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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1317, 18 October 1872, Page 2

Contrary to expectation, the Hokitika and Greymouth mails were yesterday carried through by coach, but the Chnstchurch mail was not received, the floods caused by the recent rain* having prevented the coach from

arriving at Hokitika at the usual hour on Wednesday evening Letters for America and Europe, by the San Francisco mail, will be dispatched from Greymouth on Monday next, the mail closing at C p.m. on Sunday. Tbe Rcefton mail is expected to arrive in Greymouth this afternoon. It was due on Wednesday evening, but the flooded state of the rivers has prevented the contractor from making his journey at the usual time, as it has prevented all other inland traffic. The most pleasing, pathetic, and picturesque play which the Greymouth Dramatic Company have put upon the stage is the drama which they performed on Wednesday evening, "The Marble Heart." It is to be repeated this evening, and the performance is to be for the benefit of tho funds of the Volunteer Band, who have contributed muoh to the success of the company, and to the entertainment of all who have » musical taste and a strong tympanum. Every lady in Greymouth should see "The Marble Heart." It exquisitely points an excellent moral. A Committee, who will have to carry out our next race meeting has to be chosen to-night by the members of the Jockey Club, It is to be hoped a large muster will be present, and that a good working Committee will be elected. Mr Bromley and Miss Holman have been giving musical entertainments at Ross with considerable success. They are expected to appear in Greymouth to-morrow evening. According to telegrams received on Wednesday, the late north-west gale was the cause of further sea encroachment at Westport, and it is expected that, very soon, Gilmer's Post Office Hotel, one of the largest buildings in the township, will have to be removed. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yestorday, Thomas Olson, for driving a dray on the footway, was fined Is and costs. _ John M'Ginty, for having been drunk in the streets, was fined ss ; and a man suspected of being of unsound mind was remanded for medical examination. In the civil case of J. Hamilton and Co v B O'Shannassy, German Gully — an interpleader summons — the Magistrate gave judgment, according to which the bailiff was ordered to give up possession of a building to the claimant, John Jackson. There was a considerable fresh in the Hokitika River* on Wednesday, and the water was nearly, if not quite, level with the top of the wharf at one time. The river broke through into the lagoon at the rear of Revell street, and speedily formed a large sheet of water. A narrow escape from drowning occurred in the morning. Two men left tbe South Spit in a waterman's boat about 11 o'clock, at which time there was a very dense mist, and in attempting to cross to the steps at Revell street, the men evidently got out of their reckoning, and the result was that they very soon found themselves in the channel, between the two Bpits, and within a few boat's length of the breakers. * By using great exertions they managed to reach the north spit just in time to save their lives. In addressing the Grand Jury at Christchurch, recently, Judge Gresson invited attention to the 21st section of the " Lunatics Act, ISGS," which enables a Judge of the Supreme Court to send drunkards to a public asylum for curative treatment for any period not exceeding twelve months. He said — •'Since tho Act has come into operation I have made several orders for detention in the Asylum at Sunnyside. I did not expect that in all, or even most of the cases, a complete reformation would be effected, but even where the temporary restraint has proved ineffectual to eradicate the confirmed habit, the enforced abstinence from intoxicating liquor for a time was a benefit to the unfortunate victim himself, and a great gain to his unhappy family. Latterly, however, I have been obliged to refuse several pressing applications, from finding that the admission of persons of this class into the Asylum seriously interfered with the discipline of the establishment, and the comfort of the lunatic patients." A Port Albert telegram states that the Prospectors' claim, Stockyard Creek, washed 920z fine gold yesterday, and a nugsjet weighing 960z of nearly pure gold. The Big Log Company washed Coz of gold from one bucket of dirt. As one result of the last census in Victoria it is ascertained that the sects that have increased most during the past ten years have been the Roman Catholics, who are a very large body, and the Wesleyans, who, comparatively speaking, are still a small one. The Roman Catholics numbered 109,000 in 1801, and 170,000 in 1871, or a gain of 55 per cent. The Wesleyaus more than doubled their number— sprang at a leap from 46,500 to 94,420. The Church of England is, of course, the leading sect in numbers, but it is losing ground. Its total was 212,000 in 1861, and it 13 257,800 now, or an increase of 21 per cent. The Presbyterians were 87,086 in 1861, and 112,983 in 1871, or a gain of 29 per cent. Tested by these figures, it is evident that, in the dispute between the Presbyterian and the Methodist Churches, Mr Menzies is nowhere. The Presbyterians have only increased with the increase of the population. They were 15 in the 100 on the whole population in 1851, and they are 15 in the 100 now, while the Wesleyans, who were 6 per cent, in 1851 , are now 12 per cent. The Church of England, in the same period, has decreased from 48 people in the 100 to 35. The leading facts brought out by the return is the decline in numbers of this sect, the standstill of the Presbyterians, the spring made by the Wesleyans, and the steady increase of the Roman Catholics. Two samples of New Zealand freestone, from Oamaru and Eakanui, have been sent to Victoria, and amongst others are being subjected to analysis, as to their fitness'for use in building the new vice-regal residence in Melbourne. In a County Government Gazette, published on Monday, but only circulated yesterday, a reward of LSO is offered for the recovery of the body of Charles Morra, a miner who had been residing at the ThreeMile Creek, Okarito, and who is supposed to have been murdered. A further reward of LSO is offered on conviction of the murderer. Morra has been missing since about the 6th of August last, and it was supposed at the time that he was drowned in the Three-Mile Creek. He was at the time employed by a ferryman named Dixon, and was seen to cross the creek by Dixon's wife, but was not seen afterwards. Circumstances have come to light since, «rhich induce the belief that Morra was murdered and his body concealed. The County Government now offer a reward of LSO for the recovery of the body, with the condition that should it be washed ashore — that is, should it prove that the man was really drowned — no reward will be paid. New rules for the admission of barristers and attorneys have been framed by the Judges of the Supreme Court in Victoria, and will shortly be promulgated. The most important alteration that has been made is that a barrister may become an attorney, or an attorney a barrister, by giving a year's notice, passing the examination for the branch of the profession to which he wishes to attach himself, and paying the fees. It is supposed, however, that before the rules are finally adopted, the members of the profession will be afforded an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon them.

A pair of singular native animals, male and female, were lately brought to Melbourne

all tho way from Cooper's Creek. They are marsupial animals of the same genus as the kangaroo, smaller than the paddymelon, yet larger than the kangaroo rat. They are rodent, and are covered with long grey fur, their ears being somewhat larger than ordinary, and not unlike those of the jerboa. The snout is long and taper, somewhat resembling that of the bandicoot. The native name is said to be "Billabong." They are great curiosities, and are said to be the first ever seen alive in Victoria. The first flogging m the Sandhurst gaol took place last week, when t man named Richard Francis, a cook, received twentyfive lashes for indecent conduct at Echuca. The lashes were well laid on with a formid-able-looking caW -nine-tails, by a fellow prisoner, and the man must have suffered severely, his back showing unmistakeablo signs of the severity of the punishment; still ho did not complain, and returned to his cell without any manifestation of suffering having escaped him. Francis has yet another castigation to undergo. In the midst of a circus performance at Sandhurst recently, says the Bendigo Evening Neios, " a contretemps occurred of quite an unexpected nature by the sudden collapse of the platform designated the dress circle, and the precipitation of its occupants, some 200 in number, to the ground. Ladies, gentlemen, and children all came down together, and presented a struggling mass of arms, heads, and legs. For the moment all was confusion, and a sort of general pauic prevailed, but attention was quickly drawn to the unfortunates iff the dust, and. the work of extrication began. Luckily no serious injuries occurred, though bruises were rather plentiful, and many were more frightened than hurt. Chairs having been provided, the performance was continued, and the rest of the programme carried out." The remains of the late Drum-major Joseph Foster were interred in the Melbourne General Cemetery last week, with military honors. Deceased had been connected with the volunteer force since 1864. He was drum-major of the 40th Regiment for a long period, went through the Afghanistan campaign during 1839 and 1840, with General Nott; he also carried a medal and star for Bunghapoor in 1843, and received lately a medal for the New Zealand campaign. A correspondent of a contemporary, who has an eye for curiosities, has come across a new way of advertising. He found it in the Columbus Independent, Columbus is in Kansas, U.S. It is a good style. The reporter of the Columbus visits a place called Baxter. He remarks, on his return, that " We called upon the business men generally, among whom were I. Swihart, groceryman, Southside-square, who is one of the most accommodating merchants in the city, and keeps a complete stock of everything. Then we looked in on the smiling phiz of J. W. Keenan, who keeps everything in the way of furniture He also runs a hearse. The extensive drug-house of Gregory and Co. was next taken in, when we found, these gentlemen attending to the wants of the afflicted, which they are always ready and competent to do. We next visited the new gaol which is being erected. We inspected the design, and if our judgment amounts to anything the architect is good. Messrs Moore and Hodgkins are the architects. We took dinner at the Higgins house, where everything was in apple-pie order, for it could not be otherwise under the supervision of that prince of landlords, Father Carult. To W. B. Spencer, the liveryman, we are indebted for the courtesy shown to our pony. Mr Spencer keeps a flue livery outfit j in fact, the best of Southern Kansas, &c." Experiments have recently been made to ascertain the amount of loss coal undergoes when exposed to the weather. Anthracite and cannel coal suffers least, but ordinary bituminous co»l loses nearly one third in weight, and nearly one-half in gas-making quality ; from this It . follows that coal should be kept dry, and under cover, and that to expose it to rain or damp lessens its quantity and weakens its quality.