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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1959, 16 November 1874, Page 2

We understand that Mr Carruthers, Engi-neer-in-Chief, is expected to arrive here today or to-morrow along with Mr C. Y. OVonnor, • istrict Engineer. The principal ol'j-ct of Mr Carruthers' visit is, we believe, to make arrangements for the construction of the protective extension works, for which Llo.ooo was voted last session by the Assembly. The clearing of the Hospital Reserve, where the new building is to be erected, is proceeding rapidly by the contractors, Jack and Co. Messrs Keown and Co. have the contract for the formation of the road, five chains in length, from High street to the Hospital site, through a piece of land granted by the Waste Lands Board, and this contract will very soon be completed. It will be seen by our advertising columns that tenders are invited for the erection of the new building. The new site is well chosen, as it commands frontage to the lagoon and a free view of the sea. The architect; for the new building is Mr Eissenhardt, and tenders will close on the 25th inst. Yesterday, as a two-horse dray was being driven down Mawhera Quay, the horses bolted, and opposite Gilmer's Hotel the driver, named Thomas -Spiuks, was thrown off and received some severe wouuds on the head. He was first carried into Gi'.mer's Hotel, and attended to by Dr Morice, who ordered his removal to the Hospital. The horses, with the dray continued their mad career, and in attempting to turn the corner <>f Albert s reet capsized the dray. The horses were not much injured ; and on irquiry at the Hospital at a Jate hour last night we found that the driver was progressing favorably. Ib is expected the Provincial Secretary, accompanied by the Gold-fields Secretary of Nelson, will visit the Grey Valley to-day. Mr O'Conor will be interviewed ratinr warmly and extensively, that is provided he gives the numerous deputations waiting to receive him the opportunity of meeting him, From the Hokitika "Times," of Saturday, we learn that upwards of thirty of the immigrants who arrived at Nelson by the Oceaa Mail were landed there on Friday from the Bteamer Murray, and ara now located

I with thu:i' frioiiiVi -'.' >« ths Immigration | Depot, vrhilo ;i fow proceed to Qreyuiouth. Altogether, they appear to be a credit ible addition to the population, and it is to be hoped that they will early find employment. So far, Westland certainly cannot complain of the character of the uew-coiner3, and they are not likely to have reason to complain of Westland. The only fault is the paucity of single women, who are usually drafted off to other and less eligible parts of the Colony. The "New Zealand Gazette, " of October 30, a copy of which we have only now received, contains the rules for Resident Magistrates' Courts under the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act, 1874 j The usual practice meeting of the Grey- , mouth Volunteer Fire Brigade takes place this evening at 8 o'clock. Mr John White, M.H.R. for Hokitika, announces that he will address his constituents on the 23rd inst. Mr H. C. Daniell, of Nelson, in a letter to the "Colonist," denies that he ever requested permission to retire from the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands. He admits receiving a few weeks since, a letter from the General Government requesting him to retire on the ground of present" incapacity to travel, but that, whilst preparing, in conformity with such request, to hand over the business of the office to his succssaor, the question was reconsidered by the Government, and he has now been requested to continue in office. The opening and consecration of the newlyerected Catholic church at Greenstone formed quite an interesting event in that district on Wednesday last. The church, we understand, is a very neat and substantial structure, picturesquely situated on the hill at the entrance to the new township, and a building which reflects credit upon the liberality of the congregation, upon the industry of the pastor and the committee, of which Mr F. Keenan is chairman, and upon the builder, Mr J. H. King. At the cermony of opening, the officiating clergymen were the Revs. Father Ecuyer, Martin, M "Guinness, and Chareyre, the latter being the local pastor. After high mass and the benedition, Father Ecuyer preached an eloquent opening sermon, and the congregation testified their interest in the work by a liberal subscription, whioh will go far to freeing the committee from any liabilities. From the " Colonist " we learn that the plans and specifications for the making of the Buller road between Mafcakifcaki and the Lyell are being prepared, and the Government will in the course of a few days call for tenders. It is expected that before the close of autumn there will be a good road right through to Greymouth. The Provincial Government deserve credit for pushing on this intercommunication work. An Arawa of considerable attainment and position, and who for some years past has been holding a high and responsible position in the Native Lands Office in Auckland, is said to be present at ohineinufcu, inciting the Natives to lehel at the action of the Gj vermnent in treitint; through Messrs Davis Mitchell, and \ oun«, for land in the Arawa country. He is being narrowly watched fo the Government The other day, Alfred K.ihau, nephew o: John Topi, chief of Stewart's Islind, was married to a Miss Prate, of Waitouaici, < 'ta^o. There was a great gathe iug of both Europeans and natives, the uncle and nephew spending Ll5O over the event, which con eluded with a ball. In the Appeal Court now sitting at Wellington, the appeal in the ease of the Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company v. The Province of Westland, is set down for heaving on Monday (this day) and the heading is likely to be a protracbed one. It is gazetted that the authorised copies of the standard weights and measures for the District of Wesbland shall, for the future, be deposited at tho Police Buildings in the towns of Hokitika and Greymoubh respectively. On Saturday morning last, Mr George Winter, accompanied by his four children, were sitting i«i a dray at Takaka (Nelson), when the dray went over a bank, and the inmates were thrown out. The youngest child (eighteen months old) fell under the horse, and got trampled upon and killed We learn that the Nelson Provincial Government have promised to supplement any local subscription raised for the construction of the Amuri road by L 2 for every LI subscribed, up to Ll5O. The losses of the Insurances Offices* by the fire in Wakefield and Rutland streets, Auckland, on October Iz, were:— New Zealand, L 750; Norwich Union, L 70 0; Victoria, L 650 ; Standard, LSOO ; Imperial, L 50 0; Nationol, L 250 ; total, L 3350. A pint of iron filings placed around an apple tree on which are dead spots, make an excellent remedy. Apple trees require iron in about the same proportion as the human system, and the effect is much the same. When the soil becomes exhausted of iron the trees begin to decay. One hundred and forty-five sheep were sold in Tasmania recently, which realised an average of Ll7 17s per head. They were from the flock of /Mr Gibson, who has received for stock, the progenny oE " Sir Thomas," a sum exceeding L3OOO. • Mr and Mrs Hoskins (Miss Colville) are understood to have left New York on their return to New Zealand, in accordance with the intention they announced before leaving Wellington. One Fiji item is that a son of Cakobsu named William, lately tried to set fire to several houses, and clubbed three women, injuring one severely. He is placed under restraint. . ' • Mr David R. Hay, tailor and clothier, Princes street, Punedin, who unfortunately had to stop payment during the commercial crisis in. the year 1870, through his connection with another firm, paid the ither day to his creditors the sum of L 950, being the balance of 20s in the pound. Reliable information has been received at Auckland that the Imperial Government have determined that Fiji shall be governed from Sydney under a Lieutenant-Governor. Under these circumstances, the laws of Newyouth Wales would of course come into immediate force in the Islands. Tho " Wanganui Chronicle" has been purchased by Messrs Gilbert and James Carson, late of the Government Printing Office. They received a handsome testimonial from their fellow-laborers on leaving the latter office. One of the most murderous assaults, says the " West Coast Times " of yesterday, that* we have known committed for some ti i.c, accompanied with less serious consequences, took place yesterday. It may be remembered that some time ago a woman named Louisa O'Brien was tried ou a charge of setting fire to a public-house in Revell street, kept by a ■ person named Shaffrey. The reason allege i ' for the de^d was that a man named Caffrey, with whom O'Brien had been cohabiting, had left her and gone to stop or lodge at Shaffrey's, and it was to burn out the recreant that the attempt was made. She was acquitted of the charge, however, and has since been living with Caffrey in a right-of-way off Revell street. Yesterday morning a quarrel took place, when she took up an axe and literally chopped her paramour up, inflicting no less than about twenty wouuds on the head, face, body, arms, thighs, and legs. Some of the wounds are in moat dangeroua places, two ou the forehead especially,

aii'l L«d the a,ve bean sharp Caffrey would liavo had ;t bad time of it. fhe Avoman, on the other hand, did not come off scrat ;hless, for on being brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday her eyes, face, and chin Avere blackened and swollen, and she had evidently undergone very rough treatment. The injured man was taken to the Camp, where he now lies, and his w«unds were dressed by Dr Dermott, under whose care he is going on Avell, and at present seems tolerably certain to get over the very severe treatment he has been subjected to." Regarding this ca=se, Saturday's " Times" says : — "The man Caffrey, who was recently sa seriously assaulted by Louisa O'Brien, kas t not been worse, and is out of danger, but, as ' we heard it expressed, • he has been chopped into so many pieces that he cannot straighten himself out as yet.' Some of the wounds are deep, but the majority of them are only superficial, aud it is probable that on Tuesday next he avill be able to appear to prisecute his assailant The more the circumstances connectedjwith the case are examined, the more surprising is the fact that life was not lost, and that a case of murder instead of wounding is now only pending. A smart thing has occurred here (says the " Wanganui Herald ") over the serving of a summons. A well-known parson not having settled up accounts with his servant on her leaving, she took out a summons against him for wages. The parson expected it, and seeing the bailiff coming towards him in the sbreefc, he mounted his horse, which had been standing at a post, and applying the spurs went off with the velocity and somewhat of the jjrace of John Gilpin. The bailiff being also mounted Avent in pursuit, and the chase, though a stern one, was not along one. The bailiff's horse was the faster nag, and overhauling the parson, thft ingenious limb of the law dropped the summons into the clergyman's pocket, crying out triumphantly " served." Both drew rein, and the feelings of the clericus can be better imagined than described. Our readers are aware that the convict Dyer was executed at Auckland on October 30bh for the murder of Eliza Batteraea, and that he admitted his guilt to the Bishop of Auckland. We learn by the Auckland papers that Bishop Cowie accompanied Dyer to the scaffold, and there bade him good-bye. When placed under the drow, Dyer addressed the Rev Mr Wallis, Wesleyan, the Rev Mr Cornfoot, Baptist, the Rev Mr Turner, Free Methodist (who had attended to' pray with him), and the Governor and officers of the gaol, as follows :— " Gentlemen, officers of this gaol— l feel very grateful for the kindness I have received from you — one and all. 1 have yot no animosity against any man I freely forgive everybody that ever did me any harm." The bolt was then removed, and the prisoner's death was instantaneous. The scoundrel Kereopa, whose name is held in detestation by the settlers throughout the district on account of his supposed complicity in Mr Brouuhton's murder, which teelia^ Has been intensified by numerous acts of turbulence committed since, has at length fallen into the clutches of the law. Recenly lie was brought up at the Resident vlagiscraie's Courr, on two charges of assault and . charge of resisting the police in the execucion of their duty, and being coavicte I <if all •hese offences, Avas sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labor, so that he will c kept out of mischief for that period at all events. After an adjournment for dinner, at a recent Native gathering on the ea*t coast of \ T orth Island, several other matters Avere discussed, and Ropata informed them of the intention of the Government to station some constabulary at Waiapu, and also to build a Court House and lock-up there. Some discussion ensued Avith reference to these matters, aad satisfaction Avas generally expnssed. A good deal of amusement was caused by Hemi Tapeki, a notorious horsestealer, Avho remaiked that he was agreeable to all the other proposals of the Gnverntnent, but was not at all sure about the lock-up. " No," said Ropafca, " I dare say not, you will be the first in it." Another topic brout^ht under discussion was that of putting the land through the Court, and getting the land opened up, and it was generally agreed that it was desirable to have this done. The " Age" records the following freak of fortune to one of the surburban agents of that journal named Perceval (well-known in Nelson) who has received the welcome news that a sum of LI O,OOO has fallen to him, aad that it is probable he will be before long the Earl of Egoaont For several years Perceval was in New Zealand, where his career was not very successful, and recently he came over to Victoria and established a news agency in North Collinijwood. It is related by the Melbourne " Leader " that a man Avho has just been discharged from Pentridge called at a certain bank in Collins street, aud laid claim to a large sum of money which had been standing to his credit for fifteen years. His signature Avas quite right, his statement as to the date of the deposit was correct, and the only thing remaining Avas his identification, for which an appointment was made for the following morning. The next day the ex-convict would have been the possessor of several thousand pounds. Bat he could not keep out of mischief. That very night he took part in a burglary, was arrested, early the next morning, and was sent back again to his old quarters. Meanwhile the bank continues to retain several thousands.. For several seasons the merchants of Canterbury, who ship large quantities of wheat to the London market annually, made experimental shipments of flour, but in no case was the result such as to induce a repetition of the experiment. The perishable nature of the article, and the varying degrees of temperature through which it passed during its transit to the old country, interfered so much with its quality that it seldom arrived in firscclass condition, and (says the " New Zealand Times" ) exactly the same results have been experienced in regard t« a shipment of about 100 tons sent Home last year. When taken out of the ship in the London Docks the flour was as " dry as a bone," but through some process which evidently could not be counteracted, the contents of each sack were like a block of chalk. Flour, under these circumstances, is not a success as an article of export. The r«maining cargo by the Douglas turned out in splendid condition. In proof of the extraordinary advance in the value of city property at Wellington, the " New Zealand Times" mentions that tAvo sections on the reclaimed land, opposite Htephenson and Stuart's store, cbauged hands on October 31 at L3OO each, being in reality I^GUO to the otiginat selector. Considering that che land is leasehold property, each section being 85ft by 35ft and subject to an annual rental of over LSO, the price is certainly a very long oue. Messrs i'hoinpsou, Suaunou and Co., who at presents occupy store in Willis street, were the pur, chasers. . "Here both sides" is the signature to a letter appearing in the "Nelson Evening Mail," in reply to the statement recently made that tho Pope Avas a Freemason, and. had been expelled from the Order:— The " Belfast Weekly News," August 1, had named him Mastai Ferretti. Then the " Otago Guardian" had received intelligence by the last mail, that his name was I'aolo Mastai Ferretti. Now you bring us to the "Bath Express," the " Country Herald," and >c North VVilJs Guardian," August 1, which call him Joan Mastai Ferretti, According to these discrepancies, or rather forgeries, we

must either say that in one lodge tho Pope enlisted himself under the name of Mastai Ferretti ; in another under that of Paolo Mastai Ferretti ; and in a third one un-ler that of John Mastai Ferretti, and likely so on in other lodges ; or pronounce that these different names must be so many different members of Freemasonry ; and as we do not see the Pope enlisted in any lodge under his right name, which is John Maria Mastai Ferretti, it is evident that he never, was enlisted in Freemasonry. That the charge made against the Pope is a calumny is evident, among others, from the fact that the hostile press fgives as reason of his supposed expulsion- from fcbe Masonic lodge, because he began in 1865 to be aggressive against the Order. Now his various Encyclical letters of December 9, 1854— De* cember, 1849— April, 1849— nay, even his very first Encyclical of November 9, 1846, plainly show that from his ascending the throne of St. Peter, he never ceased to denounce them as the pest of human society. It is reported that the last fresh in the Buller river in?,cle serious encroachment at the overflow between the Buller and Orawaiti rivers. The " Times " says : — " Only a chain or so of solid ground now intervenes, and the danger is that a sudden summer f rcsh may carry away even that barrier, and send a heavy volume of water down the Orawaiti. Such a contingency has been always dreaded as disastrous, and attention is again called to the feasibility of cutting a race from that portion of the Buller called the Sluice-box, aad thus diverting a portion of the current into its original channel. The idea has often been discussed, and pronounced practicable at very little expense." The Nelson "Colonist" of 31st October tlius speaks ot the marriage of a gentleman very widely known and highly respected upon the Coast, best, perhaps, in Westport, where he was agent for the Bank of New Zealand for several years : — " On Wednesday last, a large number of villagers of Motueka forsook their daily toils and cares and donned themselves in holiday attire in honor of an event which they desired should be remembered hereafter. The said event was the marriage of J. Leslie, Esq., of Dunedin, to Mrs Stafford, widow of the late C. T. Stafford, Esq., .of Hyde Park, London. St. John's Church was crowded with spectators to witness the interesting ceremony, which was performed by the Rev. S. Peole. The weather was beautiful and fine ; and a carpet was laid from the road to the church doors, and flowers were strewn in the patb of the bridal party. The festivities were kept up till an early hour the next morning. Mrs Leslie is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Jones, o d and deservedly respected residents here, and wherever her future home may be she c irries with her the good wishes of a host of friends in this district."