THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1627, 22 October 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1873.

Statements have recently appeared in print with reference to the Randall Creek Water-race, and the gentlemen who have disinterestedly used every . endeavor to forward the project of making it, which require correcting. It is insinuated that the hon. members who, in their places in the Provincial Council and in the General Assembly, brought the matter under the notice of the respective Governments, ' based their arguments in support of it on the fact that fifty sluice-heads of water | would be the minimum quantity of water which would be brought to Napoleon i Hill from Randall Creek, if the race were completed. The hon. members alluded to, who, of course, are Messrs Harrison and Pinkerton, uever stated, as far they were publicly reported, that such a quantity of water was the smallest that would be delivered. Mr Pinkerton, when he introduced his motion in the Provincial Council, based his calculations on the report Mr Dobson, the Provincial Engineer made to the Council in 1871. Mr Dobson'K report was compiled from the results of a survey of the race made previously by Mr Woolley, the District Surveyor, and Mr Dobson's estimate was that fifty heads of water would be the maximum quantity which could be delivered at Napoleon, provided the source of the race was fixed at Randall Creek. Mr Pinkerton adopted the estimate of Mr Dobson, and Mr Harrison acknowledged in the Assembly when he moved for a grant for making the race, that he was merely wishing to 'give effect to tl« recommendation of the Nelson Provincial and ; Executive Councils that the work should be done. Mr Curtis supported in a speech of some length, so did Messrs Shephard arid O'Cqnor, and all these speakers referred to Mr Dobson's report in favor of their arguments. "With respect to the "intelligent newspaper correspondents" who ventilated the opinions of the hon. members mentioned, it is only to say that in these reports -during January, 1872, it was argued that the estimate of Mr Woolley was excessive and could not be obtained without the aid of a comprehensive system of reservoirs,' and it has since been shown in these columns, on good authority, that if a permanent and really efficient supply of water be introduced to Napoleon Hill at a sufficient elevation to command all the sunoundinggold workings, the source of such Bupply must be fixed at the RobinsOn river, instead of at Randall Creek. So much for this discovery of a mare's nest.

On Tuesday next the joint anniversary of the Loyal Greymouth and Hand of friendship '■ odges of Oddfellows is to be celebrated by a ball and banquet in Gilmer's Hall. We understand that Mr J Enright has disposed of all the right, title, and interest of one-third share in Enright and party's water-race, Still water, for the sum of Ll5O, to Messrß Cosgrave and Enright. There was a good general practice of the Volunteer Fjre Brigade on Monday evening, there being present Captain Eissenhardb, pffioeirs, and 26 megibejrf. . A ohe^ue for L 1

was received ' fiom .members of the Jewish persuasion for the use of the Brigade Hal! for one night. The resignations of Messrs Paul and Jeffard, as working members, were received. It; was with regret that these resignations were received, as both had proved themselves regular and very efficient members. Criminal proceedings for the writing and publication in the Orerj Valley Times of certaiu alleged ''false, slanderous, and defamatory" statements, which appeared in that journal on the 20th September and subsequently, were instituted on Monday in the Kesidont Magistrate's Ourt, Ahaura, by Mr M. H. Hayden, of Ahaura, against Mr W. J. Potts, proprietor of the limes. At the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on the 18th inst., before C Whitefoord, Esq, R.M., and F. Guinness, Esq., J.P., the only business was the disposal of a case — Lardi v. Nelson— a claim of L2l 13s 6d, for board and lodging, &c. The defendant disputed the greater portion of the account, and filed a set-off for work done as a saddler and packer. The defendant further made a charge for board for eight weeks, during which time he said he was h opt idle through the neglect of the plaintiff to supply leather and other material for making saddles. The set-off was disallowed, as the Bench held the present plaintiff was uot the person who was liable, and a verdict was given for Ll9 with costs. The address of Mr C. L. Maclean to the electors of the district of Central Buller appears in the Nelson papers. Mr Maclean accepts the requisition that had been addressed to him, and promises, if elected, special attention to the interests of the gold fields. The Westland Racing Club have published a very fair programme for a Christmas meeting, tn be held on the 25th (Boxing Day), and 27th of December. There are five events set down for the first day of twenty, thirty, sixty, twenty-five, and ten sovereigns respectively, and on the second day, Saturday, there will be six races to which twenty, forty, ninety, ten, fifty, and fifteen sovereigns will be given. Referring to the impending Provincial elections, a writer in the Nelson Mail says : — " Important changes in the Executive are spoken of on tHe quiet, and Mr Curtis will no doubt very soon explain what are hia intentions in this respect in the event of his re-election, which may be looked upon as almost a certainty if these changes are such as to meet with the approbation of the people. The following applications were granted at the last sitting of the Warden's Coard, Ahaura. Hawk and Williams, 100 ft x 50ft, for a site for a dam. at Callaghan Creek; Thomas Doyle, a washing site at Duffer Creek ; Joseph Johnstone, an area for cultivation at Hatter's Terrace ; Thomas Bruce, a double area of 240 ft x 120 ft at Hafford's Terrace, Half -Ounce ; Fred Nees, a double area on the Dnffer-Sullivan Lead; Hawk and Williams, a certificate of renewal for a head-race at Callaghan Creek ; Thomas Casey, a certificate for a head-race at Red Jack Creek, Little Grey ; William Young, for possession of an abandoned head-race (late M 'Gintee's), at Nelson Creek ; Alex. Petef, for a head* aud tail-race at Maori Gully, on the Saddle ; Jas. Comerford, for leave to further extend a tail-race at the Teviot ; J. W. Jones, for a head and tail-race and a special site at Callaghan Creek ; Doyle, Bourk, and Lawrence, for amalgamation of claims at Duffer Creek ; Gilmau aud Btistedt, for ground between Foldi's and O'Hara's leaseholds, at Mabille ; Udman and Hansen, for 1000 ft x 146 ft of ground at the same place, and Montgomery and Rainbow, for a frontage tunnelling claim at Browne' Terrace, Noble's. The applications of Andrew Nicol and Co., for two ten-acre leaseholds of auriferous ground at Half Ounce, were postponed for one week.

It Was Stated sooao time »gi>, auiiwiOU some confidence, that Mr John White, M.H R., intended to offer himself as a candidate for election as the first Superintendent of the Province of Westland. The Hokitika papers now repeat the statement authoritatively. We believe we may say that Mr floos, formerly County Chairman, intends also to become a candidate. Mention is also made, in the same connection, of the names ■ of the Hun. Messrs Lahman and Bonar, but, so far as we know the suggestion of these two gentlemen becoming candidates is for the present purely speculative. Coal, resembling in features Grey River coal, is stated to have been discovered within a short distance of the shores of Lake Wakatip. An improvement in quartz-mining machiuery nas been turned out at the Dispatch Iron Foundry for the use of the Wealth of Nations Quartz- Mining Company, Reefton, and which consists in the application of a uew principle suggested by Mr W.itson, the manager of the above company, in zae construction of false bottoms for stampers. Hither to these have been constructed of an octagon shape, and unless particular care was taken, to fit them, so that the stampers will work evenly, they were liable to fracture. The improvement consists in the false bottoms heiug made of an oval shape, round 00. the top, by means oE wb.icu. the stamper and false bottom will wear and work evenly together. The improvement is a simple one, but patents have been applied for many less useful inventions. We are glad to see that heavy quartz machinery is now being turned out in a very creditable manner by the Dispatch Fouudry. . The Ross local paper says that Mr Watson has drawn seventy feet of pipes from the drainage shaft during the week, and was on Friday employed sawing some bearers through to free another lot. The petition in favor of the erection of Nelson into a Municipality, we regret to learn, has again been returned to Nelson as informal, and requiring amendment. The writ for the election of Superintendent of kelson was issued at Wellington on Tuesday last week, and is made returnable in seventy days* The Golden Ledge Company, Inangahua, let a contract for the completion of the low level tunnel on the 18th of last month, the distance to be driven being 80ft. Since then the contractors have been hard at work, arid have got through 65ft. They have been very fortunate, a3 the rock changed a few feet in trom where they started (112 ft from the mouth of the tunnel), and at the price (LI 9s per foot) tney will make good wages. As soon as the reef is struck, it is the intention of the company to put in an uprise to connect the upper a id lower tunnels, when the work of stoping out will be proceeded with. There has been quite a coal rush to the Nelson Waste Lands Board Office. A few days ago aa many as twenty -one prospecting licenses were granted, the applicants being — Mulhollond and others, 640 acres, Waimangaroa; Martin and Findt, 1200 acres, Paparoa Ranges ; E. Roche, 1280 acres, ditto ; Organ, M'Leod, and others, 1280 acres, Waimangaroa; Croker, Hughea, M'Oarthy, 5260 acres, Mount Kochfort ; W. Larnach, 5600 acres, Mount Rochfort Ranges ; H. W. Morin, 1920 acres, ditto ; J S. Webb, 1500 acres, ditto ; B. C, Haggit, 2700 acres, ditto; G. H. Tribe, 1920 acres, Little Wanganui ; H. Buckeririge, 920 acres, ditto ; A. Pitt, 3520 acres, ditto j Field and Campbell, 640 acres, North Ngakawhao; Sir D. Munro, 640 acres, ditto ; Stone, Neill, and others, I 750 acres, West Wanganui ; M. Webster, 518 acres, Pakawau; — Brissenden, 2220 acres, ditto } J. Walker, 1280 aorta, Onakakaj

J. Watkins and others, the finally uuselncfced portion of A. Walker's block ; Cable, Drummond, and others, and Albion Company, areas uudefined, awaiting special survey. The Taranaki Herald informs us that a site has been fixed upon for the works of the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company. It is some five acres of land situated near the Henui beach, and may easily be connected with t,he bush country by a tramway along the Hospital Road. The site will be handed over at once to Mr Beaton, who will commence building the . furnace forthwith, as it is the great aim of all concerned to push on the works with all possible speed. We think Mr E. M. Smith could not have chosen a better spot for the operations ; as it is sufficiently near town, and yet close to where rich deposits of the iron sand are to be found. Mr Charles Williamson, who has been residing at Martin's Bay and Big Bay for some years past, has decided on purchasing a craft to trade regularly to the above places with supplies. la a letter to a resident at Queenstown — extracts from which appear in the Wakatip Mail- Mr Williamson says :— " The prices everyone charge that come here are so ridiculous that, except people were doing well, it would be impossible for them to live. I have therefore concluded to try and get a little vessel for my own use, to go for any necessaries when required. lam confident it would be the means of permanently settling this quarter. There are six men at work here who are well satisfied with their prospects, and could reasonable supplies be relied on, there would soon be an increase. Since Martin's Baya tar ted, I have the names in my diary of over forty msn who have left entirely through the want of supplies."