THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1883, 19 August 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1874.

The debate on Mr Vogel's resolutions for the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island will evidently not be of long duration. During < yesterday's proceedings there were frequent lapses for want of speakers, and as we have already said, it is quite apparent that the minds of members are fully made up on the question, and thefsooner "the question is put" the better, in order to relieve the anxiety of all the constituencies in the Colony. The progress of the debate strengthens us in our opinion that the result will be a dissolution and appeal to the country, and perhaps it is as well, in order that the whole public works, immigration, and borrowing schemes of the Government may be fully discussed. The division on " the previous question," moved by Mr Reeves, of Canterbury, will most probably take place to-dny.

It is certainly to be hoped that the report of Mr Moriarty, now on its way from Auckland, on our harbor will be very favorable, in order to convince those at a distance, who have had no opportunity of seeing for themselves that Greymouth can be made an excellent port for the exportation of coal. A contemporary at Wellington, that has much local and Colonial influence, has lately circulated the statement that the residents in Greymouth can never hope to see large vessels entering their harbor, engaged in the coal trade with Australia and other ports of the world, but we think the opinion so expressed is rather premature until the professional report, from one of the first marine engineers of the day, which was lately secured and liberally paid for, is received and published. Of course we differ entirely from the majority of the statements contained in -the extract we are about to give, as we are satisfied they are not correct, still we think it necessary to give them publicity, in order that our readers may know what is being said about this port elsewhere : ■ — " Some of the facts and figures contained in the general summary just laid before Parliament of the import and export returns for the year 1873 (says the "New Zealand Times") are highly suggestive of neglected opportunities. It is evident from them that the colonists have not yet begun to help themselves in many branches of industry for which they have opportunities, and that there are numerous directions in which capital and labor might combine, to supply a colonial demand, and in which they no doubt will associate when skilled and rough labor bring a less price in the labor market than they now do. We see, for example, that figuratively, coals have been carried to Newcastle to a very considerable extent. The quantity imported, and it all came from Newcastle, New South Wales — for if the small coast shipments are included, their value is comparatively infitesimal — was 108,203 tons, valued at £187,833. And this while New Zealand has, in the Province of Nelson and also in Weatland as flue steam coal as could possibly be desired, with coal fit for household purposes in almost every Province and district in the two islands. At Greymouth a spirited attempt has been made to use the remarkable deposit of 'steam and gas coal there, and the fire-clay that is found with it ; and the Ngakawahua miners have spent a large sum, and have fully proved amoßt valuable mine, but one which for the present they are unable to work profitably for want of a harbor. Greymouth can never hope to see large vessels entering and , leaving its harbor, engaged in the coal trade of the coa3t as well as of Australia and the Eastern Seas ; but she may and does expect to supply the other markbts of the Colony by means of small vessels, and by their help to load larger vessels in some convenient harbor — Nelson or Wellington where a depot might be established. But Natuie has denied, a port to the West Coast other than that of the Buller River ; and when the railway from Westport to the Mount Rochfort coal-field is

constructed, or a new port established in Golden Bay to enable the coals in the Collingwood district to be shipped, we may hope to see the figures set down as representing the value of imported coal very much reduced."

The opinion we lately expressed that the most probable result of the debate on the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island would be an appeal to the country is coincided in by a well-known writer in the Nelson "Evening Mail," which is well worth quoting :— " A week ago Mr Yogel appeared to reign supreme. He was master of the situation, and his Government was virtually without opposition. Now all is changed. Stung by the attacks and importunities of the Superintendent of Wellington, and relying upon his own undoubted popularity, the Premier has ventured to introduce a scheme that has brought a hornet's nest about his ears. Deserted by one of his colleagues, and with a strong and determined party in the House in opposition, Mr Yogel has all that he can do to weather the storm that he himself has raised. He has this in his favor, that he is generally allowed to be the only mau in New Zealand just now who is fit to take the helm. So far the Public Works and Immigration scheme has worked smoothly, but should a change come about from any cause whatever, it is felt that there is none so capable as the present Premier to take charge of our affairs, which have under him assumed a vastness and importance that was little dreamt of five years ago. Still, however, it will be a strange position in which to be placed if Mr Yogel, defeated on his abolition of provinces scheme, should go to the country and be restored to power, noc because of his design upon the North Island Provinces, which will be the question before the electors, but on account of his general ability as a statesman. We are likely to have more stormy times in the Assembly this session than we were taught to expect, and next week may probably see the Yogel Government out of office, or appealing to the country."

The first portion of the report on the debate of Mr Vogel's resolutions ought to have been published in our columns yesterday. Why it was not not done was entirely the fault of the Telegraph Office. The message was lodged at Wellington at 8 p m., and was received here at 2.15 a.m. If, as the usual cusi torn of the office here is, that such long messages should be delivered in slips, it could have appeared in our columns yestesday, but, owing to a departure from this rule, we have been much inconvenied, and our readers have been deprived of the benefits of our enterprise and expenditure in endeavoring to obtain the latest intelligence. Another instance of the ' same thing occurred this morning, when at 2 a.m. we were presented, in one package, with over two columns of telegraphic reports of speeches on the Provincial debate, which, from the lateness the hour, we are unable to overtake, and must hold ; over until our next. If the "runners" of the Telegraph Office were only exercised a little more, it would be a great advantage both to us and our readers. The message in question was received at the Wellington office for transmission at 745 p.m, and was received at this office at 2 a. in. ' A tea-meeting in aid of the funds of the Greymouth Presbyterian Sabbath School will be held in the Presbyterian Church to-morrow evening at six o'clock. After tea, readings will be given by Miss Aitkea (Mrs J. L. Bunten), and addresses will be delivered by the Revs. Messrs Kirkland, M'Nichol, andM'lntosh. The first convictions locally made under Bradshaw's Milliners and Dressmakers Total Abolition Act, as that Legislative abortion known as the "Employment of Females Act, 1873," should be termed, were obtained yesterday, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, before Mr B.evelL The cases are interesting, as showing the absurd lengths maudlin sentimentality will drive even hardheaded legislators. If the incubator of this measure could only be made aware of the real effect of his genius, he would not have much occasion to congratulate himself on the results of his handiwork. The required securities for prosecuting an appeal to the Supreme Court were entered into yesterday by the defendant in the case of Nancarrow and Co. v. Gilfiilan, in which the plaintiffs obtained a verdict for L 69 7s Bd, in the Kesidenc Magistrate's Court on Monday, in an action for damages. The appeal from the Resident Magistrate's decision will take the shape of a case stated by counsel of either side, to be argued before Judge Richmond i?i Banco on the 17th September, at Hokitika, The appellant relies 1 upon the incontestable proof he adduced, as he alleges, that the damage dqne to the cargo of the Annie Brown, on her recent voyage from Port Adelaide hither, was the unavoidable effect of the heavy storm the vessel encountered, and that no human foresight or . precaution could prevent the injury sustained by the plaintiffs in not receiving their flour in good order and condition. He also contends incidentally that the usual custom at other places is, that the amount of damage sustained is calculated at the cost price oE the article injured, with reasonable expenses added, but in the present case the claim was based upon the selling price of the flour, &c, in this market. The difference is very material, and came to nearly half the amount of the verdict given for the plaintiffs. Mr Warden Whitefoord gave judgment at Cobden, yesterday, in the now locally famous triangular interpleader case or cases, M'llroy v. Gooney, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, and Ryall and Wafer v. Cooney, and Mitchell, ia the Warden's Court, and M'Millan v. all the defendants, in both Courts The lawsuit of which a summarised report was given in Monday's issue, was a most complicated one, and occupied the Warden and Magistrate with the whole of the Greymouth bar for the greater part of two days. The judgment was in substance as follows :— The bailiff was directed to sell all the mining and other property of the defendants he had seized, and apportion the proceeds as under-mentioned : -M'Millan, whose claim of L 42 6s 8d was in the nature of a lien on the shares, was to be satisfied first. The balance was to be distributed between M'llroy, and Ryall and Co. after the expenses were paid. Ryall's claim amounted, with costs and expenses to nearly LSO, and M'llroy'a to some L2O, includiog costs. The property, which consisted of two snares in a claim on Hibernian Terrace, Razorback, with a water-race, tunnels, huts, tools, <&c, was sold for L7l, Mr Richard Collins, of Cobden, becoming the purchaser. It is said that this was the most formidable exercise in arithmatics yet placed before a bailiff, but Mr Elmer worked it out so far successfully, that after the expenses were liquidated, it was an easy matter to tot-up the balance coming to the successful (?) litigants. The amount of gold obtained at Sandhurst, Victoria, for the first; six months of 1874, was 158,4580z, and the amount of dividends paid was L 232,978.