THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1722, 10 February 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.

The Grey Valley Progress Committee held its usual meeting last evening. The business presented was chiefly the report of the Sub-committee regarding the leases of the Maori Reserve. In the absence of Mr Smith, Mr Harrison acted as chairman. Mr Perkins, the chairman of the Sub-committee, made a verbal report to the effect that if "The Native Eeserves Act, 1873," was brought into effect in the Greymouth district, the interests of the lessees of the Native Reserves would seriously suffer. It was explained that as matters now stood, the lessees are placed in such a position that their properties are virtually valueless, except to those who are occupiers, and are so fortunate as to not require to raise money upon their leases. Information was given to the effect that whilst the Native Commissioner, Mr Mackay, was in every way disposed to do full justice to the lessees, the Chief Commissioner of Native Reserves, Major Heaphy, was inclined to exact the uttermost farthing. After a long discussion upon the suggestion that a deputation should proceed to Wellington to interview the Native Minister, it was finally resolved that the Sub-committee on Native Reserves should present a written report, setting forth the whole question to a special meeting, to be held on Thursday evening, at which meeting the presence of the leaseholders of the Native Reserve generally should be requested. to attend. Mr Harrison, on behalf of the deputation appointed to wait upon the Borough Council regarding the employment of Mr Moriarty, C.E., informed the Committee of the result of the interview. (As this has been already reported in our columns, we need not refer to it.) The chairman read a letter from Mr Corbett, M.P.C., informing the Committee that he had, in conjunction with Messrs Guinness and Boase, waited upon the Superintendent of Nelson to urge upon him the necessity of furthering the objects of the Committee, and that they had been successful in securing the co-operation of his Honor. It was resolved that the thanks of the Committee be accorded to Messrs Corbett, Guinness, and Boase, for their efforts to further the matter recommended by the Committee. Mr W. S. Smith read a telegram he had received from Mr Moriarty, stating that it was his intention to leave Auckland for Greymouth on the 16th instant. The names of Messrs Wylde and R. J. Johnston were added to the Sub-committee on Harbor Improvement. It was, after some discussion as to the responsibility for Mr Moriarty's engagement, and the steps to be taken to supply him with the fullest possible information, that a communication be addressed to the Borough Council, assuring that body of the hearty cooperation of the Committee. A conversation ensued upon fcl>H desirability of obtaining from the captains of the various steamers frequenting the port, a report upon the set of the ocean currents on this part of the Coast, and a resolution was carried — "That the owners of the various steamers visiting this port be requested to instruct their captains to furnish the Committee with the result of their observations of the currents on the Coast off the Grey river." The whole of the questions were thoroughly debated, and the meeting did not conclude until nearly ten o'clock. We draw the attention of the leaseholders of the Maori Reserve to the advertisement which appears in another column, requesting their attendance at the special meeting of the Progress Committee on Thursday evening.