THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1421, 19 February 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1873.

The impertinence of comparing Cobden with Tooley street has already been perpetrated; When this was done, it was in ignorance of the fact that the representatives of Cobden were really three in number,; as were the Tooley street tailors, yeb this appears to be tha fact, or it may be that they are tria juneta in uno. In recent numbers of the Nelson, Examiner there appear three letters on the railway question; avowedly written by three separate! persons signing themselves "Coal-B^at," "Cosmopolitan," and "Inquirer." There is a wonderful unanimity between the three, both as to the length of their! communications — each being nearly a; column long— and as to the opinions: ttey entertain on the question of Cobden versus Greytftouth as the terminus of the Coal-mine Railway. Adding to this the' circumstance of their unanmity in directing their correspondence to other columns than those of local prints, and to columns in which there is seldom any intelligent reference to West Coast interests, it is a safe presumption that if the three are not one and the same, they are at least acting in concert. For their sake, and only theirs, it is to be regretted that all their figures and fallacies have gone tor nothing. Uninformed as we were yesterday, we expressed the fear that the Superintendent of Nelson had left that city without signing the agreement between him and the General Government, but, as since informed, we have reason to believe that such was not the case, the. Superintendent, it i 3 said, having delayed his departure for the purpose of effecting that preliminary arrangement. Their lucubrations may therefore be considered as things, of the past, or as simple prote.ts, and of as much utility as protests usually are. At the ■*»« *me the rimis^ may be made that the triumvirate hava been as dilieent iv business as they have been fervent in spirit; accumulating, as they have done rows of figures which, but for the aphorism as to the value of figures in a matter of argument, might have been as important in effect as they are imposing in appearance. Having said this much, it is almost unnecessary at present to say more, but, in view of the improbable contingency of the question which they discuss being once again raised, we shall reserve and preserve their correspondence, to be dealu

with when the occasion may arise. Meantime we may warrantably quote the dictum of one authority to whose word even these correspondents attach some weight, and that authority is Mr John Blackett, the Assistant Engineer. In his evidence before the Joint Committee of the Assembly appointed to inquire as to the best means of promoting Colonial industries, Mr Blackett gave the following answers to questions by the Committee : — What is your opinion of a temporary tramway at the Grey ? — lt appears to be almost a waste of money, in the prospect of making a railway. Jt seems that it is stated it can be made for from L3OOO to L 3500, but, from what I know of the place, it will be found that is a very small figure for the work. It is six or seven miles long. How long would it take to complete a railway? — I should say about twelve months. Would the necessary works at the Grey be more expensive than at the Buller? — That would depsnd on how you took the railway to the Buller. I should say, make the Grey Railway first, because it would be almost immediately available. What ia the estimated cost of the works at the Grey ?— I have already given a detailed statement on that : I think I made it £24,000 or £25,000. There is a great deal of expensive work to be done ; but I think we may look forward to coal being worked on the south side of the Grey as well as the north side, which would make two chances for the railway. I recommended it being paced there because there is deep water on that side at the port, and it might be better extended up the country on that side.

There was a larger attendance last evening at the Volunteer Hall than there was on the first appearance of the Carandini Family, and the applause was great, although the programme was inferior, in point of attractiveness, to that of the previous evening. For this evening another and a better programme is promised. His Honor Judge Harvey arrived in Greyniouth yesterday on his way to Westport, to which place he will proceed by the steamer Charles Edward. Those who desire. to attend the Ahaura races, and who have a preference for early rjsißgr*re afforded an opportunity of reaching the race-course by a special coach which leaves Greymouth fot the Ahaura at five o'clock on Thursday morning. Tke Eesident Magistrate was occupied yesterday with a number of so-called civil cases, the hearing of which occupied several hours, and the interest of which, except to the parties concerned, was invisible. The Greymouth and Omotumotu road, about the condition of which so many complaints have been made, is now being improved for the purposes of traffic, Mr Wylde having received instructions to employ a gang of men to put it in proper repair. Dr Moran arrived at Maori Gully in the Arnold from Greymouth on Monday evening. A deputation from the Catholics of No Town was to meet the Bishop at the Arnold Bridge on Tuesday morning, on his return from Maori Gully, and escort him to No Town. The No Town Catholics intend to introduce a new feature in clerical receptions. The address to be presented to the Bishop will be accompanied by a purse of sovereigns of a substantial amount. Dr Moran is expected at Ahaura on Wednesday. The race-horses Slander, Yatterina, Lacenfeed, Mozzle, and Ronald arrived at Ahaura on Monday. Septimus, Butcher Boy, and other horses intended to take part in the forthcoming race meeting at Ahaura are in ~VICVXIXItTt£-cvv^VL&xs X*a.t*LUCWUvtC*} CVLIVX VUUOI &*■»» Vw -vfi the district. We would remind our readers that the races at Ahaura commence tomorrow (Thursday). The Superintendent of Nelson, Mr Curtis, was to leave Nelsou for the West Coast by the steamer Charles Edward, accompanied by Inspector Shallcrass and other officials. It is understood that he landed at Westport, where the Charles Edward arrived on Monday. Mr Warden Whitefoord has declared the race days at Ahaura public holidays throughout the Grey Valley Gold Fields. Messrs Maclean and Clapcott held their first cattle sale at Ahaura ou Monday. There was a large attendance of purchasers, and the supply did not nearly meet the demand. Good prices were realised, and it is said fifty head more could have been sold had they been in the market. On Friday, Messrs Maclean and Co. are to sell, at the same place, another mob of cattle belonging to Mr Walker. The Qreymouth Royal Arch Chapter, No. 141, under the Scottish Constitution, was opened at the Masonic Hall, Gilmer's BuildI iijgs, yesterday afternoon, under the presi- ; dence of Bro. Caldwell, M.E.Z. of the Kilwinning Lodge, Dunedin. The ceremony of exalting a number of brethren was most impressively performed, and in the evening | Bro. Caldwell installed the following brethren as officers of the Chapter :— Z.— Bro. W. M. Cooper ; J.— Bro. R. C. Reid ; H.— Bro. G. C. Bowman; Scribes— E. and N., Bros. Roulston and T. Kenrick : Treasurer — Bro. Arnottj Sojourners— Bros. Kent, Arnott, and May; Janitor — A. Fowler. A social gatheiing in Waters's Union Hotel followed, and brought the day's proceedings to a happy and successful close, . Mention was recently made of an imports- | tion of oleograph and chiomo-lithograph pictures by Messrs Thompson, Smith, and Barkley, as an importation which was a novelty on the West Coast by its dimensions and by the excellence of the particular art by which the pictures are prodaced. Some of the pictures found ready purchasers. The remainder of the importation was disposed of to Mr J. W. Hall, who now places them before the public as prizes iti an artunion, the tickets for which are to be drawn m a few days. At present the prizes ornament the dining-hall of the Melbourne Hotel, open to the inspection of the regular boarder and the casual visitor. A handsome monument, designed by Mr Armson, has been erected over the grave of Mr Robert Abbott, in the cemetery at Hokitika. Active search has been made for the body of Mr Friend, who was lately drowned in the Hokitika river, but as yet without success. . A fracas lately occurred at Whangamata, Upper Thames, The prospector, Goldwater, with Mr Mackay, and two policemen, went to peg out a prospecting claim on their discovered reef, when 150 miners interfered, declaring itiat unless Goldwater showed gold, they would not allow him to peg out the claim. . Some violence was used, and at last Mr Mackay pointed out a reef, but Goldwater said it was not the place be discovered. Warden Fraser proceeded to the ground at once to quell the disturbance. Bamford; the Melbourne hangman, has been charged at the Police Court with vagrancy. He had been out of gaol some months, and lately took up his quarters in the cheerful neighborhood of the morgue. He was in the habit of making his toilet in front of the windows of Mr Gill, stationmaster at the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Station, and one day went in front of the windows while he changed his troasers, to the annoyance of Mr Gill's family. The mayor asked him whether he had any visible or lawful means of support, and he said he had not. "That's a good job" said the mayor, alluding to the execu.

tioner's mesns of making a livelihood, at?d Bamford laughed at the joke. Be was ; ent to gaol for two months. In noticing the p^rogramme.of the Dunedin j Jockey Club for its meeting on 24th and 25th March next, the Australasian remarks that "it deserves the attention of. Victorian rasing men, who might pay Dunedin a visit with advantage to themselves — altogether, one of the best programmes that has been issued by any club outside of Melbourne, and just such a one as would suit horses like Warilor, Nimblefoot, Misty Morn, and Contessa. In 1874 it is proposed to issue a still mo^e liberal bill of fare, as it will include the Dunedin Cup of 300 soys, with a sweep of 10 soys added ; a St. Le^er of 150 soys, with a swesp of 5 soys added ; and other rich prizes." The Otago Gold Fields will be well represented at the Vienna Exhibition. Numerous samples of alluvial gold from the Wakatipu, Manuherikia, Lawrence, and other districts, have been collected by Mr Beal, of the Bank of New Zealand, and were forwarded to London free of charge by the Peter Denny a few days ago. The Wainui kidnapping case, tried at Sydney, has resulted in the committal of Captain Gay, bail being allowed ifrom the evidence of a sailor named Heath, it was proved that 130 men and seven women wee stolen from the Solomon [stands, and taken Ito Levuka for labor purposes. ; Iron sand is not limited to Taranaki, nor its manufacture to Auckland. The Otago Times says : — We were yesterday shown some specimens of steel manufactured in Dunedin from the sand by Messrs Binnie and M'Gill. One of the specimens was made from Taranaki sand, and another from sand obtained from the Molyneux, and if anything, we think the latter is the better of the two. We were also shown a chisel made by the same parties, and said to have been turned out in a very short time by one smelting from the sand. Messrs Binnie and M'Gill are very sanguine of having solved the long-vexed problem of successfully and cheaply smelting the iron sand. The somewhat sudden death of the Italian statue modeller named Alesso Pellegrini, in Moray place, says the Dunedin Star, will scarcely yet have passed from momory. At the time that it was alleged that he was a Roman Catholic, that he died without having the rights of the Church administered, and that consequently the clergy refused to give him Christian burial. Without questioning the truthfulness of these statements or otherwise, we have to record that they have been productive of painful results. It seems that Pelligrini had a partner and relative named Martini, residing with him, who esteemed him highly. The refusal of the clergy to discharge the last offices to the deceased has since so preyed on his mind and affected his reason that some of his acquaintances thought it advisable to have him conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum, where he now is. We are pleased, however, to hear that he is improving, and that a speedy recovery is anticipated. We notice by the Dunedin papers that Mr John Hughes, for many years a member of the Provincial, died at his residence, Howe street, after a long and painful illness. Mr Hughes was also a member of the Waste Lands Board before its reconstruction under the new Act. In the Council he especially represented the mining interest, and did much good service for the public. Mr W. Wilson, of Christchurch, has been remarkably successful in the cultivation of vines during the past five years, and will produce a magnificent lot of fruit this season. Altogether, he will have at least 1200 bunches, and these are expected to average aii me vciy icik» ub eaun In welguo . ouuo his crop will yield upwards of one ton of fruit. A theatrical " god " has been brought up at the Melbourne Police Court for spitting down on the people in the pit . His character was otherwise good, and the magistrate dismissed him. It is to be hoped that the simple fact of such .a case being brought before a Court will act as a warning to young gentlemen in the gallery of the Volunteer Hall, Greymouth. The plea of previous good character may not always stand. Mr Peebles, the spiritualist, who is at present in Dunedin, thus explains in a letter to one of the local papers, some of the points of his belief :— " As to the charge of my attacking the * Christian religion,' 1 have to say that no man shall bear away the palm from me in appreciation of the sweet and holy lite of Jesus, who * went about doing good.' Most sincerely do I believe in the Christian religion as taught and exemplified in the daily words and practical works of the Syrian teacher, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' And yet I must interpret his teachings for myself. Private jndgment is the privilege of Protestants. But while accepting the natural and truly beautiful religion of Jesus Christ, I utterly repudiate stale forms and the old fossilised creeds of tte Fathers— creeds teaching that men sinned and ' fell ' in Adam several thousand years before they were born— teaching a sacrificial atonement, that through some mechanical transfer of sin punishes the innocent in place of the guilty — teaching the personality of a Devil that God can destroy and will not, or would destroy but cannot— and teaching further, the doctrine of future endless torments, with the ' elect in tke covenant of grace ' shouting hallelujahs over the anguish of the damned in hell !" He adds, what we hope is true so far as concerns the present : — "During the last ceutury the clergy had but to gracefully wave the hand and the people obeyed These days quite forgotten, the intelligent masses prefer to hear, think, and judge for themselves. In a case of sheap-stealing, at Lawrence, before Mr V. Pjke, E.M., a juvenile ten years old was placed in the witness-box, but previous to his evidence being taken, the following dialogue took place .-—Magistrate : Can you read ? Innocent : Yes, sir. Magistrate : Can you M'rite ? Innocent : No, sir. Magistrate : Do you know anything of a future state ? The innocent being silent upon this point, the Sub-Inspector of Police asked permission of the Bench to put a simple question to the little fellow, and therefore asked in a bland manner, "Is there any harm jn. telling a lie ?" " No, sir," was the reply, without any hesitation. The witness was not further examined. The report of the Dunedin Hospital during the month of January, states that during that period seven cases of delirium tremena were admitted. From the last annual report of the Provincial Surgeon it appears that during the financial year ending on the 31st March last, 28 cases of this malady were treated in the hospital, but two of these were a balance over from the preceding year, making the number of actual admissions 26. Accordingly the number of cases of delirium tremens admitted into the hospital during January, 1873, was at the rate of upwards of 270 per cent, more than the number admitted during the financial year 1871-72.