The Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1908.

Grey River Argus, Volume 57, Issue 10520, 2 February 1903, Page 2

The Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DA ILY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1908.

After a lull, the question of the ipeakersljip is being revived, ami in khesaine quarter that tbe matter wad iirs», mouted. The Dunedin evening paper is always early in the field with speculation- as to the probabilities of future actions of Government. In default of anything new on that tcore, it makes up for its deficiency by ab least a rumor. It was this highly speculative, if not 100 well imformed journal, that ■first circulated ihe rumour that tho Government would probably > ventually select Sir W Rttuseell toe the speaker- • hip. It now doubts whether they could rise lo that height of magnauimity, though Sir Win Russell has spared all trouble over the matter by , declining the honor ef being a candidate for the office. We ventured to express the hope that Mr Se idon would rise above paroy narrow nes-s and i >c ect Sir Wm Russell, who is in every ■ way calculated to maintain the traditions of the very high position. But it appears that the feeling of the party is against it. It was not therefore 10 be expectet that Mr Seddon woull fly in the f.ice of his supporters, whose approval is always trie pnoaesb consideration, especially whan he has a new Parliament, to d<'.al with, and when party predilections have to be considered. We are free to confess that we were a little doubtful on 'hat account that the member for Hawke's Bay would bo ijeleuterL The belief now seems to be pretty general that thu choice of the Government willfall on Mr ftl'Nab, the member for Mataura. He is an untried man, certainly, and though he lias afforded evidence of capacity it by no means follows that he is possessed of the high qualities that must be looked for in a Speaker who has to fill the .shoes of so gifted an officer as (Sir Maurico O'Rorke, Sir Charles Clifford andtfir David Monroe, before SirMau rice' O'Rork •. They gave a pivstige to the office tlv.it he admit ably maintained, and that any possible successor mght well feel a diffidence in ; fol'owini' them in a way to satisfy a House that might reasonably be expected to be a lilt c exacting after such able predecessors. But for all th it thore is no reason to suppose that Mr M'jSTub would not ne equal to the high duties of the office. He •is a, lawyer and a gentleman of culfcu-eand parts, who might satisfy his friends and" disappoint his opponents. The Housf. 1 , howeve' 1 , isdoubless the best jud-o in these matters, though the test of experience alone can decide the question. A plea is raised in soitH quarters on behalf of Mr Guinne s from having so long filled fche position of Chairman of Committees aid Assistant-Speaker by virtue of his office. But he is by no means a perso;ui grata in the eye:-) or the Government or the House generally; and as this is an essential qualification to ;my aspirant to the office his chance is thus ivndo prac i'juilv nugatory. The same reasons thab prevented his att-tining tho position of AttorneyGeneral, which has remained unfilled now for years, would seem to operate against his induction to the Speaker's chair, thoughj his qualifications and experience ought to enable him to acquit himself creditably enough in the fulfilment of duties that freq 'ently demand great discretion and tact. Speakers are something like poets, who .i-GSiid to be born, not made. It lias beou hinted tlub though his chance of rho Speakership may be somewhat microscopic, Govern men t have something in store for him, and it ia again said that hi 3 ambition will l>e plac tted, if not entirely satisfie ', by appointing him Attorney-General That seems to be the only suitable ffice in the power of the Government to confe» on him, though we are very doubtful that he is destined to hold that office under the present Government, whatever chance he may have of doing sn under any other Administration. Howeve -, the circumstances would seem to point to Mr Guinness ' being safe .to be reappointed to the Chairmanship of Committees, though party exigencies may make the appointment uncertain. But, all things considered, and the absolute necessity th.tt so important an office should be filled by a person of expet ience, we do nob rcadly recognise who in the new Parliament has a bstter claim than the member for Grey, or is at all likely to \e selected t / supersede him, though tk>ubt>less there aro other gentle nan who have no doubt as to their own ability to fill the po.i'ion satisfactorily.

The Westland Cricket Association in conjunction with the Greymouth Club entertain the members of the competing cricket teams at the Royal Hotel this evening. The -^ function will begin at 8 o'clock sharp and will be over at an early hoar to allow the cricketers to attend a dance afc the Opera House, which will be tendered to them by the ladies of Groymtmth. On Saturday Miss .Smith received certificates f>-oni the Pitman Phonetic Institute showing fchafc throe of her pupils, tho Musses Lochore, Roche, and E Smith had successfully passed the shorthand examination and are credited with a speed of 80 words per minute. Teacher and pupils are to be complimented on tbe large measure of success attained. On Saturday morning the Pactolus Company's No I dredge sank in the paddock, the cause being striking submerged timber. Fortunately the position is not a bad one as the suiface water can be diverted and the paddeck pumped dry if necessary at comparatively small expense , A few days will probably see the machine ' at work again. Mrs M Gillingham, Cobden, notifies in another column that she has commenced in the bakery business in Bright street, Cobden, and that having secured ii the services of a 6rst class baker, hopes f by strict attention to fche wants of the ' trade, to merit a fair sherc of public sup S port. Tho bakery business will in futuro ft be carried on in conjunction with the n store -and general grocery establishment ft known as M Gillingham, Cokden. J The usual live stock sales will be be Id ° afc Preston Yards to-day. U( Messrs H C Harley and Co have juefc j

I received from the Motueka Fruit Grow" era Society a consignment of raspberries, and the firm desire chat orders be sent in at once, as this will be the last consignment this season. The annual meeting of the Brunner Medical As.-ociation was held last Thursday The roport and balance sheet shows the gross receipts for the year co be L 456 5s 9J, and the period closes with a credit balance of LlO7 5s 2d. The election of oflicera resulted as follows : — Chairman and Treasurer, Mr H Copper Smith; Secretary, Mr T Franklin; auditors, Messrs Clark and Newton ; Committee, Messrs Cosgrove, Richardson, Wills, Planter, Lumsden, Bourke, Kenden, Bennett and Connolly. The Dobson bore is now down 1707 ft, and penetrating a hard band of measure that contains a considerable quantity of coal gric. Progress is being made at the a-iteof 14ft per day. The capacity of tho boring plant is about 2000 ft. but coal is expected to be met with before this depth is reached. The usual meeting of the Greymouth Fire Brigade will be held this evening at 8 o'clock, when all members are requested to attend. Amongst other business the election of a delegate and the final selection of the team to compete at Napier will take place. The Oornmitteo of the United Fire Brigade Association have selected the Chiltern Fire Brigade team (Victoria) as the team to represent Australia in the forthcoming contest at Napier. A painful accident happenod to M r George* Park on Friday morning en board ihe scow Yho While working at the winch ha got the tips of his left hand fingers c-iught in the cogs, wrenching off the nails of two of them. The half yoirly issue of the Post and Telegraph Guide has duly come to hand. Anongsfc the alterations ma so in this district si.ice the October issue of the Guide are the opening of p»st offices at luchbounie and Upper Moonlight ; a telephone at Totara Flat. Mr J.-is Colvin, MHR, has returned his election expenses at L3O 10s. " Bargains, did you say." Why ! Yes, bargains and startling ones at that are being given away at the great re-building sale. Christopher Smith finding his fth-.»p too small has decided before aitecatiuns are tmde to clear the whole of his new summer stock at slaughtering prices, absolutely without reserve. Men's Gallatea Shirts 4s, reduced to 2s 3d ; 3 pair Men's Woollen Socks for 2s 6i ; Men's All Wool Flannels for 2a bd ; 560 Men's and B.jy.s' good Straw Hats 4s and 3s, reduced to Is at C Smith's, the Cash Drapsr. — Advt. Long life, health and perfect happiness can only be obtained by drinking the celebrated Beehive A 1 teas. These teas skilfully blended from the finest that Ceylon can produce are drunk by al Both far and near. Griffbn and Smith, beehive and Union stores, — Advt. Football ia a manly gams That hardens inuricle, knits tha frame, And makes New Zealand's hardy youth Our and strength, and that's the truth Bad coughs aud celds attack the strong, As much the weak, that's sure, Let both— they never can ga wrong — Take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Adtt. St George Jams— -Ask for, and see that you get them. AnvT. For 14 days only. We will sacrifice the whole of our stock at unheard of. prices. We are stocktaking and intend to make an entire clearance. Bargains for everybody. W M'Kay jnd Son. — Advt, St George Jams— Are first in tho nks. —Advt If thoee troubled with Dandruff, or Dry Scalp, or Filling Hair would only try a buttle of Parker's Hair Tonic, the results would surprise them, All chemists sell i 2s 6d ; posted. 3s, — Advt.