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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1344, 19 November 1872, Page 2

Mr W. S. Smith, it will be seen, has intimated his willingness to comply with the wishes of the numerous electors who desire that he should become a candidate for election as a member of the County Council. An emergency meeting of the Greymouth Masonic Lodge is to held at the Hall this evening. We believe that Mr R. C. Reid has consented to become a candidate for the seat in the Borough Council for the East Ward vacated by Mr G. S. Smith. There are no other candidates as yet mentioned. A requisition was yesterday being signed in town for Mr Lahman to offer himself for re-election as a member of the County Council for the tovn of Greymouth. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday John M'Namara and John Sweeney were each fined 10s, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for having committed a breach of the peace, Mary Ann Rogers was convicted of having assaulted W. W. Woolfe, on the 15th instant, and was fined 5s and costs, and was bound over to keep the peace j for six months in two sureties of L 5 each, and herself in LlO. The Stephen3on-Burford troupe have been performing during the week with much success at No Town, They have had excellent houses, and intended to give another perforinaw.c on Monday night. On Sunday night, a minor named Kichard Lecher accidentally fell into a shaft on Tryagain Terrace, Nelson Creek. He was severely hurt internally, and the miners collected and carried him down to the Grey River Hospital, where he was recoived on Monday night, and is now doing well. At tho Resident Magistrate's Court, Aliaura, on Friday, November 15, in Laurenson v. Montgomery, a claim of L2l 13s, for wages, judgment went for tho plaintiff with, costs. — H. Card v. IF. Crogan, for Ll4 10s 6d. The plaintiff did not appear. The case was struck out, with 41s costs against the plaintiff.— Wick v. Maguire and Wick y.; Hestap weie enlarged, and there were nb returns .of • the original summons from Reofton. ; ' At the. Warden's Court, Ahaura, on I<Vi.i dayj November 15, the followiug uuopposeclapplications for certificates for head waterraces . were^ granted' :—Brien Sharkey and party, at, Merri jig Creek, : Little Grey; estimated cost, L 20 0; Alfred JSorgerson and

party, at Brandy Jack's Creek, to cost L 200; Chris. Irvine and party, at Brandy Jack's Creek, to cost L 175 ; Chas. Chrson and party, Brandy Jack's, to cost LBO : George Furness and party, at Adamstown ; John M. Olliyier and party, at Half-Ounce, to cost L4lO ; Jas. M'Laughluiand party objected. Granted, subject to non-interference with M'Laughlin's rights. Certificates for tailraces were granted to Thos. Mills, Hatter's Terrace, Nelson Creek ; Chas. C. Noilson, to cost L4O, near the junction of the upper forks, Moonlight Creek ; J. M. Ollivier aud party, Half-Ounce, to cost L 17 5; Charles Clarson and party, Brandy Jack's, to cost LSO. A certificate for a flood-race at Moonlight, to cost LGO, was granted to Charles Neilson. Certificates for special sites were granted to Chas. Clarson and party, Brandy Jack's, of 100x50ft, for a dam ; J. M. Ollivier and party, Half-Ounce, 20x35ft, for a dam ; J. M. Ollivier and party, Half-Ounce, 150 by 100 yds, as a site for tailings. Granted, subject to reduction. The application of Denis Madigan for a dam and tailings site at Noble's was refused.

The Oaaka Japanese Troupe commenced their series of entertainments at the Volunteer Hall last evening. The hall was crowded in every part, and the entertainment was in every respect a most unqualified success. Tho tricks performed by the vaiious members of the troupe were wonderfully clever, . and neatly and mysteriously executed, and we shall give them fuller mention at another time.. The little boy "All Right "is a wonder. Standing on a slimly-built pedestal a foot square, he can bend himself backward until he picks up from the pedestal a sword in his teeth, and returns it to its former position, after which he puts his head between bis legs, says "Ail Bight," aud then slowly resumes the perpendicular. He subsequently performed other feats still more astonishing. Signor Farrari's trained monkeys highly amused the audience by tho cleverness of their tricks. They have been carefully trained, and in going through their performances exhibit an amount of intelligence that is more characteristic of humanity than monkeys. The entertainment is one of the cleverest, and most amusing that has ever been seen in Greymouth, and the troupe are sure to command crowded houses during their stay here. It is to be hoped that those wlio do attend, and who pay for back seats, will in future appreciate the fact that seats are made for the purpose of being sat upon. Last night any person an inch or so less in height than 6ft, had a very indifferent chance of judging of anything except the manner in which other people part their back hair.

The following lively paragraph appears in the Kaikoura Herald : — " We hear that Mr C. Evans is having some land cleared in the vicinity of the Kohai for the cultivation of hops. His energy and enterprise are deserving of success. Won't the beer be strong by and bye ? We have some recollection of having been once taken off our legs by a pint in the old country ; we expect that we shall have to wait a bit before the Kaikoura brew will do that."

Humorous sayings (remarks the Age of tho Ist instant) are not uncommon with persons }n articulo mortis. Many of a very amusing nature are on record, but it is difficult to realise an individual penning his last will and testnment in a "spirit of banter, Nevertheless, upon no other hypothesis cau wo account for a man bequeathing the sum of 1.10 to three of his ncjjt of kin, and recommending them to walk righteously before the Lord aud refrain from qijarrelling over the munificent legacy he had left them. Such were subsfciintially the contents of a. -will, probate of which was granted in the County Court yesterday.

In tho Wakatip district poplars are beiug planted in preference to blue gums, tho latter being found unable to withstand the frosts thero.

The following ironical advertisement appears in the Oamani Times of Friday last : — " To the ladies and gentlemen who attended the ball at the Masonic 'Hall on 6th inss. — Please accept the thanks of the servants who waited upon you on that auspicious occasion for the liberal amount you so kindly left to be divided amongst us— namely, L 0 0s Od."

Oyster cultivation is being vigorously prosecuted at Akaroa. Messrs Morey and Co. have for some time had artificial oyster beds in German Bay, and arc actively engaged in making others, A now company, under tho manaijement of Mr E. O. Latter, ia also about commencing operations at Barry's Bay.

At Donoghue's, tho Ross News reports, mining affairs are flourishing. Sweeney and party have a fair prospect before them, and both the Long Tail Filly and the Prospectors' claims arc turning out well.

A telegram received yesterday front MiTrine state 3 that he will ar.ive in Ross about the 20th inst.

Referring to the growing importance of the timber trade of Southland, an Invercargill paper says :— " It may probably surprise some of our readers to learn that during the last month (October) no less than 1,041,332 feet were parried by railway, the freight on which amounted to L2SS 17s 4d. Th; 3 traffic was created by five mills only, aud we understand that four others will shortly be in full working order."

The Americans have lately been trying a rather daring experiment in the way of pile-driving. A pile having been placed in position, a cannon weighing ISOO pounds, with the breach dished so as to fit as a cap, is placed on the top of the pile, muzzle upwards. Above is fixed a ram which can be shot downwards, but prevented from flying upwards by a brake. A cartridge is put into the gun, the' ram allowed to descend, the cartridge is exploded, driving up the ram, which is stopped by the brake, aud tlie recoil driving the gun forcibly downwards, thus causing the pile to descend also. Upon trial, it was found that a ten-inch pile was driven down 20ft with five blows, and with an expenditure of Soz of gunpowder.

An accident which might have proved seiious occurred to Mr Charles Halliday, of the Nelson postal service, on Friday last. Intent upon the violent capture of some of the rabbits which have located themselves beneath the flooring of the Odd Fellows' Hall, he mounted a ladder placed against the fencing, and upon a fine doe making its appearance, levelled a gun and fired with fatal effect. The rabbit rolled over and so did the sportsman, the recoil of the gun having knocked him off his elevated position, and in the fall the ramrod inflicted a wound under his chin, which necessitated the attendance of Dr Cotterell.

Mr Joseph Charles worth, farmer, residing at Templeton, Canterbury, committed suicide by hauging himself on Tuesday night. Doceased, it appears, had lived alone for a number of years in tho above district, and was in anything but embarrassed circumstances. The cause for committing suicide is therefore a mystery. In deceased's pocket a piece of paper was found in his handwriting, stating that God only was aware of what had driven him to take away his own life; the paper was also in tho nature of a willy deceased leaving his property to a Mrs lunes. Deceased has no relatives in the colony.

Tho Home Neios received by the San Francisco mail contains the following :— Mr Thomas Birch', who has for soaie time past been busily engaged in the northern parts of the island in endeavoring to persuade his stalwart countrymen as to tho good things that await them in New Zealand, recently

paid a visit to London for the purpose of seeing a number of his Shetland proteges off to their new home in the south. The ship prepared for their passage was the Christian M'Ausland, and the simple Shetlanders seemed to see an omen of good in tho homely name of tho ship in which they were to sail. Judging from the general conduct and appearance of the emigrants, they should make capital colonists. Half a score of the Shetland women are noted for their skill in knitting, and this surely represents an industry that might be largely and profitably pursued in New Zealand. Immediately after the sailing of the ship Mr Birch turned his steps North again. He purposes paying an early visit to Orkney, returning to Shetland by-and-by, where several families are preparing for a journey to New Zealand.

According to the Wangauui Herald; the Tuhua gold fever is again on the increase. Rumors are rife at the King's settlement about gold being found at Tubua, and the natives are very much excited about it.

The Dacotah is expected to make the passage from San Francisco in 22 days. She will bring a large number of passengers, including Chiarini's Italian Circus, comprising 50 performers and 30 trained horses. The company will play in Auckland, and afterwards visit Christchurch and Dunedin, thence proceeding to Melbourne.

A serious accident occurred in Dnnedin to the Anderson's Bay coach, winch was returning with a weddiag party, who had been spending the day at the Bay. On coming round point a near the quarry the horses became unmanageable, and an upset was the consequence. All the occupants of the coach were more or less hurt, though none, we are glad to say, very seriously. The bride and bridegroom were badly cut about the face ; Mr Cook, one of thePost Office letter carriers, had his foot sprained ; Mr Adau»a, one of the Times runners, had his foot broken, and was removed to the Hospital ; and one oE Messrs Watson and Gow's men vvas badly cut in the face. A.t the. time of. the accident there were ten ladies inside the coach, and nearly as :many gentlemen outside.

It was rumored in Westport on Friday that a rash had set in for the Waimangaroa, anditis known that for some days several men have wended their way there, travelling also even by moonlight. The only authentic news tho Times can obtain as snowing any reason for a rush, is that in Martin and Overhagen's claim, which has been held under a lease for five or six years 'past, good Surface stone has lately. been found, and the party, on sinking a l4ft shaft, struck a leader six or seven inches in width, gold-bearing throughout and gradually widening. In the casing of this laader gold indications were also thickly distributed, and the probability is that the machinery at the Waitnangaroa, W^ich has so long remained unused may at last be profitably employed.