THE PUBLISHED DAILY. . FRIDA V, FEBIt UAR V 14, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1417, 14 February 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 14, 1873.

The new County Chairman, Mr Robinson, unfortunately still continues to be incapacitated for work by his sudden and severe attack of illness. At this particular time when the Council is sitting, his illness necessarily causes considerable inconvenience, and it will probably be asked by the Councillors that the Council should either be adjourned for some time, or that there should be some regular substitute in the chair whose presence will enable business to proceed. Brick buildings seem likely to become more fashionable after recent experiences of fires, and the example given by Mr Perkins. Messrs Thompson, Smith, and Barkley, it will be seen, call for tenders for the erection of a brick warehouse. We understand it is their intention to erect this warehouse in Maokay street, which, withlthe new Masonic Hall, and Messrs Forsyth and Masters' store, and other new buildings, is gradually assuming an aspect of business importance. Madame Carandini, and her accomplished daughters, who lately arrived at Hokitika from Melbourne, are announced to appear in Greymouth on Monday evening, when they will give the first of a short series of highclass musical entertainments. Mr Thornton, Little Amy, and the members of the dramatic company of whom rhey were the principals, have returned from the Grey Valley townships after a pretty successful tour. Miss Stephenson and Mr Burford performed one night in Westport, and then proceeded to Charleston. Dr Moran, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin and Administrator of the Diocese of Wellington, is expected to arrive in Greymouth to-morrow afternoon. Preparations, it will be seen, have been made by the local congregation and others to meet him on his arrival. We learn that James Cusack, late assistant telegraphist at Charleston, who was lately on a visit to Inangahua, returned on Wednesday by boat to Westport, and died suddenly about 15 minutes after landing. The inquest takes place at Westport to-day. " A Miner" at Moonlight writes to us : — "By a late issue of your paper I perceive that books, &c, in connection with the Grey River Hospital, have been forwarded to Moonlight. It is not generally known here that a sub-committee has been elected, or any move made in the matter as yet. If otherwise, will the gentlemen in authority kindly call for subscriptions." We understand that it was intimated to the Greymouth Committee that, in consequence of the scattered population, there was some difficulty in organising a committee, and that the books, &c, had been entrusted to Mr Robert Shaw. We are requested to announce that Mr W. j Baldwin, the travelling sub-commissioner for | the Government scheme of life assurance, | will visit Greymouth iv a week or ten days. We (Inangahua. Herald) are glad to learn that arrangements are likely to be concluded by the Just-in-Time and Fiery Cross OomI panics, Boatman's, with Messrs Graham, Malfroy, and Co. in respect to supplying and erecting an engine for the purpose of driving a quartz-crushing plane. In addition to the ' above companies, and in the event of their failing to complete any arrangement, we understand that the Golden Ledge and Keep-it-Dark claims {Adam Smith's), are prepared to negotiate for the removal and ereption of the engine to the right-hand branch of the Inangahua. It is stated as probable that his Honor ; Mr Justice Gresson will take the Wanganui ; and Wellington circuit business, as Judge Johnrton will proceed to Auckland to fil

the place of the Chief Justice, who has been appointed to administer the Government until the arrival of Sir James Fergusson. It is the intention of Mr Edward Wayte, of Auckland, shortly to publish a second edition of "Wilson's Practical Statutes of New Zealand" (with side notes), which will contain the statutes up to the date of publication. Latest news from the Lyell, by way of Westport, reports a slight rush to the EightMile, the reef having been further traced to the northward, and numerous claims are now being pegged off along the line. The stone, so far as tested, appears to become richer as the reef is traced northward, and immense results are predicted if present anticipations are realised. Increased activity prevades at the Lyell, and speculation in reefs and reefing shares is predominant. The Excelsior company have commenced their first crushing and will, if possible, put through at least 150 tons. The increase in the yield of alluvial gold at the Lyell and tributary creeks is becoming very marked, the local storekeepers often having some difficulty in raising at a short notice the necessary funds to purchase parcels offered them. Mr Fennell, storekeeper, purchased 150oz in various lots a few days since, and there is scarcely a cargo boat coming down river from Lyell to Westport that does not bring heavy parcels, although the consignees here are extremely reticent as to the facts. Inquiries having been made respecting a person named Charles Josiah Wilson, formerly of Surrey, England, who came to New Zealand twelve or thirteen years ago, and was last heard of at Picton, some four or five years since, any one who can give any information respecting him is requested to communicate with the Colonial Secretary's office. The following memorial to the Superintendent of Canterbury was circulated in Christchurch, and signed by his Worship the Mayor and other influential persons : — "Sir — Recent intelligence from Australia 1 conveyed the alarming news that the supply of coals from that quarter for fuel and other purposes, including that of steam traffic by sea and land, is most certain to rise greatly in price, if not to cease altogether for a time. We therefore respectfully request that your Honor will convene a public meeting in Christchurch for the purpose of memorialising his Excellency the Governor in favor of, and in all other legitimate ways promoting the completion with the least possible delay, of the railway from Rolleston to the' Malvern Hills, and the improvement of the wharfage accommodation at Lyttelton, with a view to the development of the premising coal field now known to exist in the above-named district, and the consequent supply of cheap coal to Canterbury and other parts of New Zealand, as well as many other incidental advantages too numerous to detail." The following paragraph taken from the Dunedin Star ought to serve as a warning to those who are fond of having recourse to law on the smallest provocation .-—Land owners in this Province have an illustration in the case determined before the Supreme Court on Friday of the absurdity and folly of having recourse to law in order to settle trivial disputes. From the evidence given in the case in question, it would seem that about fifteen years ago the plaintiff Hartley, and another person named Riddell, became possessors of the half of two sections in block 18, North Taieri, but did not take immediate steps to have the blocks correctly partitioned. Time went on until about seven years ago, when Riddell disposed of his interest in the land, and the present defendant became occupier as a tenant of Riddell's portion. About this time plaintiff discovered that the dividing line waa incorrect, and suggested to defendant the advisability of having the matter adjusted either by arbitration or by competent surveyors. Defendant refused to do so, and thus things remained until 1870, when a new fence was required, and the matter was again reopened. A survey was then made at the instance of plaintiff, showing that both parties had trespassed on each others property; or, in other words, that the dividing line ran into each others land ; that the area partitioned off by defend aut amounted to about two and a half acres, estimated as beiug worth L 25. Plaintiff urged that the matter should be arranged, but defendant declined to have anything to do in the matter. Plaintiff then brought the case into the Supreme Court, and recovered LBO damages, together with costs amounting, it was said, to about LSOO. the installation of theW.M. and officers of the Pacific Lodge of Freemasons, Hckitika, took place last Tuesday evening. The ceremony was performed by Brother Laza.r, D.G.M., in his usual impressive manner, Brother Hudson was installed as W. M. The banquet was held at Brother Osborue's, and was very largely attended. The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been duly honored, othor toasts were given and acknowledged. Striking has reached Auckland in a new and unexpected direction, The eharebrokers — tired of the high license fee charged, L 25 a year, besides finding personal security for a large sum, and a further security from outside sources, which also costs somethinghave struck, and resolved no looger to take out licenses. Sharebroking henceforward will cease, and sharejobbing will reitm in its stead. How it will be operated will be somewhat in this wise : — A, formerly a licensed sharebroker, would under a license be disqualified from buying any stares in his own name, his position being only that of a middleman between buyer or seller, from one of whom he would receive his commission and nothing more. Now without a license he must not act in this capacity of middleman under a penalty. But he can do something which is far more free and unfettered. He can buy in his own name, take a transfer in his own name when he knows of a customer, and resell in his own name. The state of the share market is not likely to be improved by this system ; but this system it is that the late brokers mean to follow. Would it not be far better to forego a portion of the license fee and reduce it, say, LlO a year, which, in the present state of the share market, is an ample tax, and at that rate licenses would be renewed and sharebroking business be again placed on a proper legal basis. If it is argued that the law fixes the fee at L 25, it may be asked, as the money goes into the Provincial chest, could not the Provincial Government charge the ! full fee and return a portion of it by way of ! discount ? A Mr S. Synions applied to Mr M'Lean a few days ago for permission to prospect the Tuhua district, for the purpose of ascertaining if gold is to be found there, and in reply was informed that until definite arrangements have been made with the natives in 1 Tuliua district, the Native Minister was not prepared to give his sanction to any examination of the country. Under the heading "Objects of Pity," the Itoss News remarks; — "On two or three occasions we have called the attention of the police to the fact that a poor creature is wandering about the streets of Ross in a pitiable plight— that his demented and forlorn appearance clearly denotes that he is incapable of studying his own interest — and still he is allowed to remain at large, a perambulating disgrace to the commuuity. The excuse offered for this neglect is that the man is harmless — that he can ask, or beg, for his food ; and that he goes to sleep somewhere. \ es, he does go to sleep somewhere, and that 'somewhere 7 is often on the ,<)<?ld,

wet ground, with nothing but a dray for a covering. Is that, we ask, indicative of the sanity of the man ? or do his listless wanderings denote that his mind is occupied with anything that could possibly have a tendency to improve his position ! We are inclined to think not— despite the exceedingly wise dictum given forth that "the man is doing no harm " —and we again contend that he is a fit subject for careful attention. But this is not the only case of the kind in the Totara District. In the neighborhood ot S wiper's a poor fellow is to be found who takes periodical pains to make himself heard as he tells bis sorrows to the winds. Both of these men are incapable of employing their time in a rational manner, and we maintain that it is the duty of the authorities to place them where efforts are made to improve the condition of demented persons." A correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes as follows :—" The New Zealand Gazette, of the 16th January, contains an official list of the medical men in the coloDy under the Medical Practitioneis Registration Act, 1869. I had taken the trouble to analyse this list, aud the results of my labors may perhaps interest some. The total number of names on this roll is 215, aud they are apportioned among the several provinces, &c, as follows :— Auckland, 58; Otago, 48 ; Canterbury, 37 ; Wellington, 23 ; Nelson, 22 ; Westland, 13 ; Hawke's Bay, 7 ; Taranaki,§ 3 ; Marlborou»h, 3 ; and Chatham j Islands, 1. Some of these (as, for instance, Dr Hector and the Hon Dr Buchanan) are not practising, but as I could not discriminate the whole of those in' this category, I have included them with the others. Taking the figures given in the last census returns as the standard, I find that in the Colony as a whole there is one medical man to every 1191 persons. The Chatham Islands, with one doctor to a population of 133 souls, being excepted, there are five Provinces, which are below the general average, viz. : — Hawke's Bay, with 1 medical man to every 865 .souls ; Nelson, Ito every 1020 souls ; Wellington, 1 to every 1043 souls ; Auckland, Ito every 1074 souls ; and Westland, Ito every 1181 souls. The remaining four are above the average. They are -.—Canterbury, 1 medical man to every 1265 souls ; Otago, Ito every 1444 souls ; Taranaki, 1 to every 1493 souls ; and Marlborough, 1 to every 1745 souls."