Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1293, 20 September 1872, Page 2

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Masonic Hall Company will be held at Ancher's Commercial Hotel, this evening at eight o'clock. The Greymouth Volunteers mustered last evening for inspection of arms and accoutrements, and paraded the town, accompanied by the band. We have received the 15th and 16th numbers of the report of Parliamentary debates — the former containing the speech made during the no-confidence debate by the member for the Grey Valley, which speech we shall quote in our next number. We have to acknowledge having received from Mr Wjn. Gordon, of Wellington, a number of photographs of political cartoons drawn by him, and reduced to carte de vistte size by Mr Bailie, photographer/ Several pf the Cittoons are amusing conceptions, and equally caricature members of the Ministry and Opposition, as they were, are, or are likely to be. . Faith in the future of Greymputh is pretty fairly indicated by the number of buildings which have lately been erected for business purposes and as private residences. The largest and most costly of .these is a commodious two-storey building erected by Messrs Forsyth and Masters in Mackay street. It is the largest store in town, and the premises of the firm now cover an extensive area of ground. The new structure, when in course of erection,- was blown down by a violent squall, but carpenters were early engaged in the work of re-erection, and the second and improved edition of the building is now completed and occupied. Nearly opposite the building are the new premises of Messrs Hamilton and Nichol— new offices, backed by spacious stores and yards, and close at hand, in Werita street, is a large and substantial htore recently erected by Mr W. J. Coates. Fronting both Mawhera Quay and Waite street, new stores are also in course of construction for Messrs James Hamilton and Co., who have already several .stores in the inland towns, and still higher up Mawhera Quay, Mr Williams, baker and confectioner, has erected premises which are substantial where substantiality is required and neat in their exterior. On the terraces and els*where several old residents have lately had constructed for themselves comfortable, and, ia some cases, elegant houses. Mr Reuben Waite, the pioneer of population and enterprise on the West Coast, is at present on a second visit to Greymouth for the special purpose of receiving, in the town and district, the memorials which have been signed regardinghis claim on theG#vernment, with the view of pioaecuting its object in due form, and, if possible, before the close of tho present session. The memorial to which signatures are being attached gives simply a narrative of facts, which are these — That by resolutions carried in the Provincial Council of Nelson in session 1868, Reuben was granted for damages done to his property the sum of LIOO, and the right to purchase 80 acres of

laud on and about his own homestead, as his preemptive right, at the rate of 108 per acre ; that the ground was surveyed by a Government surveyor, and the payment of tho survey received by Mr Kynnersley, then Commissioner; that he, Reuben Waite, has applied to the Superintendent of Nelson for deeds of the aforesaid land, and offered payment according to the above Order in Council, and has been refused. The petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Assembly will grant such compensation as may be deemed, on inquiry, to be equivalent to the less sustained by Reuben Waite in not obtaining the land aforesaid, Mr Waite, we may add, has in this matter been driven about between pi'lar and post, and, whether the present petition be the proper course, to take or not, it is to be hoped that it will in the end bring about a satisfactory settlement of his case. Burlesque and comedy are not the best appetisers for such a play as was produced at the Theatre last evening—" Plot and Passion." Recollections of recent burlesques ate apt to interfere with, thoae of quick imagination fully appreciating sensational, passionate sceues such as arc presented in this particular play, yet, notwithstanding the recent superabundance of burlesque, last night's performance was listened to and watched with more close, quiet, attention than has been exhibited here during the season of dramatic entertainments by the Burford-Stephenson Company. Thiswas much less due to the Frenchness of the plot than to the fairness, the excellence, of the acting. The programme was ended at much too late an hour to permit of us giving a full or faithful notice of even the first play, but it may be briefly said*that Miss Stephenson, Mr Burford, Mr Thornton, Mr Lascelles, Mr Herman, and others who had parts, made as perfect a cast, and as successful a performance, as has been seen for months past. Ihe company, in closing the season, seemed determined to " die with harness on their j backs." They concluded like a sky-rocket, making their finest display at the finish. The performance was a compliment by the company to Mr Thornton, as it was a complimentary benefit to him by the public. And the performance was discreetly, arranged so as to exhibit his abilities as an actor, as well as a scene-painter. This evening the hall, which has been so frequently filled beyond all ordinary calculations as to the sightseeing proclivities of the local population, is to be in possession of Professor Haselmayer, and so it is to be for several nights following, but, judging from the warmth of feeling shown last night, it is apparent that the dramatic company have so cultivated the taste of the inhabitants of Greymouth that, while they may be sorry to part with them, they will only be too "happy to meet again." An inquest was to be held at Hokitika yesterday, as to the death of the wife of Mr Tennant, County Secretary. The lady died somewhat suddenly on the previous day. A monument of Oamaru stone has been erected, by public subscription, over the grave of Dr Matthews, at Stafford Town. It is reported by the Boss A/ews that tho result of a trip to Christchurch by the manager of the Cassius and Morning Star Gold-mining Companj r , to dispose of scrip, was so unsatisfactory that the Provisional Trustee resolved to resign, but afterwards agreed to hold office to the sth, when, failing success, they would allow the affairs to lapse. The Borough Council have to bo credited with having lately done some good work throughout the town by improviug the condition of the streets and by keeping clear the side channels. It would bo well if. private parsons erecting new buildings would, when these buildings are completed, put the footpath in front of their premises in a proper state of repair, or bring it again to the level at which they found it. The Council have also considerably improved tho approaches to the wharf at the point where traffic most prevails, and where there lately existed a perfect "slough of despond." Another improvement much required is the providing of an increased number of mooring piles. At present the Harbor-Master and ship-masters have some difficulty in securely berthing vessels, aud this would be obviated by the addition of a few in-shoro piles suitably plaped. * At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on the 13th instant, before Caleb Whitefoerd, Esq, R.M, R. Bienpan was charged with using offensive and insulting language towards Arabella Jones, at Nelson Creek. The charge was not fully proved to the satisfaction of the Court, and the case dismissed, after the defendant was severely reprimanded. The following civil cases were disposed of: — Marr-and Lock v C. Brady, Ll9 3s Gd for goods supplied at Napoleon ; judgment for the plaintiffs with costs. Same v M. Burke, L 69 17s 5d ; immediate execution granted. O'Neill v Dwan, Nelson Creek, Lll Is 6d for butchers' meat ; judgment for amount claimed with costs. O'Neill v O'Hara, L 6 7s; judgment for amount claimed with |costs. Same v. Murphy, L 3 16s 7d. James M'Laughlin v Michael Hayes, HalfOunce, Ll2 9s ; verdict for the plaintiff for amount claimed with costs. Same v Kane, Half-Ounce, L 1 0; judgment by default with costs. Same v Adolph Frixione, LBos 8d ; verdict for the plaintiff with costs. White and Garth v Holgate, L 36 2s 6d ; judgment for the plaintiff for L337s 6d with costs. J. Deyery t Thomas Devery, for the amount of a disputed balance .of account ; judgment for the plaintiff with costs. Ste\vart v M'Kenna, Ll6 10s ; verdict for the plaintiff with costs. Hamilton and Co, Greymouth v W. Murray, L 7 15s Sd ; judgment for plaintiffs ; defendant ordered to pay 10s per week, or in default one month's imprisonment. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Ahaura, on the 16th instant, William Patterson waa fined altogether L 4 or eight days' imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly and for assault at Ahaura. R. Alcorn vJ. Kitchen, a judgment summons for L 7 13s Gd; there was no appearance for the defendant, and a warrant was ordered to issue. The Court was adjourned to 20th September. A general feeling of regret has been expressed in Melbourne at the. loss sustained by Mr- J, R. Crooke by the death of his gallant little racehorse Saladin. The particulars of the death are not fully known, but it is said to have been caused by an overdose of physic being given when the horse was not properly prepared. Saladin was a great favorite with the public, and his memorable struggle with Flying Dutchman in the Australian Cup, at the last Victorian Racing Club Autumn Meeting, .when the horse ran two dead heats, and Saladin won the conquering heat by a neck, will long be remembered By Victorian sportsmen. On Tuesday, at a meeting of the Waste Lands Board at Hokitika, the following letters were read :— From the County Sec? retary, stating that the Governor's Delegate had refused, in accordance with the Board's recommendation, to grant Wilson's application for an agricultural lease close to the town of Greymouth. From the County Chairman, forwarding a telegram from Mr Haughton in the matter of Mr Brogden's application, and requesting that the Board would take the same into consideration. The telegram was as follows : — " Brogden's application, Mikonui Water- race. AttorneyGeneral advises that as land to be reserved has now to be surveyed, Waste Lands Board should recommend in writing that the land —describing it according to survey marks, or by reference to a map as surveyed and laid down thereon— shoiud bo reserved by

Governor as a ' water-race and- works connected therewith ;' and send up such recommendation to the Colonial Secretary." The Board having considered the letter of the County Chairman, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Hoos, seconded by Mr Evans— "That the County Chairman be informed from this Board that they can take no steps unless an authenticated map, showing all existing interests, bo laid before them." The Board ordered that the resolution be telegraphed to the County Chairman, at the same time asking him to obtain for the Board a copy or tracing, showing the race as surveyed by Mr Brogdeu. The Board also directed that, on receipt of the tracing, the Chief Surveyor should mark on it all existing claims, water rights, &c, to enable the Board to forward the recommendation asked for. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, on Tuesday, a young man bearing the polyphonius name of William Adolphus FitzThomas Smith, was brought up, in the custody of Sergeant Moller, charged with stealing a pair of boots, a locket, aud 183 or 20a, the property of William M .Donald, one of Messrs Cassidy and Ashton's coach drivers at Greymouth. Sergeant Moller stated that from information he had received he followed the prisoner from Greymouth, and apprehended him that morning in Hokitika. Witness found on the prisoner a pair of boots and a locket, which lie said belonged to another man, and expressed himself sorry he had taken them. His Worship said he could not deal with the case without a warrant. The Sergeant, when he received intimation of the robbery, should have had an information laid, and should have procured a warrant. The prisoner would be discharged, but if a telegram were produced stating that an information had been sworn and a warrant issued, his Worship would remand the prisoner to Greymouth if brought before the Court again. The prisoner then left the Court, but was rearrested outside the precincts by Sergeant Moller, and taken, to Greymouth by the coach. He was, on Wednesday, brought before Mr Revell, R.M,-, Greymoutb, when the evidence of the complainant and a boy named Thomas Collins was taken. From the evidence of the former it appeared that the defendant had bean in the habit of sleeping in a bed above the stables, near where the complainant sleeps, and the property in question was missing on Monday last. By Collins the complainant's purse was afterwards found under Sefton Bridge, but containing only some bronze coin and a small watch-key. No defence to the charge was offered by the prisoner, and he was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. — A summons for assault,, praj ing that the defendant should be bound over to keep the peace, was heard between ; E. A.. Drury as complainant, and P. flanney as defendant ; the alleged assault having been committed in August last. The Magistrate made no order for the defendant to find sureties, but ordered him to pay the costs of Cqurt, amounting to 14s.