ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1467, 17 April 1873, Page 2

A RRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL

VIA SUEZ. ♦ . . THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE. WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIPATLANTIC. LOSS OF FIVE HUNDRED -AND SIXTY LIVES. [NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] : Bluff, April 16. The s.s. Albion has arrived. She left Melbourne on the 10th. She brings the Suez mail. She sails for: Dunedin tonight. . London, March 31. The Oxford and Cambridge boat race was rowed over the usual course on the Thames on the 29th. Cambridge won by three lengths. A large concourse of persons witnessed the race. The Grand National Race was won by Disturbance ; Rhys worth second ; Columbine third.. .....-,. March 28. Colonel Andrew Clark, of the Royal Engineers, has been gazetted K.C.B. April 1. The Commis»ion of Inquiry into the condition of the mercantile marine moved for in the House of Commons by Mr Plimsall has bben appointed. The Imperial Government, previous to the receipt of the memorial from Fiji, decided on the removal of Consul March. At the sale of wool, 1500 bales of Adelaide greasy, were sold for export. -■ - Arrived — Ballarar, from Napier. March 31. [ The Oarlists have captured Burga, and taken 400 prisoners, with arms and ammunition. Great excitement is caused at Barcelona. April 1. The Internationalists are active at Barcelona. The Federal Republic has been proclaimed in Malaga. Paris, April 1. A mos 1 ; exciting debate took place in the National Assembly on Prince Napoleon's petition against his expulsion from France. Dv Favre. Minister of Justice, refused to receive the committee's report expressing the views of the Conservatives, and casting implied censure on the Government. Dv Favre then submitted a Bill excluding the whole of the Bonaparte family, and asked that it be considered as a simple order of the day, which was subsequently voted. London, March 28. Money is easier ; discount four per cent ; New Zealand Consolidated Fives, 103|.j Sixes, 111. Large withdrawals of gold are expected. The Oriental bank has declared a divident of twelve per cent. Tallow steady; copper steady; hides unaltered ; a full supply of leather, and prices have declined one half-penny ; 1 New Zealand hemp, L 23 to L 26 ; wheat dull ; preserved meats dearer j butter sold at 90s per cwt. The steamer Atlantic, of the United States Mail Line, was totally lost while proceeding from Liverpool to New York. During thick foggy weather she was stranded at Halifax. She was crowded with passengers. The number drowned was 738. Details of the wreck as published are harrowing, and the news has caused a great sensation. The revenue for the year amounted to L 77,660,870, showing a decrease of L 1,900,456. Mr Fawcett has withdrawn his University Bill, and moved for leave to introduce another, simply abolishing University tests in Ireland. The Government promised to support the measure, but at six o'clock the House adjourned without any result being arrived at. A Bill to establish a Court of Judicature has been referred to a Select Committee of the House of Lords to report upon. London, April 3. Knatchbull-Hugesson, Under Secretary for the Colonies, has introduced into the House of Commons an amended Customs Bill, in accordance with a promise by Earl Kimberley. Under the Bill power is given to the Victorian Legislature, to enact laws remitting and imposing import duties. As regards other colonies such power is being impartially exercised intercolonially. Duties are not to be at variance with existing duties between England and Foreign Powers, nor are duties to be levied on articles for the supply of the Imperial land and sea forces. Spain, April 2. The inhabitants of Barcelona exasperated the Carlists, who attacked the churches. Ten thousand citizens hold Malaga, and refuse to admit the troops. . , Paris, April 2. Grevy has resigned the Presidency of the French Assembly. London, April 2. It is rumored that the Khan of .Khiva became alarmed, and that he will send back the Russian prisoners as soon as the Russians enter Khiva. April 3. The Australian Agricultural Company's shares have advanced from 75 to 80.

The ship Sir John Lawrence has ar- * rived. ' April 4. Latest accounts reduc* the loss of life by the stranding of the Atlantic to 560 persons, including 350 women and children. ' The Commons "fejecfel tniTniotion of favoring the Euphrates Valley scheme. Mr Fanrcett's Irish University Tests -Bill has been introduced^ -"■i~*. The Queen: visited East London yester- . day. x : . April 3. Th c Bill passed by the Vistorian Legis • lature, legalising marriage with a deceased wife's Bister, has received tHe/ Royal assent. • : ' : -'• •- The new sloop of war Baracouta has sailed for the Australian station. Arrived— Asterope, from Lyttelton. .■■- • April 5. The Australian Customs Bill was read a second time in the Commons. - Sir James Fergusson leaves for New Zealand by the April mail steamer. Miss Arabella Goddard, pianiste, is en route for Australia. , ' The Queen sent a letter expressing her gratification at the reception accorded her at Victoria. Park, East London. > The letter was addressed to Mr Reed, the member for Hackney! The woollen manufacturers are busy ; stocks low. Total arrivals upwards of 100,000 bales. Money in active demand ; discbunt, 3£; stocks depressed, owing to an apprehension that money will be dearer. ' New Zealand Consolidated fives, 'Llo4. A spirited advance took place on Colonial land shares. Peel River Co. 's . shares, L77t0L82; mutton, L 43 to,L44; : beef, L4l to L 42 ; leather, quiet;. hides, inactive; Calif ornian, 58s. VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE. • ... '. „.'■ \ « A public meeting was held at Gilmer's Hall iast night, called by the Mayor^* order to devise measures for assisting the Brigade out of their present ■ financial difficulties. The attendance was very small. Mr E. Masters, Mayor, was in the chair: : The Chairman said the object of the meeting was to devise means- to obtain the necessary funds to get the Fire Brigade out of their present financial difficulties. The funds cf the Brigade were very low indeed, but the opportunity was given to the general public to come forrard* and examine the accounts., The Brigade had liabilities amounting to nearly LI OO, part of which was for additional hose and other material which they wished to have in working order a3soon as possible. The attendance that night was very poor, but he did not think it was at all indicative of the esteem in which the- Brigade was held by the residents of the town. He believed that! if a list were sent round an amount would be at once subscribed sufficient to meet all the Brigade's liabilities, and furnish, them with all the requisite apparatus. He testified to the usefulness of the Brigade, mentioning the work they had done on many occasions of danger, and called upon Mr Moore, Secretary of the Brigade, to lay before the meeting the balance sheet for the past year. Mr J. C. Moore then read and explained the following balance-sheet for the last year i— ' ■'■ . Balance Sheet of the Greymouth Volunteer Fire Brigade for 1872.' receipts." '""' ' £ s. d. To balance Bank of New South Wales - - - • 40 ,6 11 „ Collection for bush fire- • 7 16 0 „ Performance Gar rick Club - 20 0 0 „ Donation Imperial Office • 5' 5 0 „ Do Victoria do - - - 5 5 0 „DoW. S. Smith, Esq. - • 50 0 „ DoJ. M'Mfflan - • ■ 012 6 „ Portion of bill from the Borough Council - - 125 15 9 *2ib~i 2 „ Collections for night watchman for 12 month 3 - - 168 4 6 £378 5 8 DISBURSEMENTS, By expenses bush fire - - 16 0 0 „ Do paid for supporting the children of Betts • .900 „Do GarricklClub - - -200 ; , M 'E wan and Co., Melbourne, 500 ft canvas hose, &c. • 41 18 2 „ 3d 'Gregor, ironwork - - 10 14 6 „ Sewell, new caps to standpipes - - ■ • . • 9,2 6 „ Gleeson, on account of lining room - - - - - 12 0 0 „ Gas Company - - - 80 0 „ Roche, books and {papers for ; news room - - - - 12 13 0 „ Sundry accounts, repairing plant, &c. - - - 55 4 6 „ Paid for tickets - - - 7 4 6 „ Interest Bank of New South . . Wales ". . - • 32 3 „ Cash in hand .. • . ■ . 018 3 £iß6€s 8 „ Salary for night watchman £ i? for 12 months ■ . - ; • v 192 0 0 £378 5 8 It would be seen that the Brigade had made no public collection during the past year. The item night-watchman alone was a loss of between L2O and L3O, as he was not properly supported by the public. The liabilities; now amounted tojabout LIOO, and repairs were required toithe stock, as well as a quantity of new hose. All the Brigade had to depend upon now in case of a fire was the canvas hose, and they wanted something more suitable for the work required of them. In answer to a question, the Chairman stated that a vote in aid of the Brigade was passed last session of the County Council, but. it had. not been paid, and was not likely to be. Mr W. H. Revell, R.M , said he was surprised at the small attendance and the apathy shown by the public, but thought that it was more apparent than real, as when the list went round, the Brigade would find that . they would be liberally supported by the residents. The general public held the Brigade in high esteem, and he thought that a subscription should not only be made now for temporary difficulties,, but that it should

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be made annually. He moved that the Mayor, Messrs Kennedy, W. S. Smith, F. Hamilton, and D. Gird wood, be appointed a committee to canvass the town for subscriptions to relieve the Fire Brigade from their present difficulties. Mr Wooicock seconded the motion, which was put smd carried. This being all the business, the usual vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.