THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARGE 1, 1874

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1765, 1 April 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARGE 1, 1874

It will be gratifying to everyone interested in the welfare of the Grey Valley to learn that the Government have accepted tenders for the; construction of the Nelson Creek (better known as the Hochstetter) Water-race. There were several tenders, both" for the work as a whole and for particular sections, and Messrs Roche and Co., of Hokitika, are the successful competitors for the first three- sections. The lowest tender for the fourth section isnot yet made public, but we believe it is that of a Charleston contractor. Messrs Roche and Co's contract is as follows : — Section 1, 3 miles 12^ chains, £5399 5s ; section 2, 4 miles 24 chains, £10,848 5s ; section 3, 4 miles, £5828 Is Id ; total for the three sections, £22,075 lls Id. On these sections there are 90 chains pi fluming. We understand that the necessary sureties were entered into yesterday, and that the work will be commenced forthwith. According to the terms of the contract, the work must be completed within twelve months from the date of contract. In all probability the contract for section 4 will be concluded to-day. Our evening contemporary, of last night, professing to speak on "reliable information," indulges in some serious inaccuracies. Not only is Mr Roche not the contractor for the whole work as stated, but U is untrue that the price mentioned as being hi 3 tender (.£3l,ooo)— which it is not— is "nearly £19,Q00 under the Government estimates." The Government estimate has not been disclosed to anyone, but it is well known that* at the last tendering, a tender at the sum of £37,000 was rejected as being above the Engineer's estimate. We believe it will be found that no great discrepancy will exist between the accepted tenders and the Government estimate ; and that our contemporary's remarks upon some possible error in the calculations of Messrs Roche and Co. will prove to have no possible foundation, and only calculated to mislead and alarm. The announcement of the commencement of this important work should impart confidence to the miners of the district which the race is to supply with water, and induce them te think twice before rushing off to the Palmer or elsewhere.

The good account of the result of the borings on the Greymouth Coal Company's ground published by us yesterday morning, can now be supplemented by the gratifying intelligence that the seam of coal struck at 220 ft has been proved to be 17ft thick, the coal being of first-class quality. The manager reports also that at a distance of a quarter of a mile from the borings the seam has been proved at a depth of 65ft from the surface. It is the intention of the Company to sink a shaft at this spot at once; the necessary machinery has been purchased, and it is expected that -the Company will be ready to supply coal within three months from the picsent time.

We arc glad to say that as far as is as yet known the efforts made to secure a full registration of the qualified electors in the Urey Valley district have been very successful both in the town and country districts. Yesterday was the last day for lodging claims, and the box set apart for their lodgment at the Court House was full to overflowing. A misunderstanding appears to have arisen respecting tke letter to the Mayor respecting the proposed removal of the Telegraph Office. The Jetter was, not from Mr Bird to the Mayor, but from Mr Bird to the Superintendent who forwarded it to his Worship for his remarks. It will thus be seen that the May-r in no way acted irregularly or discourteously in not submitting the letter to the Council. There was a very good attendance at Bach elder's Pantascope of a tour through America last evening, and in obedience to a request Mr Bachelder will exhibit the panorama positively for the last time this evening. We have received a poetical contribution from a correspondent whose angular writing and pink note-paper are strongly symptomatic of the feminine gender. We do not insert poetic effusions in our daily issue, but if our correspondent will assure us that the lines she forwards are original, we .will oblige her by publishing them in the Weekly Argus. A proclamation appears in the Weslland Gazette, announcing! that the Superintendent, as Governor's delegate, has granted to Wright and Co. a special claim of 10 acres, at Callaghan'B Gully, on the following conditions : — 1, That- six men be constantly employed while the tunnel is being driven ; this condition not to extend over twelve months j after that time four, men per acre to be constautJy employed. 2. The said Wright and Company shall have no right to sell or otherwise dispose of tbe Baid claim. This condition not to affect tho right to sell or dispose of shares.' 3. The said Wright and party to comply with the directions of the Warden in working the claim, 4. Clauses 25 and 30 of " The Gold-mining Lease Regulations, 1871," to be complied with. It is notified for general information in the Westlajid Gazette that the Greenstone and Eastern Hohonu Gold-Mining Company have surrendered their lease of ten acres, situated on Duke's Terrace, Greenstone. His Honor the Superintendent announces in theQazette that, until further .notice, the seal of the late County of Westland will continue to be the goal of tbe^Province.

The following civil cases were disposed of at the Kesideut Magistrate's Court, yesterday morning :— District Board and Ratepayers of Paroa against Alabaster — claim for L 3 10s, unpaid rates, and costs. This was paid into Court less 7s, charged for miJeage, and as it was proved the summons was served on defendant in Greymouth, this item was allowed by the Bench, and a judgment given for the amount paid into Court. Holder v. Hughes— claim for L 33 11s 4d, for timber supplied. There was no appearance of defendant ; judgment by default. Olsen v. Line— This was a claim for LI 5s as remuneration for loss sustained by plaintiff through defendant leaving his employ without giving notice of his intention. The defence in this case was a plea of infancy, which the Magistrate considered fatal, and the case was dismissed. The Cromwell Quartz Company (Otago) the other day finished a crushing of 54 tons, which yielded 400oz of retorted gold ; they were driving towards the Reliance, with the reef rich and strong. The meu in the latter company think they have struck the same reef, but cannot yet tell til] the shaft is squared up. Two shocks of earthquake were felt ou March 25. At Lyttelton the first occurred at 12 10 a.m., the second at 12.15. It was thought that the direction was from east to west. A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, writing from Irwel), says that the shocks were felt there at 12.10 and 12.15 a.m. The earthquake was also felt at Rakaia and Selwyn, but the time is stated to have been midnight. "iEgles," in the Australasian, says: — " From information received, I believe that a bank of Victorian origin, carrying on business in the colonies to the westward, is now going east for the first time. We shall soon hear of the extension of its transactions to, anr the opening up of branches in, New Zealand. Its enterprise deserves success." The following case from the Argius may be of interest to our sporting readers : — The action of Lyons v. Ryan, commenced in the Supreme Court on Saturday, was concluded yesterday. Mr Isaac Lyons, an auctioneer, was the plaintiff, and Mr John Ryan, a laud speculator at Carlton, was the defendant. On the 11th November last, one of the days Melbourne Spring Meeting, Ryan made a bet of L7OO to LIOO against Sunlight for the Free Handicap. The odds at the time were 1\ to 1 to 4to 1. The bet was made with Mr Sayers, the publican and bookmaker. Mr John Thompson, another bookmaker, sharing the risk with Sayers. As some doubts were expressed ot Kyan's ability to pay, it was agreed that he should write : a cheque for L7OO, and that Sayers should write oue for LIOO, both to be staked with some disinterested party. Ryan wrote his cheque, and it was staked with Mr J. R. Cpwell. Sayers did not deposit his LIOO. lowas said that Ryan dispensed with the performance of this condition. Ryan denied this, however. Sunlight did win, and Mr Cowell handed the L7OO cheque to Sayers, who transferred it to Thocrpson. On the same evening Thompson passed it on to Lyons, receiving in return a niamond ring worth L3OO and a cheque for L4OO. Ryan stopped payment of the cheque, and thereupon Lyons sued on it. The defence was that Lyons gave no consideration for the cheque, and that he had notice from Ryan of the circumstances under which the cheque was given. Lyons denied having received any notice. The jury adopted the plaintiff's view, and gave him a verdict for L7OO. A contracting firm have proposed to bring over to Auckland a thousand English navvies, who have recently been engaged on railway Works in Tasmania. The Southern Cross says :—" The works in connection with the Waikato Railway are being pushed forward rapidly. The forming of the line to Mercer has been completed, with the exception of about 6£ miles, which will be finished as speedily as possible. Rails have been laid for about seven miles past Newmarket. The erection of the Otahuhu, Pukekohe and Tuakau stations will shortly be commenced, and ere long the snortings of the 'iron horse' will be heard disturbing the peaceful quietness of the country villages.'' The cargo of coal recently brought by the new steamer Ino, from Ngakawhau, fco Westport, is being sold at 30s per ton. The Hawkers Bay Herald states that Kakapo has been sold to a Southern gentleman for L4OO with his Southern engagements, also that the Maories were so pleased with his performances that they have since offered L6OO, The first sod of the Nelson contract of the Nelson and Foxhill railway, was turned in a paddock belonging to Mr Foy, of Toi-toi Valley. The Lake Wakatip Mail remarks:— "Mr R. C. Bryant, who has returned from his mission of collecting the census papers, has placed us in possession of later iuforma'ion regarding the settlement of Martin's Bay. When he got to Lake Hollyford he made the usual fires, which were not responded to. He then commenced to build a raft, still making at times signal fires. Late on the second day, while away getting materials to complete his raft, the boat came up from Martin's Bay, and explained that Hatch's supply schooner had arrived ; that he refused to cross the bar, and had anchored three milc3 outside. This ne cessitated the settlers visiting the craft to obtain their long-pro-mised supplies. The weather being fortunately fine, they were successful in getting them, and paid for them m gold-dust. They complain about the prices and the haughty manner they are treated, At 3ig Bay Mr Andrew Williamson laid in six tons of meat and provisions, comprising two tons salted beef ; one ton ham and bacon ; one ton flour ; and two tons sundries, so that any one vi>iting either of these bays may not again "be starved out. The settlers are getting good gold returns. Mr Hatch waa pleased with his business transactions, and promised to again return." The following extract from Whitelock's "Memorials" (folio edition, 1862, p. 457) showing Cromwell's views on a religious subject, are quoted by many as also indicative of what bide he woul I have taken on the teecotal question. The words are part of a reply to some Scotch minister : — " Your pretended fear lest error should step in is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealously to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature, upon a supposition he may abuse it ; when Le doth abuse it, judge.'' The census enumerator of Taranaki, in the Provincial Council said, that the population of the Province was 5392 ; town population, 2045 ; Patea, 866. Number of sheep in the Province, 50,000. The Taranaki Provincial Council is looking after the wants of the Patea settlers a little better than it used to do. It has determined to give the district an additional representation in the Council, and passed resolutions in favor of making Patea a port of entry, and vesting its reserves in local trustees for educational purposes. . The Bank of New Zealand sent away from Westport on the 27th March, by the Kennedy, 2S29ozgold. Commenting upon the recent actions for libel brought against the Melbourne papers, fcue Age says :— " After the case of Ireland v. thf> Licensed Victuallers' Gazette and Treen v. Cameron, it would n t be very sur rising if the defendants in a newspaper action were led to agree with Mr Bumble that ' juries

are poor ineddicated creatures aft^r all. Treen sued Cameron for L3OOO damages for having been stigmatised in a weekly journal belonging to the latter as a ' literary thief, and Cameron pleaded justification on the ground that Treen, who had been his agricultural editor, had inserted bodily in his paper entire articles published some twelve months before in a rival Melbourne print. The defence set up by Treen was unique. He declared that he had been authorised by those over him to do exactly as he did. That is to say, he asked the jury, composed of a dozen sane Englishmen, to believe that the proprietors of a journal out of- Yaira Bend had sanctioned the destruction of their own property, in obedience to their agricultural editor's peculiar notion of meu??iand tuum. Arid they believed it. They did more. ■ They not only stigmatised Treeri's employers as accomplices to their own ruin, but they actually endorsed Treen's act of palming off upon the subscribers old articles for new as a creditable and perfectly honest proceeding. Of the identity of the articles in question there was no doubt. Treen did not deny that he had contributed them to a rival publication twelve months previously ; and he actually hai the temerity to excuse himself for using them again on the plea that he was the original author of them, and that they were therefore his own property. 'The question of originality does not seem to have been investigated on this occasion, but in another case an artical professing to be by Treen was shown to be made up almost entirely of whole sentences cut oub and cunningly transposed, without the alteration of a word, from an English agricultural journal. Even this was not enough to disturb the moral serenity of the jury, however, who found him not guilty of literary theft on each of the counts submitted to them by the judge. By what process of reasoning they arrived at the verdict, in the teeth of the evidence and the summing up of the judge, we do not pretend even to conjecture. The ways of jurymen pass all understanding, and must be treated as Artemus Ward treated the conundrum — given up for insoluble."