THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1572.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1292, 19 September 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1572.

Yesterday a deputation of residents of Greymouth, who had previously communicated with Mr Whitefoord by telegraph, waited upon that gentleman upon his arrival in town, and represented to him the desirability of the Nelson Government converting into a dray track the bridle track from the intersection of tho No Town track. Mr Whitefoord stated that ho previously contemplated representing the matter to the Government, and, on receiving the telegram referred to, he had communicated with the Superintendent, who had consented to the alteration proposed. The performance at the Theatre this evening is to be the last of a dramatic leason which has been much more protracted than could have been expected in a comparatively small town like Greymouth, and it has also, by much industry on the part of Miss Slephenson and those by whom she has been supported, been more successful than the most ardent local admirers of the drama could have anticipated. To this success Mr Thornton, as scenic artist, has latterly contributed considerably, and, though last, his " benefit"— which is to-night —should not be least. Last evening "The ColleeD Bawn" was repeated, and though presented to a small house, tho play wbd given with more spirit on the part of the company, and with more satisfaction to the audience than on the first occasion. At the Wa|den's Court, Ahaura, on 13th instant, before Mr Warden Whiteford, Solomon Kittlety and party applied for an abandoned head-raco at Callaghan's Creek. The application was opposed by Francis Hawk, on the ground that he was in legal possession of the race applied for. Granted, and the following order was made— Hawk to be allowed to work the ground over which Ms claim extends on condition that lie flumes the water, and not interfere with Williams and party. A number of frontage tunnelling claims were granted and other applications disposed of, and the Court was adjourned to 20th Sept. Professor Haselmayer, having returned from a successful tour through the southern parts of Westland, makes his first appearance in Greymouth, at the Volunteer Hall, to-morrow evening. An up-country correspondent writes as follows regarding the probability of an approaching election for the Superin tendency of Nelson :— There is likely to be some excitement in the Grey Valley about the election for the new Superintendent. There is no doubt if a local aDd properly qualified candidate could be found he would be certain to secure the suffrages of the residents of the Gold Fields in preference to any Nelson man. Whatever chance Messrs Luckie or Sharp may have in this part of the country, Mr Shephard or ' any member of the, Nelson Executive would find very little favor, because they are all by implication equally guilty of neglect of the Gold Fields interests. But as the election is not likely to be influenced to any great extent by the votes of constituencies on the Gold Fields, it is useless speculating- as to the probabilities, for we may be certain on one point at least, namely, that we will not benefit much no matter who rules the roost, as long as we are connected with Nelson. We were in hopes, after moving heaven and earth to get up our monster petitions throughout the Gold Fields, that 'some good would come of them, but it would appear we are as far from emancipation as ever we were. His Honor, the old Superintendent was too clever for us, and His Honor' tho new Superintendent, whoever he should turn out to be, may be indifferent to our grievances, and therefore of even less value to us. The new road over the Saddle from tho Little Grey has had a good opportunity of settling during the fine weather. No doubt when it was opened first the wet weather was against it, and travelling along was unpleasant. With a little judicious attention and repairing, it will make a capital highway, for it is well constructed and properly drained. With the material available, it is a creditable work, for it must not be forgotten that there is a great scarcity of suitable material for road metal, except in one or two places along its route. At all events it is a magnificent improvement on the old road, for instead of its being a long day's journey, with the actual and positive risk to life, from Reef ton to the A b aura, the distance can now be performed with ease, safety and comfort, in five hours. A small. outlay on the road, especially below Square Town and in the neighborhood of the Little Grey Junction; would make the communication complete between Ahaura and Reefton. A meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of an Acclimatisation Society in Greymouth was held last night, at the Union Hotel, where a large number of our most prominent citizens, assembled. After Mr Kilgour was elected chairman, he stated the object of the advertisement that had appeared for a few days, and urged the advisability of fonouig an wsooiation for the acclimatisa.

tion of birds, fishes, and. animals in the district. A resolution was passed that the society should be called the Grey Valley and District Acclimatisation Society, and that bhe secretary should be empowered to write to the different secretaries of kindred societies in New Zealand inviting their cooperation. The following gentlemen were then chosen to act as a central and corresponding committee :— Messrs James Middleton, Donald Maclean, Joseph, Harley, J. Fitzgerald, W. F. Strike, William Smith, Frank Hamilton, R. C. Reid, E. Wickes, Caleb Whitefoord, W. fl. Revell, R. Nancarrow, H. Kenrick, J.S. M. Thompson, John Arnott, Martin Kennedy, James Jones, James Hamilton. Morris Levy, David Girdwood, G. C. G. Bowman, G.S. Smith. Mr Payne was elected secretary, and Mr Masters proposed as treasurer. A cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr Kilgour for his first instalment of Californian quail, which were reported as doing well and thriving. The secretary was instructed to issue notices against shooting or maiming the birds imported on behalf of the society, and to urge upon those who use the gun for recreation not to fire upon the newly imported birds. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Kenrick, Masters, Dr Acheson, Prince, and Payne was formed to draft rults for the guidance of the association. The following gentlemen were recommended as a committee for the Upper Grey district, subject to a meeting to be asked to be held by them:— Messrs David Donald, Alexander White, James F. Johnston, Robert Alcorn, James Stewart, James Mershall, J. D. Pinkerton, Alexander Fraser, John Hamilton, John Kennedy, Dr Phillips, George Muir, and William Campbell. A general meeting will be held next Wednesday night. The comnmnication between Adelaide and Port Darwin has been proved by numberless experiments to be instantaneous. The current passes over the 2200 miles of new wire lying between those points with greater facility than over the 21 miles of old wire which separates Mount Barker from the metropolis. On Friday week the message "What o'clock i 3 it?" was sent from the operating room in Adelaide, and within 12 seconds the answer came, "21 minutes past 3." The farmers in tho Grey Valley are having splendid weather for their operations. The annual ploughing match was a great success, and so was the banquet. Those present imparted a considerable amount of information to each other on a variety of topics connected with agriculture, to their mutual benefit no doubt. There was some slight dissatisfaction expressed in certain quarters at the awards made by the judges, but where the competitors were so evenly matched, the judges must have had a difficult task to perform. Tho assertion has been made by cer- ! tain persons that some of the awards savored of partiality, but this is not correct. An angel would fail were he to attempt to give satisfaction to some people, therefore how could it be expected that three gentlemen j could do so. Who are of the "earth, earthy," and whose claim to be considered competent judges is founded upon tho fact that they have been distinguished as ploughmen themselves. The duty of a judge at one of these contests is a thankless one, and for that reason it is unjust to attribute motives at random and inconsiderately. The indifferent accouuts from the Inangahua, and the good news from Queensland and Northern Australia have quite unsettled the mining community. The check the reefing districts has received is felt quite as strongly in the older districts, because a number were prepared to give the quartz another trial during the ensuing summer. It would seem to an onlooker that there is scarcely any real grounds for the panic at present existing on the Inangahua. The re«fa, if they wera - evor, of any valuo, aro valuable still, and it is not because one or two claims disappoint inexperienced persons who had. unjustifiably formed extravagant expectations from them, that the whole place is a duffer, as those very same sanguine individuals would now try to make out. The completion of the road works and the consequent stoppage of the Government expenditure has a good deal more to do with the dnlness of the reefing districts than the presence of any actual proof of the valueless character of tho reefs. The town of Reefton was built two years before its time, and it has enjoyed a kind of fictitious prosperity Bince its existence, first, from the quantity of money brought into it from other parts, and next by the outlay of between L 20,000 and L 25,000 in public works in the immediate diutrict in less than six months. Withdraw the expenditure suddenly from more pretentious cities than Reefton, and the consequences will be felt in just the same manner Reefton now feels them. Our correspondent at Ahaura writes that the miners in the district have, for the last ten days, had a foresight of what they may expect from the recurrence of another dry summer such as the one previous to the last. Already the water-races are beginning to feel the effects of the dry weather, and this want of water will be more felt every year. It will shortly be the case that it will be very difficult to get any gold without a good water supply, and consequently water-rights are becoming more valuable every month. Several water shares have changed hands in this district recently at prices they would not fetch even twelve months ago. One of these at German Cr«ek was transferred this week for LIOO, and a similar interest was sold six months ago for less than half the money. Two other shares have been transferred in the Nelson Creek district at very handsome figures. A meeting was held at Ahaura the other day to take steps towards getting up the ensuing season race meeting. The meeting was well attended, and it was decided to adjourn for a week to enable the Secretary to find out the fixtures for other meetings. Committees formed in the country for this purpose would do well to make arrangements for holding their races so as not to clash or interfere with each others engagements. If an important race meeting like that of Greymouth, of which due notice is always given .in time, were taken as a basis by which the Stewards of the meetings could fix their dates, it would be the means of avoiding great confusion, and make it worth while the owners of horses venturing a tour of the West Coast with their animals. Stewards were nominated at the meeting held here the other evening, and the Secretary was requested to coramuuicatc with the gentlemen whoso names were mentioned to learn whether they would consent to act. There are, it is said, likely to be nearly L4OO to run for next season. It has oftentimes been said that the intelligence of a people can be accurately estimated by the amount of their correspondence. If New Zealand is judged by this standard she will occupy a high place _in the scale of nations. We find by Parliamentary papers that during the last ysar we received, from within and without the Colony, no fewer than 3,296,990 letters and 2,308.634 newspapers, What an amount of reading for 266,986 men, women, and children to devour. Daring 1870 wo received 3,018,932 letters , and 2,266, 934 newspapers, by which it will btseen that our readiug capacity is considerably on the increase. During last year we despatched 2,784,707 letters, as against 2,626,947 in 1870, and 1,871,150 newspapers, as compared with 1. 622, 728 in 1870. It will thus -be seen that the amount of our torresponnence as a people is very considerable, which indicates a considerable amount of commercial activity amongst us. We <y§ att

in possession of the statistics of the Australian colonies on this head, but feel satisfied that New Zealand compares favorably even with Victoria in the matter of correspondence . We may also take such extensive correspondence in a small community as indicating not only a more than average amount of education, but comparatively easy circumstances. The progress \ihich has been made in extending the telegraphic communication in the different parts of the Colony is instructive. In 1866 there were 1398 miles of wire stretched, and the revenue and cash value of telegrams transmitted that year was L 9114 19s 6 1. In 1867 the length of wire stretched was increased to 1447 miles, and the value of telegrams transmitted rose to L 14,295 13s 7d. In 1869 the miles of wire were only increased to 2777, but the revenue rose to L 32.649 0s lid ; there being 112,204 private and 61,542 Government telegrams transmitted that year.- -In IS7O a considerable increase was made, the miles of wire having been increased to 3159, and the reyenue sank to L 27.422 14s 6d, consequent upon the reduction of rates. Of this reduction the public received the benefit, for there were 181,860 private and 56,335 Government telegrams transmitted that year. Last year there were 3287 miles of wire stretched, over which were sent 305,970 private and 63,106 Government telegrams (total, 369,058 telegrams), representing a cash value of L 37,203 10s. This large amount of telegraphic communication bespeaks a considerable activity amongst a population so small as New Zealand can yet boast of, and gives some indication what our commercial activity will be when we can count our population by millions. *