THE The Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1470, 21 April 1873, Page 2

THE The Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDA Y, APRIL 21, 1873.

The weather— that old and often only topic of conversation in small communities — has been a large subject of remark in Greymouth since Saturday. For some time past it has not by any means been well-behaved. It has been distinguished by drought, and drought is not a characteristic approved of by miners, however much it may be so by publicans. On Saturday, and in Greymouth, this drought culminated in a dust-stoini, promoted by a gale from every possible point of the compass. Constable Keating's report to the Borough Couucil that the town is free from nuisances was contradicted in every street by the existence of a persistent dustatom which was capable of reducing, in a few seconds, the most respectable citizen to the condition of a very seedy-looking individual. But this was a slight circumstance compared with the other evils which it iuvolved. People had lit fires in the native forest which still penetrates parfs of the surveyed township, aud these fires were promoted in a manner which ttheir originators, perhaps, never anticipated. At one time these, as the papers say, " assumed alarming dimensions," and some cxcitabls alarmist rang tbe fire-bell, the soun-1 of which was themeaus of concentrating, beside a clump of burning bush, nearly every member of the Firp Brigade and a crowd of those who, on such occasions, contribute to the picturesque by being simply spectators. Fortunately there was more picturesqueness than practical work provided for the Fire Brigade, and there was no actual necessity for the employment of the enfjines. Their labors were limited to the use of buckets, and, with these bumble appliances, they did, it is said, some good service in preventing the fire from spreading from growing timber to localities where food for the lire existed in the shape of quartering and weatherboards. After sundown the scenery of the neighborhood was much improved by tho prevalence of bush-fires, and many encomiums were passed, after the fashion of the Cockney who, on witnessing an eruption of Vesuvius exclaimed, " Very good ; very well got up." At and. after midnight there were people who discovered more than picturesqueness in the pyrotechnic display, and who were energetic with broom-handles and other accessible implements iv subduing the flames. Yesterday the fire took a Sabbath. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, Ann Whiteford was fined twenty shillings, or four days' imprisonment, for ha\ - ing been drunk. Mr John Munro, of Westport, writes as follows to the Secretary of the Greyinoiuh Acclimatisation Society : — ''l have been instructed by Mr Seaton to draw your attention to a paragraph in the Grey River Argus, dated 3 1st ultimo, in which ie is stated that he bought the hares which he presented to the eclimatisation Society, as the hares were given to him by Mr Fairburn, of the Pentland Hills, \ ictoria, for presentation to the Greymouth Societj, Mr Seaton will esteem it a favor if you will correct the statement at your earliest convenience, and at the same time i ake the opportunity to acknowledge the kindness of Mr Fairburn, who is an old West Coaster." To prevent misapprehension on the part of persons tendering for the construction of the first section of the Greymouth and Marsden road, it is well to state that tenders for the work will be received up to 4 p.m. on the 28th instant, at Hokitika. By a paragraph which appeared in these columns it might be supposed that tenders were receivable up to that time at Greymouth, but such is not the case. Mr Whitefoord has received a consignment of twenty-one skylarks. The birds iwere shipped at Nelson, and arrived in excellent condition. Mr Skelton's grey gelding Septimus was .raffled at Osborne's Hokitika, on Thursday night, the winner being Mr Donald Cameron, who tied with Mr Walters, and arranged with that gentleman to take the' horse. The following applications for gold-mining leases at the Lyell were heard by Warden Broad on Wednesday last : — Christian Rasmussen, 16£ acres, Lishman's Creek ; recommended. Joha Carroll, 10 acrea 1 rood 25 perches, Eight-Mile Creek ; adjourned to Vlay 7. Samuel Marston, 15 acres, Alpine Range : adjourned in order to arrange for the reservation of a creek included within the boundaries of the proposed lease. Harry Gard, 7 acres 2 roods (Prenez Garde Company), east of the Union lease ; adjourned to May 7. Godfrey Hofer, 16 acres 32 perche.", Eight- Mile Creek; adjourned to iVlay 7 Plans, &c.. were also produced to the Court of a special claim which the Superintendent purposes giving to the Alpine Company, in consideration of their putting in a cunnel of 2000 ft at a level 1200 ft below the present *orkinas. The proposed area is 16 acres 1 rood 25 perches. The dbtail survey of the Lake Hochstetter or Nelson Creek Water-race, as already reported by our own correspondent, has at length b.ien finally completed, and the sectional and contonr plans have been prepared. The entire distance, says the Grey Valley Times, is 17 miles 15 chains, and the lowsst e«ti'»ated cost of constructing tbe race is L 35 00D. It is found that the levels furnished to the Nelson Government some time ago are incorrect, the race terminating at a much less altitude than was representel. his, however, in r o way diminishes t le value of tbe race, as its preseut ascertain ~A level commands every terrace and slops n the Nelson Creek district. Much fluming will be required along the line, but it is proposed to make all the longest spans by means of wire ropes, to which the conduits will be suspended. Mr Lord, chief suiveyor, had a branch line explored to test the prac

ticability of carrying a supply of water from j 1 the main hue into Callaghan Creek, the J result ot which was thab the undertaking was found to be feasible. Two methods are proposed of accomplishing it— one by cutting a tuunel of considerable length through the main range, or following the terraces round — the former being the shortest but most expensive plan. The whole of the plans and reports in connection with the survey have been forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, and we can only hope in the meantime that every possible intercession will be made to induce the Government to commence the work. The Committee of the Hokitika Literary Society (says the Star) have been most active of late, and during the last six months the institution has almost wholly liquidated the debt that oppressed it. More than that, within the last week or bo some seventy or eighty new works, including art, science, history, travels, biography, and liction have been added to the library, and can now be obtained by the subscribers. In addition to these, arrangements have been made with the celebrated firm of Mudie, in LoDdon, for regular monthly shipments of new books. At the steeplechase meeting to be held in Wauganui, on the 29th of May.it is believed there will be funds enough in hand to give L3O for a Maiden Steeplechase, and LIOO for the Grand National Handicap Steeplechase ; besides smaller sums for a hurdle and other races. The report of the Australian Agricultural Company to a meeting called for the 11th February, states that application has been made to Parliament for a bill to extend the company's powers to all Australian colonies and New Zealand, as well as for other purposes. During the heating of a recsnt case of selling liquor on a Sunday, preferred against an Auckland publican, Inspector Broham told the Bench that in his opinion "it would be far better if the public-houses were allowed to be open on Sundays ; the police would then be cognisant of what was going on. At present the sale of liquor could not be prevented." The case in question broke down. The kelson Mail states that the designs for the New Provincial Lunatic Asylum have been received, and that that of Me Beatson, of Wellington, has been selected. We (Marlborough Express) learn that tbe offices held under the General Government by Mr Eyes, as Crown Land Commissioner, &c, will be assumed by C. Goulter, Esq., the Provincial Treasurer, until the libel actions now pending have been determined. The Carandinis, says the Blenheim paper, have, during the last week, been pouring forth a very flood of melody to very barren houses. There was a small attendance of the sporting portion of the public at the Arauura on Friday to see a trotting match, which resulted in Mr Kirkwood's Betsy being the winner. Another trotting race was got off, for which there were five started, the winner proving to be a horse belonging to Mr M'Gurk. Dr Hector, who arrived at Nelson on Monday week from the West Coast, beini? unable to proceed to Wellington as he intended, has started for Collingwood, where he will visit the coal mine and other works. The Nelson Mail states tint Dr Hector reports most favorably of the Ngakawhau coal mine, the lessees of which have concluded arrangements with Mr Beetham, of Auckland, for its immediate working. Messrs N. Edwards and Co. sold a mob of cattle, by auction at Mr Atwood'a farm, Marlborough, comprising upwards of lUO head of all ages, in one lot at L 3 each. The following obituary notice appears in the Nelson papers :— " At St Petersburg, on the 23rd December, 1572, James (tonal d Handyside, father of Mr Handyside, of this city, ajjed 76 years. Dr Handyside had resided in St Petersburg and Altxandroski for 47 years, and was very highly esteemed by the late Czar Nicholas, who on one occasion presented him with a ring valued at 300 guineas, in acknowledgment of his unremitting attention to the sufferers during the time the cholera raged in St Petersburg. At the reading of the funeral service, the church was crowded, and hundreds were unable to obain admittance." There have been very fair crops of hops grown in the Wairau this year, notwithstanding the dryneßs ot the season, and they were all got together in good condition without much trouble. Tne quality is also much improved in consequence of the bines having been well weeded. The produce of Messrs Dodson and Ball's hop grounds was 5300 bushels; Mr Shepherd's, 1900; Mr N. Pritchard's, 1065 ; Mr Sutton's, 700 ; and Mr John Adams, 530. The Westland Racing Club and Mr M'Goveran have had some difference in relation to the racecourse, and the Club sued the latter. The amount at issue was over L2O, and could only be determined under the extended jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court. This is solely given to Resi--1 dent Magistrates, who also must be specially gazetted, and Mr FiczGerald is the only one 1 authorised to exercise the power nearer than 1 the Grey. He, as it happens, is a member 1 of the Club, therefore one of the plaintiffs, and as such, was disqualified from deciding i on the case. The plaintiffs are consequently • debarred from any other remedy than that ; atforded by a superior court, and the District Court was the only one left open for them to , appeal to. The official ceremony of turning the first . sod of the kelson and Foxhill railway will , take place on Wednesday, the 30th instant. >' This day, says the Mail, has been fixed in order that the Provincial Councillors may be , present at the ceremony, and as the fencing ! of the line will in the meantime be proceeded with, no delay will be occasioned by its beiug postponed for a few days, i A correspondent of a Nelson contemporary i has made a discovery which he thus dei scribes : --"I wonder if any of your readers ! are aware that a great mistake was made in , keeping last Sunday as Easter Day. It may ■ have been Easter Sunday in England, but it . certainly was not so here. The Church of » England Prayer Book, which, I suppose, , may be considered an authority upon such matters, says :- ' Easter Day is always the ; first Sunday after the full moon which ; happens upon or next after the twenty-first t day of March ; and if the full moon happens ' upon a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday ; after.' It is true that in London it was full . moon at 951 on Saturday nighi, but in New Zealand this did not happen until 9.30 on . Sunday morning, consequently next Sunday will be the veritable Easter Day in this part . of the world." Referring to the telegraphic announcement , of the marriage of Sir James Fergusson, the ' Melbourne Herald, of the loth instant, ; mentions that Miss Riohman, the bride, posi sesses great personal attractions, and is understood to have a fortune ..f L 50.000 i Tnere is some romance in this alliance. Miss , Rmhma i was for many years engaged to her cousin, a Mr Fleming, and affairs went : smoothly enough uuring the time that VI r Fleming remained in the colony. He took a l trip to Europe, however, and during his ab- ; Benco Sir James Fergusson saw the lady, and admired her, and sought her hand. It ■ would be difficult to say whether the lady i at first reciprocated this attachment. Sir James seems, however, to have won the good opinion of the young lady's guardian,

hor undo, a rich Moonfca proprietor. He favored the distinguished suitor's addresses, and finally Miss Kichman gave her consent. Sir James left for England and shortly afterwatds Miss Richraan followed, accompanied by her guardian. They had scarcaly left Adelaide when young Fleming arrived, and his nonsternation was great at finding that the dove had ilown,' and that Miss Richman was on the way to "Burope to become Lady i'ergusson. The bride's fortune, it is understood, is not held in her own right, but is a marriage portion bestowed by the uncle and guardian. A Ross paper says that on Thursday afternoon U. and J. Malfroy counected a sraail turbine with a crab winch, for the purpose of testing its power, and those who witnessed the working of the machine were surprised at the rapidity and strength of its motion. A rope was placed around the barrel of the winch, and the end made fast to a large root, on which six men sat ; water was then turned on to the turbine from the main water-pipe on the terrace, and the root, with the heavy load, was dragged along the ground at a goocl rate. After that a three-inch rope was fastened around the winch, and when full pressure was put on it quickly parted. This afforded proof that the power of the turbine, with the pressure obtained on the terrace, is sufficient for winding purposes on any claim in the district, and it is probable that this little machine will claim vawch attention from the miners, as its first cost would be less than a horse and whim, and little or no expense would be incurred in keeping it in working order,