THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1879, 13 August 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1874.

In drawing attention to a memorial which appears in another column, praying the Superintendent of Nelson to suspend the operation of the Gold-mining Lease Regulations in the district of Nelson Creek, ■we would wish to point out a few obvious inaccuracies in the statements made in the memorial, which if allowed to pass unchallenged might have an injurious effect. The memorialists say they "view with alarm, the rapidity with which the country is being taken up along the line of the flochstetter Race." This stater ment would seem to imply that all the ground- worth having is already either alienated or at all events placed beyond the reach' of "your memorialists," bus what are the actual facts ? The estimate of the Provincial Engineer of the quantity of auriferous ground which can be operated upon by the water from the Hochstetter Race is given at over fifty square miles, and as the length of the race will be about sixteen miles when completed, it follows that there will be at least thirty-two square miles available along the course of it, within immediate reach of the water. The quantity of ground thus open for selection, according to the Engineer's estimate, amounts to nearly 35,000 acres, and the actual area lying within one mile of the race on either side of it, amounts to more than 20,000 acres. The "large blocks of auriferous land, leased to small parties," which have so fearfully alarmed the promoters of the petition, dwindle down on examination to less than ten blocks of ground applied for ou lease in the whole district, with a total area of about 60 aere3. There is another block of 10 acres applied for some miles 1 from 'the terminus of the Government race, the water from which can only be utilised by the applicants after making an outlay

of some L 120 0; but this ground can hardly be said to be on the. course of the Government race.. The statement marie in the second paragraph of the memorial is so glaringly incorrect, that, seeing that the persons whose names are given as on the committee, are all old residents of the district, and intimately acquainted with its resources, it appears as if a wilful perversion of facts was attempted purposely to mislead the Government. It is stated that "owing to the large and unlimited areas of highly auriferous ground applied for, &c. Something should be done to prevent such monopoly." The memoralists well knew that the largest block of ground applied for in the direct course of the race, or in the whole district, does not exceed 10 acres, and that, according to the regulations, 10 acres is the outside limit which can be granted in alluvial ground. As a matter of fact, the largest block applied for, that can be easily reached by the water, is only 4 acres in extent. And it is well-known that this "highly auriferous ground," which has created so much " alarm " among the petitioners, has been lying abandoned and unproductive for years. There are other allegations in the memorial which will not bear inspection, but a3 intelligence has reached us that a counter movement is initiated we will defer further remarks on the subject Until the other side states its case. But it may be as well to suggest to the memorialists that they may have gone just too far in requesting the Government to refuse to grant gold-mining leases applied for under any circumstances. They have not tried to hit the happy medium ; if they did, they would recollect that there are thousands of acres of auriferous ground in the Nelson Creek district that will never be turned to profitable account unless it can be occupied under the Leasing Regulations. And the Committee, whose names are attached to the memorial, should remember that "too far east is west," and that in constituting themselves the conservators of the Nelson Creek Gold-field they may thereby become the " monopolists " of a " white elephant."

Whetheh it is through the neglect of the Agent of the Press Association, or by neglect elsewhere, we have not received some of the most important telegrams during the present session of Parliament. On behalf of our readers we have a right to make a serious complaint, when we find news which we have a perfect right to receive published in the Hokitika papers. The most important telegrams of the session were published in our Hokitika contemporaries yesterday, but not here through sheer neglect. They consist of the resolutions of which Mr Yogel has given notice, for the abolition of the existing Provinces in the North Island ; the taking over of them by the General Government as well as the taking over of their land revenue ; and the constituting of Wellington city by law the seat of Government of the Colony. The following are the resolutions in detail of which Mr Yogel has given notice : — " 1. That considering the altered circumstances of the Colony, it is desirable that the Provinces in the North Island be abolished. 2. That Wellington should be made the seat of Government. 3. And that the land revenue should be made local revenue, according to what was known as the compact of 1856, and that the Govern ment 'shall, during the recess, consider how best to give effest to these resolutions." This is a speedy carrying out of the threat held out by Mr Yogel that he would —to put it plainly — endeavor to destroy the present Provincial system, although we did not imagine he would have attempted it in the present Parliament, and we don't think now that he will carry it any further this session. We are corroborated in this opinion by a message which was received in Hokitika by the Provincial Secretary yesterday, from Mr John White, M.H.R., to the following effect : — " It is not intended to give effect to Vogel's resolutions this year, even if carried. Hence an expression of public opinion now would not serve any useful purpose, and might operate mischievously. There is more in the matter than appears on the surface." We quite agree with Mr W hite, although at a distance, that there is more than appears on the surface, but are satisfied that the question will be allowed so stand over till next year, before which time there can be many expressions of opinion if so desired; but we do not believe there are two opinions as to the necessity for getting rid of the Provincial system of Government, which has for years hung like a millstone round the neck of the Colony for years. Expressing the same opinion the " West Coast Times" says :— "That Mr Yogel will succeed in shaking off the shoulders of the Colony the Old Man of the sea, in the shape of Provincialism, is our prayer and our hope. Every intelligent man, whose opinion is asked, has come to the conclusion that Provincialism is played out, and that a newer, fresher, and more favorable form ; of government is now needed. The old regime, like many others in older places, has had its day ; it is now time to make changes compatible with, and required by, altered circumstances. We most heartily wish Mr Yogel well in the mission he has undertaken, and should he appeal to the country, he will be enabled to carry out his policy, on -Parliament meeting again, by an. overwhelming majority."

A sitting of the District Court, before his Honor Judge Harvey, took place on Wednes- ' day morning, when the following cases were disposed of : — Fairhall v. Harvey, a claim of L 23 for trespass by cattle, adjourned till this (Thursday) morniug, Eliza Rowe v. P. F. Smythe — a claim of L 175 16s, for board and lodging for defendant's child. The .defendant did not appear, and judgment was given for the amount claimed with costs. In bankruptcy proceeding, the following discharges were granted :— Azubah Coleman, Thomas Madigan, and P. Kyle. The certificate of Patrick O'Connor was suspended for six months, as the Judge considered he was only going through the Court to be whitewashed from debts, most of which were four years old, no persons were pressing him, while others were barred by the Statute of Limitations. At the suggestion of the official trustee, the bankrupt was ordered to tile a list of moneys had and received since the date of his insolvency. An order was made for complete execution of the deed of assignment in the estate of Walter Bill. The application of Chailes Boner for discharge was adjour ed until this morning. A meeting of the Committee of Management of the Gr*y River Hospital was held at Gilmer's Hotel on Wednesday evening, Mr Kennedy in the chair. The minutesjof the previous meeting having been read and con* firmed, a letter were received from the

sup r ' intondent and doctor, enclosing list of drugs, appiiauces, and surgical instruments necessary for the institution, which were ordered to be procured. The Committee reported the number of patients in the Hospital, on June 30, to have been 31 ; admitted during July, 15 ; discharged, 20 ; admitted during August, 3 ; remaining in Hospital, 28. The Treasurer reported receipts of the following amounts ; — Proceeds of Ball at Nelson Creek, L 69 Is 6d ; collected by Messrs Fox and Hall, Lls 10s ; Westland subsidy for May, L 77 17s 4d j do do foj April, L 76 15s 8;1 ; W. Nelson, 10s ; Balkwill, LI ; Joiada Thomas, LI Is. The accounts for the month, amounting to L 237 Is lOd. were laid on the tablo and passed for payment. An accidental death, through a gun accident, took place at the Teremakau yesterday. Two men were out shooting yesterday, near Sandy's Accommodation House, on the Hokitika road, south of the Teremakau, when one stumbled over a log, causing the discharge of his fowling-piece, the contents of which entered the poor man's head, causing instantaneous death. Deceased was a foreigner, and his remains await the action of the authorities at Sandy's Accommodation House. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, before O. W. Harvey, Esq., Frederick Smith was fiaed 10s for drunkenness, and for the same offence under aggravated ' circumstances, Margaret Cain, an old offender, was sent to gaol for seven days w ith hard labor. The ceremony of the installation of the officers of the Greymouth Royal Arch Chapter, No. 1233, E.C., will take place at the Masonic Hall, Mackay street, at 3 p.m. today. Companion John Lazar, P.Z , District Grand Master of Westland, arrived at Ureymouth from Hokitika yesterday, to conduct the installation ceremonies. A banquet will be held in commemoration of the event at Waters's Union Hotel, in the evening. The Thames Gold-field is fairly threatened with a coal famine, which we learn is nob so much caused by any scarcity of fuel at the Kawa Kawa mines, as by the scarcity of colliers, a large number of the crafts hitherto employed on the coal trade to the Thames having been withdrawn. A lready two very important batteries, the Manukau and the Tramway, have been brought to a standstill fer want of coals. These mills had to discontinue work till the proprietors borrowed some Newcastle coal from the Gasworks and such other places as they could obtain i% from. Dr Todd, of Waiuku, Auckland, died very suddenly the other day, whilst sitting at the fireside of a friend. He had been a settler of that district sixteen years. The immense brick kiln of Kensington, of wbieh Messrs Smith and Fotheringhain, o£ Ohnstchurch, are the proprietors, will be in full working order in about three weeks hence. With the all-powerful auxiliary steam, the manager anticipates being enabled to prepare 11,000 bricks per day. The General Assembly has voted LSOO a-year for an Inspector of Lunatic Asylums for this colony. The " Otago Guardian " completed the first year of its existence as a daily newspaper on Wednesday last. Clara Stephenson and Company have just terminated a very successful season of three nights in Patea, having received " bumper " houses on each occasion. The funeral of Mr J. D. O'Keefe, a wellknown Auckland tradesmau, took place on July 27, and was largely attended. Sixteen c&rriages followed the hearse, occupied by many gentlemen bearing a high official position in Auckland. ] Mr James BrownV of Dunedin, intends erecting a new warehouse at the corner of Stafford and Princes streets, at a cost of L 3323. It v, ill be noticed with satisfaction from our telegrams that Mr Redwood's horses, sent to compete at the Victorian race meeting, have arrived in excellant condition. The " Bruce Herald " says :— " In visiting •he premises of a wholesale jewelry firm, in Dunedin, the other day, we casually observed on the floor of the sale room, several immense blocks of greenstone, this led us to make inquiries as to the use of such, from whence obtained, valae, &c, when we ascertained that a large trade is now done in this stone, which is obtained from Greenstone Gully, Grey Elver, the article being worth L 8 per cwt to the Dunedin lapidists, who convert it into the many precious trinkets which are now formed of this material, one Dunedin lapidary firm employing, alone, no less than six hands. Machine power is emm the process of dressing the atone, instead of the alow and very tedious process adopted by the Maoris in forming their war hatchets, &c, by rubbing one piece of Greenstone against another."