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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1303, 2 October 1872, Page 2

We learn that Mr Alexander White is the successful tenderer for the conveyance of the machinery for the Energetic Company. His contract was accepted at L 22 per ton from Greymouth to the Company's machine site, via the Grey Valley, to bo delivered on the claim within six weeks from date. It is expected that ho will complete his contract before the time given, weather permitting. Another cargo boat was launched at Westport by the builder George Geary, on Wednesday last, and was quickly filled up with loading for her first up-river trip. The Australian mails for the Grey River district which were brought by the steamer Albion have, unfortunately, been carried on to Nelson, and they will probably make a tour of all the West Coast ports before they are delivered. We are informed that three luail-bags for the Greymouth office were transferred to the ship's boat to be conveyed to the tender at Hokitika, but it came on to blow, and the tender returned to port without effecting the transhipment. -The mailbags containing English letters had previously been transhipped, and were brought on by coach and delivered at the Post Omcc last evening. So also were the Westport, Nelson, Taranaki, and Auckland mails brought to Hokitika by the steamer Wallace. Among the passengers by the Albion for Greymouth were Mr M'Beath, of the firm of Messrs Thomas and M'Beath; and Mr Thompson, of the firm of Messrs Thompson, Smith, and Barkley. An inquest as to the death of the son of the lagoon, was held yesterday at the Court House by Mr Bevell. The mother of the child stated that the poor little fellow, who was only two years of age, had lately been disposed to stray from her house, which is situated near Kefton Bridge, and was on ' Saturday seen to be at play in the backyard, about a quarter of an hour befoie he ' was missed. William J. Aldridge, another witness, stated that he saw and spoke to the boy at the end of Sefton Bridge on Saturday afternoon, and that he saw him afterwards go towards the bank of the lagoon and throw a stone into the water. William Chesterman deposed as to finding the body, which was found in one of the numerous holes in the channel of the lagoon, about a hundred yards above Sefton Bridge. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally Drowned." The many friends oi Mr Kyanersley, formerly Commissioner for the Nelson Government on the West Coast, will be glad to learn that that gentleman's health has been sufficiently re-established by his visit to Australia to enable him to return to the Colony. We understand that Mr Kynnersley was a passenger by the s.s Albion, from Melbourne, and that he has proceeded by that vessel to Nelson, from which port he sailed a few months ago with but a faint prospect of returning in anything like good health, but his health, if not completely restored, is, we are glad to say, very considerably improved. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, the following list of civil cases was disposed of :— W. King v. C. Gardiner, Clifton ; judgment by default for LI 10s. D. T. Faulkner v. Bridget (AJhannesey ; judgment by default fur L 26 16s 7d. J. Trahey v. P. O'Connor, a claim of Ll7 13s ; judgment was given for Ll4 13s and costs. J. Trahey v. Michael' Merrigan, a claim of Ll2 6s j judgment was given for the plaintiff for L 5 Is, the amount to be paid at the rate of 10s per week. J. Jones v. W. Walker, a fraud summons for L 6 2s 6l ; the defendant did not appear, and a warrant for his arrest was ordered to be issued on application. R. C. Eeid y. E. Stratford, a claim of L 2 5s ; case dismissed with costs. D. Magoffin v. Miss Stratford, a fraud summons for L 2 6s 4d jno order was made. Dr Morice v. Mrs Rogers ; judgment by default for Ll4 los 6d and costs. W. Erskine v. W. Newton, a claim of L 7 12s 6d ; judgment was given by default for L 2 12s Gd and costs; Monday, the 30th of September, vvas observed as &fc(c day by thfl boarders aad day scholars of St. Mary's Scbool, Ahaura. The plan adopted at the school as a reward for good conduct, or proficiency and advancement in school duties, is to give, the pupils cards in proportion to their merits after each day's examination in lessons. These cards are a sort of convertible security, each one bearinjja certain value. They were caref nlly hoarded by the children, and on Monday tl c fact that they were an interchangeable commodity was made known to the scholars in an eminently practical manner. Father Pertius had provided a quantity of toys, Slaythings, and gift books suited to the unerstanding of the children, and at 11 o'clock in the forenoon Mr Frank Guinness sold these articles by auction to the scholars' attending the school. The cards were taken as money, and the bidding was very spirited ; in fact too spirited, because, probably for the first time in the history of auction sales, the auctioneer had to caution his customers not to bid so recklessly. One little lady lavished her whole fortune on the purchase of a wax doll, and then cried because she had nothing left wherewith to buy clothes for it. This was not the only instance of prodigal expen. diture, and the result was that, owing to th c high prices given, before all the articles were

gold the currency became exhausted. lathe afternoon the children were treated to a picnic, at a beautiful spot on. the northern bank of Happy Jack's Creek, about half a mile from the town. The boys ran foot-races for money prizes, given by Dr Phillips, and the girls amused themselves at suitable games. A plentiful supply of refreshments was provided. The arrangements were carried out i under the personal superintendence of Father Pertius, and of Miss Clarke, the head teacher of the school. In the evening, at eight o'clock, the children, with their relations and other visitors, assembled in the school-room, where Mr Whitefoord exhibited the wonders of. the magic lantern to the delight of the little ones. Exhibitor or performer never had a more enthusiastic or appreciative audience. Altogether, a day's amusement and enjoyment was pnn ided of which the children w?" ever have a kindly remembrance. The Chinese up Jones'? Creek (says the Ross News) are doing a very satisfactory stroke, and seem quite pier rod "with, their prospects. A party of three, who are working near the old fluming, are making from 15s to LI per day, and the others, who are still nearer the township, are getting from LI 15s to L 2 per week. Since the 2nd of September, seven persons suffering from delirium tremens have been admitted into the Dunedin Hospital. This is a good deal above the average number of such admissions, and goes to show that some one is to blame for supplying persons with too much drink. It has been ordered by the Governor in Council that District Courts shall in future be held at Abaura. The Olerk to the Resident Magistrate's Court at Abaura has received (instructions from the Crown law officers to compile a jury list by the oth November, 1872. Mr Hoskins arrived at Dunedin by the Rangitoto from Melbourne, and will appear at the Theatre with Miss Colville in the course of a few days. We notice that Mr M. Murray has arrived at Dunedin, from Melbourne, with a new Circus Company. Messrs Fraser, Wi9hart, and Co. of the Railway Foundry, Dunedin, are now turning out a large quantity of truck wheels and axles, and complete sets of iron mountings for trucks, namely, pedestals, covers, tip brackets, &c, for Messrs John Brogden and Sons. The wheels are cast on the chilled process, by which they are made much harder on the face than wheels cast in the ordinary way, and wear a great deal better. A great number of cast iron barrow wheels are also being made now for the Messrs Brogden. Coughs, colds, and catarrhs are still exceedingly prevalent at Westport, especially amoDg the young folk — bo much so, says the Times, that the School Committee are seriously considering the advisability of closing the school for, a brief period. Willie Steele^ S.N.S, as he terms himself, "SonthlaSH's Natural Songster," has, after a lengthened pilgrimage from town to town in New Zealand, turned up at Westport, where he is giving a series of concerts. On Tuesday evening, the 17th ultimo, says the Jbehon Examiner, Mr Joseph Shephard, member for Waimea South, presented 27 petitions, sigued by 3902 persons resident in the various -parts of the Nelson South- West Gold Fields, against any alteration of the existing Provincial boundaries. As he presented petition after petition, and loaded the table with them, there was immense laughter in the House. A young man named Thomas Brown, who arrived not long since by the ship James Nicol Fleming, met his death in Dunedin by drowning on Saturday week. His body was found lying on the face in the mud about twenty yards .from the bridsft" nri *.'«<» Pmt unalinefs ßailway fine, near the Stuart street jetty. Deceased's hands were in his coat pockets when found. It is conjectured that the deceased took the railway line as his route homewards, and, thinking the bridge to be planked across, or missing his foot on it, fell into the sea. A meeting of gentlemen who were present at the discussion of; the principle of Mr Villaine's submarine boat at the Otago Institute on Tuesday week, was held on the following day. The result was that a sufficient sum was subscribed for the purpose of applying the principle of the patent on the gold-pro-ducing rivers of New Zealand ; aud a company was formed to build one or more boats immediately. Mr Nuttall, the <iuly accredited agent of the company, will proceed to the various gold fields interested, where many are awaiting his. return with considerable interest. It. having been suggested that the submarine boat, however practicable in still waters, will>not stand the rapid currents ot New Zealand rivers, the first experiment in New Zealand, under the direction of Mr Villaine and his son, will take place between the islands in Otago Harbor, at ebb tide, where the current is very strong. For the post of head-master of the Invercargill Grammar. School, 43 applications were received ; and for the post of second master in the same school, 17 applications were received. It is stated that the criminal prosscutions and payment to jurors cost the Government of the colony for the financial year 1870-71, L 7407 3s7d. Some short time ago attention was drawn to a novel musical instrument, in the shape of a tin violin, made by Mr Billens of the Papanui road, Christchurch. This has so far proved satisfactory, that he is now making a tenor violin of the same material, and contemplates, in due course, a violoncello, with a prospect in the distance of an ultimate double bass. 1 , ' • In Christchurch, a committee has been formed to make arrangements for an exhibition of colonial produce in that province. The project is due to the General Government, who desire this colony to be represented at the Vienna Exhibition in 1873, and the exhibits to be forwarded are to be selected from; those at the colonial exhibition. > The " Stranger in the Gallery," who writes to the Hatvkes Bay Herald a narrative of the proceedings in Parliament, says :— Mr Hallenstein, the new member for Wakatip, was another o£ those yvho, in the lobby slang, had been regarded up to the date of his declaring himself, as "sitting on the rail." He got off the rail on to the Opposition side. Hia Speech created a favorable impression in regard to his conscientiousness and earnestness in the cause of public morality. Iv allusion to certain observations of the Treasurer, to the effect that members who accused the Government of corrupting, accused the House of being corrupted, and that it was improper to make such accusations, Mr Hallenstein earnestly deprecated the attempt to slur over so serious an evil in this light manner. They lvere warned from introducing this delicate subject. • He, for his part, "never yet was afraid to do what was right." Such a sentiment, I fear, coming from mosi members, would have been regarded as bunkum. Coming from a new man, however, with regard to whose antecedents nothing was known which could lead the House tp suppose that it was otherwise than perfectly sincere, it was received with loud applause. Mr O'Conor followed n support of the resolutions, and thought he might with advantage copy Mr Hallenstein's example in dwelling on the abuse of patronage. Such observations, however, comingfrom him, elicited no response, <