LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1539, 10 July 1873, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

OPENING OF THE QOUNTY COUNCIL.

[ANGLO AUSTRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.] Hokitika, July 9. The County Council met to-day when all were present except Mr Smith. The County Chairman, in his opening speech, stated that the receipts for the year amounted to L 25,79 1; estimates were L 24,16 2; surplus, L 1629. The decrease in gold duty and receipts from miner's rights and licenses was counterbalanced by the land sales, resulting in L 5359, against;the estimate of L 3500. From the capitation allowance there was received L 2607 ; as against the estimate of LSOO, portion of the County debt, on account of the Canterbury loan, having been charged by the Treasurer to Canterbury. The decrease of gold duty, L9Bl, is attributable to the dry weather, and the diversion of labor from mining for public works. The decrease of local revenue shows a lessen:

ing yield of golc and will continue until high level water-races are constructed. The L 50,000 advanced by the General Government would;place theiCourityupbn an equality with the, Provinces. Since 1870 the County has been dependent upon local revenue. . i. Nothing has been received 1 from the Colonial revenue except a special grant of L3OOO. Amendments of the Waste Lands Act and ah Act providing a system of education were necessary. The intimation concerning the Colonial railway system was a source of satisfaction, as being initiatory of inter-Provincial railway communication. The proposition of the Council with: reference to. the question of tramway compensation and the Supreme Court arbitrating, had been negatived by the General Govern-, ment. Mr Nancarrow's petition, for the pur-, chase of 6000 acres in the Lake Brunner district was received. ' '; Wellington, July 9. The Wellington will arrive at Port Chalmers on Sunday morning at ; ten o'clock, arriving at Lyttelton on Monday at two o'clock in the afternoon, bringing the members of Assembly here. The Government intend to legislate during the session for the inspection of steamers, preventing overloading, being shorthanded, or insufficiently ballasted. The Bankruptcy and Education Bills will be re-introdqced' _. -• The Governor has accepted the tender of Mr Wright, of Christchurch, for the Oust River contract for L 3860. j The following have been accepted for ihe five sections of the Tokomairiro and Lawrence Railway:— Tokomairiro section, J. and N. Campbell, Invercargill, LI 1,023; Glenore section, W. Strachan, Wellington, L 16,49 1; Round Hill section, Morrissori and Irwin, Dunedin, L 191,780; Tuapeka section, J. Goodfellow, L 13,846; Waitahuna section, L 12,413. i J. and N. Campbell threw up the Glenore contract, and Strachan's tender from Wellington was accepted. ■ The total rainiFall for the past three days is 313 inches. . I Arrived at Melbourne, Aborigine, on June 29, from Hokitika. j The Sydney Exhibition opens on the first Monday after Easter week. Blenheim, July 9. ; The heaviest flood has occurred since February, 1868. , Bluff, July 9. ; Sailed— Rangitoto, for Melbourne. ; Dunedin, July 9. , The return of gold for the half-year etidin* June was 71'1,0720z. ! Mr Bradshaw has been drowned in the Taieri river, while out duck shooting. I The Government was victorious on the no-confidence motion by twenty-three to seventeen. iDuff, a convicted criminal, for . an assault on a child six years old, has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment.