Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1830, 17 June 1874, Page 2

The Provincial Solicitor was to move in the Council last evening to repeal that part of the County of Westlanrl Act, 1868, wlich makes it compulsory for Westland to maintain the Christchurch road. Mr Guinness appears to forget that the Provincial Council cannot amend or repeal an Act of the General Assembly. The Register informs us that the Executive have adopted the scheme of public works to be constructed out of the proposed loan, as drawn up by his Honor the Superintendent. The assent of the Council was to be obtained last evening, but we suppose Mr Woolcoek's motion will take precedence of other business. It has been decided to amalgamate the Presbyterian congregations of Ross an I Stafford, and the Rev. Mr Hogg has been instructed by the Westland Presbytery to take the necessary steps to give effect to the arrangement. It is proposed to form a branch of the New Zealand Institute at Hokitika under the auspices of the Exhibition Committee. A meeting of the Grey Valley Road Board was held at Ahaura yesterday. All the members were present, with the exception of Mr Sbanhopc, of Nu Tuwu. Burlug Mr o' Conor's visit he examined the books, &c, of the secretary, and as Provincial Treasurer he expressad himself satisfied with the manner in which the Boord had expended the small amount of money placed at its disposil since its formation. The Treasurer oomplimented the secretary on the management of the clerical work of the Board, and promised th >t the Board would shortly be placed in possession of ample funds. The inquiry held by Mr O'Conor upon the petition against Sergeant Neville was terminated on Monday afternoon, at Cobden, A number of witnesses were examined, but not sworn, and Mr O'Oonor took the depositions with him when he left yesterday for Nelson, so that the result will not be known until after his arrival there. Mr O'Conor intends visiting Charleston and Westport on his route to Nelson. The fine dry and frosty weather prevailing in the country districts for the last few weeks was broken on Sunday evening by a heavy fall of rain. It rained incessantly during Sunday night and the greater portion of Monday. The effect was hardly perceptible in the creeks and rivers, owing to the tact no doubt that while it was raining in the low-lying country ie was snowing among the ranges and high lands. It is officially contradicted that Mr Greenfield, the late Provincial Secretary of Nelson, has succeeded Mr H. C. Daniell as Commissioner of Crown Lands, at Nelson. No such appointment has yet been made, and Mr Daniell has not retired on pension. The Hon. Secretary of the Grey River Hospital begs to acknowledge receipt of sixty pounds sterling from the Maori Creek SubComnaittee, per Mr James Hamilton. An accident, which fortunately did not terminate very seriously, happened at the cattle sale, at Ahaura, on Monday. A young man named Henry Gurr was walking along the top rail of the stock-yard fence, as is the habit of connoisseurs in live stock, and while so perambulating he slipped and fell into a pen full of wild cattle. The animals, astonished at the unusual visitation, commenced to rush about and hustled their visitor most unceremoniously, but he escaped with a kick on the ancle and the shaking he would naturally receive from the fall from Bucn a height. Mr W. Leatham. who is favorably known in Wellington as a successful public caterer, has been appointed to the care of Bellamy's during the coming session. The largest cattle sale yet held iv the Grey Valley took place at the Carlton sale yards, near Ahaura, on Monday, 15th inst. A mixed lot of between 60 and 70 head was sold by auction by D. Maclean and Co. , for Mr George Mason, at fair prices. There were besides two lots, one of 30 and the other of 40 head, dispose I of privately, and several smaller sales were made in a similar manner. The price all round averaged about L 9 per head. The attendance of buyers from all parts, of the Grey Valley, as well as from the lnangahua, was very numerous, and exceeded that of any previous sale, while the competition was most spirited, and it is said that another hundred beasts could have been easily quitted. This market now seems fairly established, and to make it a complete success it needs only a constant and reliable supoly, so that the retail butchers can depend upon it. Several of the large stockdriving firms have determined to keep up a regular supply, among those who have come to this conclusion being Messrs Stewart and Burrows, G. Mason, Fox and O'Neill, Mallineon and Gordon, J. Elliott, M'Laren and Co., Glendinning, Bellew, G. Carter, andW. Campbell.