THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1932, 15 October 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1874.

The residents of the Grey district, and more especially those up country, bid fair to realise the position of the inhabitants of Paris during the seige — at any rate so far as fresh meat is concerned, there being now an absolute meat famine. Yesterday the butchers of Greymouth had to close their shops, following the example of their brethren of the cleaver at Westport a few days ago. Should this state of things continue much longer the bill of fare will tax the ingenuity of the most inventive of cooks, and vegetarianism will become an enforced doctrine of diet. The proximate cause of the dearth of supplies of sheep and cattle is no doubt the excessively bad weather that has prevailed for the last few weeks, making it impossible either to drive cattle from our usual source of supply, Canterbury, or to land sea borne stock, but there are signs that the scarcity axid dearness of meat, although perhaps not to the present extent, will continue for some considerable time. During the last few months there has been a steady upward tendency in the price of cattle and sheep all over the Colony, and a diminished supply. For these circumstances several reasons may be adduced : — Ist. The enormous depletion of the quantity of stock, caused by the operations of the large meat preserving companies and boiling down establishments in various parts of the Colony. 2nd. The high price of wool, which makes it more profitable for the sheepownera, particularly on runs which have been thinned out, to keep sheep which would otherwise go to the butcher. 3rd. The increased consumption, owing to the large additional population which is daily being poured upon our shores. In the Provinces of flawke's Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago the price of meat has risen fully fifty per cent., if not more, during the last few months, and this, be it remarked, is not due to the exceptional circumstances under which the meat famine has arisen on the West Coast, but entirely owing to shortness of supply and an increased demand. We have been informed by persons who have special knowledge on the subject that it is not possible for meat to recede to its ordinary price for at least two years, unless the prohibition against the importation of Australian stock is withdrawn. And what is said of meat is likely to happen with regard to farm produce generally. Dairy produce is becoming dearer everywhere, and will continue to rise as immigrants flock into the country. This is a nice look out for the new-comers, who are told in the handbooks that meat is from 2d to 4d per lb., and that they can can "enjoy a meat meal three times a day," and it is a serious matter for the resident colonists, who find that one of the blessings of the immigration policy is either the increase of their cost of living by a considerable sum weekly, or the stinting of their usual liberal fare. The worst of it is that one of the cause 3of the scarcity and consequent dearness is being aggravated daily. Not a week elapses but some hundreds of immigrants are added to the population, and when the tale of 20,000 for the twelve months is completed, it will be a difficult problem how to feed us all. The remedy appears to lie in the suspension of the operation of the Diseased Cattle Acts, so far as the prohibition of stock from Australia is concerned. There is an abundant surplus of both cattle and sheep in Victoria, and if the restriction were removed we should find that the New Zealand markets would be considerably relieved. Of course such a proposition would be howled at by the graziers and sheepowners of Otago and Canterbury on the ground of the danger of infection, but so far as we know there is no epidemic amongst cattle in Victoria ' now. At any rate, if the bucolic settlers I of those Provinces objected, we fancy that the inhabitants of the West Coast would welcome any addition to their supplies of meat ; and we have no doubt that if our market was open to them we should soon have Victorian shipments. Is it unrea- i sonable to suppose that this subject is one worthy of the notice of the Superintendent and Executive, who, although they may not have power to interfere with the Orders in Council, may at least represent the matter to the consideration of the Colonial Government.

The adjourned meeting of the sectionholders on Richmond Quay, will be held at the European Hotel, at eight o'clock this evening. The Stephenson-Burford troupe left on Wednesday morning for Westport by the s.s. Murray, after a most successful season here. The West Coast portion of the San Francisco mail would probably arrive at Hokitika from Christchurch by coach yesterday, and the letters and papers for the Grey district will no doubt be delivered this evening. In our advertisement columns, tenders are called for clearing 100 acres of land on the Marsden road by Messrs JJ'orsyth and Masters— an evidence of an unmistakeable character of confidence in the future of this district. Pareiculars will be found elsewhere. Butcher's meat is still a very scarce commodity in Greymouth— in fact it is not to be had for any money. On Wednesday several of the butchers had to close their shops as they had nothing to sell. At the last cattle sale, at the Arahura, on Tuesday, the sum of LlO3 was paid for three bullocks. On Wednesday Mr D. Maclean sold by public auction the premises of Messrs Woolfe and Killeen, at the corner of Boundary and Mackay streets, for the sum of LBOO, but this included horses, stables, stockyard and all the necessary appliances for carrying on

the business. The purchaser was Mr W. Jones, on behalf of Mr W. Woolfe, who will carry on the business as heretofore. The regular meeting of the Committee of the Grey River Hospital took place at Gilmer's Hotel, on Wednesday nnight, Mr D. Maclean in the chair. The minutes having bren read and confirmed, the Visiting Oornmittee reported the number of patients in the Hospital to have been on the 31st August, 28 ; admitted during September, 16 ; discharged, 16 ; died, 1 (Richard Pounds of the schocner Sarah and Mary, of disease of the heart) ; remaining in the hospital on the 30th September, 27. The Treasurer reported the receipt of the Nelson subsidy for August, L 72 4a 7d ; cud collected ia the West Ware?, Iby Mr Sugg, Ll9 15s. The accounts for the I month, amounting to Ll9l 9s sd, were pa Bed for payment. Leave of absence for three months was granted to Mr E. Masters, who is proceeding to Melbourne. The Visiting Committee for the month are Messrs S. Gilmer, Kennedy, and F. Hamilton. In the Warden's Court, No Town, the case J Finnigan v. Feehan was adjourned to the 22nd of October. Wm. Mordy v. Chas. Clegg.- Mr Perkins for plaintiff. This was a disagreement between the parties as mates. The ground they held was agreed to be divided between them, and the gold in the tail-race was also to be equally divided Plaintiff's evidence went to show that defendant had appropriated the whole of the gold in the tailrace, which amounted to about one pound weight. Defendant's evidence was that the gold amount 3d only to a few ounces. A witness, John Anderson, stated that he was a wages man for the parties in dispute, but his evidence was not of great importance. Judgment for the complainant, the gold produced to be divided between the parties. A number of applications were then disposed of. At the close of tha proceedings, Mr Perkins, on behalf of the profession, welcomed Mr Broad into the district. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, No Town, yesterday, before C. Broad, Esq., R. M. , the following cases were disposed of : —King v Hall— Assault by pulling plaintiff by the hair of the head. Dispute about a sluice fotk. Defendant fined 10s and 6s 6cl costs. Same v tlall — For abusive language. Case dismissed. Police v Mowat and another — Information withdrawn. Samuel Johnston and — O'Toole, for drunkennness. Each fined 203, or 48 hours' imprisonment. M'Carthy v Johnston — Assault. Mr Perkins for complainant. Mr M'Carthy got up about five o'clock last Sunday morning to get a horse for a man who wanted to go to see his mate in the Hospital. Complainant saw defendant and another man fighting, and went to separate them, and defendant then struck complainant several times, and burst in the door of his hotel. Johnston v. M'Carthy — Dismissed with a caution. Police v. Johnston and Davis— Fighting in the public street. Fined 40s each and costs, one months' imprisonment. M 'Carthy v. Stanhope— Withdrawn. Casey v. Korman— Mr Perkins for defendant. L 9 15s, money lent. Judgment for defendant, with LI Is professional fee. An old resident in the Grey district, Mr Geo. O'Flynn, died at his homestead, near Omotumotu, on Monday night, and his remains were intered Wednesday. The funeral was largely attended by the friends of the deceased, many of whom had ridden down from the country for the purpose. The members of the Hibernian Society, with which the deceased was connected, mustered strongly, in full regalia, and marched to the cemetery. Deceased, who was 38 years of age, was a native of Newmarket, County Cork, Ireland, and came out to Victoria in 1861, since when he has been upon all the gold-fields of this Colony, mining and storekeeping, and for the last seven or eight years resided in the Grey district. His parents were in a respectable position, and he for some years studied agriculture in the Model School of Agriculture, near Dublin, where he received several prizes. Lattfriy, he cu'tvated a small farm, near the Omotumotu Creek. >-c was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him, as was evidenced by the large attendance at his funeral on Wednesday. He leaves a wife and three or four children. A correspondent at Ahaura sends us the following : — " Sir — My apology for troubling you to insert the following statement of facts elicited at the hearing of a suit in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, must be that I think it my duty to draw the public attention to the necessity of exercising much care when paying accounts, especially to lawyers — to see that they get a correctly worded legal receipt for all monies paid, otherwise much litigation may probably result from the habit of relying upon the good faith of each other for an acknowledgement of payment, either per contra account or cash settlements. A. R. Guinness sued J. H. Garth for the sum of L 23 odd for costs incurred professionally. Mr Staite appeared for, and with, plaintiff, therefore the defendant could not procure, except at great cost, the assistance of legal advice, and he defended the case himself. He denied all indebtedness, and in proof whereof, Garth produced Mr Guinness's receipt for all costs due up to a date subsequent to that of the items on the bill of particulars sued for. It trauspired in the course of evidence that the settlement was made by contra account, and that no money passed between them. On this point the plaintiff based his argument, as sorting that a receipt was of no use unless for some' monetary condition ; therefore, though he admitted the genuineness of the document, it could not be held as a full acknowledgement of all monies due. as no cash had been paid, and it was not reasonable to suppose that he should have given a receipt in full, when the contra account rendered, only amounted to L 4. Mr Garth said it was quite reasonable to suppose so, for at the time there was nothing due to Mr Guinness, as it had all been paid before. Mr Broad, in giving a verdict for the defendant, said, that in the face of the receipt, he could not see how the sum sued for could be due. He was placed there to do justice between all parties, and his decision must be in favor of Mr Garth. The plaintiff gave notice of appeal. The foregoing is only a brief synopsis of this case, but sufficiently lengthy to make apparent the importance of using great care in business transactions, for it is a nice question to decide whether the sin of omission or commission produce the greatest evils ; both alike ought to be guarded against, and furthermore, I should advise any unfortunate respondent to lose no tune, after the receipt of a summons for an unjust claim, before they engage counsel, when the number of lawyers is limited in extent, otherwise they ! may find out the difficulty of having to be I one's own attorney when opposed to the whole array of tbeir town's legal talent.— I i am, &c, One who was there." During the sitting of tbe Police Court at Wellington, on a recent occasion, the magistrate was all absorbed in hearing a case when a young woman walked ißto Court, and went straightway for the place of honor, which she ascended, and seated herself behind the worthy magistrate unperceived by him. Pre.sently, his Worship turus round, and mnch to his surprise discovers his strange associate, who accosts him in the following manner — "If yerplase, sir, I belave yer want a sarvant?" Whether the magistrate was too confused, or whether he admired the unconscious impertinence of the person, we cannot say ; but she remained on tne Bench till the business of the Court was concluded, and then, we believe, her business was satisfactorily Battled.

It is stated that the editorial charge of the v Home News" has, owing to the death of its late editor, devolved on Mr Geo. A. Sala. During the fpast year the San Francisco mint has coined 74 tons gold, and 140 tons silver, viz., 22,300,000d0l void coin, and 2,500,000d0l silver. The price of meat was, we regret to say, maintained on Tuesday at the Arahura sales. Some bullocks, fed on the West Coast, the property of Friend and. Cole 3, fetched, the enormous figure of from L 32 to L 33 10s. The retirement of District Judge Gray in Otago will necessitate a vacancy being filled in that Province. It i 3 rumored, says the "West Cuast Times," that the circuit will be or has ' been offered to his Honor Judge Harvey, and that it is probable the offer will be accepted. As yet nothing is definitely known, or who, in such an event, will succeed our local Judge: Mr J. E, Smith has brought into Oamaru, from Maerwhenua, a parcel of 50oz of gold, the product of that goldfield; During the previous week, Mr Smith sent down a parcel of 220z, , and other parcels by privnte hands durmg the month, amounted to from 40oz to 450z ; making a total of about 120oz. The "JNorth Obago Times" saya the recent rain has given a good, supply of water, and favorable reports from the field may be looked for. It is stated by a local paper that in Auckland ripe lemons are dropping from the trees in Mason Brothers' nursery, Parnell, so abundant is the crop. It will soon be an unprofitable business to import this fruit. Messrs Mason's vinery is in a splendidly forward condition, and. before many weeks ripe grapes will be obtainable from the nursery. There is also good promise of a prolific strawberry season. Amongst the largest landowners in the United Kingdom are the Duke of Sutherland, with 1,300,000 acres ; the Duke of Breadalbane with 500,000 acres ; the Duke of Buccleuch with 400,000 acres j the Duke of Richmond with 400,000 acres ; Sir James Mattheson with 400,000 acres ; the Earl of Seafield with 350,000 acres ; the Duke of Athol, 250,000 acres ; the Duke of Argyle, 200,000 acres ; and the Duke of Devonshire, 200,000 acres. The " West Coast Times " informs us that an action for libel of local interest will shortly be tried in Ohristchurch, in which a merchant of Hokitika sues a late Hokitika host, now keeping an hotel in Christchurch, laying the damages at LIOOO. The cause of action arose through a letter written by the defendant to a tradesman in Hokitika reflecting on the plaintiff in such a manner as to induce him to take the steps he has done. | It had reference to a composition that defendant made, stating that plaintiff had secured more than his dues in a forced sale, and urging the other creditors to recover money alleged to have been improperly obtained. There are wonderful stories afloat of the financial crisis in Launceston An elderly Hebrew gentleman, who went across from Melbourne to look after his interests, desiring to see a failed firm's books, was, it is said, put in the lock-up for his presumption. (It is more probable he was only threatened.) Amongst the assets of some of the Launceston firms are bills of Melbourne men sent across there for discount, " because the rate was a little higher in Melbourne than in Tasmania." And on this plea they have got discounted at seven or eight per cent, what wouldn't pass at 20 per cent, in Collins street. It is just as well to know that a II the trouble which has culminated didn't originate in Launceston. They had help. The Ballarat people do not seem to appreciate the works of art fully. A young man went for his prize after the lottery — valued at Ll— and after offering it to two or three people for 5s he pitched it into the middle oE Sturt street, and requested a cabman to drive over it and smash the thing up. On Saturday morning an old man got another of these LI prizes, and offered it to several for half-a-crown, but no one would buy it. On the same day, an elderly Scotch lady, who had won a L 5 prize, called for it, and on its being handed to her she examined it very carefully for some time, and then remarked excitedly to the secretary or his assistant, " Eh, mercy me ; gi'e me back my pund, an' keep your pictur !" But the institution would not deprive her of her prize. Mr Thomas Logan, a mining manager at Cromwell, had his name conspicuously and gratuitously brought before the public lately by telegrams in the northern papers as the supposed victim in a case of "horribla murder, " his horse and buggy having arrived home before him, and some blood stains appearing on the latter. It turned out that Mr Logan— it was during one of the " wee short hours ayon the twal " — had alighted to pick up his pipe, and, being unsuccessful in his attempt to regain his seat, had sought shelter at a farmhouse in preference to walking after his horse, which had jogged away cheerfully under the impression that its master was "all there." His Holiness the Pope has presented the Golden Rose for this year to the Baroness Vigier, a vocalist formerly known to the world as Sophie Cruvelli. Hitherto the mystic blossom, of metal was never bestowed except upon some recipient of Imperial or Royal blood ; and, although Madame Cruvelli was, by her most ardent admirers, called a "Queen of Song," still her name does not occur in any edition of the Almanach de Gotha. In 1868 Queen Isabella was the rosiere; later on the Empress Eugenic received the Pope's trinket ; a Princess of Germany also had it, and the ex-Queen of Naples. The high standard of medical education in England is well known. Recent statistics seem to show that the physicians have learned to apply theii- knowledge to their own lives with telling effect. The united ages of 29 physicians who died there last year amounted to 2354 years, giving an average of more than 84 years to each. The youngest of the number was 80, the oldest 93 ; two others were 92 and 89 respectiveiy; three were 87, and four were 86 each ; and there were also more than 50 who averaged from 74 to 75 years. From' these figures it would appear that the doctors, unlike many of their clerical brethern, are practising what they preach, and that too, with admirable results to themselves. When medical science gives good health and long life, we can all appreciate its value. The "Ross Guardian" states that the opening of the country to the south of the Totara is now going apace, and in the course of time, wliica cannot be very long, the dreadful risks which travellers have had to run iD rounding the various dangerous bluffs will then be a thing of the paßt. The first section at the north end, which starts from Powen, will be completed within the nexb six weeks, while sections three and four are now in hand, and are being proceeded with as rapidly as the very inclement season now prevalent will permit. At the southern end, starting from, Okanto, sections one and two have been in hand a considerable time, while tenders are now invited for sections three, four, and five. From Okarito, rumors have come that a new gold-field is likely to be opened on the line of road ; and as it is improbable that the golden vein stops on the north side of the Mikonui river, we should like to see some efforts made to prospect the new country. The advocates of cremation must look to their laurels, which appear likely to be wrested from them by a German savant, Dr

von Steinbeis. His proposed method of dis- c posing of the bodies of the dead provides r against injury to the living, while it offers no \ violence to the feeling which sarinks from ( destroying the corpse of a beloved friend or j relation. Decomposition is, of course, an innocuous process, provided its results can- ' not infect the air. Dr von Steinbeis therefore proposesto cover the body with Roman ' or Portland cement, which hardens into a ! solid mas 3 and renders the escape of noxious gases impossible. According to this plan the corpse would be placed in a sarcophagus of already hardened cement, the cavity in which it reposed would be filled up with the same material, and both would harden together into a thick slab of a stibsfcan.ee resembling stone. Thus the decased buried in ihis manner would rest wibhin instead of under his tombstone, and grave and monument be comprised in the same block of imitation granite. A kind of craze, says the Melbourne " Argus," seems to have prevailed lately among the people (at Ballarat as to the best method of disposing, after death, of their present living bodies, but in nearly all these cases the movers have been afflicted with some natural malformation. One medical gentleman has had the body of a wellknown deformed individual bequeathed to him for anatomical purposes, and a lad} 7 with a singular malformed arm has bequeathed that member to the same gentleman. Another person, a most worthy man, who was struck deaf most suddenly at sixteen years of ag6 without any known cause, has bequeathed his head to another surgeon, while a fourth has bequeathed his deformed leg to a third medico ; but the climax appears to have been reached at a recent meeting of the hospital committee, when a well-known friend of the institution— Mr W. Higgins — bequeathed by his will, duly signed and attested, "his body, after death, to the •hospital, to be dissected and dealt with as may be thought most desirable in the cause of science." Says "Atticus," ia the "Melbourne Leader" :—" The retirement of • Sir James Fergusson from the Governorship of New Zealand has caused some surprise, but no regret. Sir James Fergusson is essentially a disagreeable man. He has a very high opinion of himself, his family, and his importance, and a very keen idea of the value of money. In his second marriage he took care to provide himself with the very opposite of ' a portionless bride with a long pedigree.' Although he is always prating of his patrician blood, and his high descent from the great Earl of Olencairn, he resembles much more the canny advocate who retrieved the fortunes of the Fergussons, and parchased a Nova Scotian baronetcy. He always reminded me in his dealings with the colonists of South Australia and New Zealand, of the great noble, who lived in feudal state, but was not above adding to his pecuniary income by selling his c\bbages and gooseberries. One day while walking throueh his park he met a little child walking away with a jug in her hand. He asked who she was, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying ' when you grow up to be a woman always recollect that you were once kissed by the Duke of Loamshire, the Marquis of Norraanville, the Earl of Thistleton, and Baron Llanelly, Knight of the Garter, and Lord Lieutenant of Loamshire.' 'Yes, sir,' replied the little damsel, ' but you always take the penny for the milk.' " Respecting the relations of the "Lords" with the House of Representatives and with the people of the Colony, Mr Hunter, M.H.R., spoke with some degree of plainness, when addressing his constituents recently. He said : — " The position of the two Houses of the Legislature in New Zealand, I look upon as presenting, perhaps, the darkest picture we have before us. The Houses have avoided coming into direct collision, but I do not think that antagonism can be avoided much longer. lam afraid that the country will not be satisfied with the position in which matters stand. lam bound to speak of the Upper House with all proper respect, as composed of highly influential and respectable gentleman, but I am free to admit I am afraid they do think too much of themselves. (Great cheering.) lam aware lam treading on delicate ground. I recognise that there is a class in this country, and lam one of them, who have been fortunate enough to acquire considerable landed estates. There is no doubt whatever that by the carrying out of the Public Works policy those estates are becoming much more valuable, and I am prepared for one to take my share of the burden imposed upon the country. (Applause.) I am not stating this for the first time, and it is one of the questions which the people of this country will have to think over, and one which their representatives will have to think over." Among the many improvements constantly going on, not the least important is that of a gas burner patented in London by Mr Wm. Sugg, gas engiueer. Mr Genever, of the Dunedin Gas Works, has fitted one of these burners in the " Evening Star" office, and says that paper, we are therefore in aposition to verify most of the claims set up by the inventor. Those claims are that the light is superior to the ordinary burners ; thab the. consumption of gas in proportion to the light is very much less ; that thorough combustion being perfect there is no unpleasant smell, and the heat thrown off in course of burning is reduced to a minimum. The " London burner is peculiarly adapted to drawing-room use, as the burners can be rendered very handsome ornaments. A plan of one is given which by day is used as a flower vase, and by nighb resembles a very handsome moderator lamp. Any kiui of shade, globe, moon, &c, can be made use of with ir, and, with that fitted in the Evening Star" office, the light is clear, white, and thoroughly diffused. We cannot do better on this point than quote the words of the patentee :— " The quality of the light reflected from those surfaces is very white and exceedingly comfortable for the purposs of drawing, reading, ar working, while a space between the screen and the shade allows a current of air to pass upwards, carrying off the heat. It will be found much cooler than the ordinary fish-tail burner, burning in a moon " For office work these lights will prove an immense boon, through the eye not experiencing fatigue from the glare." 1