THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1538, 9 July 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1873.

Eighteen monthß from the present time is the period within which it is expected that the Grey mouthandßrunner Bail way will, barring accident, be in full wort as a means of conveying coal from the mine to the. port. , Suchis the intimation convened in our telegrams of last evening, and the calculation is based on the satisfactory circumstance that the necessary plant— locomotives, rails, and; rollingstock—was shipped from England in the .month of Mayvlast. With these necessary ingredients ( tb the completion and opening of the line thus early oh the way, there is I every reason for the Government promoting the Tvork in all other details, a|nd this they will,, no doubt, do. The satne telegrams inform us of what the shareholders in the Grey Coal Company will, doubtless, consider tlib success of thieir, deputation in negotiating with the Government for a lease of the Westland ' Reserve.. V ;: . ;' ; : ; '; : ' ' ' ■ ; "

It is a melancholy instance of the,pqlitical apathy, prevailing on the Nelson side of the river Grey that, ori the evening of the day on which Cqbden received' intelligence of its; being . specially enfranchised for the purpose of returning, a member to the Provincial Council, Cobden retired quietly to bed. Not a sound was heard; not a rocket was fired, though the supply in stock is extensive. ... It may be doing ail ! injustice ' '* ! 'io its intelligent electors to say > so, but it seemed as if little they recced if ' our law-makers let them sleep on 'neath the hill where their homes are ; To say the least, 'and considering Cobden's usual desire to de- f monstrate on every excusable occasion, 1 it: wap a sorry sequel to* the efForts made to resuscitate' Old Sarum; Wor does there seem, .to 'liaye been, any djfter'ence in ,the circumstances in the new: district of the Central Buller. There is neither record of bunting being shown, , nor of a single blacksmith's anvil being, loaded and ex-, ploded. It is evident that the; population of neither' plac'e are so appreciative of ,the privileges,; conferred.: upon them as a liberally-disposed Council had a right to expect. 1 ; : It may be that time will tell a -different tale, and that.the approach of the day of nomination, v(ith; its collateral advantages to publicans and poll-clerks, may a'rouae'the constituencies and create .those things: which are at present not outwardly visible — probable candidates. It is a consummation devoutly to be wished for. It [has been the feeling hitherto in" both diatricts, that in their connection with other

districts they have been outvoted, and that it has only been with a struggle that tthey have at any time; enjoyed the moral satisfaction of seeing their names figure even in that fictitious record, the Supplementary Estimates. It is to be hoped that they will enjoy that, and all else that other districts have realised in the past, which is not promising; too much, and it i 3 to be hoped that suitable candidates will at the proper time present themselves. Not for the purpose of dissuading those who may have an ambition in that direction, but rather for the purpose of aiding those who may be elected for the new districts, as well as those who will fill the places uf retiring members in otherdistrictsj we publish 'a series of advices which have recently been given to those taking their seats in our "halls of pompous feebleness and dignified dulness." •These advices have been given by some cynic in another Province — the Province of Otago — and the code of. morals they represent is hot a very correct one, but so far. as it goes it may have its uses, and it ■is as applicable to aspirants in these parts as it is to aspirants anywhere. It is as follows : — 1. With regard to your objects. If any of ;you go up with any such obsolete ideas as letting " tho ends you aim at be your ; country's," &c., I charge you to correct the mistake at, once. It is a most egregious blunder,. and .one that will not pay— which of course is, or should be, the great consideration with you from the very outset. True, there may once in a generation or two arise a distinguished Councillor who from the pure love of his country will do i>2ooo worth of work, and square the account for a paltry £400. And what is his; reward? The Council's sneer and the ungrateful country's broad grin. Let it be a warning to you. Throw sentiment where, if wise, you have long ago thrown' physic, arid, rising to the dignity of the occasion, go in heartily for self, siller, and situation. Believe me, if you don't the Council will be disappointed in you, and: so will your constituency ; for the former will be constantly bn the alert to discover what the latter so often inquired — as to "what is your little game?" So beware !' breathe not a word about your ends being "your country's," or your fate is' sealed. ' - 2; As to the means -by which you seek to achieve your objects. : Some would be green enough to say, "Let them beever open, straightforward, and above-board." Bah !; it's all a mistake. For one that succeeds in that way a dozen at least fail. You have often been told of men who have ,*' gone -straight up the ladder of fame, till, they have arrived at the topmost round." Bosh ! Have nothing to do with ladders., They require a firm hand and a cool brain. There is danger of falls from a broken round, or from the dizzy height. " You will find it far more easy, speedy,, and. safe to seek the height of your laudable ambition (as you sought in old time 3 the top of the mountain) by means of a corkscrew staircase. You have nothing more to do than keep turning round and round, at each step turning your disdainful back upon the stone that last served your purpose — and, presto! your object is accomplished. Be wise in time, and leave the straightforward open day step by step of the " ladder " to those who know no better, and go you on by twists and turns, as occasion may require, or as " circumstances alter cases" ; and there remains no earthly reason why yjour success should not be as complete as that of the many bright examples whose presence will help to cheer you on. j 3. Be sure to have at least one say upon every mortal subject, however trivial, that comes up for discussion. If you jean manage to edge in two or three, so m^ch the better. What do you say ?— "May not ivnderstand the subject?" Pish! Then talk on till you ' do. You will soon jliscover for yourself that those who. talk of tenest, longest, and loudest are, as a rule, those who " unierstand " the question least. You need never be at a loss ; you can always equal the energy of a quart 'of brewer's yeast, and " rise to order !" . . ' j 4. Never get up to say what you think, but to think- what you shall say. Youwill be surprised how long you, can talk even before you' have arrived at a' satisfactory conclusion upon this point, i If the effort should result, as in nine caises out often it probably will, in,- the honest conviction that you have really nothing to say, wetf , go on saying that. They allj do it. The great thing is to talk, and you will find it to your interest to be more concerned' about : the quantity than the quality. If you wait till you ''understand " the subject^ you will often hiive inothing tO)Say at allj and; bo run the risk of being set down by the "free/and enlightened " electors you have been selected to represent: as, a "dumb dog. If, however, you- happen, ever to be reejlly hard up, what is more easy than modestly : to intimate that all your sublime thoughts, all your profound .wisdom, and all your good intentions, "have been anticipated by. the honorable gentleman opposite," who, as a matter of course, has just ' ' taken the wind ,out, of your sails. " This done, all your free and enlightened con.stituencylppkup the gentleman opposiiie's speech, read it as if it was your own, and blame its real. -author .for presuming to " anticipate " so statesmanlike an orator. • • Neveriforget you have an appreciative audience in the .Strangers'^ Gallery- Save all' y6ur good and racy things, of which, .of course, you will have/ any , amount, for ' them, and take ihe opportunity of letting them off when there is i a " full house " in that, quarter, at least. ; While delivering your witticisms, sarcasms, &c, you. will find it will add materially to their effect' if you turri halfway round toward your audience in the gallery, and mark each period with a smirk of recognition in that directioti-^such a • smirk as should say—- " There ; I guess that's a clencher." : If i after such a performance as last noticed, any one of you would so far pocket his dignity as to retire by the same' door as oi polloi, he will probably reap a part of his reward by being an enforced listener of some such colloquy asthis — ." Who's that, member for— ? .Oh ! he's a clever devil, he is !" .;■ "My word,! he is that," and so he, may retire to spend the balance, if any remain, of his pound a day, with the delightful' satisfaction that he is making his way into, the good graces and good' opinions 'of an enlight-. ened public, and so return next day with renewed vigor to pursue his distinguished career. ". '

Mr Dooson, f Mr ; Youngy and Mr Cooper were the three gentlemen whom the Town Surveyor, according to the resolution of the ' Borough Council) consulted with regard to

the ".ousiuotion of protective works to the westwan of Boundary street. These three gentlema yesterday made * minute examination c the river-bank, and agreed upon a report which ■ will ho presented to the Council it its next routing. Meantime the construcion of the tramway proceeds, and stone wil soon be brought down by it for the formatter of tbe beginning of what, it is to hehopec, will be an extensive and permanent .work. *.\ ;■'■ ....-■ ■• ::;•■ L '- ;j; The Gunty Council is appointed to meet at Hokiika to-day, but there is little probabilityof there being more than a bare quorum gresent. Mr Smith is at present iv Weliingon j and, if we are not mistaken, Mr Butbn is also absent from Hokitika. The istallation of the Worshipful Master and oflbers of the Greymouth Masonic Lodge, S.C., took place in the Masonic Halliyete'rday afternoon. A large number of the tethren attended to witness this important aid impressive ceremony, which was conductd by Bro. James Kerr, the retiring W.M. o; the Greymouth Lodge, assisted by Bros. Pat Masters Blackmore, Ancher, and Wylde. The folio wing officers wereinstalled and invated for the ensuing twelve months : Bro. Hinimarsh, W.M. ; Rev. Bro. Watkins, S.W.-J fro. John Sewell. J.W.; Bro. C. A.C. Hardy, Treasurer ; Bro. J. C. Moore; Secretary; Bro, T. Kitchingharo, S.D. ; Bro. W. H. Ravell, J.D. ; Bros. J. A. Eissenhardt and J. Morton, Stewards ; Bro. C. Holder, ■I. G. ; Bto. E. B. Fox, Tyler. The brethren assemble! in the evening at Gilmer's Hotel, where a sumptuous banquet was prepared. They spent a pleasant evening together, and by toasts, songs, and sentiments, contributed to their mutual and fraternal enjoyment. '•; It is "notified in the County Gazette that Mr John Griffin has been' duly declared elected.- a member of the Paroa Road Board. Blockßß of rural land in the Grey district is gazetted as open for sale, and the boundaries of Block 80 have been altered. The County .Chairman' and County ' Surveyor have returned to Hokitika from a trip to the Okarito and other southern districts of the County, fortified, it is said, with a large amouit of useful information. . The death of Mr John La Mothe Ralfe is thus noticed by the JRoss Nevis v— " The deceased gentleman was a native of Ramsey, Isle of Man, and was educated at King William's College, in that island, matriculating at St. John's College, Cambridge ; but, like many other yonng and adventurous men, he cast aside the chances of preferrdent he had in his native land, and sought his fortune in the colonies, arriving in Canterbury about twelve years since, and bringing with . him a sum of money which; would have sufficed to support him in Europe. He speculated, and lost his little capital, when he applied for and succeeded in obtaining the appointment of schoolmaster in Okarito, the School Committee guaranteeing him a ' salary of L3OO per annum ; but, this amount he never received, and, after struggling about six years in that place to support his family, during a portion of which time he acted as lay reader for the Church of England, and represented the Okarito; district in the County Council, he turned his attention to Ross, and opened a school in this place a few months since. Finding his efforts successful, he sent, for his family— consisting of \ his wife, nis sister, and' nine' children — and had just succeeded in making them comfortable. When, through over exertion, he was thrown en a bed of sickness. On Wednesday last he first cemplained of a bilious attack, and attended to his scholastic duties up! to Thursday noon, when he was compelled, to take to his bed, and send for Dr James. Nothing serious was anticipated, but about ,four o'clock on Friday afternoon he had a paralytic stroke, and was unconscious up to the time of his death, about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock on Friday night last, jDr James was most assiduous in his attentions to the deceased gentleman, and was him at the time of his death. The decease of our much respected brother Ralfe was a sore trial to his many friends, but their grief was increased by Miss Ralfe becoming convulsive after the death of her brother and the "helpless appearance of the poor little children. Deceased, who had only reached the age of 33 years, was^a man of much ability, of an amiable -disposition, andjhis' loss will be deeply regretted bya large cijcle of newly -made friends in this place, as i^ell as by those who have had i the pleasure of being intimately acquainted with him. The funeral will take place to-morrow, andjthe remains of our departed brother will' be followed to their last resting-place by members of the Masonic order." ! * Dr Donald-has been temporarily appointed Resident Magistrate at Akaroa, pending the decision of the Government upon Mr Pillet's case. • • • - In the Resident Magistrate's court.' at Hokitika, on Monday, a man was brought up who had refused to give his name at the watch-house. Mr Patten, who was the Magistrate on the Bench, inquired of the man what was his name, but the only answer he could get from the prisoner was — that! he was called "Mickey." "Surely," exclaimed the Magistrate, "you must know your own name ; what you were christened?" The prisoner, however, persisted that he was called Mickey when he was wanted, and that he knew no more, and the Magistrate remanded him for twenty-four hours to give him an opportunity of finding a. name for himself. In some remarks upon the new Suez mail, service, the West Coast Times says :— lt cannot but be a matter for gratification that in the postal arrangements made by the Colonial Government with Messrs M'Meckan, Black wood, and Co., the geographical posi- . tion of Westland has been recognised, and we shall have the benefit of being the first port of call and the 'last of departure. We quite agree with, our Greymouth contemporary as to the necessity of activity in tendering the steamers on arrival, so as to render the privilege with which we have, been possessed available, and to maintain creditably the position which has been, assigned to us. Both bars are seldom unworkable , at the same time, and there needs only a cordial understanding on the. part of, the, agents to prevent .so untoward an occurrence, as .the departure of the, ocean- steamer from our coast without being tendered. The matter is,, we should think, of sufficient, importance ; to engage the attention of the County Council, and we shall be glad to . see it brought forward early in the session. Speaking, of the Waitahi, the Boss News says :—" There is every prospect that some really good accounts will be heard of this place in a few months, as a reef, five feet thick, has been discovered,' at the head of this river, which contains silver and lead ore in payable quantities, as Well as gold. At present, the snow prevents operations on the reef, but, when the summer sets in, the discoverers will erect machinery forthe purpose of working it." ; In noticing the same discovery, the Hokitika Star says r— "A curious mineral, a kind of singular conglomerate, has been found at the. Waitahi, and has been the subject of considerable speculation as to its contents and value. A sample we have seen is very heavy, has a blackish lustre where fractured, and has every appearance of being valuable.., Many, who should be good judges, think it contains a large percentage, of silver, but, in order to determine the question, Mr Mueller, Chiqf Surveyor, on his late visit to the south, procured a 'specimen, | which t he purposes forwarding to Dr Hector^ for analysis, on' the first opportunity. .

The following suggestive advertisement appears in the Evening Post, italics and. all : "just landed— Extra stout overcoats ; just the thing for the: jrdnt, andV bullet-proof : behind ; to be had " &c. Is this libel ? f The Jldd'ger franchise movement is progressing quietly in Wellington, and, ' says a correspondent, seems to be approved of «by all classes. 'In New Zealand, Ba y ß Mr Anthonj Trpliope, ( the prices are no doubt very much higher ,than in Australia generally-^— in^Ofcago^they" are perhaps, double,, the Australian prices; and in 'Australia they by no means startle the traveller by their lowness. „.*,..„,.'. ' „ - ! ■/ Speaking at the annual 'meeting, of ;the .subscribers to the. Sydney r Female^ Refuge, the Rev.'MfFidler is reported to have said 7 : 1 " There: was a popular ;tyrranyj' or a social tyranny, which existed, by which it was enacted that men should be married in a style, and .should live in that style. He hoped the time, would, come when young men and women, endeared. tOj each other by the ties of affection, w.oulii] lie ablei in spite of the tyranny of society, , to'eriter ibta marriage, and be content to live on a small in-, come ; andperhaps spme ( day the Government might consider it advisable to endow such young persons, or at least. look upon them with favor. ' ' ;,f . What sort of man is our new Governor ? The question is thus partially answered by a Wellington correspondent of the Canterbury Press:— '• Certainly he, has. no cause, to be ashamed of , His, personal appearance, .which is that of a handsome and determined'looking man, , of rather severe aspect, and in| striking contrast with v ..the', rotund, and amiable countenance of Sir r George Bpwen. He 1 has a decidedly; fayprable impression; and is said by those who-hayeicome .into contact .^vith him .officially jrto be a thorough; man of business. For. example, it was^ customary , in Sir George Bo^iren's, time to . give' the 'Governor; no intimation, before-' hand 1 of the' nature of the ordinary? business to be laid before the Executive Council ; but Sir James Fergusson,.immedialiely upon: his arrival, gave instructions that he should be furnished : with copies of all paper's^ &c., a day beforehand." A good programme of 'sports' for'the! incoming season has been arranged by the Canterbury Jockey ,Cl.ub. v Commencing with the Spring' Meeting in' November/ tbe first day's programme remains- as 'before, except that the Railway Plate.and^FreeiHandicap have changed places, the latter, being how the second item on the card. On -the second day the Hurdle Race "is absent, /and the Derby is the first event ; r the. , Lottery Plate,' formerly in the third : day's programme, ; comes second; The popular ,C;J. j C:f Handicap is next with Ll5O, instead of L2OO, be run for ; then the Grand Stand Hondicap ; and; last,' and certainly in more, senses than one least, comes a Pony Race ,o£2o soys ; weightfor inches. The third day commences as last year with a Handicap Hurdle Jtace, then the Christchurch Plate. Next a Selling Race of 40 soys '; weight for age '; one mile ; winner to be sold for L 75.' Then the Metrdpolitan Handicap aud Consolation Stakes as ..:•■•'•.■•'• • ;■■ ■-'.■• ■■:':' r . . ' '•■'; Several times lately the trout turned out at Queenstpwn over two years ago have been 1 seen in' the Town Creek ; '■ once also, it is ieported, in the Lake itself. They 'have thriven excellently, 'and are now preparing for their breeding season, which is close at hand.- T They are very pluinpj and about 14 to 18 inches long. A correspondent of the Cross, writing from Cambridge, , says-:— ." A -rather; amusing incident'took place here between an officer oi the Constabulary and a recruit on sentry-go. The officer approached the sentry, who took no notice of him. until he got quite iclose up to him; then the, : sentry, coolly, struck, a match, and, .looking into,^the officer's face, said, 'Oh, I thought it v was somebody else ; excuse me, sir.' Whether, he was excused or not, I cannot say j I leave the, reader to guess.": •.■'..;," : ■ ■„:; ; , ■: /.' ;..,:-. It is stated that Mr Brogden will shortly pay a second visit, to the .Colony. _..-. There are two Maori publicans in the Province of Wellington— the one in the/ Wairarapa, and the other in Wanganui. . At a public .dinner , in .London of- a large number of Town Clerks of England and Wales, Alderman Cotton said that the Town Clerks were the real Mayors all over the world.. . -:■,.:•;■:,? A telegram in the Melbourne papers says that a station' at Lake" Albert," Northern Territory, was.soldfor.Ll^SjOOO.^; £ M An Arawa, named Aporb, is employed in the Survey Office at Tauranga, and he is said to be an ?' accomplished draughtsman." The Okarito correspondent of- t'iie* "West Coast Times reports that the recent floods at the Waiho have done considerable damage to Mr Samuel Kennedy's property. The river encroached greatly on the south side and washed away about an acre of cleared ground and eight tons of potatoes. - It came so near his house that helleemed it advisable to shift it further back. This will be the third time he has had to shift his house back from the river. What next ? This is 'the latest thing under the head ' ' Marriages " :— On "the 21st Junei at his residence, Cumberland street, H. G. Barnes, messenger to Her; Majesty's Court, Dunedin, to Alice ;Keys, late at V. ; Alinap, and Co., hatters, Princes street, Dunedin. Home and Melbourne papers please copy. ';,"' There are, says the : Hokitika^ar, about a 150 Chinese' in the 'Waimea'districti 'all of whom are getting on well'ia^parentlyj'and are in' high favor with the/stofek'eepers, as they-are cash customers.' : About' thirty of this reached left the Waimeafor No Town, in the Grey Valley. .'At the 1 (Treenstone 'there are about ; fifty Chinamen' working, 'and there they are regarded equally ' well, , d nd are industrious and inoffensivej - Ihdeedi on 1 the Coast "■ John seems to flourish'and^b "excite little. of the antipathy too often found on the gold fields. ' : :\ The Germans- in Duuedin have had a -society of -their own fora considerable-time, and we observe that the Scandinavians in the city; are about to follow .the example of their Teutonic friends^ ■ '.h The following is from a late number r of the Age:— "A^conflict between Churchf and 1 State and a disruption of . ,the Presbyterian ' Chnrch seep, impending. ; The act legalising marriage with a deceased 'wife's sister does not meet the approval of the: Presbyterian commission, and at the meeting of the commission a resolution was, carried,' appointing . a commission to report to the; . next . General ' Assembly on the subject ;, and that members ; of the Presbyterian Church be warned against 1 contracting,' ,and ministers , of : , the church against celebrating, suoh; marriages., , It is well, known that there are niany ministers* in the Presbyterian Church who , will , dis-, regard such waruing, and many members of the church who regard .the act legalising the forbidden marriages with! approval , .These ministers will not hesitate to celebrate,: the marriages even at the risk of coming under discipline, and ; being expelled the denomination, and, would if requisite /form .'another; branch of the Presbyterian body! 11/18,3180 a questioa how far a minister f registerecTf or the performance, of the marriage ceremony can refuse to recognise as legal that which the State pronounces to be such, for in their capacity as quasi registrars ministers themselves are responsible to the power that confers, authority upon them to celebrate:marriages, which is the £!tiate. ' " " A fatal, accident, by whioh the lives of two men were sacrificed, is reported from Alex-'

indra, Ofcago. It appears : from the evidence if a miner named Robert 3aUantyne, who vas.the only eye witness of the, saidjaffair, haY on Tuesday mornmg/the 24th instant, between 9 and 10 o'clock, the two unforinnate men— Captain M'lntyre and James Scott, who were shareholders in the Galatea — started. from^the-shore^n»a'Bm^boat»for-;he purpose of boarding the dredge, which s (lying iatiffie-mptith ofjthe Fraser River, intending to bail her out ; that when nearing bhejjjedge^ jtiore line and was capsized, both men being immersed in'th'e'watferj M'lhtyre sank immediately, and was not seen afterwarde. Scot* caught hold'of tHe' Ilin1 line i , J but'uyble to contend with the current, soon let*go'his hold, and sank ,t.o,iise no. more. ,On, •the/news reaching Alexandra,' search parties at once proceeded 'along' the ; bUnls:B of the river in aearoh-of •th'e'f'bddifes, -'but ( ndthing' could be seen; of them,.;) The bqatji however, was seen' to pass the Alexandra punt, filled with" water. James Scott is an old resident of the Ale'kahdra n district r and 'leaves a widow and' large family to /mourn his, loss. . : Qaptain. M'lntyre is but a new arrival in the? district 1 , and leaves behind' him a young' wife without anyyfamily., „- , - 5 .... „ ;} v . - 7/ • „,, Arrangements have at length been completed with the .Pneumatic Dredge Company, ((Registered);, fotrthe.; working : of ; the rich' river-bed claim known as the Clyde Claim, on the Clutha,, the property of Messrs Hastie, Hawthorne, Sherwood, and Dalziel, all residents of Clyde, ,and .situate a short distance belowtne Dunstan Hospital. The terms are quite equitable ; and, if the system-Bf the : 'dredge' 'is as /perfect as- ;repr6sehtedj r some large finds may be expected. i- j The coriditionst 'Uhderlwhicht immigrants may be nominated are perhaps not so fully" known as. they should be. . "Fr&e passages will' : t6' girls of' 'more 1 than twelve* years of age accompanying their parents, and single i women between '.the ages of:-; sixteen) and thirty-five. Males between twelve aSS fifty | can j claim passages by the, payment of L 4, aii'd those under' twelve years by the pay,?; roent of L 2. These-amounts may be paid at any money-order office in'the Colony by ; the person nominating, and if the nominee, refuses -to embark, I the money.', will be refunded. If preferred, bills payable Jbhirty days "after arrival of nominee^" will'be taken, in which, case :ttii amount will be increased 50 per cent. These terms put it in the power iof any desirous of having their friendif joining i them to nominate them. CJ. I { :■[ ji if -v-- "' r «•'TA WI '