THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1330, 2 November 1872, Page 2

THE INANGAHUA DISTRICT.

(from our own. correspondent.) Reefton, Oct. 29.

As stated in a former letter, the very abrupt manner in which -West Coast matters were disposed of at the end of the Parliamentary session just closed, has thoroughly sickened the public in this part of the world with politics and politicians generally, and it will be hardandeed to rouse up anything like enthusiasm in any cause again. The people feel that they have been "sold" thoroughly in the professions that were made n and that their own representatives greatly assisted in the miserable bargain. It is no usp, however, crying over spilt milk, and all the lamentations of Jeremiah himself would not benefit us an iota, so we are once* more resigned to. the Curtisian sway, and have to make the best of a bad matter. In the absence of anything else exciting, the approaching election of a new member to sit in the Nelson Provincial Council for. the Inarigahua district, is talked about, and a large crop of aspiring candidates foe the honor" is like}y to- be forthcoming. / Rumor has already designated some- half-dozen, whether rightly, or wrongly, and it is said that many coy individuals are fishing zealously for reqiiisitions. . Amongst others mentioned as likely to .stand are — Messrs Carreras, ; Hanlrin (of the firm of Hankin and Faler, sbarebrokers), Shapter, W. M'Lean, Acton Adams (Nelson), and Power. Tho gentleman '.flrat-named. was for some time a member pi the Westland County oo'iiriciJJ'"aud 'iinßuccess'fully contested the seat for the Totara "district in t]ie Rouse* of Representatives, "when Mr Tribe, of Ross, was elected by a Very narrow majority, He is a practical miner, and will command a largo number of votes j Mr Hankin has had large mining experience, Mr Shapter is a lawyer, Mr Adams is ditto, Jand Mr M'Lean has been mining for some years The contest will be a close one, though little interest is at present felt in it, and it is above all things necessary that a suitable person bo elected. The boundaries of the new electoral district have been published, and are certainly somewhat extraordinary, the limit Nelsonwise being the Matakitaki, between SOjaud 60 miles distant from here and nearly thirty from the Lyell. As the Matakitaki district is chiefly inhabited by copkatqp settlers, with large

Nelson proclivities; it is supposed that they have, been included in order to give a Nelson man a chance, and counterbalance in some degree the mining vote^ which is, and will be till separation takes place, essentially hostile to that quiet city. If a host of mining candidates offer themselves, probably the. scattered votes may allow a black vote of the kind an opportunity. The election is expected to come off very shortly^ indeed before Christmas. . ,__

His Honor Judge Harvey arrived yesterday (Monday), escorted by Mr Warden Broad and a cavalcade of storekeepers, lawyera, and the' bailiff of the R. M. Court, making altogether a rather imposing spectacle which was duly stared at. His Honor will open the District Court with a clean sheet as far as criminal business is concerned, but there are some bankruptcy cases, I believe, referred to this Court, The white gloves will, however, be fairly earned, and it is to be hoped that the newly-appointed Sheriff (Mr Broad) will not omit their. due presentation. The Warden held Courts at Christy's and the Lyell last week, and subsequently went to Wesiport to meet his Honor, so there have »©t hem any sittings here of E, M. or Warden** Courts since my last. In connection with, these Courts, I may say that Mr Percy Wakei field, who for some time discharged the duties of Clerk of the Bench here, and previously of the Abaura, has resigned bis post, and commenced business as sharebroker in connection with Mr Thorpe. The new Court House is now: finished and furnished, and is a very great . improvement indeed. . ,■ „ The District Engineer, Mr, Dobson, is also here, and it is to be hoped that his presence is indicative of an awakening from the name in which public works of of the most unquestionable necessity have been wrapped for so long a time. Already he has called for tenders for some small works, including the completion of the Buller road into the township, and there are hones that some of the L 50,000 vat* for the South-Wfest Gold Fields may be disposed of shortly, by his agency, in necessary works. The promised completion of the Ahaura and Arnold road is hailed with great satisfaction, and surely' this time the General Government ' will not follow the Curtis style, and "Tceep the word of promise to the e^r, bus break it to the hope." Whilst on the subject of public works, it is a thousand pities that whilst providing water supply for other places, these gold fields have beenV so entirely overlooked. There is in this district any quantity of alluvial auriferous ground that cannot, be worked profitably without water, and water in such quantity as is beyond the reach of the few scattered miners who are endeavoring at present to make a living from it under great difficulties. If the Government would step in, the alluvial would support the quartz-miner during the necessarily; larger development of the latter class of mine, and in a very short time this would become one of the richest, if not the richest, gold field district in the Colony., Reef ton can this week boast of hospitalextension, and really not before such was needed. Till to-day, the ' ' hospital' 1 ---^ Heaven saje the. tn.ark-rreftnsis.ted of >»■•' Wooden building, some 12x14, whioh did 5 duty as ward, kitchen, officers' quarters, &c. It was just large enough for three stretchers, and a place ; by the fire for the day and night wardsman and cook — one individual to lie down in. To-day another wooden erection of about the same size, purchased by the committee, was carried? bodily from its late site, deposited along* side the old structure, and CQnyerted into '• a wipg. '' W h 9 shaty Ba y that hospital : affairs are not looking up after thai, v There" are at present in the institutiontwo patients, who have • the services of two paid officials, viz., the one already referred to arid the doctor. In acldiiaon" . to this, their welfare is looked after by a committee of a dozen, so altogether they should certainly be properly cared f or. , This puts one lather in mind of the Kentucky regiment, where there were as many officers as privates, but with the enlarge^ ! merit possibly other patients wiU b,a ufo mitted ? ' '" ' Though no official^ announcement ffas been made public here, it is "understood that the tender of Messrs Cassidy. and. Ashton for the conveyance of mails between here and Greymouth has been - accepted, and that they have undertaken I to convey the same by coach instead of, as at present, on horseback. A great improvement vill thereby be effected, and the public will be enabled to ride to and fro comfortably, instead of having to take horse or shanks' pony for it. A, larg§ number of travellers who haye been for months .very unwilling equestrians ■who have by no means witched the world with noble horsemanship on their tours, and have suffered divers pains and penalties/ through the unwonted exercise will be rejoiced at thy news. A short time ■ ago the gaol here was - crowded to excess, but a great change fof*^ the better has recently been arrived. a\ in, this respect. Sqmeof the prisoners have been sent to Westport to fulfil their sentences," and some have been discharged, so that at the present time there are only two confinees, a criminal and a debtor... How long this improved state of affairs may last remains to be seen. ; The cheque nuisance, if such a term, can be applied to valuable fto'cuppntij 7 continues unabated, and will continue to be a trouble until a "bank is established, here. At present it is almost impossible ! to get cash for the most unexceptionable paper. It has been stated that. a discounting office is about to be. opened, at which cheques may be changed by sacrificing 2V per cent. This may possibly suit a few holding very small ones that cannot otherwise be melted, but will neyer.- :• be submitted to by the general body of holders. A great dfearp.f blame liea. 'with the mining managers who pay "wages by : cheque instead of in "cash. Were they to pay in cash ; the present difficulties would in a great degree be obviated, and they could, with a very little trouble sndf "'"": a ridiculous minimum of risk, obtain ' cash weekly from town to do with. Surely this course should commend itself ' to directors, and a great boon thereby would be conferred on the working miner. The amount of wages now paid weekly or monthly in Reefton. ard its neighborhood is very considerable, and ;; the subject is one that deserves earnestconsideration. ' ■ y A Roman Catholic school was opened here on Monday, making the third school ,in" Reefton, so that it is evident the training of the rising generation is being attended to. ; . . . , • . ,?. The weather during- the past week has been of the Afri] type/ warm ■

and intermittent showers. The cons - quonce is that the gardens are looking Bplendid, and the end of the vegetable famine from|*hich the district has hitherto suffered may at somo future time be looked fc. It is certainly necessary that suoh Bhould be the case, for, so far, cow turnips, alias winter swedes, and carrots of a similar kind, have been the only variety from potatoes, whilst the latter have fetched as high as forty shillings per cwt. At the present time they realise twenty shillings. Mining newß is scarce to a decree this wee'e, indeed, there may be said to be none. AH the claims are busily at work, and some capital stone has been atruck in several, but there is nothing new of special importance to chronicle. The Victoria is the most noticeable, as far as its mineral is concerned. The All Nations claim, though improving did nut seem to be appreciated, inasmuch as a quarter-share sold under distress by the bailiff, only realised LI 7 10s, Mr Trenery making a lucky spec of it at that figure.