Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 196, 16 April 1867, Page 2

We arc informed by tho AVarden, W. 11. Revell, Esq., that all rights and privileges on the Grey gold fields in the province ot Canterbury will lie protected during Thiusday, the 1 Sth instant, on the occasion of tho Greymouth election. The meeting of the General Assembly is further prorogued until the 30th Maj f . A meeting, convened by the friends and suj p-n-ters of Mr Whall, took place last oveiiiugatKrgrar's Hotel. The room was well filled, and Mr Do Costa was chosen chairman. The proceedings did not last long. Mr Simmons, in a speech defending Mr Whall's political character, proposed that he was a fit and proper person to represent Greymouth in the Provincial CVuncii. Mr Heron seconded, and Messrs Fisher and Wickes supported the proposition. No other resolution or amendincut being proposed, Mr Sinimons's motion was put and ca/ried. Saturday's West Coast Times informs us that Mr Goulson, of the Bank of New South Wales, was on Friday handling a revolver, on the Bank premises, with a A'iew to examine its construction, when 0110 of the chambers exploded, and. severely injured the fifth finger of his left hand. The result might have been much more serious. The Brighton Times of Saturday thus comments on the apparently causeless rush to the northward : •-• Buller has been the great centre of attraction to tho mining population for several days past, aud the people of this district have been in a state of feverish excitement with respect to the ru.sh which is just now setting in at that place. Several hundreds of miners h:\ve left Brighton and Pakihi with the view of proceeding thither, ,but how far they arcfeustified iu-taki';.3lMich ; a step .Aviil be seenj|.u the course <»t]j^mw \yliidi 'i^^K

•-■.-• ( gathered from various sources, we are of opinion that there is not the slightest ground for the rush to the Bnller, and we feel somewhat surprised that sp jnauy miners should haye left this district in face of the warring given in Mr Commissioner Kynnei'sley's i-e---port against such a step being taken. This is not the first time that a sensation rush has been reported at the Buller, and with results which have involved the most bitter disappointment, and great loss of time and money; and' we feel assured that we. shall not be far from the truth in stating that the present rush will be attended with similar results. Evidence of this is already being manifest, for if we are correctly informed a number of diggers have returned from the Buller to Pakihi and have reported on the new gold fields in terms by no. means favorable or civ couraging. It certainly, would be a source of pleasure to us to know that a new payable gphl field had been discovered in the neighborhood of the Buller, and the public we believe would feel as delighted as ourselves, but we protest against the practice indulged in by certain parties for specific jHirposes, of getting. up sensational reports concerning tho rich auriferous, characters, of pertain localities, to the almost utter ruin of many honest and hard-working men. That gold exists in the Buller district, we do nqt for- one moment question, but that it exists in such quantities as to offer anything in the shape of a. real inducement to diggeis generally, is quite another matter ; and we would strongly adviso the miners of Brighton and Pakihi not to leave the excellent prospects which many of them possess for what hi all probability may prove a delusion and a snare." Under date of Westport, April 0, we learn that the election of a member for the Provincial Council has taken place, Messrs 1 Wright, Crate, and Hankin being the candidates. Mr Haukin resigned. The result of the poll was as follows : — Mr Wright, 23 ; Mr Crate, IJ. The rejected candidate, Mr Crate, seems determined not to give up the 1 hope of representing the West Coast in the -.. Nelson Council ; as they will not have him at the Buller, he is about to try the Grey. He announces his intention of meeting the electors of Brighton, on Sunday, of all days of the week, and those of Cobdcn to-night. At a recent meeting of the Hokitika Municipal Council, the Mayor stated that he had received a requisition from some of the inhabitants of Hokitika, calling upon him to convene a public meeting concerning the rates. As trade was dull, the ainotnt of the rates pressed heavily on the people of the town. Nothing could be done with regard to the present six months, but as to the next six months, the opinion of the Town Solicitor could betaken as to, the power of the Council to alter the rate. On the motion of Cr. Ecclesficld it was agreed that tho opinion of the Town Solicitor be taken as to whether. the Council had power to alter the rates for the next six months. There cannot be the slightest doubt (says the liriyhtun Times) but that coals exist in abundance in the whole ' district between Brighton and Charleston, for numerous indications of the fact are being made manifest almost every day. We were yesterday shown a sample of very superior quality taken from a seam of 20 feet in thickness Avliich has this week been discovered about two milos from town. The coal is 'superior to that of. .the Grey or the Buller, and nmoh botfcur adapted for steam and other purposes. V\ r e learn from the West Coa-sl Time* that on Friday last the Prince of Wales O|»ijr«i. House was submitted to public auction by Mr Craig (of the linn of Surot and Craig).. About 100 persons were present. The auctioneer stated that in the first place he should offer for competition the theatre only, and the ground upon which it stood, excluding the scenery, cigar divai'i, aud tho gasometer. The fixtures, however, which properly belonged to the theatre, would of course go with it. 'The auctioneer stated that the building had costL74G9 before the corrugated iron roof had been put on. The expense of the roof was between L2OO and L3OO. The terms of sale -were, one-fourth cash, and bills at two, three, and four months ' for the balance, security to be held over the building by the vendor until the whole of the bills had boon taken up. Mr Marks started the'-bid-ding at LI 00, and it then went up iii hundreds until it reached L 2400, which, we understand was a bid made by Messrs Anthony and Finlay; This' appearing to be the' highest amount likely to be offered, and riot being equal to the reserve which had been put upon the theatre, it was bought in for L 2450. "As the last bonafide bid wos not very far, «i/s we have been given to ' understand, frohi what would be accepted,, it is very likely that tho building will bo sold privately. In answer to a question put )ust as the sale commenced, Mr Craig stated that an undeniable title to the property could be given. The following is the resume of the mining affairs of Fox's and its neighborhood, given by the Brhjldim Times of the 13th inst. : — The latest accounts from the Buller are to the effect that no gold has been fouud in payable quantities, except that taken out of the iirst bottomed holes by the prospectors. ] The rush still continues in that direction and t some hundred of miners have left Brighton aud the Pajkihi fpr the locality. Two new rushes have also taken place between this town and the Pakihi, one about two miles from the.latter place, and the other about five from the former. At the first, mentioned place, some holes have been bottomed to the depth of thirteen feet, with prospects of two to four grains to the shovel ; and the other diggiugs, which is on the old track between Brighton and the Pakihi, and leading to the spot known as Gentle Annie's Hill, the prospects are equally good. The waslidirt is similar to that of the Frenchman's ' Terrace, and lays on a sandstone bottom known to cover some soams of coal, This goldfield is situated on an elevation of about 500 feet to GOO feet above the level of the sea At the Pied Jacket Terrace threfe new shafts have been bottomed on payable gold. At the Union Terrace fresh discoveries have been made on tg. , 'J^e "gokt-, lujjfr! the lead towards Brighton. ■MHHj^kjn has not been

found in paj r able quantities. In a southerly direction from this town, and about two miles di.stant from it, a party following up a creek the other day found some coarse gold on the upper part of the bank on the side of it The same party intend to explore the whole of the locality, as they believe that it abounds with payable gold. At the Welshman's Terrace the prospects were never better, and shares in some instances have been disposed of at very high figures. Two shares in one claim were sold a few daj's ago for L3OQ and L 450. A good deal of litigatiou is going on among the miners on account of alleged encroachments, and ever,y spare inch of ground is being disputed. The miners are still complaining of the scarcity of water, and ai much as L2O a week has been paid by one party for the use of what is generally called a black sand head, which is equivalent to from six to eight square inches. It is still in contemplation to bring water on the terraces bqth from the Tikopiha and Fox's river.