts for . cash payment. Judgment was given for defendant in this and in another case in which the variation was only in the date of the alleged offence. Full costs, including counsel's fees, were allowed, his Worship remarking that persons claiming for penalties should have a very clear case. — Farris v. Seddou was a similar case, defendant being sued for sitting at the Arahura Road Boam after he had been incapacitated by having held an office of profit under tho Board, to wit, having been paid "expenses" as a representative at tho Road Board Conference. Mr Button was for defendant, and after some argument as to the meaning attached tp the words "office of profit," the case was dismissed.—Smith v. Houlahau was a case of the same nature, and was also dismissed. Tho Court was then adjourned.