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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1998, 19 December 1874, Page 2

The following nominations for the Westlan I handicap Champion Feot K ace were recdved last night by the hon. secretary, Mr Payne. Up to a late hour, twelve had been received, consisting of Fraser Martin, D.ivid Fwohill, Mark Dornan, Wm Coohraue, R. Long. R. Long, O. B. Todd. F. A J .nes, Jis. Doylo Jne. Heaphy and Wm. "orbett. The total list will, however, be posted in the bar of the Albion Hotel this morning, when those interested in what promises to be a grand race, proviaed a good handicap be ■nade, can have an opportunity of inspecting it. We direct the attention of fcha Inspector of Nuisances to the fact that several parties employed as nightmen empty their waggons in the lagoon, at the head where the springhoard is erected. ; and also into the tidal creek, near Herbert street bridge. At the meeting of the Waste Lands Board, held at Hokitika on Thursday, a site of half an acrf for a slaughter yard at Maori foully was granted to John Botand, as also for the same purpose to D. Faulkner, at Maori Creek, a quarter of an acre, to Keech ai.d Molloy, at Greenstone, and Patrick Foley, at the Jnnction of the Greenstone and Teremakau. Gilbert King, by his agent, P A. Learmonth, applied to have 4 blocks of land, thrown open as surhurban land, within the limits of the town of Greymouth. Granted 16 acres, more or less, to be thrown open fur sale, and surveyed as surburban land. Notice of sale to be civen after the survey. The righ sto despasture stock on runs were then put up to auction by the chief Commissioner, with the foiiowing results : -Run No. 31, 4000 acres, Cockeye Creek. Marsden District ; G. H. Revell, by his agent, F. A. learmonth, knocked down at upset price. LB6s 8 1 paid. Run No. 38, 7(100 acres, Wainihinini River afc upset price, Adam Jackson, by his agent, F. A. Learmonth, at upset price, Ll4 lls Bd. paid Run No. 34, 6000 acres, Kawhaka Creek, W J. Blake, by his «gent F. A. Learmoufch, Ll2 10s paid Run No 35, 7000 acres, Rimu rive, E Ryan. 142 paid, upset price, Ll4 lls 8 1. .Run No 36, 10,090 acres, Oinameka river ; James Chesney, LlO5 paid, upset price. 20 16* 81 Run No 37, 50 000 acres, watershed of Wataro* river ; Friend ami Coles, by their agent. F. A. Learmonth, L 165 paid, upset price, LlO4 3«4d. Bun No 38, 12 000 acres, Big Hohonui river ; Keech and Molloy, by their agent F. A. Learmonth, L 25 paid, upset price. Run No 39 12 000 acres, Crooked river. Bell Hill Track, La 'y Lake, Lake Brunner, and Paddock Hill j John Evans, by his agent F. Learmonth, upset price, L 25. Run No 40, 8000 acres, east of Okarito river ; John Haitian, l>y his agent G. S. Dal-ymple, Li 6 13* 4d. An application for 5000 acres op the Chesterfield road was cancelled on the presentation of a petition from 200 miners against it Some applications for land in the special Settlement were postponed for consideration until the sth January. n application by Mr G. H, Russell to have a run declared open for sale on the New River was refused, as also a similar application by J. O'Connor as to a run between the Saltwater and Teremaka'i. Other business, of no interest to our immediate readers was transacted, and the Board adjourned until the sth January . Isaac Leonard, one of the two men arrested by Inspector O'Donnell for robbery at the Paroa. who was acquitted at the sessions of the Supreme Court here, and was sent on warrant to Napier, to answer a charge of forgery there, has received a sentence of three .years for that offence. Mr Tabart hat been elected Mayor of Hokitika by 233 votes against 150 for his opponent, Mr Bevan. The Wellington correspondent of the "Otauo Daily Times" states that:— Mr Buchanan, manager of the Bank of Australasia here, is reported to have accepted office as Inspector of the National Bank, tie is the most popular manager here, and he was offered the managership of the Colonial B^nk at Wellington. Strong efforts were made to induce him to accept; it, but he preferred the other. It is said the National intends to offer interest at 3 per cent, on daily balances of current accounts, with proportionate increases for longer periods. A. rise in the rate of discount by all the Ranks is a'so expected. [We believe the Banks in (ireymouth have adopted different tactics— they have laiaed the rates on overdrafts, and alsj on fixed deposits ] Accord ng to the " Lyttelton Times," aft«r fulfilling their engagemen s in Australia, Mr and Mrs Hoskins, accompanied by Mr and -Mis George Darrell (M.ra Robert Heir) and an efficient company, will pay New Zealand a visit. Here they will play all Dion B'<ucieauit's new pieces, which they bring with them from America. Mr Hoskins has been appointed B'mcicault's agent for New Zealand, and Augustine Daly's agent for Australia. The " Nelson Colonist" complains against the payment of a Government subsidy to "the steamer Maori. Jt says: — "' lt must be remembered that our merchants and shipowneis will suffer, and money will be taken awaj from Nelson. It seems to us very hard that the Government should subsidise a foreign boat to compete with those already running. Jf the Maori were running on her own merits and without a subsidy, the case would bear a different aspect, and no protest would be madfi, but such is not the fact, and the consequence is that loc«l shipowners are made to pay taxes towards the support of an opposition boat." outsiie of Nelson this argument will bear but- little weight. One of the most remarkable animals exhibited at the Smeaton Show was (says the 11 Talbot Leader") a bull which "was brou ht there overland — a distance of some 1500 miles— from th« New Enjjimd district of New South Wales The beast was a wellbred shorthorn, weighing 15721 b, and was in fine condition after his long journey. He had five distinct legs. The fifth grew from the centre and top of his back, hanging d<»wa over his side. The limb was perfectly formed ,' and joint> d, and of course . presented a most extraordinary appearance. The bull was a perfectly quiet one, and allowed hi« numerous visitor's to examine the superfluous limb minutely. Be is now four years of age and ; the present owner gave LBO for him in New' England.

We leara from our correspondent (say* the Sydney '•• MaU) that a dastardly attempt t» poißon a whole houaehnld w *9 made, last week at Aberford Station, a short distance jrom Axmidale. The attention of Mr Warner (the manager) was directed by a girl to some white specks floating on the milk. On tasting it was found it was strychnine. The same poison was discovered in large quantities iv the bread and flonr. The matter has been placed in the hands of the police for inve-<tigation. At Christchurch the Gas Company have reduce I the pnee of gas t ■> los per 100 feet, with allowance of 2>l per 100 feet on accounts paid before the 10th. of eavih. month. Mr Jobson, late chief engineer of tbe Pheebe, ia appointed Government Inspector of Machinery for the Aucklaad district. The prices recently realised by the sale of some land ia the township of Milton, < )tago, are worthy of note, as showing the effect the construction of railway workshas upon the value of landed property in their vicinity. ; Seventeen acres, divided into 51 sections, J realised L 3433 15s the terms being 25 per ; cent, cash, the balance to be paid at any time within seven years, with 8 per cent, added. The land thus realised an average price of aboufc L 202 an acre. It was originally purchased by its late owner afc the rate of 10s per acre. Again, some land in the Clutha district, in the neighborhood of the li. c, was lately sold for LSO an acre. This land is quite in a state of nature, and not very promising in appearance. We clip the following items of mining news from tbe •' Cromwell Argus": — "The Star machine started again on Saturday last, and will continue crushing up to. Christmas. The manager will now be able to net stone out much faster, as the reef has widened considerably, being in one place nearly 6ft ia width, with very good prospects. The main tunnel is being carried in to cut the old reef, a contract for driving lOOit (unless the reef is first ptruck) baying be«»u let at 36s 6d per foot Work has been commenced on this contract, and is progressing satisfactorily. When the reef is struck in this drive, the manager will be able to keep the mill going without any stoppages — The Chinamen who have the contract; for the big tunnel in the Heart of Oak are making very little headway, and if they do not make more rapid progress, the company will see it to their advantage to take the affair out of their hands. The Chinese do not seem to bs able to make a living at it, having taken it at a very low price, and to all appearances would be glad to give it up. — The next escort ia expected to be a very heavy one." A recent article on the South Sea Island scheme in the Sau Franciso " News Letter" concludes thus : — It is plain that the company wish to make New Zealand the Emporium of the Pacific, and our merchants may before long find a nowerful competitor for even the trade of the Sandwich Islands. Thnt it is an eminently wise scheme we are ready to assert. It is only second Id importance to the great railroad and immigration policy by which Mr Yogel is fast making a nation of New Zealand. With accurate knowledge and a clear appreciation of what we are writing about, we have little hesitation in saying that no part of the British colonial possessions is to-<lay blessed with a more far-sighted statesmanship than that long displayed by the very remarkable man who, by this scheme, proposes to acquire the commercial supremacy of the South Pacific.