Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2228, 29 September 1875, Page 2

The information received from Hokitika yesterday, regarding the results of the injury received by Mr F. A. Learmonth from a pistol-shot wound confirmed the first fear that it would prove fatal, but in the afternoon a telegram was received stating that the symptoms at that time favored hopes of his recovery. The manager of the Hercules Company at Reefton requests us to state that the quantity of stone crushed was 343 tons, producing 5290z of gold. The return is thus much above what was represented. Mails from Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Westport, were yesterday received by coach from Hokitika, where they had been landed by the steamer Charles Edward. At the Ahaura, on Monday evening, Thomas Gonange was brought up before Mr Broad, R.M., charged, npon the information of John Ollivier, with having wilfully and maliciously damaged the machinery of the Orwell Creek Gold-mining Company. The defendant was remanded until Friday, bail being allowed — himself in LSO, and. one surety, Mr Lock, one of the directors of the Company, in LSO. At Granville, on Monday, a large number of applications were disposed of in the Warden's Court, and a case, in which one Ganod sought to have a certificate of registration for a water-race cancelled for abandonment, it was decreed that the certificate should be cancelled, so far as that portion of the race was concerned that terminated in the right-hand branch of Half-Ounce Creek. Mr Warden Broad held the usual Courts at No Town yesterday. There were some seven or eight civil cases in the Resident Magistrate's Court. A Court will be held this morning at Cobden, at 11 a.m. The West Coast Times reports that, in Hokitika, the two large sweepstakes on the Melbourne Cup are filling up fast, and both are certain to be full before the date of drawing. Mr Osborne's sweep, which was considered too large a number for the Coast, when first mooted, promises to be taken up without any difficulty. The dates of drawing are fixed as follows : — Osborne's Empire Sweep at the Empire Botel, on Tuesday, the 26th October ; and Keller's National Sweep at the National Hotel, on Monday, 25th October. The Hokitika school, under the Westland Education Ordinance, was opened on Monday, when nearly 200 scholars put in an appearance. It is expected before the end of the week that there will be at least 200 attending school. Great excitement is described as having been caused in Ross by the news regarding the intention of the Government to commence the Mikonui Water-race. A torchlight procession, a bonfire, and a general display of congratulation was contemplated. The Secretary of the Hokitika Racing Club has received a letter from a number of local residents, inquiring whether the club intends to hold a race meeting, and, if not, whether they will be prepared to let the ground to a committee appointed by a public meeting, on the same terms as it was let last year. The old fire-bell which formerly occupied a place at the end of the Tramway, North Revell street, Hokitika, and which was sent to Ohristchurch to be renovated, has been returned to the Fire Brigade, and is now erected close to Jolly's forge in the same neighborhood. A meeting of the Harper Testimonial Central Committee was held in Hokitika on the 23rd inst, the Mayor, chairman. The secretary reported that favorable replies had been received from the various gentlemen communicated with at Greymouth, Stafford, Waimea, Kanieri, and Ross, with the view of forming sub-committees in those places, and it is expected: that active co-operation has already begun. Arrangements were then made by the members of the committee for obtaining contributions from those willing to subscribe, at an early date, in Hokitika, and which would also be received at any of the Banks in the above named places, as well as by members of sub-committees. The departure of Archdeacon Harper, says the West Coast Times, is fixed for 12th October, and it is intended to make a public presentation to him on the evening previous to his departure in the Town Hall. The property of Strike and Blackmore, at Reefton, consisting of premises and plant for the manufacture of cordials and aerated water 3, was Bold on Friday last. The premises were purchased by Mr Patrick Hunt, and the chief part of the plant and paraphernalia by Mr Blackmore. A debt caae came on in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Reefton, on Friday last, in which the defendant claimed a release from the liability, on the ground that he had gone through the Bankruptcy Court- and included the debt sued for in his schedule. He had, however, failed to record his plea within the time required (twenty -four hours), and the Court could not recognise it, and gave judgment for the amount claimed with costs, Mes&rs Ah Sow, Ah Pig, Ah Hog, Ah Sucking Pig, and Ah several other Celestials with nominatives more or les3 porcine, are (seriously or otherwise) reported by the Reefton Times to have applied in the War. den's Court there, on Friday last, for a head, race at Redman's. The application was opposed by a small battalion of their almond, eyed Ah— — tists. One much-respeoted

townsman, Mr Charles Augustus Adolphus Ah Fook, acting as interpreter. " Charley " explained to the Warden that applicants wanted a right of water from tha same stream that defendants obtained their supply. The objectors had no opposition to offer to their kinsmen, providing that they were allowed to have the first right in times of drought. There was an unselfishness about the proposal which at once struck the Warden, and he gave " Charley " to understand that it waa "ol lie," whereupon the heathen deputation withdrew, and there was no further need for smelling salts, as the Oourc then adjourned. The first marriage among the Karamean settlers was celebrated on Tuesday week, Mr Jacobsen, bringing down his bride elect to Westport to join hands with him in wedlock. The happy pair, says the Westport Times, were compelled, nolens volens, to take their wedding trip previous to the marriage ceremony. Leaving Karamea by the Murray they were taken south to Wreymoath, and thence back to Westport. The Charles Edward has since taken them home again. The. " Morting troupe" and the acrobatic infant made a moonlight flit per Charles Edward. Their destination was uncertain, but the Westport Times thinks the sooner they get back to Sydney the better for themselves and the public. They have since made an appearance in Nelson. Mossley, an Auckland merchant, has been fined LI 00 and costs for a breach of the Customs Act. Defendant pleaded guilty; the v sum sued for was L 225. Therewasadifferenoe in the invoicps supplied to the Customs authorities — hence the action. * At a meeting of the directors of the Her* cules Company, held on Monday, the directors declared a dividend of 2s per share, representing a total of LI4OO allotted to that purpose. After providing for outstanding liabilities, there remained a balance from the result of the crushing of upwards of L2OO to the credit of the company. On Monday the Inangahua Eerald was shown at Black's Point 10 head of stampers, newly arrived for the Energetic Company, equipped with C'iff'a patent discs. The pattern is spoken of in the highest terms as the easiest to adjust or renew of any in use. There is no possibility of their iujoring the thread, and the collapsing screw with which they are furnished works well. The stampers were turned out by the Langlands' Foundry Company, and exhibit the usual excellence of workmanship which characterises their castings. An inquest was held in Reefton on Saturday, on the body of John James Bentley, an old resident of the district. The deceased, says the Times, for some time carried on the business of a saddler, but in view of probably declining health, he sold out a few days ago and intended to proceed to Invercargill, where he is reported to possess considerable property. He had been drinking heavily for sorne time prior to his death, but the receipt of the purchase money of his Reefton business seems to have given an impetus to his besetting sin, and thereby delayed his departure. As in most cases of this kind, the unfortunate man was suddenly prostrated, and after an illness of only a few hours succumbed. He was a comparatively young man, of quiet, unobtrusive habits, ana had many friends. The verdict of the jury was " That the deceased John James Bentley came by his death through the sudden arrest of the heart's action, arising from the effects of alchohol upon the nervous system." The Charleston Herald reports that, on Thursday, Mr Dobson, Resident Engineer, paid a short visit to that district. He merely came down to see the Nile Bridge, as Mr Thompson, the Inspector, hadjsent for him. He expressed himself very well sal isfied with the work. He left orders with Mr Thompson to pass the work, and to see that the approaches, and everything connected with, the bridge are completed. The citizens of Nelson are certainly unfortunate in the choice of their managers or operatives in the local gas works. The incident illustrative of this is thus reported in the Daily Times of Wednesday last : — Owing to the laches of some of the men employed at the gas works, on Tuesday night the fires were allowed to go out, and the consequence was that the whole of the city was gass-less. Fortunately the public were in some measure prepared for this state of things by a notificacation from the Mayor, but numberless and varied were the shifts made to obtain light. In our own office recourse had to be made to the ancient "mould," but in many of the hotels the necessary light was obtained by means of kerosene. : The Westport Times reports that on Wednesday evening a semi-private meeting was held with a view to promote operations or. the north bank of the Waimangaroa stream, on ground adjoining the coal area held by Sims and party, and opposite to Roche and party's ground. Messrs Humphrey, Organ, and some others, who hold a prospecting license for ground with a river frontage below Sims's boundary, have recently taken up some additional ground formerly applied for by Crocker and Hughes, and abandoned. This extension, with the original block held, now comprises 3278 acres, and surrounds the 640 acres held by Sims and party, and thus has two frontages to the stream, one above and one below the latter area. Messrs Humphrey, Organ, and party have proposed to share their rights with twelve other persons paying LlO each, the money thus contributed to be spent in prospecting the coal seams, with a view, when the lay of the country has been ascertained, to form a joint stock company, under the Limited Liability Act. The terms proposed have been accepted, as the twelve speculators were speedily forthcoming, and prospecting will, be commenced at once. We have just received news to the effect that Mr Heber Newton, acting for the mortgagee in F. C. Wilckens's estate, has sold to Smith and Barkley the entire drapery stock; at a reduction of 50 per cent. In order to realise on the same, Smith and Barkley will hold a great clearing sale for one week only, at which unheard of bargains will be given. Smith and Barkley have cleared but their carpet room for the purpose of displaying the stock. The goods are all marked in plain figures, ready for inspection. Last day of: sale, Thursday, September 30.— Advt. The Australasian reports that three men were buried in the Wapping Butchers' claim at Parkes, and one was killed. The Charleston Herald learns that there were one or two Charleston men in the claim. One old resident of Charleston, W. Phillips, was in it at : the first. The Black Norway Oat maintains its reputation as a great yielder. Mr Charles Buckley, Coal Creek, had a yield of Eightyfive Bushels to the Acre last season. A very fine sample of the Black Norway, Long Tartarian, and Potato Oats are on view at Duncan M 'Lean's, Boundary street ; also, fine samples Onion Seed, Brown River and Pink-Eye Seed Potatoes.— Advt. News from all the Auckland gold-fields is most promising. Tokateas al Coromandel are in great demand. At Tairua the prospectors obtained 130 ounces of hard squeezed amalgam from four tons of stone, and from another crushing of one hundredweight^ afc the rate of 104oz per ton was the result. The Queen of Beauty return for the last week was 6150z. Madame Willett, described as the champion female walker of the world, had just commenoed to walk a thousand miles in a thou. Band hours at the Prince Arthur Runnin

Grounds. Middlesbrough, when the last English mail left via California. To complete her undertaking, she will require to walk night and day for about six weeks. The Tuapeka Times learns that the new spoon dredge, named by its owners the North Britain, lately set to work on the Molyneux, has got upon good payable gold at Paul's Beach, eight miles below the Beaumont, It is for the most part fine gold that is raised, although one spoonful brought up the other day contained a good large piece about the size of a pea. The Thames Advertiser special at Wellington telegraphs that Mackay, Brissenden, and O'Hallaran have been hauled over the coals before the Investigation Committee, to an exrent almost approaching cruelty, re Ohinemuri miners' rights. The celebrated confession amounted to this : Briseenden. went to O'Halloran on the 3rd. o£ ; March, and got him to give him the rights. O'Halloraa had them in charge from Mackay, and he says that Mackay knew nothing about the giving of them. Mackay says he had forgotten that he gave them into O'Halloran's charge, and that, when giving out the rights, he never missed Brissenden. ■