THE Grey RiDver Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1637, 3 November 1873, Page 2

THE Grey RiDver Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1873.

Among the Acts passed during the last session of Parliament, and now distributed to the ends of the Colony as sources of distress to newspaper editors and of enjoyment to Philadelphian lawyers, there is one which, so far as we comprehend it, affects a considerable interest in Greymouth, or may at some future day do so. It is an " Act to make provision for the better administration of Native Reserves throughout the Colony ;" and there ia no locality in the Colony which, within so small an area, is affected so much by the Native ownership of land as is Greymonth," How far this particular : Act may affect local interests, lawyers are the fittest persons to say, or each man may decide for himself on obtaining a copy from Mr Didsbury, the Government printer. It may be sufficient meantime to indicate the character of the few clauses which seem to be of most local concern. "

The Act first repeals existing Native Reserves Acts and some others on kindred subjects, but it does not affect in any way rights acquired or proceedings completed under these, existing contracts being sustained. . It is specifically stated, however, that the Act shall apply to all-N ative reserves past or future, or to any moneys issuing, from lands held in trust for the. benefit of aboriginals. ,; I For the purposes of the Act, the Governor may create /districts and , subdivisions of the same, and in each district appoint 'and incorporate a Commissioner. Besides such Commissioner, three Assistant Commissioners shall be elected by the .Natives from among themselves, and form with the Chief Commissioner.a Board of which he is to. fee/the Chairman j and no : sale, ; lease; or 'exchange of any Native reserve shall be effected without the .decision of a majority of its members. -'-On the appointment of sucH a Commissioner, the .reserves are to vest in him and his successors, subject to the fulfilment of any obligations or contracts ; " provided always"— it is added — " that nothing in this section contained shall be' deemed to apply to any lands which- have been excepted or reserved by Aboriginal Natives, on the cession or surrender of lands to the Crown, and specified as 1 so excepted or reserved 'iri the deed of cession' or surr render, and which, still remain in the absolute' possession of , iueli Aboriginal " Under/the same sectibia orset of * clauses, there is a further complicatiott imported by the following clause :rr'\ It shall bejlawful for every Native Reserves Commissioner appointed' under this Act, with such consent as is required by section seven, to sell, exchange ' or let any lands 'comprised in or forming part of any ! Native reserwe within his district, but no sale exchange -oe; lease ; of any such land shall be* ibide without the previous assent of^the Goyeirnbr in'<3owncil,,and the ex- j elusive evidence of such assent | shall in all cases be a memorandum to t&afc effect signed 1 by /the Governor indorsed upon every deed or instrument under or by

virtue of which such sale exchange |or lease shall be effected or carried but : Provided, however, that with such .assent as aforesaid, any Native Reserves^ Coin-' bissioner may let any land comprised in any Native Reserve for building purposes for any term of years not exceeding sixty years in possession i "Arid provided also ;that in no cast shall ther^ be in any lease Under this Act any covenant or engagement for renewal : Provided also that no lease of any Native reserve for other than building purposes shall exceed the term of twenty-one years in possession." The process of leasing is thus made more elaborate than it is at present, by leases requiring the action of Governor, Commissioner, and Assistant Commissioners. j The other clauses which may be said to De of local concern are those which empower the Governor in Council to make regulations, prescribing the terms and conditions of leases. In these, it is said, express .provision 1 shall be made for the following purposes — that the rent shall be "an adequate rent," that no fine, premium, or foregift upon a lease shall be taken without the Governor's sanction, that no tenant shall be made " dispunishable for any wilful waste," that no Commissioner making a ; lease shall be personally interested therein, or the lease contain any covenant or provision for his private advantage. There is one other clause which we should quote, and therewith conclude reference to a somewhat dry subject ; and it is this : — " Nothing in this Act contained shall have the effect of removing any invalidity or curing any defect in any grant or other conveyance made or issued before the passing of this Act, under which any lands may have been granted or assured to any person or persons for religious charitable or educational purposes.- And also nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be implied to extend to give validity to any appropriation or setting apart of any lands for such purposes as aforesaid which have been heretofore so ' appropriated or set apart ia contravention of any terms of purchase or contracts affecting such land."

There are three candidates in the field for the representation of the Grey Valley in the new Provincial Council of Nelson. Mr F. Guinness, sen., and J. D. Pinkerton, the sitting members, will offer themselves for re-election, and Mr Robert Gray, a miner at No Town, has issued an address to the electors. It is said that Mr D. J. M'Kenna, of Ahaura, and Mr Donovan, of No Town, will also be candidates.

Mr O'Conor addressed the electors at Ramsay and Edwards's store, at Black's Point, on Monday evening last. The room was crowded, and he received a unanimous vote of confidence. He also held a meeting at Boatman's on Tuesday afternoon last, Mr Caples in the chair. A vote of cofidence was proposed by Mr Peter Ewing, seconded by Mr James Cullen, and carried unanimously. A subsequent resolution was also carried to the effect that the Boatman's electors were excluded from exercising their franchise, in consequence of a polling-booth not being established at Gorge Town, as petitioned for ; ! and that Mr O'Conor be requested to inquire into the cause of the neglect and to obtain redress. He also addressed the electors at Lyell on Wednesday evening.

On Saturday afternoon, Mr Foote', of Mr Perkins's office, had a narrow escape of being very seriously injured, and, as it was, he received soaae severe bruises by an extraordinary! accident which occurred to tira while *,„/. __ 0 . 0 -J- : 1 1, ..J.-.^t.u,^ Anxious to procure some vine plants suspended from a monster, tree near the Maori cemetery, he clamb the tree with the assistance of a rope, and having partly effected his purpose, and while at a considerable ! height from the ground, he tried to effect some movement after the style of practice on the trapeze, but he missed his hold, and, falling to the ground, rolled down a steep; stony declivity, receiving numerous bruises, and narrowly escaping from some severer injury from a tomahawk which he carried. He was sufficiently dexterous to work; his way out of the thick bush in which he was entangled, but discovered himself, on reaching home, to be much hurt, and it; was necessary to call in the aid of Dr Morice, by whom he is now being attended.

Mr, Revell, Resident Magistrate and Warden at Greymouth, left for Hokitika on Saturday with his family, intending to start for ChristcQurca by Tuesday's coach. Mr Pricej formerly Warden and Resident Magistrate at Okarito and Waimea, will "take Mr Revell's place during an absence of two months for which he has obtained leave. 'The hairless horse agaiu attracted a large number of spectators on Saturday afternoon and evening. After the afternoon exhibition the manager was kind enough to take the borseiround to the Hospital, at the request of the Superintendent, so that the patients might; have a sight of the equine wonder, and the patients desire to express their thanks for the gratification afforded them. The horse will be- shown at Marsden to-day, and at Greenstone to-morrow, on its way to Hokitika.

A meeting was held at Middleton's Hotel on Friday night, for the purpose of taking steps: with the view to 'holding the annual regatta; There was a large attendance. The following gentlemen were appeinted, a. Committed to . carry out the above object :— Messrs Gird wood, Morice, Allardyce, JSulstrode, C. Holder, Lundon, „Middleton, „Moss, Petrie, Kitchingham, R. C Reid, Woolcock, D. Maclean, J. Hamilton, \Y. M'Millan, Roche, and Kent. Mr J.,Middleton was elected Treasurer, and Mr ,E. B! Fox Secretary. Captain Allardyce and Mr Girdwood were appointed to canvass the : town in,, the East Ward, and Messrs C; Holder and Bulstrode to take the same duty an the Middlexand^West Wards. . $,&

At a meeting of the Grey District Building Society, held on Saturday night, it iwas resolved to offer the situation of Secretary to Mr H.H. Writers.

His Honor Judge Harvey arrived at Ahaura on Saturday. A sitting of the District Court will be held at Ahaura on the 3rd November (to-day). There are not any eauges set down for hearing, so that the business to be transacted will be of a merely formal description. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Ahaural on Friday, the case of . the Grey ; Valley Tramway Company v. J. D. Pinkerton was. brought under the notice of the Court. The hearing had been adjourned from thes Resident Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, for tithe purpose of taking the evidence of the defiendant at Ahaura. On the application of Mr Guinness, it was arranged that the required evidence would be taken on the 7th November, .., ; ; A meeting o£ the local sub-committee of the Grey River, Hospital was held at Ahaura on Saturday. There were present Messrs Wbitefoord (in the chair), Guinness, Pinkerton,'Potts, and Hayden, hon. see. The meeting was called for the purpose of considering the tenders'f or completing the work to. be, done to the Hospital building, Ahaura. .■ There w*s only one tender sent in, and the amount named in it for performing the work was so far in excess of the estimate made by thfi Building Committee that it was decided '

not to entertaiii-it. It was agreed that the Provincial Engineer shouljl be requested to cause a detailed, estimate of the cost of the required work, with a view to having the necessary repairs and alterations performed by day labor.

At a meeting ofihe committee of the Ahaura Cricket^jß^held at Pinkerton's Hotel, Ahaui^^BHhfcvy evening, Messrs Staite, At«B^HßKed' were^ appointed a matcli—^HßHH Rid the following players wero^^rec^ra^to compete with the Greymouth team at the ensuing match : — W. S. Staite, captain;* J. M. Ollivier, W. Close, G. Milne, W. H. Lash, J. Marks, G. Wethered, W. Atkin, E v .Clarke, W. J. Potts, and J. W. Sutcliffe, with the following as emergency men : — lsaac Raines, T. Poganoskie, J. Marshall, and P. ! Thompson. The match is to come off on 10th November at Potham's paddock, near Ahaura. The ground is in course of preparation, and it is expected that when the improvements now' in progress are completed, a fine piece of turf will be available.. The (Treymouth players will be the guests of the members of the Ahaura Club, and it is expected that a large number of visitors: will be present at the match and at the "subsequent proceedings." A conclave of the Masonic Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine will assemble at the Masonic Hall, Reefton, on Wednesday, sth November. The first meeting of the Grey Valley Poad Board will takM^Rce at Ahaura on the 11th November.. \ A sad accident ocrM|t6d on Friday at the Kanieri, by which a miner named William Jones lost his life. It appears that about two p.m. the unfortunate man was working in a tunnel on Cardiff Terrace. On the face of the drive was a large stone, which he was in the act of removing, when it fell, striking him on. the chest. A fall .of shingle immediately followed, completely covering him up, and when got out life was extinct; The deceased was about forty years old, and a native of Wales. The "Westland Register" has been informed that Mr Aylmer, late Resident Magistrate at Ross, is about to receive the appointments' of Collector of Customs and Resident Magistrate at Akaroa. : Mr Austin has received instructions to proceed with the survey.of the Nelson and Foxhill Railway by way of Toi-Toi Valley, from which the "Mail" presumes that the Government have determined upon taking the railway by that route. By the p.s. Lady Barkly, from Collingwood, the Nelson papers learn that the house of Mr Isaac, the proprietor of the West Wanganui coal-mme, was burnt down on Wednesday last; He lost LSO in money, as well as five montbsV provisions for himself and men, and all his furniture and clothing. Mr Watson, of diving celebrity, commenced his snag extracting labors at Hokitika on Friday, in the presence of a number of interested spectators. His early descent, at about ten a.m., showed that the current was too strong for his work, so much so indeed, that he drifted in it under the Prosperity, which is berthed close at hand. At two o'clock he commenced his serious work, and continued the greater portion of the afternoon under water, emerging a<" intervals to " take a spell." The work Mr Watson has undertaken to do is to fasten, around the inconvenient snag a chain, so that by means' of tackle rigged on the wharf, or from some boat, it may be torn from its place. He is paid' by contract — we believe the sum of L2O — and well he earns his wages.

Last week the Superintendent of the Westland Lunatic Asylum made a pilgrimage to Greymouth, via the Greenstone, in search of subscriptions for a billiard-table for the use of the patients of the establishment. Referring to bis visit, the " Register " says : — " We are happy to' say the result has ex««.j»i m, ovn»o«-.°*.'o{is, the citizens of Greymouth contributing to the good end moot willingly and liberally. The net results of his journey are L 37, which, with the balance in hand, gives a total of L 64 already collected for the purpose mentioned. It is due to Mr E. B. Fox, once member for, and now resident in Greymouth, to say that he was Mr Gribben's zealous collaborateur in this office of charity."

The Warden's office at the Lyell has been removed from the Commercial Hotel to the newly -erected Government building opposite Mr Mlangoe's new premises. The A jax battery is at present idle, and is likely to remain so for a considerable interval, pending a further opening up of the Ajax and Golden Fleece mines. A partial clearing up was to take place at the Just-in-time claim on Saturday, after six and a-half days' crushing. The quantity of stone' put through is estimated at 100 tons, and it ia expected that fully 1600oz of amalgam will be obtained from thejcipples, plates, and stamper-boxes. . The leader referred to in a late issue as having been struck in the Energetic, proves to be the main reef. It has been driven into six feet,. and.notyet.intersec.ted. • •-■ „•■•• r