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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1263, 16 August 1872, Page 2

Messrs Forsyth. and Masters, Greymoutb, have presented the Council cf the Grey Valley Agricultural Association with a piece of plate, to be given as a prize at the ploughing match which is to come off on Totara Flat about the 12th September next.

Yesterday being the Fsaat of the Assumption, or Lady Day in August, divine services were held at St. Patrick's Church, Arney street, and the day was generally observed as a holiday of obligation by the Roman Catholics of G^ey mouth.

A meeting of the Committee of* the Grey District Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society was held in Gilmer's Booms last night. The treasurer reported having received the following contributions, viz :~ Collected .by Mrs Thomas and Miss Taylor, Lll 8s; Mrs Greenwood and Mrs Masters, Ll2 ; Mrs Coates, Ll4 17s Gd ; Mrs Russell, Marsden, L 5 8s 6d ; Mrs Boaso and Mrß Taylor, L 9 14s. It was decided to send to the Society's Depot at Christchurch for a supply of bibles and testaments to meet immediate requirements, and to London for a further supply. It was arranged to send a report of the proceedings of the Society to the parent institution. The meeting then adjourned.

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, was confined to some civil cases of no public interest.

Mr Henry Aldborough Stratford has been appointed Goldfields Warden for Otago.

f The coach from Christchurch arrived in Hokitika about 11 o'clock on Wednesday night, the delay having been occasioned by the heavy fall of snow on the ranges. In some places, says the Times, the snow was fully sft in depth, and near the Pass the obstruction was so great that a number of men were employed ia cutting a track. In some places Mr Burton had to dismount and clear a track himself, and one quarter of a mile of the road, which, was up-hill, took two hours and a half to travel over. The coach was covered with snow when it came in. The death of Mr Douglas, of the Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin, is attributed by the local papers to his presence in the jury-box for several days, during severe weather aud in the miserable Court-house there. Mr Douglas, says the Star, served on the jury in the case of Hunter v Cargill and others for three days ; and there is little doubt that his exposure to the draughts which arc too keenly felt in inclement weather iv the Court materially aggravated the disease from which he died. Mr Anthony Trollope, who arrived in the Colony by the Albion, proceeded from Invercargill, via Winton, to the Lakes. Mr W. H. Pearson, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill, by direction of the Government, accompanied Mr Trollope. The latter gentleman will visit Dunedin, after taking a run through the interior of the Province. The Japanese troupe, which arrived by the Albior, at Dunedin, 'are under-engage-ment to appear at the Princess Theatre. It comprises Mrs Charles, a vocalist ; Mr Marietta, comique ; and ten Japanese. Of the latter one is a female, and this troupe includes the boy " All Right," whose feats are said to be astonishing. In a recent bankruptcy case at Christchurch, the liabilities are stated at L 309, and the assets at 6d. The bankrupt's name is Compton, with the aristocratic prefix of De Blaquiere. The following new thing in advertisements appears in the West Coast Thries :— "Mr and Mrs Schulthies being about to 1 take their departure for Europe, desire to wish farewell to their numerous friends." The Rev Mr Sutherland, of the First Church, Dunedin, has received a call from St George's Church, Sydney, New South Wales. It iB described as " unanimous and hearty." Mr Sutherland has not yet intimated his intentions in respect to the call. Mr Brogden's agent in Invercargill (says a Southland paper) has received instructions to proceed with the construction of the Mataura railway without delay. It is intended to commence operations at Edendale. A Wellington correspondent of a Southland paper says :— •• Billet hunting is one of the most prominent of local pursuits. It is per* fectly astonishing the amount of men who are at present in Wellington looking out for some {rood easy appointment under the Government. The candidates appear to represent every grade of society, with the exception of the class able and willing to do a good hard day?s work. It is said that the applications received by the Brogdeu party are so numerous that their offices were in danger of being blockaded with written applications. A clerk was employed to decline these overtures with thanks, but they accumulated so rapidly that it was found necessary to procure the assistance of a printing press to keep down arrears. Is it not lamentable to think that a country which stands so badly in need of immigration should have this floating population on hand ? Surely there is something very far wrong in our social organisation/

The Stafford Town correspondent of the Watt Coud Times says that as a proof of the faith which miners have in ground in Callaghan's Gully, Waimea, may be mentioned lue case of the Enterprise Company (Hamilton and party), who commenced

operations in tunnelling in October 1870, and continued until April, 1872, by which time they had driven their tunnel 2300 ft. They then struck payable washdirt on a rise 30ffc above the drive, but owing to the want of funds they had to suspend operations. They have now made a call of Lls a share, and intend importing iron rails and trucks from Victoria, when, with the aid of a horse, they will be able to work with despatch. They have succeeded in securing a special claim of six acres, the most of which they believe will be payable, as the prospects obtained are quite satisfactory. There is no doubt that success is, at all events, well deserved by the Enterprise Company.

TheOamam Times states that Mr Steward, M.H.R., purposes bringing in a Bill to the following effect : — Waitaki district (taking in the country as far as Lindis) to be constructed a Board of Works, giving the Board LIOO.OOO to expend in main north, main south, and north-western roads; bridges over Otepopo, Island Stream, and Kakanui Kivers; and harbor works, &c, at Moeraki, Eakanui, and Oamaru; also, a certain amount for Municipal works, &c. Money to be advanced by the Colony arid charged against the Province— repayable by the latter in twenty annual instalments. The Board to consist of chairman and ten members. Chairman to be elected for four years by the whole district, two. members by the Municipality of Oamaru, and two each by four subdivisions of the district. ; Power to levy tolls and make rates will also be included ; also borrowing powers.