The Lyell Times. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1885.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume V, Issue 232, 25 July 1885, Page 2

The Lyell Times. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1885.

The amalgam return from the Alpine battery for the week, is 472 ounces for the plates, ripples, and berdans,—2o6 tons of stone crushed. The Inangahua County rate collector notifies in another column, that after the 15th of September next, unpaid rates in the Hampden riding, will be positively sued for. The 44 Cattle Trespasg Act," hitherto in force in this portion of the colony, has been repealed by the 44 Impounding Act, 1884;" a far more stringent, and certainly more comprehensive measure than the original ordinanee. Owing to indisposition, the Rev. Mr Spencer was unable to get here by Tuesday last, as contemplated ; but announces he will arrive by coach on the 28th inst., when the services, and the annual meeting of parishioners will be held, —as arranged for last week. The meeting of those interested in the formation of a local Amateur Dramatic Club, held at Mr Inglis' office, on Tuesday last, was very fairly attended, and we are glad to hear that the initiatory steps taken, promise favourably for its success. Officers were appointed, and it was resolved to meet and decide upon an early entertainment, whenever thfe books &c., ordered from Dunedin, were to hand. We have received from the Hon. the Minister for Lands, Wellington, the following remedy for apple-blight, which, we should think, ought to get a good trial in this district, as there is a lot of blight, about. —Four pounds sublimed sulphur, in an iron pot, with enough water to conveniently stir while boiling for twenty minutes ; then add lib caustic potash (Greenbank Company's is the best), previously dissolved and whilst still hot, and as much colza or other vegetable oil ! as will make it like a thick paint. Then, when warm, with a large paint-brush daub it for about the space of a foot round the butt of the stem of the tree. Rain will wash it into the roots, and oil will tend to preserve its strength for years. The following are the Reefton battery returns for last week Welcome, 3750zs amalgam; Keep-it-Dark, 3500zs amtlgam ; Inkerman, 150ozs amalgam. The celebrated Faust Family, which has had a very successful time of it on the Coast, sinct leaving here, is now on its' return, and bids Greymouth farewell to-night. On Wednesday next, the company will play for that night in Reefton ; and shortly afterwards, will give one performance here. We recommend all, who can, to see them, for their entertainment displays real sterling ability, and furnishes a most enjoyable evening's recreation. | Their advance agent Mr Alfred Short, since advises us that the company will play here on Friday next, 31st inst.] The announcement contained in another column, having reference to the proposed East and West Coast Railway, will, we feel sure, from its hopeful and re-assuring nature, be generally received with feelings of genuine satisfaction ; and, really, considering its vast importance, and the

incalculable benefits to be bestowed upon j the whole of the country which will be j t traversed, opened-up, and commanded, j ( the news furnishes a fitting subject for I r hearty congratulation. In fact, our! > c Reefton neighbours appear to have already | i had open denftmstrations of joy over the j 1 affair, and the much abused Ministry is to receive their cordial ex- , 1 pressions in acknowledgment of the sup- ; ' port which Sir Julius Vogel and his . < party are disposed to give the schema. We j regret not being able to fully publish the j Colonial Treasurer's statement on the ! subject,—his comparison of the proposed j scheme as contrasted with the ordinary j method, when the money is borrowed by j way of loan, and the propose 1 mode of : making re-payment of half the cost of j this line in question, upon completion, j but will further refer to the subject in a j future issue, when matters have become a little more m iture 1. The subject was i •' i to be considered by a Committee of the ; whole House, yesterday; and at the same ! time, the Government was to bring for- j ward a tangible proposal as to the ex- ! pcdiency of taking over the main roads between Christchurch and Hokitika, Grey, and Nelson; and definitely distributing the cost of maintenance of the same. The tributers working the United Italy Company's lease, completed their trial crushing of about 45 tons of stone, on Thursday last, —the cleaning-upfor which gave4Bozs of retorted gold. The blanketings had to be saved, there being no appliances for treating them in the usual j way. The return is not up to expecta- j tions, and we regret to hear, estimating ; the extent of ground opened up, and the i duration of operations, falls short of payable. Matthews, the American boxer, who has been doing quite a walk-over in the r.K. business of late, is to "don the mittens" to-day, with O'Neill, of Ross, in the Hokitika Theatre. As the stranger at present enjoys the reputation of being champion boxer of New Zealand, coasters will be glad to sue their loc:;il irladiator' give a good account of himself. The money is, £2O a-side, and the terms, — Queensberry rules; to be fought to a finish. Dr Morice reached Reefton last night from Greymouth, for the purpose of consulting with Dr Wliitton reg arding the state of health of Mr Charles Fraser, who we regret to learn still lies in a most critical condition. —Times, 20th iust. Just before going to press, we received intimation that Mr Fraser d ed in the Reefton Hospital, at G o'clock last evening, 23rd. The exports from the port of Greymouth, for the week ended Saturday, lltli inst., were 2903 tons 9cwt coal, and 44 tons 18 cwt coke. Mr R. J. Johnston has been appointed Inspector of works for the Cobden bridge. Messrs Meiggs and Sons, the contractors and financiers who are prepared to undertake the construction of the East and West Coast Railway, ask in addition to the land grants, a guaranteed payment of £'97,000 in excess of the working expenses per annum for twenty years. The <£97,003 is 2-£ per cent, on the cost which is thus estimated " Actual cost of work, £3.025,000; interest during construction, £400,000; engineers and administration, £500,000; and expenses of under-writ- • ing, £385,000, making in all £3,860,000; i 24 per cent, on which would equal ! (within £500) the £97,000 asked for."— » Reefton Herald. A torchlight procession was held yesl terday evening in celebration of the welcome news of the floating of the East ■' and West Coast Railway. There were > bonfires and a display of fireworks and » niottos, in which the name of Sir Julius Vogel came in for a full share of praise. • A band of music paraded the streets until I a late hour. —Reefton Herald. J An Auckland paper says that the first > signatures to one of the petitions against 5 barmaids were those of 25 bank clerks, and adds—this looks like desertion and * 1 treachery.

Curious stories reach Dongola of what j 1 the Arabs say of us :—"The Inglesi," so i one Sheikh writes to another, " have j after all a good plan of fighting. They ! i stand still, they wait for us, and then they jfire : thus we lose a great many. But | when one Inglees is killed or wounded, ! another takes him out of the way on his j back, and another man takes his place. Thus in b.ittle you do not see huge piles of dead mixed with wounded amongst the Inglesi as it is with us; and the ground is not obstructed with the dead. The i Inglesi like fighting, and do the lighting ! themselves; whereas the Mudir of Dougola sends Soudanese to fight, and keeps his own men in rear." The story of the j English having a long pole, which they j climb up, and from which they " see : | everj r thing," is again repeated.