THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY MAY 5, 1879.

Mr Shaw, R M,, and family, were entertained at a ball at Dawson's Hotel, on Thursday nignt, prior to departing for Taranaki.

It will be seen tnat the proprietors of the Wallsend Colliery have resolved to commence working operations, as tenders have been called for additions and repairs to the surface round the working shaft.

A petition emanating from three-fifths ot j the Kaineri Road Board appears in the West ( Coast Times, requesting that his Excellency , the Governor will form a new County out of i the County of Westland, the said petition defining the limits of the proposed County. Our contemporary styles it "a huge joke," and supposes that the ratepayers " are entering a humorous protest against being too much governed." A telegram to the Lyttelton Times dated Hawera, May 1, seems to hint that the Waimate Plains difficulty is Betled. It says :— The bushmen have resumed work without further opposition. Twonty-four dray loads of wheat passed through Sawera this morning accompanied by a large number of natives, including Hone Pehama. The wheat will be ground at the Opunake flour mill, and then taken on to Parihaka. All classes of natives now seem to acknowledge Te Whiti as their head, aud each avow peaceful intentions. The Maoris are laying in a stock of provisions which will keep, and selling off the spare perishable commodities. Since it was announced by the Government emissaries that Colonel Whitmore and the Ngatiporas would come and settle affairs, the natives have been praoaring for ths worst. Katene is one of the most active amongst Titokowaru's men, appearing to render every assistance and advice. Hares are increasing so rapidly at Mount Four Peaks, the Levels Station, and Peel Forest (South Canterbury), that poison has been laid to decrease the numbers. Commercial morality is becoming sadly degenerate in Masterton. The Wairarapa Daily sent to one of the brightest and best of its subscribers a moderate bill amounting to 7s 6d. It came back endorsed *'Not provided for." A laboring man named Mitchell, who recently left Hokitika in the Stella, was killed on Thursday at vVanganui by the fall of a tree. He leaves a widow and family in Sokitika. A correspondent of the Christchurch Press hints that " Mr Barff will be called to the Legislative Council as a further reward for past services. He might represent the Government in that House." Very like a whale ! The Government have offered a reward of LSOO for such evidence as will lead to tbe conviction of any person or persona wilfully setting tire to any properties in the Colony of New Zealand. At the last meeting of the Wellington Municipal Council, Councillor Allen, in speaking of the difficulty in separating the classes admitted to the hospital, naively remarked that it was very difficult to keep the the old men from the •' medical comtorts."

\t the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before W. H, Revell, Esq, R.M, Henry jauncey was charged by James Marr, watchmaker and jeweller, with the larceny of two brooches, value about L 5. Mr Guinness defended the prisoner. James Marr proved that on the 26th December last he had in bis shop two brooches, one value L 4 10s and the other 10s, and that he removed his goods to other premises on that date, the prisoner being the only person that assisted him in removing his goods. It was about a fortnight afterwards before ha missed the best brooch, when the owner called for it, and he * a d afterwards to make it good. About the middle of April he ascertained that prisoner had given the cheap brooch to Chase's daughter, when he gave information to the police of the loss of both brooches. The brooch produced in Court was the one he got back from chase's daughter.— Rebecca Chase proved that she receivod the brooch from prisoner about last Christmas while he waa boarding at her father's house. He said he had found it. The prisoner admitted haviog given the brooch to the previous witness, but stated he had found it. He denied all knowledge of the other brooch. — The Bench found that there was no evidence to connect prisoner with the larceny of the cameo brooch, but found him guilty of stealing the gilt one, and sentenced him to 14 days' impriaonment. We understand that thirty men were at work last week on the Greymouth and Hokitika Railway, but this week the number will be largely I creased. Mr Bo wen, who has given great satisfaction during the tine he has had charge of the construction of the Ahaura Bridge, has been appointed clerk of works The ordinary meeting of the Volnnteer Fire Brigade will be held this evening at the Brigade Hall. Girdwood, Lahman, and Co. will sell by auction this day at Preston Yards, fat bullocks, sheep, lambs, and pigs. With the view to prevent disappointment to persona visiting the Court House, we have been requested to state that; the shortcut through the Post Office to the Court has been boarded up altogether. The statement of accounts for the Borough of Greymouth will be found in our fourth page. In consequence of the dry weather— a rather unusual complaint on the West Coast -the inhabitants of Greymouth are beginning to complain of the scarcity of water for domestic purposes Every day quite a small flest of boats assemble at the mouth of the river, and some very good hauls of rock cud have rewarded the fishermen. A number of the inhabitants of Kumara met on Thursday evening in the Kumara tate School room for the purpose of presenting Mr Phillips, late head master of that school, with a testimonial and address prior to his departure for Shortland. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and, in a few words, expeesßed regret at parting wi'h Mr and Mrs Phillips As a testimonial of the appreciation in which they were held by the parents of the children, who had been under their charge, he begged to present them with an illuminated address from the parents and a Bilver tea and coffee service. An address expressive of regret at Mr and Mrs Phillips leaving the district was alsu preae-.ted by the Chairman of the Local School Committee. Suitable replies having been made by Mr Phillips the company dispersed after the usual lea vt -taking. On Saturday there was a grand display of bunting from the vessels alongside the wharf on the occasion of Mr A. Franer, *he mate of the tug steamer Dispatch, entering the married state. A new signal was hoisted on board one of the cargo boats (which created a great deal of amusement) in the shape of a banner of peculiar design mounted crosswise. We wish the fair briae aud bridegroom the usual compliments. Tbe special correspondent of the Lyttelton Times has been paying a visit to the Mount Rangitoto Silver Mine, and he came to the conviction that he was "Bold" ingoing so far to visit a " Bilver mine." He winds up his letter by saying— "Altogether the journey was a disappointment. All the time we were prying a'toutthe mine T waa expecting to see the lode of silver ore, and when the manager informed us that there was no Buck lode, and that the small quantities of j galena found were only those wo saw mixed ; up with pyrites and quartz, I felt, like ' Moore—" aud her ' follow- a ; oetica! quotaj tion to the effeco that "ho &» d seen all his * foni hopes decay."