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Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1591, 10 September 1873, Page 2

A meeting of the electors in the East Ward was held last night in Gilmer's Hall. There was & large attendance of ratepayers, most of whom did not belong to the East Ward. The Mayor occupied the chair, and after a few introductory remarks called upon Mr Woolcock, one of the candidates for the representation of the Ward in the Borough Council, to address the meeting. Mr Woolcock at once stated that his object in calling the meeting was to explain how he obtained his seat in the Borough Council three years ago, and of giving Mr W. S. Smith and bis supporters an opportunity of refuting anything they might state, as he believed a misunderstanding had arisen as to .the means by which he first obtained his seat, -it having been said that he had been returned on the distinct underatauding that he should resign whenever Mr W. S. Smith (who was then out of town) should return, and that he had committed a breach of trust by not doing so. He then entered into details of the negotiations which had taken place between himself and other ratepayers in the East Ward as to his holding the seat temporarily, and the reasons which induced him to hold it permanently. He repeated his recollection of conversa ions which had passed between him and Messrs Hamilton, Maclean, Nichol and G. S. Smith three years ago on the subject as to whether, after his election, he ought to resign in favor of W. S. Smith (who had just returned to town), and the reasons which induced him to hold the seat. The matter resolved itself into a personal squabble between Mr Woolcock and Mr W. 8. Smith, the latter of whom denied the correctness of the former's version of certain conversations, and Messrs Hamilton and Nichol supported the correctness of what Mr Smith had stated, to the effect that after Mr Smith's return to town Mr Woobock was told that he had no course open to him but to resign, and that he did not do so. Mr R. Nancarrow moved " That the electors of the East Ward have every confidence in Mr Woolcock to represent them at the ensuing election " Mr J. Middleton seconded the motion, which was supported by Mr Magoffin and carried Mr Woolcock, in returning thanks for the vote, said he was determined to coatest the election fer the East Ward, but he was not prepared to make a speech on municipal affairs. They had watched his conduct in the Council for the last three years, and must have seen that be always supported by his vote even-handed justice to every ward. Indeed, he knew he had been blamed for not sticking more closely to his own ward, but his policy was to look after the interests of the whole Borough, and, if returned, he intended to pursue the same course in the future, Ho would always be ready io support any movement that would facilitate the trade of the port, whether ' it emanated from a private company or a public body, because the entire interests of the district were bound up in the improvement of the port, the wharfage accommodation, and the navigation of the river. In conclusion he would say that the electors; of the East Ward should feel proud that Mr W. **. Smith had come forward to contest the election for the honor of representing them in the Borough Council. It was for them to say who was the best man; and after a fair arid honorable fight, if Da r Smith was returned he (the speaker) would be perfectly satisfied, The usual vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., R.M., Margaret Caio, for having been drunk and disorderly, was fined L 2, or 14 days' imprisonment, and on a further charge of making use of obscene and insulting language in a public street, an additional L 5, or one month's imprisonment. The following debt cases were heard : — H. Young v. Barford and Co. Judgment by default for L 8 lls Id and costs. P. flanney v. P. Carroll, Maori Gully ; judgment for L 6 9s and costs. P. Hanney v, P. Byrne, Greenstone ; judgment by default for L 8 5s and costs. Lahman and Magoffin, trustees in the estate of B. Jones, v. Hewlet ; judgment for L 3 10s 9d and costs. Same v. Mrs Rodgers ; judgment by default for LI 0s lOd and costs. P. Hanney v. James M'Kenna ; a claim of Lll Is ; judgment was confessed for L 8 17s and costs. G. Rowley v. Williams. This was a fraud summons for L 2 9s. Defendant was ordered to pay the amount at the rate of 10s per week. G. M'Carthy v. Hugh Doherty. This was a fraud summons for L3Bs 6d Defendant was ordered to pay 15s per week, or in default of any payment one month's imprisonmet.

A laboring man named Francis Ryan was brought in to the Grey River Hospital last night suffering from severe bruises on the legs, caused by a slip of earth while he was working for M'Whirter »nd Co. in the gravel pit on the Marsden road. His injuries were at once attended to by Dr Morice.

The unfortunate man Harvell, whose attempted suicide occurred at Ahaura on Saturday, is progressing favorably as far as regards the wounds he inflicted upon himself. He seems to have recovered the use of his reason sufficiently to realise the heinousness of the dreadful act he has committed ; a morbid desire to avoid the moral consequences of the deed by killing himself has taken possession of his mind. Although he is still laboring under singular delusions, he can. converse sensibly euough on the circumstances of his ease, but jit has become necessary to keep a strict watch upon him. He made two attempts on Monday to 'complete the offence he ao very nearly accomplished on Saturday."- On one occasion he njandge4 to elude the vigilance of his attendants, and twisted a portion qf the bandages of his wounds in s ugh a manner round ni3 nepk that he almost strangled himself before he could be secured.

The Rev. T. Flavell delivered an interesting and instructive lecture on the " Power of Intellect " at the Court House, Ahaura, on Monday evening. Mr Warden Whitefoord w is in the chair, and at the com lusion of the lecture, which was attentively listened to by a crowded and intelligent audience, Mr F. Guinness, M.P. &i proposed a vote of thanks to the rev. lecturer, which was carried with acclamation. We regret that, owing.to

the late hour a* which the manuscript arrived, >ye are compelled to hold over an extended notice of Mr Flavell'fl lecture.

fc In the case Rogan v. Ballance, editor of the \ fTaiUfOißui H.zr<jM, before the (Supreme 1 Court, Wellington, the rule has been made absolute for a criminal information. The t Judge made very severe remarks regarding 1 the conduct of defendant's lawyers in representing that defendant wanted time to make . an apology, whereas it appeared that he merely wanted to make fresh affidavits. The 1 Judge refused to hear the counsel, and said 3 the conduct of the counsel was the grossest 3 mockery of justice, and the worst case that 7 had been met with in the experience of the 7 Court. He hoped he never should see such i a case again. He said' the solicitor who int Btructed Mr Allen deserved the severest re- . probation of the Court. He felt inclined to r express the condemnation of the Court in a j more substantial way. Those who first moved towards obtaining 1 a gas service for Nelson, and found that the -. Government desired to take the matter in j. its own hands, will not (says the Colonist) be like to admit that any considerable success ' has attended tue attempt. Indeed, they will. 1 most probably assert that another instance r has been furnished of how much better these " things are managed by private companies than through the intervention of Governments. We hear, but can scarce credit the report, that the " Government stroke" will t again supervene, and that a very considerable '• delay will once more occur, before the benefit i of gas for the city, for which the money was t borrowed so long ago, will really be placedi at the disposal of our shopkeepers and rea sidents. * The Wellington Post, of September 3rd, says that in the debate on the Provincial Loans Bill, "Mr White made a most = amusing speech, in which he read a draught of a bill, which he said he should like to f introduce to the House, entitled the Provin- '• cial Borrowing Mania Extinction Bill, which kept the House in roars of laughter. He ' concluded by saying he should support the 7 bill brought in by the Government." t , t Nine drunkards were the other day brought - up at the Auckland Police Court, nearly all r of them being " men over fifty years of age, I and grey-headed." The seven men who were .- brought up in the Greymouth Court on i. Monday were all men in the p/ime of life i- and health. "Was it good malt liquor or - virulent poison that brought them into the I hands of the police ? . „\ i On the subject of small bankrupts, the t Dunedin Guardian says :— " It is somewhat Q a remarkable fact that nearly all the banka rupts who have applied to be released from '1 their debts during the last month have had c very smallliabilities — as a rule under a hun--8 dred pounds. Few could come under the 0 title of ' trader,' few were of the class known a ts the law as ' gentlemen ' though many r might be such by courtesy for all we know). '• and few appeared to be persons having such » prospects as would justify them in getting s very heavily in debt. Tradesmen trusting •- such persons with their eyes open only have '• themselves to blame, and it is useless for h them to try to oppose the bankrupts getting r their discharge, as has been the case two or s three times lately. These creditors have t truly stated the position of affairs when they r have said 'I only want my money, and f would not oppose if I were paid.' And r doubtless they all want their money in the g same way, but few are vindictive enough to b enter opposition upon such frivolous grounds, 1 The only thing shopkeepers can do is to exJ ercise proper caution when giving credit— i they will then, as a rule, have no reason to » complain afterwards. } On the 26th ult., Captain Coffey offered * for sale by auction at the Melbourne Ship--3 ping Exchange, a valuable diamond of 9| carats weight. The Btone, which is of a pale straw color, was obtained on the African coast, near Zanzibar, and is really a ' magnificent gem. There was a fair atten- ' dance of purchasers, and after some competition the stone was run up to L 450. Beyond this price, however, no one at the sale seemed inclined to go, so the diamond was passed in unsold. The reserve price has not transpired, but it is said to be much higher than the maximum bid. j The Australian Gazette, published in London, speaking; of the necessity of a stream 'of immigration flowing into New Zealand, says: - " There is the soil, its fertility, its mining wealth, the happy climatic mean, the immense seaboard, with all its commercial facilities, the practically unlimited supplyiof land, the railwajs, with comparatively now very little to carry to any extent, and, jin effect, all that constitutes a progressive, sol- - vent, and prosperous country — the population alone excepted. Herein lies the tijue peril of New Zealand. It is a deficiency' of persons to enjoy and multiply the great things with which Mature has so richly endowed these favored islands. When the laborer sets foot in the country, his creative power must be made available— employment, in a word must be waiting for him. Then we shall have no round men in square holes. Money will beget money, and all the tears will vanish with the morning mists of a New Zealand sun." I Writing about the tin lode at Mount Bischoff, the Cornwall Chronicle says:— •« A number of other nuggets of tin ore have been received from Mr' Smith's great lode jat Mount Bischoff. One of these weighs 831bs, »nd it is very rich with tin. The blast which removed these 4 nuggets from the lode threw out three quarters of a ton of tin ore' of similar quality. We have seen a sketch ? of the section from where . this ore. was taken. The sketch shows where ore has beun found within 100 yards of the crown of Mount Bischoff, and at four other different points lower down the mount. We believe this is the first Jode of tin discovered in any of the colonies — the valuable deposits worked : in Queensland and elsewhere being only of stream tin." ■ Some singular announcements have appeared at times in the newspapers under the heading of "Births, Marriages, and Deaths, " but the following, which was published in the Daylesford Mercury on Thursday, is one of the strangest we have seen: — "Birth! — Naukervis.— On the 20th inst., at Albert street, Daylesford (on the anniversary of their wedding day, after 16 years of wedded life), the wife of James Nahkervis of a son." The following advertisement is taken from the Waikouaiti Herald of the last week :— , " Two young ladies, within five miles: of . Paloierßton, want partners for the coming , ball. None but good dancers need apply. Address, K. Y. L. , Post Office, Palmerston. " The annual ball and supper given by the j Clifton and Maori Creek district sub-cor- ' niifctee of the Grey River Hospital was held ! a few nights ago, at Mr Green's new hotel, . which was kindly placed at the disposal of ' the \committee. " We have received a full i report of the proceedings, but njust hold it t over for the present. The substautiai'resutt i was that the sum of L 46.49 6d, the proceeds 1 of the bail, has been forwarded to the j •treasurer of the Qrey" Uiye'r Hospital. ' v In the Supreme jQqurt, Nekon, last week, 1 therp was a givit gase between Syraons an 4 r Wilkie, rjjis was an action to recover Lso§ f 17s Bd, and interest, the amount of bills of |j exchange given by the defendant as a com- * position of 12s 6d in the pound for a debt due by his brother, Mr James Wilkie, of B iMotueka, entered into in September of last v year. The cSse occupied a day and a-half, E terminating on Wednesday evening, with a n verdict for plaintiff for L 509 17b Bd, and t COStS. •"■■•; *