THE The Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1453, 31 March 1873, Page 2

THE The Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1873.

The announcement that Mr Kynnersley has resigned his seat in the Nelson Provincial Council, and his reason for resigning, will, we are sure, cause much regret among his constituents, and, not only among them, but among all classes of every community on the Coast. The intimation of his having resigned has been made by Mr Kynnersley himself to a personal friend in Greymouth, and it is briefly stated to be in consequence of ill-health. The regret that will be felt will be more as to the cause of the resignation than the result, though some subdued sentiment of sorrow will even be felt on that subject. A Province deprived of every member of a Council constituted as that of Nelson would not necessarily suffer in a great degree in connection with the administration of Provincial affairs, nor, under the same conditions, will the absence of any one member interfere materially with the interests of a district. Under the peculiar constitution of the Nelson Council, and the relations or the absence of all relationship between it and the Executive, its votes and proceedings as a body, or the utterances and actions of individual members, may be ignored, stultified, or nullified with impunity on the part of the person holding the office of chief administrator ; the office may, contrary to the entire spirit and intentions of the Constitution Act, become an oligarchy ; and it is no great heresy here to say that such not only may be the case, but that it, has been so. In saying this much, we have more than a suspicion that we express pretty closely the conclusion to which Mr Kynnersley had come after his experience of the results of the last session "of the Council, if he had not, from practical experience as an administrator himself, arrived at the same conclusion long before. Still, so long as the Council continued, the West Coast or any other portion of the Province could better afford to lose another man than Mr Kynnersley. When he accepted a seat in the Council at the solicitation of the electors of the Grey Valley, he did so fortified by the possession of a good popular reputation, but with the disadvantage of some degree of dislike on the part of Blind Bay members, and possibly some small prejudice against him on the part of colleagues from the Coast. Before the close of the session, there was no member who was more respected for soundness of opinion or honorable action, nor would anyone have been more welcomed this year, had he been able to join his colleagues in their extremely goodnatured but utterly illusory ambition of achieving, by their voices and votes, a change in the administration of the Province. Now that his seat is vacant, and that this is the last session of the series of four, it will, of course, be the duty of the electors, if there be time to do it, to choose a successor who for the short space of two months may enjoy the questionable honor, pride, and pleasure of being a member of the Nelson Council, and, questionable as all this may be. or the good which he may effect, it is to be hoped that some one will be generous enough to come forward, if it be only for the benevolent purpose of filling up the blank in the ranks. With regard to the cause of Mr' Kynnersley's retirement, there will, as we have said, be a sincere feeling. of .regret, for it must be known that, unless he were seriously ill, he would not shrink from any duty which he had undertaken to perform. The delicate state of his health has unfortunately not been merely transitory. If not induced, it waß aggravated by the exposure.to which, in the early days of the diggings in these parts, he rather readily subjected himself, and, during the last session of the Council, it culminated in an illness which necessitated a hasty and costly visit to another of the -Colonies. : His recovery since that time has not been assured, but the expectation was that, not only would he be sufficiently well to give the Council the benefit of his presence, but that he might also be persuaded to become a candidate for the'Superihteridency. In the latter event he would, no doubt, have polled

the vast majority of the vote 3on the West Coast, though it is doubtful, in the present knowledge of the state of the electoral roll, whether that would have been sufficient to secure his retnrn. As it is, both expectations have been disappointed, and it is a disappointment which is accompanied by the desire that, though prevented from taking part in public life, his ilbess may not be protracted or so serious as to interfere with the enjoyment of the privacy which he is compelled to prefer.

By proclamation in »the Provincial Gazette, the Superintendent of Nelson, as Governor's delegate, has defined what are to be considered Beach Claims, and has issued a short series of regulations which are to become part of the Rules and Regulations on the South- West Gold Fields from and after the Ist of April. In relation to these claims some doubts have been expressed as to how far the beach below high water mark comes within the jurisdiction of Wardens of Gold Fields, and as to how far mining claims can at all be legally held there. Already this subject has been referred to by some of the Wardens, and Dr Giles, of the Bulier district, in his repoit to the Provincial Council last session, expressed the "following opinion :— " Without going minutely into this question of law, I may observe that, according to Blackstone, ' between the high water mark and the low water mark, where the sea ebbs and flows, the common law and the admiralty have divisum imperium, an alternate jurisdicdiction; one upon the water when it is full sea, the other upon the laud when it is an ebb.' It would seem to follow from this, that the sea-beach at low water comes under the denomination of Crown Lands and forms part of the Gold Fields." Whether guided by this opinion or not, the Superintendent has thought fit to frame the special regulations to which we have referred, and which are as follows : — "Beach claims shall mean all claims extending below high- water mark on the sea beach. "Such claims shall in all cases be deemed to be extended to the sea, although their boundaries in that direction be not marked by pegs, and although the area so held be greater than could be held without this Regulation, and this Regulation shall not interfere with any power which the Warden may otherwise have to grant extended . claims of any kind upon the beach. " The Warden shall have power at any time to rectify the boundaries of beach claims, or to define a base line to which the side boundaries shall be at right angles as nearly as circumstances permit. " Beach claims shall not interfere with any traffic along the beach, nor with the discharge of water, tailings, or other matters thereon, provided that the Warden shall have power to prevent, or regulate, the discharge of such water, tailings, or other matters."

Since the meeting of Thursday evening, the Provisional Committee to whom was entrusted the arrangements preliminary to placing before the public the prospectus of the Greymouth Coalmining Company have been diligent in the discharge of their business, and to-day publish the prospectus, the articles of association, and the form in which shares are to be accepted. These— the prospectus, &c. — are, for the sake of convenience, distributed as enclosures to our present issue, and are worthy of perusal by every peraon who has a few pounds to spare, the spirit to invest them, the desire to promote the prosperity of the district, and the wish to see a colonial coal-mining company successfully floated. Advised as the public will be by a perusal of these papers, as to the prospects of the Company, and as to the condittons'upon which it is proposed to bestarted,theCommitteeshouldexperienc3 no difficulty in receiving at once a decided answer from those who may be invited to join the Company, and they will proceed to-day to call upon the inhabitants of Greymouth for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent the project is likely to be supported. Members of the Qommittee have been appointed to make a formal canvass for subscribers, and, judging by the interest in the matter which has already, and on two occasions, been exhibited, the duty delegated to them should prove to be merely a formality, and the preliminary to a large number of shares being applied for.

We understand that Mr Andrews, Collector of Her Majesty's Customs at the port of Greymouth, has been appointed to th» Collectorship at the Thames, and that the will be succeeded at Greymouth by Mr David Lundon, of Auckland. Murray's equestrian and acrobatic company, who have been such an extraordinary source of attraction in Greymouth, have now departed on an inland tour, being the first company of the kind that has been enabled to do so on the West Coast. They purpose performing to-night and to-morrow night at the Ahaura. The Tararua brought to Hokicika six cases of Passover cakes for the approaching Jewish festival, which will commence on the 12th of April next, and will last eight days. A. consignment of the same was received in Greymouth. Dr Hector, accompanied by Mr H. Meyer and Mr Davidson, late manager of the Hokitika Coal Company, proceeded shortly after his arrival, notwithstanding the unpleasant weather, to the Kanieri coal seam. We understand that several invitations to visit this district have been forwarded to Dr Heptor from Greymouth, and it is to be hoped that he will comply with the request, if compliance be compatible with his duty. Aa matters of theatrical gossip, it may be mentioned that Miss Stephenson and Mr Burford were passengers by the Tararua to Dunedin, to fulfil a professional engagement there, that Miss Tilly Andrews and otthifrs of the company have betaken themselves to Hokitika by way of intermediate townships, where they are to give performances, and that Mr Thornton is understood to have arranged for the early opening of one of the places of public entertainment in Hokitika. Constable William Clarke, of the Nelson police force, stationed at No Town, made a clever capture recently, while scouring the country about Lake Brunner during the search for the escaped convicts Chamberlain and Levy. About eighteen months ago, what at the time was considered a murderous assault was committed near No Town by a Maori named Jack Edwards on a mining mate of his, a foreigner named Johannes. The Maori decamped as soon -as the assault was committed, and although it was supposed he had taken refuge in the rugged and wild country about the lake, no certain tidings of his whereabouts could be learned by the police. From remarks the fugitive made before he disappeared, he was known to be under the impression jbhat he had

killed Johannes, and that the consequences to him, if brought back, would be serious, and it was therefore expected that he would make a determined resistance before he would allow himself to be taken. His capture thus became an object of ambition among the members of the local police force. Constable Clarke hearing, while at the lake, that the Maori had been seen about some of the localities in the naighborhood of Bell Hill, • at once proceeded there, and receiving more certain information, he went to a whare, between the Crooked River and Bell Hill, where he found the Maori and arrested him. If the Maori intended to show fight he did not get an opportunity. He was brought before the Court, at No Town, at its last sitting, and the result will be seen in our report elsewhere. The Greymouth District Acclimatisation Society are indebted to Mr John Seaton, who was a passenger from Melbourne by the Tararua, for the presentation of two young hares purchased by that gentleman, and brought over for liberation by the Society in such part of the district as they might select. The hares are well-grown and healthy, and have since their arrival been turned out in one of Mr Kilgour's extensive clearings, where another pair imported by the Society are already at large. Judging by thj^fate of the first two, the pair now imported should, barring dogs, cats, and Cockney sportsmen, "live long and prosper," for the pair previously liberated by the Society have several times been seen, and have grown to double their size when. landed at Greymouth. Mr Seaton's pair were- got at the Pentland Hills, in Victoria. By the same steamer, Mr Seaton brought some superior poultry of choice varieties, and a number of canaries, including a few which had taken prizes au the ornithological exhibitions in the other Colony. The members of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce have, by requisition, requested the chairman to call a meeting to urge upon the Government the immediate establishment of a direct California mail. The Darwin Gold Company, Adelaide, have received a telegram stating that gold has been found in eight different places and that the prospects are improving. A telegram from Pine Creek says that the gold prospects improve as the sinking grows deeper. The wet season at Darwin is breaking up. Gold has been struck at 16 feet in the Havilah claim. There is a numerous and increasing class of people who imagine that a fine display of equestrian ability consists of riding helterskelter and running amuck wherever a horse will go, as soon as they find themselves placed in the, to them, unusual position, of the " outside of a moke." Two of these persons were returning], up-country from the late races at Greymoutn, and when approaching the bridge across the Arnold River, seeing a few people hanging about the hotels at the township, they imagined a fine opportunity presented itself, whereby they could " witch the world with noble horsemanship." Accordingly they rushed their already used-up horses on to the bridge, but before half the distance to the other side was crossed, one of them fell on the slippery planks with the rider uuder. The horse died next day, and the man received such injuries that, besides narrowly escaping with his life, he will be incapacitated from following his usual occupation for some time, " Set beggars on horseback," &c, The horse of the other rider, with raoie intelligence than its master, refused to take the bridge, but suddenly shying to one side, deposited the "party" who meant to exhibit his good horsemanship ingloriously on the edge of the embankment, down which he rolled into the sludge drain below. The ceremony of turning the first sod of the Foxhill Railway is exected to take place in a few days. " The rights to the gates, grand stand, grand stand refreshment room, and the sites of seven booths on the Nelson Race-cour.se realised a total of L 122 10s. An advertisement headed " Heirship," addressed to Charles Lionel Mason, or his children, which appeared in the columns of the Nelson Examiner, quickly found the in : dividual inquired after, who resided in the neighborhood of Dovedale, and is well-known in Nelson. The following, which appears in the Westland Register, is the most perfect piece of " plush " that we have yet seen on the West Coast :— "The County Chairman's lady and family were passengers to Nelson yesterday, by the Tararua. Mr Robinson himself accompanied them in the Waipara to the ocean steamer." The petitions from Hokitika and Ross to the Governor in Council, praying for the construction of the Mikonui Water-Race, have been forwarded to Wellington. The former measures some eight yards in lengthy and contains over 500 signatures. The Ross petition is not so voluminous, but makes up for that deficiency in the number of signatures, which is considerably over 600. The petitions have been transmitted to Mr Har rison, M.H.R,, no communication having been received from Mr Tribe, who ia understood to be at present in Wellington, What is supposed to be a continuation of the very rich leader which has been proved to run through the Monte Christo and Maruia claims, Lyell, has been struck in the Long Drive. On Monday evening last (says the Inangahua Herald) three men named respectively Thomas Walsh, Patrick Norton, and Thos. Campion, were arrested at the Lyell by Constable Chichester and Mt Temperley for disorderly conduct. Norton was the first arrested and was handcuffed and placed in a stable, where he was secured to one of the posts ' by means of a leathern strap, but while the officers were absent securing the other two offenders he succeeded *in loosening his hands by gnawing the strap in two, and making his way to the blacksmith's forge got the handcuffs divided. The latter were returned to the Camp, and we understand that a warrant has been issued for the arreßt of the absconding prisoner. Mr D. Leslie, one of the residents at the Lyell, rendered efficient service in securing the offenders. One of the oldest .'(brick) buildings, and one of the best dpjng hotels in Nelson, is about to change hands. Mr Jervis, the present occupier of the Commercial, is about to vacate in favor of Mr Tregea, who, not long since, resigned the Custom House Hotel to Mr Atkinson. Rumor says that Mr Jervis is about to succeed Mr Uaukrodger in the management of the Foxhill house. A special examination of the children attending the National School, No Town, vas held at the school-room there on Thursday fast. The principal members of the School Committee wjith other members were present. The children were put through tbejr leggons and apquitted themselves very predjtabljr, and to the complete satisfaction of the visitors. This school, which was established entirely bj voluntary subscriptions, has not up to this time received any assistance from the Government. There are evidences from the state of order and discipline preserved among the pupils, and in tne proficiency displayed by them, of the ..efficiency of the teacher, Miss Ferris, and the Inspector of Schools under the Nelson Board of Education during his recent visit expressed himself in terms of commendation of the co idition of the school and of the mode of imparting instruction adopted by the teacher. The Committee offered to place the school and .the control of its management in th c

hands of the Board, but the Inspector did not give a decided reply, to the proposal, although he ; promised to recommend the grant of ajsupply of books and school ma--terial, besides a small subsidy. The latter promise is important, because although the school is comparatively well attended and is an absolute necessity in the district, the fluctuating circumstances of the inhabitants, who are chiefly occupied in mining pursuits, leaves bui a precarious remuneration to be depended upon by the teacher. A reasonable subsidy from the Board would place the institution upon a firm footing and give the Committee encouragement to. persevere in their efforts in the cause of education. The Borough Council of 'Hokitika are not more exempt than other similar bodies from a disposition to exaggerate the scope of their duties. At least some of the members exhibit that disposition. At their last meeting, Councillor Hawkins called the attention of the Council to 1 the fact that recent telegrams from Wellington indicated that it was not the intention of the Government to proceed with the construction of the Waimea Water Race. He moved— "That the sum of LSO be voted to defray thio expenses of a deputation, to represent to the Government the necessity of immediately constructing the Waimea Water Race." Councillor Cross seconded the resolution. A long discussion ensued, and an amendment by Councillor Alcorn, recommending that a public meeting be convened to consider the matter, and that a deputation consisting of Councillors Cassidy, Hawkins, and Alcorn, to confer with the County Chairman, was discussed at great length; and eVentually carried. At the same meeting, Councillor Hawkins moved— "That the salaries of the offices of the Corporation be considered for the current year." The motion was carried on division. The Mayor vacated the chair, and Councillor Hawkins was called upon to preside. The sum of LSO was voted for the Mayor for expenses connected with his office. A motion moved by Councillor Hawkins, to the effect that the Town Clerk's salary be fixed at L3OO, was negatived, and it was decided that no alteration should take place during the carrent year. Councillor Cross's motion, proposing that an export duty be imposed on timber, was ruled to be out of order, as a resolution of the Council passed two months previously, declared that the question be adjourned for twelve months. A game of "polo," or hockey on horseback, which has beoome exceedingly popular in England within the last eighteen months, was played in the Botanical Gardens, Nelson, one day last week. This, we believe, was the first time it has been attempted in New Zealand, and, considering that it was new to all players, the game, according to the Mail, passed off most successfully. At the commencement of the game the players on each side are drawn up behind their respective goals with the exception of one of the captains, who, on the ball being placed by the umpire in the centre of the ground, has the first hit off, which is the signal for the others to gallcp forward, when a regular metee ensues. Some of these miniature cavalry charges were very cleverly executed, and the display of horsemanship was on the whole highly creditable, not one fall occuring through the day, although in some instances there was a slight tendency on the part of the riders to part company with their horses, The scrimmages were capital fun, and were heartily enjoyed by the numerous spectators as well as by the players themselves, amongst whom the utmost good humor prevailed, notwithstanding the hard knocks received and the temporary inconvenience caused by the charge of an opponent. There were several drawbacks to contend against, but this first game proved so great a success th«t it is proposed, we understand, to play another on Tuesday afternoon. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on the 25th March, before Caleb Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., John Reid sued Henry Mitchell for L 37 15s, for cattle supplied at various time?. The bill of particulars was headed "To balance of account rendered." The Court drew the attention 'of tfte plaintiff to the fact-that it had been ruled over and oygr again thaj;ab,ill containing such a heading was not a clear and explicit statement of account as required by law, The defendant insisted upon receiving a complete bill of particulars, and the plaiutiff was nonsuited. —Cunningham v. Cassi was a plaim of Ll9 10s for butchers' meat supplied to the defendant and others at Noble's Creek and Napoleon, three years ago. The defendant admitted his liability for his proportionate share of the amount, which he offered to pay. The other members of the party were scattered about, and he said it was unfair that he should be held liable for the whole of the debt when the defendant trusted all of them equally. The Magistrate said the case was a hard one, but the Court had no option. Judgraenj; for. the plaintiff for the amount claimed, to be paid by instalments of 50s per week until the verdict was satisfied. — M'Laughlin v. Turner was a claim of L4l Us 7d, for goods supplied at Napoleon. The defendant admitted the debt, and a warrant for immediate execution was grantel, Jn tlje Warden's Qourt, ClarBon v. Doolen was an action to restrain the defendant from interfering with a water-race at Duffer Creek. After a long hearing, a verdict was given for_ the plaintiff with full costs. ". . The alleged ill-treatment of a patient by a warder in the Hokitika Lunatic Asylum was inquired into in the local Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday. The Magistrate left the Bench, and Mr Patten, J.P., and Mr Clapcott, J.P., took their seats. G. P. M'lntyre was the warder, and he was charged with assault. MrFitzGerald stated that he, as Inspector of the Lunatic Asylum, had suggested^that an information should|be laid against the defendant, and complaint had been made lid the County Chairman on the subject. He was of opinion that an acten-; dant in a Lunatic Asylum should not strike a patient unless in defence of life. Hugh Gribben deposed that he was keeper at the Sea View Lunatic Asylum. On the 9th of March witness was in the dining-room of the Asylum, and the patients were sitting down | to their breakfast. One of the patients, P&trick Seaton, did not take his seat at a table in a manner satisfactory to the attendant, M'lntyre, when M'lntyre struck him (Seaton) a gharp blow on the face with Mb hand. Witness had spoken to the patient about the assault since, but he could not remember anything about it. In answer to a question from the defendant witness stated that he was about three yards behind the defendant when the assault took place. The accused denied the charge, and said he would swear that he never committed the offence. Mr FitzGerald said that he considered it his duty as Inspector of the Lunatic Asylum,, to cause the case to be brought into Court. Mr Gribben stated that jje h.ad instituted inquiries, and should very probably lay another charge against M'lntyre, The Bench considered the charge to' be fully proved, but as it was a first offence the information would be dismissed. A caution was at the- same time administered to M'lntyre. Thompson, Smith, and Barkley have accepted tenders for a brick warehouse, and now wish to dispose of one of their establishments on Mawhera Quay. They are offering every class of goods at prices hitherto unknown in Greymouth, and invite particular attention to present prices, as it is most necessary for them to reduce their present heavy stock to enable them to carry on alterations without inconvenience.— [AJDYti