THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1361, 9 December 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1872.

The second interview between candidate and constituency, in connection with the impending County election and the representation of Greymouth, takes place this evening -at Gilmer's Hall, when the present County Chairman, Mr Lahman, will address the electors. Mr Lahman, since he was elected simply as a member of the Westland County Council, has been honored by being made County Chairman and member of the Legislative Council of the Colony. In each of these offices, he has, of necessity, done much affecting the interests of Westland, and he has, of his own choice, done a great deal affecting his personal reputation He has thus much to narrate, and, to put it in the mildest form possible, he has much to "explain." Locally, there has been little said against hit n, but there has been a suggestive silence wbdeh, whatever he may do, other men cannot mistake. Apropos of Mr Lahman, and of aoma comraeats. which, appeared in th<3se columns on the subject of the County election on Saturday hut, we may state, wl tat ought to have beeu observed by anyod«, that not the slightest reference to Mr Iwahman was involved in the peculiar s polling of a particular word or iv any reuaarks therewith, asooiated The amateurs Who have undertaken 'to give a dramatic entertainment at the Volunteer Hall this evening, in aid of the funds of the Hospital, have been unfortunate in the selection of Monday night for their performance, but it is their misfortune, not their faulty for they postponed the entertainment from Friday last, and selected Monday night [previous to the appointment of the same •evening and hour for Mr Lahman to address the electors. Unless the inhabitants o Greymouth are more interested in ih County eleotion than they appear to be, and

have not lost all interest in the Hospital, there should, however, be a large attendance at the Volunteer Hall this evening. It is to | be hoped that, as a contrast to past performances, either professional or amateur, the curtain will rise promptly, and that those who arrive late will modestly take such seats as may be available, instead of cultivating the questionable ambition of being "the observed of all observers." . An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Grey River Steam Tug Company will be held at Kilgour's Union Hotel this afternoon, at three o'clock, to consider the advisability of declaring a dividend, and to arrange the investment of the reserve fund. The arbitrators between the Government and Mr Coe have awarded the latter LI 87 for alleged injury done to his property by the formation of the Greymouth and Omotumotu road. The expenses associated with the arbitration amount to upwards of a hundred pounds, and these the Government undertook to pay. In the case Collins and party v. the Keep it Dark Company, heard in the Warden's Court at Reefton on Wednesday last, the Warden decided that it was necessary to serve a notice on any party who had obtained a grant from the Superintendent of a smaller area than that applied for, before taking proceedings to obtain possession of the balance of the ground, and that, in the event of their declining to accept such reduced area, tho Superintendent would, no doubt, cancel their lease altogether. A d/ove of about 300 cattle, belonging to Mr Morice Jones, of Canterbury, passed through Hokitika on Friday morning en route for the South, to bo fattened on broad-leaf bush. <. Requisitions to Messrs Ivess, Carreras, and M'Lean are being signed at Reefton, asking them to stand for election as a member of the Provincial Council. • Mr Donovan's name is also mentioned, as well as that of Mr Acton Adams. The election is only for one session of the Council, and of very little consequence, but, if the electors are wise, they should select, in preference to persons at a distance, any local man who -will be foolish enough to go the Nelson Council. The new road to Ross was taken advantage of on Thursday by Mr M'Guirk, who drove from Hokitika an American waggon and three horses, with ten passengers, the fare being 10s each, inclusive of the ferryage. * There was a crowded meeting on Thursday evening .at O'Hara's Theatre Royal, Ross, and Messrs Cuming and Tribe obtained a patient hearing. Mr Knox was voted to the chair, and declared the show of hands in favor of Mr Cuming. The withdrawal of Mr Button's candidature for a seat in the County Council, for the Hokitika district, is notified in the local papers. The c tephenson Company concluded a successful series of entertainments at Reefton, on Saturday last; They proceed thence to the Lyell, and may be expected in Greymouth after the 20th insfc. A dramatic entertainment is something more than, the most sanguine resident of, or visitor to, the Lyell could expect for many years to come, and there is reason to fear that Mr Burford, in going there, has gone upon a wild-goose chase, but it may suit his purpose to proceed by Westport, and a combination of the {>ractical with the picturesque, even if the atter should predominate, may contribute to the return of the company refreshed for the work of the Christmas week. Referring tn Mr Shephard's resignation of the Provincial TreasureroUip of Nelson, the Westport Times says :— " His retirement f rO iu the Nelson Executive means a severance of connection with a cabal of obstructionists, and once freed therefrom, Mr Shephardmay, in bis largeness of heart and honesty of purpose, prove himself immeasurably superior to his whilom associates." The Lyell correspondent of the Westport Ti7iies writes:— "The Court- was held in Zennettis and Co's new hotel, in the billiard room, which is second to none in Westport. A ball was held there on Saturday evening, and which, to all appearances, was a great success. The fair sex mustered strongly and in elegant costume, and never at any event have so many people been in the Lyell at one time before. The music was excellent. The ball finished up in the usual style — two or three fights shortly after daylight— quite a. common occurrence in Lyell — but we are none the less friendly afterwards." Debrett gives the following account of our next Governor : — "The Right Hon. „ Sir James Fergusson, of Kilkerran, Ayrshire, is a Privy Councillor, and the 6th Baronet, the creation dating from 1703. He was born in 1832 ; educated at Rugby, and at University College, Oxford j entered the Grenadier Guards 1851, became Lieutenant and Captain 1854, and retired 1855 ; served in the Crimea, and was wounded at Inkermann ; has. the Crimean Medal and three clasps, &c. ; has been Lieut-Colonel of the Prince Regent's Regiment of Ayr and Wigton Militia since 1858, and is a Deputy-Lieutenant and a Magistrate for Ayrshire, for which County he sat in Parliament (Conservative) 1854-7, and 1859-68 ; was Under-Secretary of State for India 1866-7, and Under-Secretary at the Home Office 1867, till appointed Governor of South Australia in 1868. Married, 1859, Lady Edith Christian Ramsay— who died in 1871 — daughter of the first and last Marquis of Dalhousie. Sir James has four children living— two daughters, born 1860 and 1862 ; and two sons, born 1865 and 1871." The Grey Valley is not the only part of the West Coast that is languishing for want of water. The Inangah.ua has. not escaped. The new machine at the Wealth of Nations has been compelled to suspend operations in consequence. The directors of the company intend to call for tenders immediately for the extension of the head-race to the Inanr gahua. The source from which they are drawing their water now is quite inadequate, being merely a network of gullies and small tributaries of Murray Creek. The machine was working very well, when shortness of water compelled them to suspend operations. A block of coal has been brought by the Result from Ngakawhau to Westport for transmission to the Christchurch Exhibition. It is a solid and compact block of splendidlooking coal, measuring quite three cubic feet, and without flaw or indications of slate. Had time permitted, an entire section of the 16ft seam would have been forwarded. A writer in an Auckland paper says that "in some cases C.E. stands for Confounded Egotist." There is some decidedly warm writing in Ross on the subject of the present County election. An article in the Ncws^ condemnatory uf Mr Cuming as a candidate commences thus:— "lt is generally the case that, during 'election time,' malignity is the order of the day, and the most disgusting remarks are indulged in by a peculiar class of gossip-mongers ; but, to the credit of Britons be it said, «v spirit of fair-play permeates the ranks of those who feel proud of ' the flag that's braved a thousand years,' and none but the scum of society are to be found ready to adopt a prevaricating course for a menial purpose. The actions of public men are, of course, fit subjects for criticism ; but there is a limit to the license allowed even during the time that election proceedings are being carried on, and, although we do not anticipate that the respectable portion of this community will allow themselves to be influenced by any clap-trap that may

emanate from the perverters of truth who incessantly bray their spiteful notes to an admiring few, we must offer a little advice to the electors on this occasion." A correspondent of the News waxes equally eloquent. He exclaims: — '"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots ?' No, certainly not ; nor will Mr Hamilton Cuming ever, change one iota of his unfortunate inherent nature. Do the electors think, from their knowledge of his idiotic style of oratory, only fit to amuse the frequenters of public-house bars, that he would be listened to patiently by his confreres in Council, whilst giving utterances to that style of atoipid and bombastic elocution with which, I am ashamed to say, he appears to delight a Ross audience, when the only feeling should be one of pity that the self-styled ' noblest of God's works' — the honest man — could turn ths use of the brains that Providence endowed Mm.Tnth to such a purpose?" An Auckland paper states that Sir George Grey purposes revisiting England after Christmas. A horse was stung to death by bees at Auckland the other day. At New Plymouth, a few days ago, a lad received a sunstoke while bathing. The Rev. Mr Eusz has been appointed to succeed the Rev, Mr Plavell in the incumbency of Charleston. He will take office about the end of the current month. Mr Carruthers, the Colonial Engineer-in-Chief, arrived at Nelson by the Taranaki for the purpose of going over the proposed route of the Fox-hill line, and deciding on its course, Dr Hector, who ,lately paid a visit to the Collingwood coal-mine, is • said to have been greatly pleased with the mineral prospects of the district, and more particularly with the fine iron stone which exists tkere in abundance in close proximity to the coal. . A match, in which a good deal of local interest was taken, was played in Lawrence last week, between a gentleman, a native of that place, and Mr Kirkwood, of Greymoath. It was 1000 points up, for LIOO. At 'the close of the game, the score stood — Amateur, 1000 ; Kirkwood, 890. A second match was afterwards played for L 25 aside, and the amateur was again victorious— he scoring 500 to Mr Kirkwood's 424. In the reports of the last meeting of the Canterbury Presbytery, it is stated that the Moderator read a letter he had received from the Rev. J. M'lntosh, the contents of which concluded the business which had been remitted to himself and Mr .Douglass to report ouj Mrs Newaom, the wife of a tailor residing in Salisbury street east, Christchurch, suddenly dropped down dead whilst engaged in her household duties. The deceased leaves a family of seven children. His Honor Mr Justice Gresson had a very narrow escape from serious injury last week. He was riding through Cathedral square, Christchurch, at an easy canter, when his horse slipped on a stone, and fell on to its side. For a moment there was every appearance of serious results accruing, but the horse sprung sharply up again, and Mr Gresson, having freed himself from the stirrups, sustained no further injury than a severe shock, and a slight cut on the nose. There are some good claims yet in Otago. The Break-'em-AlI Claim, Winding Creek, Switzersj turned out LIOOO worth of gold during the last eight weeks. The last week's work yielded 670z. Wo learn that much better stone was obtained on Saturday evening from the bottom of the shaft that is being sunk from the low level tunnel of the Ajax claim, Inangalraa. The. shaft is now down more than 60ft, and it is sfeted that the stone has been steadily improving for the latter portion of the distance.^,. - The Californians, says the Engineer, are about to fish for gols from the sea, and a large diving bell is now being constructed in San Francisco for the purpose. It appears that the shores of Gold Bluff, on the northern coast of California abounds in the precious metal, but as the time between the ebb and flow of the tides is too short to work with advantages they propose to woik under that bell unmindful of the tides. Another plan has been devised. The black sand which covers the bottom of the sea all about the region is largely mixed Up with gold dust. They are building a schooner provided with a large vacuum pump, and an elastic tube Gin in diameter, which will cause the sand to rise in the vacuum chamber, and by this means they estimate that 100 tons per hour can be elevated. Of course the success of such enterprises depends entirely on the amount of gold obtained in return for a certain amount of labor add capital invested. Dr Beight's Phosphodyne.— Multitudes of people are hopelessly suffering from De bility,. Nervous and Liver Complaints, Depression of Spirits, Delusions, Unfitness for Business or Study, Failure of Hearing Sight, and Memory, Lassitude, Want of Power, &c, whose cases admit of a permanent cure by the new remedy Phosphodyne (Ozonic Oxygen), which at once allays all irritation and excitement, imparts new energy and life to the enfeebled constitution, and rapidly cures eveiy stage of these hitherto incurable and distressing maladies. Sold by all Chemists and Storekeepers throughout the Colonies, from whom pamphlets containing testimonials may bo obtained. Caution — Be particular to ask for.Dr Bright's Phosphodyne as imitations are abroad. Wholesale agents for Now Zealand : — Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co, Dunedin. — [Advt.]