THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1443, 17 March 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1873.

There is every prospect of St. Patrick's Day and its immediate successors proving to be pleasant holidays in Greymouth, or in the locality to which the majority of the inhabitants are likely to resort— the Race-course. The Jockey Club have again exerted themselves extraordinarily in the preparation of a programme of field sports, and their exertions have had the effect of bringing to the district a number of men, women, and horses of distinguished character. Their efforts have not been aided bj the Clerk of the Weather, the absence of rain for more than two months being little calculated to encourage the presence of miners at a race* meeting, but, notwithstanding that adverse circumstance, many of the mining community have within the last twenty-four hours arrived in town, and the attendance at the races is likely to be as large as on any previous occasion. It should be larger. From town and countiy the Racecourse is now easily approachable by good roads — the country having the advantage of a better road than the town, and the town having the advantage of cheaper conveyance than the country. In former years fatigue and expense were involved in attending the Grey mouth races, boats and boots being the principal means o£ conveyance, but this year, coaches, cabs, and buggies are available—the last-mentioned to those who possess them, such as Mr Murray, of the Circus, and the first-mentioned to all who care to purchase a return ticket from Messrs Cassidy and Ashton— at the small price of one shilling. For the convenience of visitors to the course, cabs and coaches have been brought from distant parts, and their numbers have contributed to cheapness of conveyance, for Messrs Cassidy and Ashton, advertise that for one shilling, they will convey passengers to and from the course, arid probably others will follow their example. With five coaches placed upon the road by that one firm, and with others available, the prospects are | that there will be a larger population on the course than in town, and that the caterers of edibles and stimulating fluids will find their already provided large supplies unequal to the demand. To those who return from the Race-course in the evening, as well as to the minority who may not go there, there is abundance of entertainment offered. At the Theatre the burlesque "The Invisible Prince" is to be produced, and if good acting, singing, and scene painting can attract an audience, these attractions have been most amply provided. Fordays past Mr Thornton has been busy, and as skilful as busy, in painting scenery which, as now painted, would of itself make any play successful as a spectacle. There is one lake scene in the painting of which he has displayed admirable artistic taste, and in which some peculiar mechanical contrivances are introduced, and the closing scene is one of the most attractive that has at any time been produced by tbe same artist, or any other, in Greymouth. As presented on Saturday to a few persons privileged to inspect them, the pictures were pronounced to be of exceptional excellence, and they were then seen without the advantage of the preseuce, acting, and singing of Miss Clara Stephenson and Miss Tilly Andrews, and the artistic achievements of their dress-maker. Those who cannot find seats in the Theatre can be accommodated at the Circus which has been built in Boundary street by Mr Murray, and which is big enough to hold some thousands. Those who have a preference for a comic song or a clog dance, or anything musical or terpsichorean, have the choice of attending the performances of the Alexander Troupe in Hunt's Assembly Rooms, and those who desire to enjoy the delight of dancing on their own account will have an opportunity of doing so at the Hibernian Society's Ball or in the Hibernian Hotel. The promoters of the last Hokitika Exhibition are already making preparations to hold another during the next Christmas Holidays. There were many rumors in Hokitika on Saturday as to Chamberlain and Levy, the majority of them confirming the information already to hand, that the men had gone on the Chrisschureh road. Mr Dalton's suspension bridge over the fnangahua River will be opened for traffic on Wednesday. The Energetic Quartz-Crushing Company commenced crushing at their battery on Thursday night. A number of the friends of Mr H. 0. E. Brunn, of the Bank of Australasia, assembled on Saturday evening last, at Hunt's Club Hotel, for the purpose of presenting him with a mark of their esteem prior to his departure for Victoria. Their esteem was practically represented by a purse of sovereigns, and otherwise by the expression of warm wishes regarding his health and future prosperity. The nominations for handicaps at Hokii tika were to have been made on Thursday I evening last, but from information received we learn that almost none came to ham I. We can only say '• Served them right," as a worse programme has seldom be.co submitted. It is evident that che calculati-ms of tlm Comraittes were based upon, the actuil p esence of the horses at Greyinout-h, anil they I framed races with conditions of an exrrenvly prohibitory nature, thinking thac as tho-e horses were so Hear they w >nl 1 ent^r >a her t 'in jj« away without tryuif for iomethins>. Owners, however, do not see the force of running for their o-vn c-iiihfaart r-uttimr all the ValttM to tiie credit of the OiuU Sum* o.

the owners say they would rather make up a big stake of 20 soys each, get a good handicap, and afford the public of Greymouth and the district an opportunity of witnessing a slashing race on some day subsequent to the ] regular meeting here. The JNelsori papers notice the return of Captain Rough, who arrived by the Rangitoto after an absence of eighteen months spent in travel in Europe and America. The Strand at Reefton bids fair to be deserted shortly. The premises formerly known as the Shamrock Hotel, and now the property of Mr Jacobson, have been entirely removed, and Mr Barker and Mr Dodsworth both contemplate an early exodus. The Lyell Argus states that arrangements have been concluded between the Superintendent and Mr Pensini, which will have the effect of shrewing open for occupation as town sections the land hitherto leased by the latter. Mr Pensini gives up half au acre to the Government as a site for their proposed buildings, and on payment of the purchase money is to receive a Crown graat for the remainder. A man named Mickell, living at Riwaka, Motueka, had both bones of one of his legs broken a few days ago by a burning tree falling upon him in a bush fire. The cutting round the bluff, completing the missing link in the road between Christy's and the Landing, will be completed, says the Herald, in about three weeks. The approaches at the Landing punt are also progressing rapidly, and when completed the waggons will be able to take their landing from the Junction of the Inangahua and Buller Rivers. In reporting the proceedings of tho pro- ! visional directors of Ehe New Zealand Coal Company, the Wellington Independent of the 13th inst. , says : — A few days ago a telegram was received from the Mayor of Greymouth in answer to. a communication from the Mayor of Wellington, and which requested that the meeting of the New Zealand Coal Company in Wellington, fixed for the purpose of determining the terms of the prospectus, should be postponedfor thepresenceof the deputation from the people of Greymouth, who had signified their intention to subscribe largely for shares. Upon that the meeting was postponed until next Monday. Yesterday a further message was received by Mr Dransfield, to the effect that the deputation could not find it convenient to leave by the I Eaugitoto, but would come by the next steamer. We understand that the directors find themselves compelled to hold the meeting on Monday, as determined, although they would have been only too glad to have had the presence of the representatives of the Greymouth subscribers. The meeting will therefore proceed in the usual way. The new part of the Auckland wharf has been coated with tar and then sprinkled witk sand with a view to its preservation. The plan is one which might with propriety be adopted in Greymouth. The tender of Messrs Scott and Robertson, for the construction of the Foxhill Railway, was some LI9OO less than the other Nelson tenders. There were two tenders from Wellington and one from Auckland. Miss Aitken, the celebrated elocutionist, arrived in Nelson by the Alhambra. The Jioss News states that a party of twelve men have started for the Greenland ! range, for the purpose of bringing in a large ! water-race. They calculate to get eight heads of water at an elevation of about 300 feet above the Mikonui race, and to bring the race in to the range above Ross within twelve months. At the Energetic claim, says the Inangahua Herald, 15 men are employed, and the shaft is now down nearly 30ft. It is being sunk west of the tunnel. The paddocks are full of stone, and rain is anxiously looked for to commence crushing. At the Band of Hope and Westland batteries the aspect of affairs is similai', and at the Wealth of Nations some of the hands have been knocked off until the'rain gives a supply of water. Crushing at Auderson's was resumed at midnight on Sunday. There is now a good face of stone 2ft lOin wide at both levels, and the quarts, which is of good quality, is coming to grass freely. A good average is expected, owing to the quality of the stone now being put through. i A very pleasant and highly successful ball j was given in Nelson to the Volunteers-— there being about 90 guests present, including Major Gordon, Captain Baillie, Captain Stack, Captain Clelancl, Lieutenant Marshall, and F. W. Stevens, Esq., Staff Secretary. The remainder of the company, to the number of about 2SO, were composed of town and country residents. A public meeting of miners was held at Black's Point, on Tuesday evening, the 11th instant, for the purpose of eleccing four delegates to represent the Murray Creek district at the forthcoming mining conference. There were about eighty persons present. Mr IVanklyn was voted to the chair, and explained the objects of the meeting. Mr Collins proposed, and Mr Gill seconded, that the four delegates be Messrs Brennan, Gulline, Connolly, aud Can eras. Some objection was raised to the mode of proposing the candidates, when it was arranged, that the nominations should be made separately, and that the election should be by a show of hands. The following gentlemen were then proposed, and upon the show of hands . obtained the numbers set opposite their yeI spective names :— Messrs F. Delas Carreras, 42 ; P. Brennau, 39 ;R. E Gulline, 37 ; W. H. Bray, 31 ; D. M 'Vicar, 28 ; J. Connolly, 24 ; N. Ramsay, 24 ; W. Collins, 10 ;D. M'Kinnon, S; T. Eanft. 3. The first four named were therefore declared elected. Messrs Manahan and Brown were appointed tellers. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business. Otago telegrams recently reported the sudden suspicious death of a miner, Walter Mornington. It appears that Michael Gleeson was sent down about a year ago to the j Dunedin Asylum ; that after being detained a considerable time he was again let out, and at once returned to Naseby. He found that his old mate or mates had kept possession of his hut, and had also retained his stare of the water-race they had jointly owned. He instituted legal proceedings against them in the Magistrate's Court, gaining his cases. For some weeks now Gleeson has been at large, living in a hut at the back of the town, and passing his time mostly in pacing up and down in front of his door, singing a mad jumble ot obscene words and playing a Jew's harp. Representations have been made to the police that the man should not be allowed to go at large ; but from technical difficulties, or from an over-placed confidence, the sergeant refused to detain him. It is generally reported that Mornington and his mate were returning home the worse for liquor, that Gleeson was also coming home with a load of firmg — bundle of speargrass or something similar — that an altercation took place, and both the men were struck by Gleesou. On a crowd collecting, some at onoe saw that Morningfcon was dying, and Wt>nt for Dr Dick, who reported him dead No hl->ws sufficient to caase death were apparent. Thompson, .Smith, ami Berkley have acce[jceil ceii'ltrd for a buck warehouse, and now wish to "lispose of one of their establishments on Maw he 1 a Qu-iy. They are offering every ulafs >f .roods at prici-s hitherto mikio.vn in Oreyinoiith, aul invite particular iktiuntion to pr.scnr. pricis as it is most necessary foi them to reduce their present htihvy titock to enal>lu them to carry out ■ 4ttfMtivM9 wJUuout iuoouveuieno.e.--[Ai*Vj:.j