THE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 175, 11 April 1866, Page 2

THE GREY.

(I'BOM OUR OWN COBBESFONDENT.

April 7. Mr. Sub Warden Lightband, who had been instructed by Mr Warden Kynnersley to proceed to the Little Grey and report on the alleged new field, returned yesterday ; and this morning an official report appears in the local paper, with Mr Warden Kennerslv's authority. There was a good deal of excitement in town on Wednesday and Thursday evening, to the rumor that some hundreds of incensed diggers intended to proceed to the office of the Grey River Argus and inflict summary punishment on all connected with the establishment, because of that paper having imposed a false statement on the miners. Bands of men were to be seen congregated at various street cornera, and so much was said and so much threatened to be done, that it appeared very probable that somo mischief would follow. The police had taken every precaution for the preservation of the peace, and the protection of the Argus office ; as it was feared that the meeting called for Thursday morning might still further increase the excitement. On Thursday morning an attempt was made to hold a public meeting, but it was afterwards adjourned for an hour or two. At two o'clock the Concert Room attached to Kilgour's Hotel was crowded with excited diggers who had met to decide what steps should be taken towards the offending newspaper. Mr E. B. Fox was voted to the chair. Mr Moore ono of the proprietors of the Argus defended the conduct of the paper, and showed how absurd it was for men who had not tested the ground to condemn the rush as a hoax. The miners, after a lot of " jaw" came to the very sensible resolution "that the Editor of the Grey River Argus should pay a fine of £100 to the Hospital"— -which of course will be paid 1 The sale of Town Sections which was to have commenced yesterday, was delayed owing to the non arrival of the officials from Ilokitika. They did not reach Greymouth until late last night some accident having occurred to the coach, The sale commenced at 10 o'clock to-day. There was absolutely no competition for occupied sites, the sufficiency of the valuation pliced upon the improvements in each case being an effectual measure for securing to each occupant his own site. 1 ought to mention that the total amount of the valuations on the buildings in the Government township is £44,132. Mr Rickard's assessments have in every case given satisfaction to the proprietors. Mr Rochfort is here and is much disappointed to find that the wharf, which is now completed, is almost useless. Somehow the current has banked up the shingle in front of the wharf and seriously reduced the depth of water. Not one of the steamers has yet made use of it. The steamer Nelson, after a detention of six months on the North Spit, was successfully launched yesterday morning. She was towed up the river by the little tug Woodpecker, with music playing and colors flying. The Nelson has not sustained such serious injury as was expected, and her chief cost of repairs will now be in supplying the fittings of which she was stripped before the sale of the hull to the present owners. She is h'kely to prove an excellent speculation. A thief was detected stealing a quantity of goods from the shop window of Messrs Smith and M'Dowell, drapers, between four and five o'clock on Wednesday morning. Mr M'Dowell had a severe fight with the intruder, but ultimately eeoured him and conveyed him to the Police

Camp The prisoner, whoso name is Joseph Moore was committed to gaol for six months with hard labor. This is the first crime of the kind that has occurred in Greymouth. With this exception there has been little or nothing of importance to engage the time of the Resident Magistrate. Ver} r favorable news has been received from the survey party despatched to lay out the line of the proposed great water race from Lake Brunner. The manager, Mr Job Savage, reports that there are no Berious o- stacks or engineering difficulties to surmount ; and that three miles of levels have been taken from the lake end, and four miles of a track have been cut from Maori Gully. He describes the district through which the race has to pass as presenting every indication of being auriferous. The miners in the Arnold district are sanguine of the success of the scheme ; and there is no doubt that as soon as the shares aro thrown on the market they will be rapidly taken up, The weather since Thursday afternoon has been most stormy. Yesterday we had I tremendous showers of hail and rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning. There is how a very heavy sea on the bar, , and the surf along the beach is higher than I1I 1 have before seen it here. It is doubtful ■ if any craft could enter the river until the ' weather moderates, as there is a fiesh I coming down.