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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 319, 10 April 1875, Page 2

; The English mail ; via Suez closes this day (Friday) at the ustial hour.

Mr. Samtol TfEßy, we regret to learn, had to be brought from Hamilton, in the early part of the week to the Hospital, suffering from acute rheumatism. We learn that the Rev. E. Williams has tendered his resignation of the charge of Naseby, and that it will probably take effect from August next, At the Dunedin School Committee's meeting, it was stated by Mr. Stout that the revenue of the Province for 1874-5 had exceeded that of the previous year by £IOO,OOO.

On Tuesday, in honor of the late Judge Gray the Court House was closed at Naseby, and all business was suspended throughout the day.

We learn that the mining property belonging to Mrs. E. Gogarty, of Clark's, has been sold, at a good figure. Messrs. Inder and Gnffie are reported to be the purchasers and the price mentioned is £1450.

The notorious Sullivan is; still in Melbourne Gaol. The 'Bruce' HeraldV correspondent says he does no work,' but spends his time in reading, and seems quite satisfied with his quarters. It is probable he will be shipped to America if the Victorian Government gets a chance. The household furniture, &c, of Mr. James Thomson, of Naseby, is advertised for sale by auction on the 15th; also several waterworks shares. The auctioneers, Inder and George, also announce the. sale of an iron and wooden moveable house on the following day, the 16th. The 'Star' is authorised to state that Mr. John Armstrong has no intention of contesting the seat for Waikouaiti in the General Assembly. We understand the rumors arose from some of. Mr. Armstrong's good templar friends, requiring a doughty champion of permissive measures. Mr. G. M'JLean is pretty sure to be returned.

In our issue of last week it was reported that we understood'the upper contract on the head race was not likely to be persevered with, as Mr. Abbott had paid off his mea. We are glad to learn that we were misinformed—that, indeed, a number of men had left, but that about twenty-five were prepared to go on with work on the upper end. We believe that additional hands will be taken as they offer. At a sitting of the District Land Court on Thursday applications for water rights on to the Eweburn farms were entertained. One right from Eden Creek was granted, and another from Spring Creek was adjourned until the 23rd. Some land applications at Macraes were entertained, in which Cockerell junior was the applicant, and Christensen the objector, being the holder of "a residence area certificate. The Court were willing- to recognise the right carried on the face of°the" certificate, but gave till the 23rd to enable the parties to come te an agreement.

Me. Masters, of the Pyrites Reduction Works, has furnished a report made by him of two pieces of stone knocked oat at Ohinemuri. No. h from a large or main reef, gave : yields at the iStes of 3oz sdwt Bgr of gold, and 14oz 16dwt of silver to the ton. The stone from Kb. 2 reef, higher up the hill, gave loz 12dwt 6gr of gold, and 19oz sdwt llgr of silver. .Mr. Masters says it it will be apparent that thik. claim's stone'will require special treatment, as ah ordinary battery will not save the metals contained in it.- :■.::■..."

•'lt appears that knighthoods have been offered'to and; refused by Messrs. Stafford and Fox. Mr. Stafford received the offer of what may be termed the " Colonial" order of knighthood some time ago, but he failed to appreciate this inferior order, and wrote a very indignant letter declining the offer. A similar offer was made to Mr. Fox-, who adopted a different tone in his reply, and filled a page of foolscap with banter about the offer of a knighthood which could not be recognised in England. He failed to see it. On Tuesday evening last Mr. B. Gordon gave his lecture in aid of the district hospital. Owing to the darkness and threatened inclemency of the weather, the audience was very small. Mr. H. W. Robinson presided. The lecturer apologised for the lecture being not quite so interesting or connected as he could wish, owinw to his having had no sufficient time. The lectur 3r touched upon many places he had visited, and related a variety of new facts, which deserved a larger audience. . The lecture was quickly gone over, as when bur reporter arrived, having been detained elsewhere, the Hall was closed. The amount realised in aid of the Hospital we have not yet learnt. In acknowledging the receipt of copies of resolutions passed at a public meeting held at Riverton for the purpose of urging on the Provincial Government the necessity of an immediate survey of the line of railway to Orepuki, and of the lines Otautau to the Night-cap Coalfields and Orepuki to Waiau, the Provincial Secretary writes that "owing to the difficulty of procuring the services of qualified surveyors, the progress of the railway surveys has been much retarded. The Government have now secured the services

of a qualified officer to assist the District Engineer, and it is expected that surveys' and estimates of the lines sanctioned by the Provincial Council at its last session will be prepared in time for submission Provincial Council at its next session."

Nearly all that is publicly known of Mr. "Wilson Gray's early career is thus summed up in 'Men of the Time.' His exact .age was we believe, 63:—Gray, Wilson, brother of Sir John Gray, born about 1815, was educated at a private school at Hazlewood, near Birmingham, conducted by the father of Sir Rowland Hill, and went to University College, Dublin, where he became a scholar and graduated in honors. In 1835 he was appointed one of the Assistant Commissioners of the Irish Poor Laws, and having kept terms both in Ireland and in England, was called to the bar in the United States, returned in 1844 to Dublin, became joint editor and proprietor, in association with his brother, of the ' Freeman's Journal,' and was admitted to the Irish bar. Not long afterwards he emigrated to Victoria, and became a member of the Colonial Legislature, in which he has been a leading advocate of liberal measures.

Mi J. C. Watts Russell, whose death was reported last week, was one of the most prominent Canterbury pilgrims, and was a large sheep farmer some years ago, but lately retired from active life, and filled a good many high places in social affairs. For some years he was district grand master of masons, and also judge at the annual races almost since the commencement. He was well known, greatly respected, and his genial manners and invariable goodnature mads him a favorite with everyone. He was formerly in a cavalry regiment, either the 16th or 17th Lancers, but retired on his marriage, and emigrated to -New Zealand in the Sir George Seymour, arriving at Lytttlton in December, 1850. The funeral was very largely attended. The pall-bearers were Sir Cracroft Wilson, the Dean of Christchurch, Mr. Gressqn, and Mr. J. W. Hamilton. The funeral service was conducted by the Primate.