THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1850, 10 July 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1874.

Mr Justice Richmond was about. the last man. on the, bench in the Colony that we expepte!d. such; ; an expression of opinion tb> drop. frdnV as was lately attributed to him by the Nelson Colonist, and reprinted by Tiß a : few days ago. Remarking upon the practice' oi ordering .advertisement in local papers, referring to notices to creditors, in estates under adjudication, he. Baid"> that the, public ought to force tie ws'paper proprietors 'to give in their columns ..notifications appearing in the : Gazette') '■ in : -the same' way as the London newspapers' reproduced t he London Gazette, by refusing to take their papers unless they 'did so." Coming' from such a high ■judicial authority it is v6ry probable that such' a ! plain expression of opinion as this may -carry with it undue weight; arid 1 we feel 'bound to join with our contemporaries .throughout the Colony in protesting against it. We must, also express 'pur; utter.., astonishment that a statement of this kind should come from a gentleman, whose long practical experience ought to. have, led him to the very opposite'conclusion, and also to a positive ; knowledge that Buch .a practice does' not in London. It is a certain fact, thai the common sense view which the public will take, will prevent the slightest possibility of such a combination against the newspapers', as suggested by the JudgeThe plain: truth .is. ; that : the newspaper's of the Colony should : combine against the system of gratuitous advertisirig, -which /ha^becom^ an intolerable nuisance; All Government notices are annouhcedina<?a2etfe; of which thereisone ie every' Province, arid r a General Government one for the whole Colony; bul -.these bastard publications never reach the hands of more than One in a thousand oj 'the" populatioti, arid if -it were not for a practice having crept in amongst news: B&BSfcnTn'grSrom™^ Gazettes all matters of public interest relating to their respective districts, no! one fraction of the people would know , what, was . going on . in offici' 1 circles, oi -what was ..; wanted, for, the;public service, !and consequently the;Gpvernment. would have to pay about three times present rates for everything' they wanted. The practice is ;a foolish one, and ought now to be resisted, especially, when a desire ,je expressed 'by 'a.' Judge , of the Supreme 'Oburi 'to catry . the ' 'practice to a greatei ;iiengto', tind coinnel newspapers to publish free of cost sucK legitimate advertisements as notifications in Bankruptcy. The '-Thames-iftieHMWjr jSfcwy' writing on the same subject says-:—" The" "Gazette system is certainly. ,an abusei. , Many notifications appear' "in I ', these exclusive sheets which never i3 nieeit''the eye of those for whom ,tbey,i areTintendedi! or to whom they i would ) be ; of interest; ■ Advertising once or -twicein the ■Gazette complies with cer'taitf legal' ■provisions, 1 arid^ the- advertisera are ;?! glad' r 'to"' get 'off with such; a small amount of publicity. If they were occa--Bipnpy. ;compejledi . tp , advertise ; in- the local prints they would feel the effect; at once. .Dissolutions;ot partnerships would not always be so easily effected, as under the present system they can be anyoqet'.Uut '..Gazette' readers knowing it. There can be no question that Gazette advertising is "a myth, and were it not that "the"newspapers "of the Colony are too generous in giving publicity to extracts from ; the Gazette, the ; evil would have been amended long ..since... The newspapers of the .Colony give notoriety to what would, but for their columns, remain a sealed book to .the public generally, who never see a ' Gasxtie, and know ; literally nothing of its ; contents. It rests entirely with rie wspaper proprietors whether this state ..of., things : shall -.- continue. Every paper isHpuidibea'j&aaeiie for the, publication of matters .haying- relation to ; such district, and by this means those . most interested .would ibe -benefited. {under the present system { notices appear in the Gazette", 'complying with certain legal requirements, which 1 are.never seen by those whoare'likely to ;be influenced by such aotnfes.' }'Ta& remedy lies with . proJ prietprs, ,bf, newspapers, Let them agree to ignore^. notices .appearing -in the Colonial and [^lovinci^:, Gazettes with one con9.en^ r aiid;:-. :i the -evil will soon work its own ,cure. ji;We fear ;that: no such understanding will ever be come I to| but there is nothing simpler than the means at hand, especially 'as* the Bystem s at preBen€ in : yogue of' makirig abstracts of the contSnts' t of Ga^iie^ r ia&B\mf\e injustice to local 'ad yerti^ers', and 'calculated to perpetuate^ a 1 ! tlad 'syst6m, mimical'to the interests of ne wspaper .'proprietors and the .public generally,.' A muddle-headed. mem^ ;ber.of,tliePr6yin^ old id^ritity,; ; ofjcp,urpe, ventured to dssert mat it; was th*} duty of .newspapers; to adr vertise free of charge the jontenta of the 'Gazette. 'To lthiis the iGuafdidn very pre« peirly -replied :-p* If ; the newspaper press of 'Otago cbrisjilts; its; own interests, and desires to c6riservo its ; self-respect, Mr Wilson's outspoken ,avpwal of opinion — applauded as it was b^sbtne of the occupants bf the " Government benches— will hayetUe effect of henceforth preventing any ( ,notice , whatever bpiug taken, of ; - the PrcmwhfQaze&ie. ; ..BuJi ( for the repuhlioation'of its cbnterits in neyvsi aperpdlumhs, it would Jong 1 din 4e J "ftftV(B 'fellen'^ntb the

utter oblivion whereto it should now be universally consigned." An equally apt reply was made at the time by a gold-tields member, who said- that Mr Wilson's idea was just as reasonable as asking newspaper proprietors to supply every bare-legged* Highland man with breeks. May we suggest that a proposal by Mr Justice Richmond that newspaper proprietors should supply him with horse hair wigs would be equally consistent."

We had occasion recently to make many severe strictures on the open manner in which . the truck system is carried on in connection with Government contracts, both in this and adjoining. districts. Our remarks are fully borne out by the Westport Times, whichj in a recent issue, says :

— " The' information gained from time to time by the public, mainly through proceedings in Courts of law, as to the truck system in active operation on public works, is unsatisfactory, as showing the inoperative state of the law to check the evil, and. also proving the existence of a wide-spread practice among commercial men of looking to public works contracts as means ,for. obtaining a more than full share of profits; from those who do the hard; worki ; The result is detrimental, not; only to the. pockets of the men employed, but to the public purse. The works are made to pass inspection rather than to last, and the whole profit on the transactions accrues to speculators and does not permeate generally through the many minor channels of trading industry which in their existence yield to purchasers an assurance of the full, benefitsr of competition. It; is 1 unnecessary to cite any of the cases in point brought into prominent notice in connection with most of the public works undertaken on the South-west Gold-fields. It is.ivery well known that much dissatisfaction exists among men who are compelled to' accept the terms contractors impose upon theuij 5 and also among the numerous clas3, of traders who are shut out Ironi anything beyond indirect and causual participation in the benefits of public expenditure. We. have repeatedly received letters from correspondents exposing the practices in vogue, and complaining bitterly of the fleecing they have foundthemselves compelled to submit to ; but unluckily these correspondents, whila giving every assurance of the bona fides oi their statements, have, from motives well understood, declined giving publicity to their names, and hence a wholesome regard for the law of libel has prevented publication of their letters. However, sufficient uncontradicted publicity has been given to the subject to show that the evil alluded to is rampant."

. The ceremony of the Installation into office of the Worshipful Master and officers, for the ensuing twelve months, of the Greymouth Masonic Lodge, 1233, E.C., took place at the Masonic Hall, Mackay street, yesterday. The brethem of other lodges as well as Freemasons generally were invited to 'attend, and by two o'clock in the afternoon there was a considerable muster of the craft, about fifty being present, of whom a fair proportion were from the country, districts. At five o'clock pre;r -.~^«j-iii~t r ii. i P -—■.-„.•««,. aiauuiuaacef of Weatland, Bro. G. W.. Harvey, arrived at the' Lodge, and was received with the usual honors by the W.M. and the W.M. elect; with their officers. ] The ceremony ®f in- ; stalling the new W;M,, Bro. the Rev. G. T.i N. Watkins, was performed in the most im-. gressive'and efficient manner by the Deputy rrand; Master,'the proceedings being con-, ducted strictly in accordance with the ancient customs and usages of the craft, the choir rendering with good .effect the musical por- ! , tions of the evening at the proper intervals.! When the new Master was duly installed -in 1 the chair 'and proclaimed, P.M. Ancher, by! direction! of the Deputy Grand Master, in-j vested the following officers wtththe insignia' of their respective offices, at the same time! delivering an: appropriate charge to each.! according to his rank and duty in tlie lodgp,; viz. : — Bros. J. J. May, Senior Warden ; W. H. Revell, Junior Warden; J. C. Moore,: Secretary; J. G. Thomas, Treasurer; T.j Woods, Senior Deacon; J. M'Kay, Junior Deacon ; J. Se well and I". A. Eissenburdt.i Stewards ; — Suisted, Inner Guard ; and E.j B. Fox, Outer Guard. The concluding parts' of the ceremony were of a most imposing! character, the Deputy Grand M&ster, during! the delivery of his final charge arid in vo-i -cation being surrounded on the dais by an! unusually numerous gathering of past officers j of rank in the order, among- whom were Past , Masters Hiudmarsh, Kerr, Ancher, •'■and |! Blackmore of the English rite, and R. W.M. | A?nott of the Greymouth St. Andrew's Lodge, i S.C. Before the final closing of the lodge, the - W. M. moved a vote of thanks by the' brethren , present and the fraternity (generally to the ! Deputy District Grand Master, who, at ' great personal inconvenience had come among ] them to give the installation observances a due solemnity and impressiveness. The vote was unanimously assented to .in orthodox form. Bro. Harvey relumed thanks, and explained that the delay in making an appearance at an earlier hour in the day was caused by detention at the Ahaura until midday on unavoidable business. After the transaction of some routine business, the lodge was .closed in due form and the brethren dispersed, to prepare, for the banquet which: took place in the evening, another time-honored custom observed in connection, with Masonic ' cere* monies. • "..''■ :. The only case before the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, was a charge against G. H. Gilmer of keeping his licensed house open and carrying on business therein between the hours or 12 aid 4 o'clock a.m. on 7th July. Mr Newton, who'appeared for the defendant, inquired the specific nature of the offence alleged to have been committeed by the defendant. If he was merely charged withQ'allowingi billiard playing in' the house at the time mentioned, he was prepared to admit the fact, but he would deny the offence.' •'^'His- Worship inquired if the parties ; who were playing were boarders in the house or residents in the town. Inspector Hickson stated; :onj;he' authority of Constable Keating, that the players were not boarders in the[;hoteh Mr Newton contended that as the game of billiards was not an unlawful game the /defendant could allow it to be played in his licensed house at any reasonable time, just as he could permit. his boarders or bona jide travellers to pt&y'any game which was not prohibited by law. Ir Was the custom to permit billiard playing after hours in all the licensed houses during the' week, except on Sundays, and the. defendant 'had been particularly careful: to stop all playing at 12 o'clock on, Saturday night.' . , The Publichouse Ordinance, under which the charge was laid, referred specially to the sale of liquors, and did not necessarily imply a connection be t^een the selling of drink and the playing of billiards, unless a very arbitrary interpretation were given to the law. A holder of a license might have a store in conjunction with his licensed hotel, and it could scarcely be gaid that he could not lawfully sell good*

in Lis store within the hours during which he wa3 prohibited from selliug liquor in his hotel. Mr Newton cited a case from the English Q. Bi reports bearing on the charge, and argned that the mere fact of the defendant holdiDg a license to tell spirits should not prohibit him from taking money for billiards. His Worship, after quoting from the clauses of the "Public House ordinance, 1869," with reference to, the hours during which licensed houses could lawfully be kept open, said that, as the fact was admitted that those playing billiards at the time complained of were neither boarders at the hotel or bona Jide travellers, the defendant had acted in contravention of the law in permitting any game to be played from which he made a profit in the house during the proscribed hours. As this was. the first case of the kind brought before the ' Court, a nominal fine only would be inflicted. The defendant was then fined Is with costs. The fine was afterwards increased to 10s, as the Magistrate on reading the Act found that was the lowest penalty he could inflict. Mr Newton gave notice of appeal. ; A very important sale of a valuable collection of books, will be held at 11 a.m. today, by Mr D. Maclean at his rooms. There . are 239 lots of the choicest works ever offered to the Greymouth public. '* ' ; ' Yesterday morning the melancholy tidings were received by telegraph that Mr J. Linton, of Hokitika, had been found dead in his bed during Wednesday night. Mr Linton was well known and highly respected on the Coast. He, was formerly a partner in the firm of Campbell and Linton, and only lately married the second daughter of Mr A. Bock, of this town. The Suez mail arrived in town last night per overland coach. . By a District Order, dated the Bth inst., Captain Colin Campbell, commanding tbe Totara Rifle Volunteers, will takeover the command of the Westland Milituand Volunteer district— we presume daring the absence of Captain Bonar, at Wellington. All; correspondence from this date -must therefore be addressed to Captain Campbell • > -[■: „ ,: •■•■? .■:',••■ . '• r ; We understand that there will be : something like 1320 water-pipes required for the' Waiuoea-race, of which number about 500 are : to hand, leaving 820 yet to arrive. The Corporation : Reserve is now : better than half full, and, should the removal* of some of them not take place before another large batch of them arrives, we fancy some trouble, will be experienced in finding a place to put them. ■■'■ . '■'■ In accordance with a resolution arrived at during the last sitting of the Provincial' Council, the Government have given authority to survey a branch race to the Marsden diggings. „■<.&. branch Of this race will be of great advantage to these diggings, and will tend to increase the prosperity of the Marsden district. At a sitting of the District Court, held at Reefton, on Monday last, before Judge Haryey, Wm. Ross was charged with an attempt at self-destruction. Mr Pitt, appeared for the Crown, and Mr Haselden defended. The evidence taken at the Magisterial investigation was re-produced, and after a short absence, the Jurj brought in a acquittal. His Honor stated that he entirely concurred in the verdict arrived at; by the Jury. The accused had not only narrowly escaped making away with himself, but also having prematurely had to appear at the highest tribunal, and he trusted that tke anxiety he must have suffered would act as a lasting warning. The accused was then discharged.; A correspondent at the Greenstone, writing to the Begister regarding the new rush, gives the folio wins; details :— " Nine or ten claims' are on good payable gold, : with as much' a 4 7ft of washdirt, thaf— will co fium 30Lwo to ifuz-to the loadV There are a good.. many parties dropping in daily, and should they strike gold back in the terrace, there will be a very large rush. The prevalent opinion; here is that the gold will extend as far as the; • old township. P-iordan and party have prospects as much as £dwt to the dish, and Taylor and party washed a small paddock at' the front of their ground which tbe partiesj told me would pay very satisfactory wages, j The prospectors are doing the preliminary) w°rk v but they say that it will pay them ati least jLI per day. This, you will say, is| not bad for the old Greenstone, whichi croakers have said was worked out long ago !! and only goes to prove the opinion held here, that were the back country (of which there is a very large amount) only properly opened! up, the returns would hot only amply repay! the men employed, but largely, benefit the 1 Province. The Duke of Edinburgh Terrace! is still being worked, but most of the parties; are deepening their races to work the back! ground, and in the course of a few months; they will be in full swing again.'' I