Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1386, 9 January 1873, Page 2

The County Council, after the election o Chairman, was adjourned until the evening of Tuesday next, and consequently the two Grey mouth members, Messrs Kennedy and Smith, returned to their homes last evening. The recently reported assault upon a party of Chinese was the subject of nine separate informations heard before Mr Re veil, R.M., yesterday, at Maori Gully. Of the nine defendants, Henry Castles was fined LlO and costs, and James Kelly L 6 and costs. They were also bound over to keep the peace for wx months, under a bond of LQO each, and in each case two sureties' of LlO each. The same conditions as to keeping the peace were enforced upon Michael Phillips, Win. FitzPatrick, Thomas Cahill, Barth Holan, James Costyan, Daniel Killan, John Macnamara. On Monday 1115oz indwt of retorted gold ' were brought to Beefton from the Ajax machine, being the gold obtained from crushing 683 tons scwt of quartz from the Golden Fleece claim. The gold is a very fine | sample. It was forwarded immediately to Greymouth, the Government having granted a police escort, on the recommendation of the Warden, in consequence of the late sticking-up case. We are indebted to Mr F. Hamilton and to. Mr Blackmore for the early receipt of our Reefton correspondent's letter and a copy of the Inangab.ua Herald, both containing an account of the ceremony of christening the iiachinery on the Energetic Company's claim. A meeting of the shareholders of the Murray Creek Gold-mining Company takes place at Gilmer's Hotel, to-day, at 4 o'clock p.m. " London Assurance" — one of Boucicault's best comedies — has been selected as the play to be performed on the occasion of Miss Stephenson's farewell appearance and benefit in Greymouth, and it is to be played this (Thursday) evening. There are many reasons for anticipating a large attendance. During ocr protracted stay in Greymouth Miss Stephenson has worked like a heroine, as actress and* as educator of amateur actors and actresses, and, as well as this appetite >or work, she has displayed an ability which is remarkable, and which entitles her to a prime position in her profession. The part

vbich she takes to-night, Lady Gay Spanke ■ also one of a class, which she sustaii idmirably, and ahe will be as admirably supported by Mr Burjtord as Sir Harcout-; Cuurtley. Grace Hadfcaway is to be repre Rented by a young lady who, persuaded bj ncr own and Miss Stephenson's friends, ha> consented to make a first and what cauno fail to be otherwise than a fair appearanc* on the stage. The Rev. T. Flavell held Divine service at Half-Ounce on Sunday morning. The rev. gentleman held Divine service and preach^ at the Court House, Ahaura, on Sunday evening. The services on both occasions were numerously attended. ! A reward of L 250, with a free pardon to an accomplice, is offered for the apprehen sion and conviction of the offenders wh. stuck up and robbed Mr James Hayes neai Ahaura on the 31st December. The thieves will find a greater difficulty in disposing of the stolen property than they had in obtaining possession of it. An experienced detective and other officers of the Westland Police Force are in the district investigating the matter and the facts in connection with it In consequence of the untiring and united exertions of the Nelson and Westland police, a chain of circumstances has been traced which, it is said in well-informed quarters, will shortly throw some light upon this myg. terious robbery. No arrests bave as yet been made. / Messrs A. D. Dobson, Provincial Engineer, and Mr Mirfin, Overseer of Public Works, traversed the line of the proposed new road from the Arnold to Ahaura on Tuesday. As a result of the examination, Mr Surveyor Flail has received instructions to complete the working plans of the section between the Arnold River and the junction of the No Town and Grey Valley roads. Tenders will be called for the making of the road when the plans are nuished. The Surveyor will then proceed without delay with the remaining sections between No Town and ', Nelson Creek and Nelson Creek and \haura. Mr Hall and his staff shifted their camps from the Ikamatua, where they have been engaged in laying off agricultural blocks for gome months, to the Arnold on Wednesday. An inquest was held before C. Whitefoord, Esq., Coroner, at Half-Ounce, on Tuesday, on the remains of Robert Dudley, who died suddenly on Monday. The deceased was in his usual health up to a few hours of the time of his death. It was not found practicable to hold a post mortem examination of the body, owing to the absence of a qualified medical man. Death was supposed to be caused by congestion of the lungs. A verdict of " Died from natural causes^ was returned. The deceased was an Englishman, about 40 years of age. He was for a long time in the army, and was known about Cobden and other places by the sobriquet of the " Pensioner." The body was interred at the Ahaura cemetery on Tuesday evening. The Rev. T. Flavell performed the funeral service. The winding up of the monetary affairs of the Totara Flat Races and Sports came off on Monday. After satisfying all claims, a balance of L 3 10s remained, which amount it was decided should be handed over to the Grey River Hospital. The members of Court Concord, xfo. 4355, of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Greymouth, held their half-yearly meeting on Tuesday last, at the Court Room, Hunt's Club Hotel, for the purposes of receiving the Auditor's report and balance-sheet, and of installing the officers for the ensuing six months. The following brothers were duly installed by the retiring C.R., J. Jones :- Bro.S.C.R. J. May, Chief Ranger; Bio. P. Boylan, S.C.R. ; Bro. G. T. Butt, S.W. : Bro. T. Ayres, J.W. ; Bro. J. Love, S.B and Bro. F. W. Paul, Assistant Secretary The above Society was estaMished in Greymouth by P.D.S. J. W. Hall on the 12th o February, 1867, and we notice by the printe balance-sheet that there are 99 financia mem hers, and the total worth of the Court i L 416 93 7d. The Court has paid L 35 10 Bickpay during the past six months, and L 9 on account of the district for deaths, showing the great benefits received from Friendly Societies. The first steps may be said to be taker towards the formation of a cattle track from Ahaura to the Amuri. The present intention is to clear the undergrowth and scrub one chain wide for a distance of about 40 miles. The track will be made entirely away from the Abaura River, so that accidents of the weather will not close it, as in the case of the present apology for a road. The sum set apart for the work amounts to L 3500 It is urgently necessary that something should be done on the road, as, owing to the encroachments of the river at Situation Point, traffic is stopped when the slightest freshet is in the river. A cricket match is to come off at Ahaura, on Saturday, between picked elevens among the players of Ahaura or those residing at Half -Ounce and Totara Flat, The Westland Gazette announces that blocks 79 suburban, and 80 rural, in the Grey District are now open for sale. The boundaries of these blocks are des< ribed in the Gazette. Mr H. H. Lahman, the late County Chairman, granted to Whinnery and party a special claim of five acres situate at Greenstone, subject to the condition that Isbister and party, and Wilson and party be allowed the use of the tailing site equally with Whinnery and party. Sergeant Moller has been gazetted a ranerer under the "Protection to Animals Act, 1867," in room of Sergeant M'Ennis resigned, and Constable Keating has been appointed keeper of the Powder Magazine at Greymouth. A Nelson Gazette notifies Mr Shephard's resignation of the Treasurership, Mr Greenfield's appointment \a his place, and the appointment of Mr George Hodgson as-*'Ac-countant of the Province," whatever that may mean. By the steamer Kennedy, yesterday, the Greymouth portion of the San Francisco mail was received; also a Canterbury and Otago mail which had been sent round by steamer during the Christmas week, when the overland communication was interI rupted. A dinner, to which about 25 sat down, was given at the Trafalgar Hotel, Nelson, to Mr Duncan Guy, late Clerk to the Resident Magistrate's Court in Nelson, on the occasion of his removal to Wanganui. The chair was taken by Mr Luckie, M.H.R. I Sir George Bowcn has published the notes of his overland journey from Wellington to Auckland in April last, in the form of a pamphlet; issued, in London. It is considered as somewhat remarkable (says the Star) that the most unhealthy part of Dunedjn is the highest. All medical evidence points to this anomaly. While the flats, with their low and fetid swamps, are free from low fever •uid influenza, the residents on the hill-sides abutting on the Town Belt have been frequently attacked by both. In the Wellington Independent there appears the following paragraph . — " We observe by an advertisement in another column that Mr Francis Buck has entered into partnership with Mr Lloyd, of Greymoutb. and commenced the business of coal mer chants. The firm has built a wharf and a large store, where a considerable quantity cf coal is stored, so that they are prepared at once to execute any orders they may be

ntrusted with. We are glad that an ittempt is being made to develop the mineral esources of Westland, and trust Messrs Lloyd and Buck will be amply rewarded for their spirited enterprise." ! A Charleston firm (Dwan and Co.) publish in the Herald the following new thing in idvertisements :— ■" A Merry Christmas and i Happy New Year to all human beings of -.very color and shade on the face of this ,lobe. To all whom these presents .come greeting. Whereas Christmas is at hand and the New Year approaching, the undersigned, vware that the greater portion of the population, of this district, . with a praiseworthy generosity, have rushed forward* to patronise them in their new venture, the retail trade, feel constrained to extend to them, before che first of the coming year (which reference has been made to in a former issue of this journal), all the advantages likely to accrue from cheap purchases during the holiday tinnes. Now know ye therefore, that the undersigned have this day reduced the prices of wines, spirits, provisions, and produce to suit the emergency of the occasion ; and further, that such reduction shall remain in full force and effect until through a future advertisement any other changes may be made known. This is therefore to command ye forthwith to appear at their stores, Camp street, Charleston, and then and there make your purchases, and pay for the same in the current coin of the realm ; or in default thereof enter into your recognisances for the future payment thereof, under a no less penalty than to have your credit stopned with a vengeance. N.B. — No kid! No catch-penny to rope in customers and then sell at extortionate prices." One of the signs of the commercial advance Wellington is now making was noticed a few days ago in the papers of that city. Mr 11. J. Duncan has opened a spacious auctionroom on Lambton Quay, 63ft by 40ffc, with a large yard on the> rear. The first sale held on the premises consisted of 108 bales of wool, sold for about L2OOO, and a quantity of general merchandise, which realised above LISOO. At a lunch, which followed the wool sale, at which about 100 persons sat down, his Honor the Superintendent, in proposing Mr Duncan's health, referred to the old days thirty years ago, when he made his acquaintance as an auctioneer's clerk, the auctioneer being himself ( Mr Fitzherbert). tn noticing the purchasing of hares from Mr Prince, of Greyraouth, for the Nelson Acclimatisation Society,, the Examiner says : — By the Kennedy, a few days ago, three bares were received from Greymouth by Mr Huddlestone, for our Acclimatisation .Society. Four were put on board, but one died on the passage. These hares had been obtained from Melbourne for the purpose of being liberated at the Grey, but through a misunderstanding between the gentleman who procured them and the Society at Greymouth, they were offered for sale here, and were at once- purchased. On receiving the hares, Mr Huddlestone took them to Stoke, and turned them out in the garden at Woodstock Park, with the consent of Mrs Nicholson. Mr Huddleston expects three more from Melbourne by the Rangitoto in a few days, which he purposes to liberate further up the country. The hares turned out in the neighborhood of the racecourse, a fewmonths ago, have bred, and the leverets have been repeatedly seen. The public pic-nic gathering at Charleston, organised as a farewell meeting with the Rev. T. Flavell, prior to his leaving the district, was a great success, over 300 adults attending, besides innumerable juveniles. Che chief feature of the day was the presentation of a handsomely illuminated testimonial to the reverend gentleman, subscribed for by the members of his church The text >f the testimonial was as follows: — "To .ho Rev. Thomas Flavell, incumbent of St. vlark's, Charleston, New Zealand : Reverend md Dear Sir,— Prior to your removal from -his district, where you have so well and aithf ully ministered for the past four years, ye desire to express our gratitude to you for 'he zeal and integrity with which you have tnder circumstances more than ordinarily rying and difficult performed the duties ■ippertaining to your office. In wishing you a regretf il farewell, we earnestly assure you that you will ever hold a prominent place in our hearts and prayers. Trusting you will meet with the appreciation you merit in the new sphere to which you have been called, we beg to subscribe ourselves, &c." The body of Mr J. Haycock, whose death by the fall of his horse at Eaikoura has been mentioned, was brought by the steamer Wallace to Nelson for interment in the Waimea East Cemetery. The only particulars obtained of the accident are, that there had been a race on Boxiug Day, which had been won by Mr Haycock's horse, and in riding the animal . home, in attempting to jump at something, the horse struck it, and fell over on the rider, breaking his skull, and severely injuring his chest. Death was immediate. The funeral was very largely attended. The Nelson Mail publishes its latel y pro raised article.on the subject of the correspondence between the Nelson and General Governments regarding the Greymouth and coal-mine railway. Space does not permit us at present to refer to the contents of the article. Apropos of this subject it may be stated that, at a meeting of the Borough Council on Wednesday evening, of which the Press had no notification , it was agreed to appoint the Mayor, with Messrs Wickes and Reid, to bring under the notice of the General Government the injury and injustice done to the district and -the Co'ony by the delay in undertaking the work. An Anglo- Australian Press telegram from Wellington, published yesterday, says :— •• The Independent of to-day has another article relative to the formation of a Wellington Company to work the Brunner coal-mine, and says that Mr O'Neil, M. H.R., waited upon the Superintendent of Nelson to ascertain the terms upon which he would grant a lsase of the mine. Mr O'Neil was led to believe that the proposal would be favorably entertained, but was informed that it would be necessary to lay the matter before the Waste Lands, Board. Since then no definite ' reply has been received, except that the consideration of the matter is postponed. The Independent says the reason of the delay is that Mr Curtis became alarmed lest Wellington enterprise should develop the mine he has so long tinkered with, and he called a meeting of Nelson gentlemen to induce them to develop the mine, but though there was a great deal of talking, there is no chance of sufficient capital being raised The same paper says the only chance for develop, ing the mine is taking it out of Mr Curtis's incompetent hands, and making it Colonial property." The first waggon load of hay ever seen in Hokitika arrived in town on Saturday morning from the Kokotaki district. It was grown by Mr Crowe, and is of superior description. A despatch from (Baltimore, dated -the Bth ult., says that #|jing a severe storm in that city on the previous afternoon the Front Street Theatre was struck by lightnine while a rehearsal of the " French Spy" was proceeding. The lightning struck the cupola, tearing the roof into frag- j ments, thence passed down the gaspipe into the building, and flashed along the footlights, and following the gas fixtures, oassed out at a side door into the street. Several actors on the stage were slightly stunned, but none seriously injured.