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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1260, 13 August 1872, Page 2

It was hoped that the steamer Tararua, bound to Nelson and Wellington on her return voyage to Melbourne, would have put in an appearance yesterday, and, in anticipation her arrival, the hon. sec. of the Greymouth of Memorial Committee had gathered a number of documents on the subject of one Government for the Coast, for transmission to the General Assembly. The. whole »re in the form of one memorial, and have been numerously signed by all classes, but it is rather a pity that more time was not available, for then at least double the number of signatures could have been obtained. Notwithstanding this drawback, the Memorial, as prepared, embodies the feeling of the public, and is amply attested. If greater proof vere needed, a few hours' sojourn amongst the people of the Grey Valley and Westland would satisfy the most sceptical. Memorials such as these will strengthen the hands of the Government immensely fa bringing in their promised bill, and it would be well if country districts, having similar petitions for presentation will assist by forwarding them as promptly as possible.

The District Court sits again this morning at ten o'clock, when the bankruptcy cases will be proceeded with.

A public meeting is convened by the Mayor of Hokitika, to be held at the Town Hall this evening, on the question of uniting the West Coast Gold Fields under one local Government.

At the sitting of the District Court yesterday morning, when the jury list was called, over five were found to be absent, and a fine of LI each was entered up against them. Subsequently they appeared, and, on being called before the Court stated that . they lived on the South Beach and were detained owing to the tramway car being so late that, they had to walk to town, and the weather was very stormy. Hfs Honor said that in the present instance he would remit the fines, but in future jurors were to understand that when summoned they must attend at the hour punctually. He was always present to the minute, and he could not see why the jurors should not be there also.

Surely the Nelson Government must be considerably alarmed at the turn affairs are taking, if their spasmodic exertions towards obtaining signatures to their bogus petition can be considered as proofs. We yesterday informed our readers of the efforts made elsewhere. Yesterday, a Government official in Cobdeu was busy in the work, and forms of petition are being circulated throughout the Grey Valley. Surely if people have any common sense left, they will not only decline to append their signatures, but will do so so with anything like thanks to the individuals who have the hardihood to seek them. The Ahaura is to be visited next, we hear, but we much mistake its residents if the petition-monger does hot meet with a warmer reception than he has calculated on in that locality.

In a Home paper the following advertisement appears :— " To all in debt and difficulties. The new law for debtors. Mr Marchant, of 46 Hatton Garden, obtains for embarrassed debtors (in town or country), immediate protection ■of property from County Court and other proceedings, and an entire release from all debts, under tho now act, without - imprisonment, bankruptcy, publicity, or suspension of business. Charges from LI Is. Consultation free. Offices, 46 Hatton Garden. N.B. — Mr Marchant may bo consulted in the evening at his private residence, 22 Doughty street, Mccklenburgh

iquare." A corresponded of the Canterbury Press asks : — " What do you think of that ? I think a lot of it. Ido so. I commend the para^i-aph to the notice of those who are carrying out our immigration scheme. We are introducing numerous 1 'Ople here. The immigration scheme is really very cosmopolitan. Now 1 put it to you, would not the gentleman who advertises as above be a most .desirable colonipt ? The man who can obtain ' an entire release from all debts without imprisonment, bankruptcy, publicity, or suspension of business,' all for the charge of LI Is, strikes me as a man who woulc. aot only find a cordial welcome here, but do a good stroke of business. Such a philanthropist might engage very large offices and pay many clerks very lar^e screws. Just send this paper to Dr Feataerston by first post, because if he don't come to terms quickly with him, I feel sure Mr Copoin will bring him out to Melbourne on spec."

One of the most dangerous places to foot passengers hi town is on the path opposite Mr Magoffin's shop in Boundary street, where four stumps, remains of old verandah poßts, stand several niches above the level of the surrounding ground. These stumps are especially dangerous on a dark night, as the verandah, as at present constructed, totally conceals the light that would be afforded by the lamp of the Commercial Hotel, and as they are located upon the fairway of the path, the first notice the unsuspecting pedestrian receives is a very disagreeable fall or stumble. It is to be hoped the nuisance complained of will be at once remedied.

Last night, at the Volunteer Hall, the play "Money" was^again produced to, we are glad to say, a very good house. Miss Stepnenson, as Clara, acquitted herself as excellently as she always does, and the chief male character, Evelyn, was exceedingly well rendered by Mr E. A. Drnry, who has on previous occasions won amateur histrionic honors. To-morrow night, the sensational play, "The Streets of London," byßoucicault, will be producedr and we understand that an excellent cast has been made. We have no doubt that a full house will reward the enterprise of the management. The works which Messrs Brogden have tendered for, and for which their tenders

The old whim claim, at Ross, which we have often had reason to mention as having been systematically and remuneratively worked, is, we are happy to find, likely to prove a lucky venture for the shareholders. In prospecting on the upper level, of which but little was hitherto thought, a very_ fine layer of wash has been struck of a highly payable character.

A meeting of shareholders in the Moon* light Gold Mining Company was held at the White Hart Hotel, Christchurch, on the sth inst., Mr Ollivier in the phair. It was unanimously agreed to decline to pay the second call, which had been made by the liquidator, and all calls made in future.

The Queenstown paper Bays : — " We understand that Grace's party, at Skipper's Point, while prospecting lately, have struck a new run of gold in their claim, which is said to be very rich iv the precious metal, Our informant states that LSOOO has been refused for a sixth share in the claim. There is no accounting for luck."

The Akaroa correspondent of the Canterbury Press writes on Friday : —"To give an idea of the severe frost here last night, I may state that the steam launch Pioneer had to cut through about half a mile of ice on her passage to the head of the harbor."

Mr Anthony Trollope, the celebrated novelist, is expected shortly to arrive in Dunedin. It is said that Mr H. Pearson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, has been requested by the Government to accompany Mr Trollope as far as Queenstown, should he decide to proceed northwards overland.

In the "Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Irstitnte" two papers are published by Mr J. LI. George, detailing the result of his experiments to determine the relative gas-prodacing qualities of New Zealand and other coals, and are very instructive. Mr George thus sums up the conclusions at which he has arrived :— "All the experiments made, and information that I have been able to obtain, tend to show that New Zealand possesses superior coal for steam purposes, when worked with stationary engines, at a moderate draught, and for household and gas purposes, to that of New South Wales ; But that for steamers' boilers, working at a strong draught, the heavier coals of England and New South Wales have the advantage." The New Zealand coals here spoken of by Mr George are those obtained from the Grey, Collingwood, and Eawa Kawa (Bay of Islands).

tare been accepted, are : - , Construe- MainMiles, tion. tenance. Newmarket to £ £ Mercer ... 39.07 ... 166,724 ... 2200 sTapier to Puki Pnki ... 18.13 ... 50,807 ... 860 rVellington to Hutt ... 8.00 ... 28,016 ... 400 ?icton to Blenlieim ... 17.10 ... 75.534 ... 1000 )unedin to Glutha (Taieri section) 34.55 ... 142,000 ... 1835 [nvercargill to Mataura ... 39.56 ... 86,697 ... 2135 Total ... 156.61 ... 550,378 ... 8430