THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1264, 17 August 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1872.

In the performance of the play of "Opposition," Mr Curtis no sooner disappeared from the stage through the trap- door the bolt of which was drawn by Mr Fitzherbert than, ex machina dews, Mr Stafford descended from the "flies," and unravelled the true purpose of the plot. In the first and second acts the heroes were Mr Gillies and Mr Curtis, and their role was " Opposition," of course, but in the disguises of " Constitutional Change " in the one instance, and in the other " Provincial Conservatism." If it was no part of the play, it was the fact that the disguises were discovered, and while in the first act Mr Gillies slew himself, in the second Mr Curtis was slewed by Mr Fitzherbert. As Mr Stafford descends after the fashion of stage deities, he "comes on" to the "lights," if not altogether to the light, and pronounces the true plot of the play to be the demolition or the giants' castle which is to be seen in the corner, and the death of the two grievous giants who live therein, and whose names are "Unsatisfactory Administration," and " Habitual Absence." As he makes the announcement there come forth from his mouth, not exactly flames of fire, but that which easily melteth therein — butter, of which the quality is doubtful, and which is probably composed of soft soap. The precise purpose of this article among the stage properties is not very apparent, but it possibly is — especially after recent experience on the Greymouth boards — more easy to swallow than stage fire, and it is part of the play that something should be swallowed very soon by the army of Provincialists and Wellingtonians who are as yet concealed behind the deity's machine. The attack upon the castle commences in the next scene — time, Wednesday next — and much interest will, no doubt, be taken in the spectacle — some as to the fate of the " forlorn hope," but chiefly as to the fate of the aforo-men-tioned giants, who are supposed to be inside, and also in fear and trembling. There will be several " scenes" to follow, no doubt, and a grand finale ending in fire and smoke — particularly smoke. This, at least, is likely to be the case, if, according to those who know, the great castle wUi prove to be like a great many Maori pahs which have been taken under the auspices of the same deity — when taken, found empty. Probably the play will end pleasantly — as we hope it will do— and that, "when the battle's lost and won, and the hurly-burly's done," it will be discovered that these two fearful giants " Unsatisfactory Administration" and " Habitual Absence" are not in the castle, and have never been there at all. In the interests of morality, all pantomimes are made to end pleasantly, and it would be unjust to suppose that this one will prove an exception. If the playwright is true to history, and especially to the Colonial Treasurer's recent description of the inside of the castle, he will -reveal as its inmates, not two ugly giants with Buch nasty names, but two nice fairies named " Hard-work" and " Goodconduct" doing their very best to overcome the evil disposition of some little imps which infest all such great castles, and who are called " Shortcomings" and "Faults of Policy."

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council was held in the Town Hall last evening. Present : His Worship the Mayor in the chair. Councillors Smith, Woolcock, Purcell, Dupre, Moore, Coates, M'Gregor, and Kennedy. The minutes of ihe last meeting were read and confirmed, and the correspondence as read was received. The business|was not very important, and owing to the lateness of the hour at which the Council adjourned, and as we are rather pressed for space, we are compelled to hold over our report until our next.

The dramatic company have received an acquisition to their numbers and talent by the arrival of Mr Thornton and '• La Petite Amy," who recently appeared in Greymouth with the company which, included Miss Matthews and Miss Nye. By their presence, the company will be considerably strengthened in several particulars, commencing from thin evening, when Miss Clara Stephenson, Mr Burford, and others appear in the drama "Dominique the Deserter," and when Miss Sfcephenson. will also teach all gentlemen who attend, that which so many gentlemen in Greymouth require, " A Conjugal Lesson."

A prospecting area of 200 ft x 1200 ft, is reported by the InangaJiua Herald to have been applied for and granted on Saturday last to, Gilbert Charleston and Laurence Sinclair for alluvial working. The ground is situate about two and a half miles up the right-hand branch of Devil's Creek, after passing the fall of Soldier's Gully. Gold was struck in a spur of a high terrace, and a fair prospect obtained, consisting of partly waterworn and scaly gold. The ground is proposed to be worked Jby tunnelling and ground-sluicing, and is distant about five miles south of Reefton.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. H. Eevell, Esq., R.M, judgment was given in the adjourned case, Corcoran v M'Kinty. This was a claim of L3O on a document which tne one side contended was an I 0 17, and the other that it was a promissory note, and as it was insufficiently stamped the drawer of it was liable to a penalty of LSO. Mr Newton, for the defendant, confessed to judgment, payments to be made at the rate of LlO per month.

The Magistrate saidj that as the action had been settled in another way he would not order proceedings to be taken, as he would have done otherwise. But on the document before him he would express the opinion that it was not a simole I 0 V but a negotiable instrument which could be transferred to a third party. Judgment for plaintiff, payment to be made at LlO per month. — Charles Seabrook and Henry. Williams were each fined 10s and costs for obstructing Mackay and Alexander streets, by placing building materials thereon without keeping a light burning from sunset to sunrise. — James Johnston was charged on the information of John Harris with using abusive language towards him, and complainant asked that the defendant be bound over to keep the peace. Mr Newton appeared for the complainant, and Mr Guinness for thu defence. Evidence was given as to the offensive language having been used, but as the defendant said that the complainant first insuLed him, and the only witness, Mr M'Laren, who was present at the time was now absent. Mr Newton asked for a remand unt'l Monday. The remand was granted.

A splendid cake of retorted gold, the result of the first crushing of Paddy Hunt's claim, now known as the Golden Fleece Company, Inangahua, was yesterday brought to town and lodged in the Bank of New Zealand, where a large number of citizens inspected it. It weighed 879 ounces, the product of 342 tons of stone. It appears that the cake was' exhibited at Roefton, and" regarding it the Herald of Wednesday says:— The return gives a more satisfactory result than was obtained from the prospecting claim, which may be accounted for by the fact that the Golden "Fleece took out their stone at a lower level. This goes to show that the reef improves in richness as a greater depth 18 attained. With the reefs already opened in this district, and the evidence of their richness, none need fear the future. Taking everything into consideration — the quantity of stone crushed, the immense thickness of the reef, being in its widest part some 13ft across, and the facility with which the stone can be got out, there can be no question as to this turning out a pile claim.

One of the drawbacks to residence in Westlaud has hitherto been the absence of facilities for the instruction of the young in the higher branches of education. In Hokitika long and persistent efforts were made to supply this want, and there now exists an institution known as the Hokitika Academy. In Greymouth this important matter has been left to private enterprise, an i the existing schools have the reputation of being very creditably conducted. Notwithstanding the absence of Government encouragement such as exists in Otago and Nelson, we notice that an addition is to be made to their number, Mr Charles Prince, an experienced and able teacher, having arrived from Melbourne by the Albion, with the intention of establishing a Grammar School. Mr Prince was lately Principal of the Classical School, Westbury East, St Kilda, Victoria, formerly Head-master of the Grays Grammar School, Essex, England, and possesses very high credentials of professional ability from undoubted authoiities in matters educational both in England and the colonies. Bates of postage for the British West Indies, including bt Thomas, via San Francisco will in future be—for letters, Is 4d per half-ounce; for newspapers, threepence each ; and for books, ninepence per four

ounces.

A communication has been received from the Bishop of Nelson, intimating that a Minister of the Anglican Church will be shortly appointed to the Reefton district.

Tbe tramway connecting Reeffcon with, the sawmills of Messrs Graham, Malfroy, and Co, is now completed into Broadway, and is in operation.

In the debate ou the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, Mr laiaroa, one of the Maort members, suggested reform in a new direction:—"ln his opinion it was absurd to wait till the death of a wife to marry her sister— the Maori custom was infinitely preferable ; he failed to see why honorable members should not have half a dozen wives."

The Hon. Mr Mantell, according to a Wellington contemporary, stated in the Upper House the other day, that the Hon. Mr Miller had been specially brought up, by the Luna to join the Ministry, at' a cost of L6OO, which 1 Mr Mantell thought justifiable expenditure, considering what Mr Miller did for it. The remark caused considerable amusement.

Chamberlain, charged with breaking into and stealing from the store of Cowlishaw and Plaisted, ironmongers, Hokitika, has been committed for trial. Another charge against him is being proceeded.

The Masonic ball at Melbourne, on July 19 was attended by about 900 persons. ,

The heavy fresh prevailing in the Buller from Sunday last, says the Times of Tuesday, has worked more havoc on the river bank, from Wallabi street downwards to the sea beach. Another large slice has been carried away, leaving now a nearly perpendicular face of soft' sand which hourly crumbles away before the action of the current. Between the end of Kennedy street and the wharf there is. some twenty or thirty feet of deep water, and. tbe skeleton timbers of the wharf stand totteringly in the full fo.'ce of the iiver current. Two of the principal piles were carried away by floating logs on Sunday, and the rest can hardly hold ground ' much longer. From Bright street to Cobden street, little damage has yet resulted to the river bank, but at M'Leod's new wharf a heavy snag, borne down by the stream on Sunday morning, came end on against the piles shaking the whole structure, and causing the pile-driving machine to topple over, the crab winch sinking in deep water. Above Pakington street, along the river frontage of the new township site, the fresh has also carried away a long strip of loose stones and soil.

On the Bth instant, a meeting of the Canterbury Presbytery was held in St Andrew's, Christchurch. The Presbytery was constituted by devotional exercises. Sederunt— Rev W. M'Gowan (moderator), Revs C. to, Fraser, A. F. Douglas, and W. M'Gregor. The Rev C. Fraser was appointed clerk pro tern. The Presbytery unanimously approved of the conduct of the moderator in summoning a meeting of the Presbytery at Hokitika on the 31st July, and also in authorising Mr Hogg to proceed in the moderation of a call for a pastor to the congregation at Hokitika ; and further approved of the summoning of a pro re nata of Presbytery for the present time and place to dispose of the said call. Thereafter, the usual documents being produced and found correct and orderly, the call was taken up and sustained. It was agreed to instruct the cler& to forward the call, with the congregational reasons for translation, to the Presbytery of Clutha, whereof the Rev James Kirkland, to whom the call is addressed, is a member. The Presl vtery fui iher agreed to request ar^ auc 1 rise tho Lev John G>w to represem this Presbytery before tLj Presbytery of Cluth.l, and urge the translation of Mr Kirklaad. The Presbytery further resolved to endorse the reasons of the congregation in favor of translation, as being in accordance with the present knowledge of some of the members. The meeting was closed by the moderator pronouncing the benediction,