Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1289, 16 September 1872, Page 2

We hear that a largo number of men at Recfton responded to the invitation to thoroughly search Boatman's Creek on Thursday last and following days for the body of the missing man, Thomas Costello, but up to tho latest advices their efforts have been in vain. It is more than probable fcbat the body, if, as is most probable, murder has been committed, has been buried, and will never be recovered. It seems that the accused are perfectly nonchalant, and treat the charge as lightly as though it were tho lightest offence known to law. There is a strong feeling in the district on the matter, however, and it is likely that, in the event of Jkheii liberation, they will consider it wise to remove themselves from the district, lept worse befal them. Friday Inst, being the licensing day in Reefton, was looked forward to with considerable trepidation by a lot of the small fry liquor sellers, as it was supposed that the new Nelson. Ordinance had come into force, and that those who had not accommodation in accordance with its provisions would have their doors closed. This was the ruling of a legal authority, but it seems that it was an error on his part, as it does not come into operation till the end t)f the present year. The consequence was that, with the exception of houses of thi3 kind whose licenses had expired, and some whose licenses were refused on other grounds, all obtained permits till the end of the year when, the Magistrate notified, the new Act would be rigidly enforced. From what we can make out, there are two public-houses to one of all other trades in the reefing metropolis. This implies great confidence in its future, for at present they are said as a whole to be hardly paying the cost of kerosene. A man named Thomas Blair was sentenced, on Friday last, at the Reeftou Resident Magistrate's Court, to six months' imprison- | ment with hard labor for larceny from the Serson. It seems that the prisoner had been linking at Boatman's Creek in company with a miner named M'Coul, and on the latter getting drunk first, Blair coolly divested him of his watch and chain, together with L 4 6s Gd in silver, and left the despoiled individual to sleep it out in the bush. Fortunately some persons passing along tbe track heard M'Coul moaning, and went to his assistance, otherwise the cold night would probably have killed biro. The watch and a large portion of the prosecutor's money was found on the prisoner's person. The case was fully proved, and the punishment well deserved. The charge of shooting with intent, brought against Andrew M 'Shane and William Roberts, was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Reefton, on Thursday last,' and the accused were again remanded till the following morning. Thomas Gaffaey, a well-known miner, was charged at the same sitting with stealing a horse ftom Michael Darcy. It seemed that Gaffuey hired a horse f romDarcy to go down a certain portion of the road to Greymouth, but instead of that rode the animal into Greymouth. During the time that he was there the horse was used by various individuals, and ultimately was returned to its owner at Square Town by another person. Prior to this, however, Darcy get out a warrant for Gaffuey's arrest on a charge of horse-stealing. There was not the slightest evidence of felonious intent, and the Magistrate, after hearing the evidence, at once discharged the prisoner. A mid-day and an evening performance were given at the Theatre on Saturday — the former for the convenience and enjoyment of young Greymouth, who was pretty numerously represented. Young Greymouth, like its seniors, seemed to be slow in the appreciation of ••puns" such as those given in the burlssque of "Lalla Rookh," but one or two young gentlemen exhibited an alarming disposition to go "into fits" — of laughter— at some of the funniest situations, and the juvenile crowd was altogether immousely satisfied. The next performance is to-morrow evening, when Mr Small takes his benefit, and gives his admirable representation of " O'Callaghan on his last legs." Mr C. Prince writes to us expressing his gratification at discovering, during a walk through the bush, some of the Californian quail which were lately turned out by our townsman, Mr J. Kilgour. He hopes that the birds will bo protected, and that their piesence and increase will be appreciated and encouraged. He adds that the circumstance of such birds being introduced in this neighborhood suggested to him the propriety of an Acclimatisation Society being formed here, and with that object, as will bo seen by an advertisement in another column, a meeting is appointed to be held at the Union Hotel on Wednesday evening, when it is to be hoped that all gentlemen who interest themselves in the matter .of acclimatisation will endeavor to attend. We have not received by telegraph information of the result of the trial of George Henry Chamberlain, before the Supreme Court, Hokitika, but visitors from Hokitika who arrived in Greymouth yesterday reported that he had been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment. A full report of the ploughing-match and the Grey Valley Agricultural Society's annual dinner was prepared by our upcountry correspondent, but owing, no doubt, to some miscarriage, his report was not received by us yesterday. The reports from tho Aylmer Lead rush, says the Boss News, are not ao encouraging as they were. Several holes have been bottomed without payable results, and an exodus is already taking place. That gold docs exist there in quantities sufficient to warrant an extensive and thorough prospecting of the ground in that neighborhood is very currently believed ; but the means in the possession of the majority of the miners who have visited the rush are of a very limited nature, and consequently there is but a poor chance at present, in the absence of any heavy finds, of a proper trial being given. A general meeting of the shareholders of the Hokitika Coal Prospecting Association was held on Thursday night in Jihe Empire Hotel, Mr Gawne in the chair. The secretary read the manager's and auditor's reports, and a telegram from the Hon. J, A. Bonar, and Dr Hector. The meeting passed a resolution confirming the appointment of Mr Denniston as manager, and a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the directors and secretary for tho satisfactory and businesslike manner in which the business of the association is being conducted. There are very good reasons, says the Star, to expect from the able and practical manner in which the works are being prosecuted, that we shall shortly have to chronicle the existence of a payable field of black diamonds in our immediate neighborhood. Writing of the result of the vote on the no-confidence motion, the Wellington Independoit says :— We do not think that the result will be satisfactory to the electors of the Colony, nor do we think that a final settlement has been arrived at. We do not desire— nor would anyone interested in the welfare of the Colony desire— that any fac

tious opposition should be raised agaiust the incoming Government, but it cannot be denied that the position of Mr Stafford will be anything but a strong one. The various considerations which have led to the majority he secured last night will still remain as a source of embarrassment. His party has now lost its chief element of cohesion— that of turning out the Government— and his task of framing his position towards the \ House will be somewhat a difficult one. The Opposition which in the ordinary course of ! things will bo formed by the Ministry upon last night's division, will be sufficiently strong to enforce very hard terms if it choose to use its strength, aud it is by no means certain that Mr Stafford will be able to form an administration strong enough, to evade repetition of his owu tactics by his opponents. ! Tbe doctors' strike at Sandhurst, "Victoria, has been terminated by a compromise. For ' tho sum of 20s per head per annum the members of the benefit societies of Sandhurst can now be drugged and doctored to their hearts content.) A gentleman arrived at Collinewood from Anatori on Saturday, to report to the coroner a case of awfully sudden death at the reefs. A mau named James Durden, while sitting and chatting with his mates, suddenly fell over— dead. The cause was heart disease. On the 2Sth inst, in the House of Representatives, Mr O'Conor asked the Government to lay upon the table of the House all correspondence relating to the Inangab.ua Ferry. His reason for putting .the question., was that he was under an impression, which was shared in very generally in the district which he represented, that the public interests had been sacrificed in the disposal of the Inangahua Ferry. Mr Reeves said the papers were now being copied, and would be laid on the table of the House next day. The members of the Church of England congregation at Reefton have purchased an excellent harmonium, which arrived safely on Friday last. In connection with the instrument was forwarded a bulky volume of sacred music suitable for the denomination in question, and this was packed in the waggon alongside of the harmonium. Unfortunately the vehicle in question being subjected to the same infirmities that heavily laden waggons travelling over small rocks in river beds are, broke down, and it was necessary for its guardians to travel back some distance to get a fresh wheel. In their absence some pirates went aboard, no doubt in the hope of obtaining frep provisions, spirits, or something convertible, but were disappointed at finding no package much under a couple of hundred in weight, and consisting of parts of machinery and other valueless (to them) material. The only loose package was the book in question, and having duly appropriated it they decamped. The music box, therefore, has come to hand, but the music is absent, ani the committee are left lamenting. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police, and it is probable that on finding their prize to be of such an unsaleable nature, the thieves may either make or permit restitution to be made. Certainly the depredators did not know what they were stealing* otherwise they would have let their worthless catch alone. It was without doubt an odd bit of booty to snatch. A case of parliamentary privilege is creating a good deal of excitement and interest in Wellington just now. It appears that Mr John Martin, of that town, had opposed Mr Andrew, M.H.R.., iv the purchase of land in order, as he said, " to punish him for a vote given last session in the General Assembly, that it was the only way he could ge^ at him, and it should cost him 500 notes." The matter was brought before the House by Mr Reynolds, and a Committee appointed to enquire into it, whose report was that the charge was fully proved. On Wednesday last, Mr Pox moved the consideration of the Committee's report, and supposed that the course, to adopt was to move that a breach of privilege had been committed by John Martin. Sir D. Monro moved this, and said that the intimidation and punishment of members for their votes . was what could not be allowed by any Legislature. The motion was put and carried. Mr Fox then moved without remark that John Martin be required to attend at the bar of the House on Tuesday next. This was carried, aud the House will decide what steps shall be taken to punish. John Martin, and to protect Mr Andrews. Tho Collingwood correspondent of a Nelson contemporary writes : — '• About a year ago, the population of the Anatori diggings increased from about 30 or 40 to about 140, at which figure it may now be stated. The recent discovery there of very rich reefs, however, promise those diggings an importance within the next few months that will dwarf their past into insignificance ; in saying which I am attempting to utter no prophecy, but simply echo the deliberate conviction of all who have seen and are able to judge of the reefs. Tho other workings, meanwhile, are not to be underrated, and will most likely gradually open into undertakings of a more extensive character. The following letter from Mr Staite, solicitor, Ahaura, appears in the Wellington Independent:— "Aa it is possible that our representatives now assembled iv Wellington may be depeiyed by a petition against separation which is being hawked abQuc these gold fields, I may be excused for asking a short space in your columns to state the following facts t : — The Nelson Executive, or their supporters, are employing paid canvassers to get signatures to a memorial expressing approval of Mr Curtis's Government. It is said that one shilling of public money is paid for every signature. The police and provincial authorities and others are part of the machinery employed. Misrepresentation of the contents are made to procure signatures. Roadmen and other provincial employees are coerced into signing (so it is said) upon being paid their wages. In conclusion, Sir, permit me to state that I have lately been through the centres of population here, and whatever number of signatures, petitions for or against separation may bear, 1 can state positively, and testify on oath if required -Ist. That the discontent here is widespread and universal, with the miner as with the merchant, 2nd. That there is, I am sorry to say, only too much cause for it." Regarding a telegram {which we recently published, Mr R. J. Morison, of the firm of Morison, Middleton, and Co., San Francisco, in a letter to a gentleman in Dunedin, says : ■—" The writer's attention has been drawn to a shipment of white pine railway ties (sleepers) from this coast to Canterbury Province. Now this timber is held by all our principal contractors hero to be quite unsuited for said purposes, from the rapidity with which it decays when in contact with, the ground. I have sent you a sample of red wood timber, which is invariably used on the permanent way of our railways. All the lines of railway radiating from this have been laid down with red wood, and it is now being largely used by Meiggs and Co, the contractors for the lines of railway being constructed under a guarantee from the Peruvian Government." A Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Examiner, said to be Mr Arthur Collins, wrote thus shortly before the division which ended in the defeat; of the Fox- Vogel Ministry :—" Attempts are also being made |in various ways to influence the Presr, mostly by means of the telegraph. I may refer to a very recent instance that lias been brought to uiy notice. The Press Association telegraphed to the Grey River Argus th*

substance of a leader in the Indepsndent commenting on West Coast affairs, and counselling, if not commanding, the West Coast representatives to vote for -the.. Go-: vernment. Next day the Grey River Argus had a leader folloVing up tho subject, and the substance of it was telegraphed by the Press Association agent at Greymouth to Wellington, and was duly published in the' telegraphic news in the Wellington Independent. A very pretty little game of -hide and seek, truly !" This paragraph contains two gross mierepreßenfcations.-- It has-already been explained that the Press Association did not send to tlio Argus any summary of articles in the Independent, and neither the Argus, the'a?:pNt of the Association; 'ncr anyone else th^'c we are aware of, ever sent to the Independent the substance of any article which appeared in this paper. We havo also diligently searched the files of the Independent, and have failed to find anything of the sort.