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Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 409, 27 August 1868, Page 2

We again remind onr readers that a musical entertainment will be given to-morrow evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, in aid of the building fund of the Wesleyan Church. The business transacted in tbe Resident Magistrate's Court during the last two days has not been of the slightest public importance. On Tuesday a few civil cases were heard, but they contained no feature of any interest. It is notified in the Gazette that Mr George William Harvey has been appointed Revising Barrister for the County of Westland, under "The Friendly Societies Act, 1887." The Inspector of Schools for the Province of Nelson, in his annual report, speaks thus of the Cobden School, under the charge of Mr Ray :— Only a few weeks had elapsed since the opening of this school when I visited it, but I found it well organised and in good working order, the teacher being thoroughly up to his work, and having the advantage of previous experience. Forty-six children were present when the school was examined, nearly all of whom were, as might be expected, very backward. Amongst the papers laid on the table of the House of Repiesentatives is the " Fourth Annual Report on the Telegraph Department, New Zealand," by Mr John Hall, Commissioner of Telegraphs. The report itself is written by Mr Lemon, general manager. Mr Hall says : "Mr Lemon's report does not treat of the telegraph between Auckland and Waikato, as that line has not hitherto been under the control of the head office in Wellington. It was, however, on the iirst day of this month placed on the same footing as other portions of the telegraph aevvice. A considerable reduction will have to be effected in the cost at wbicb this line has hitherto been kept up, and which is altogether out of proportion to the revenue derived from it. " We quote the following passage from Mr Lemon's report, slowing the financial results of the department :— "The to till cash receipts of the telegraph department from all sources is £11,652 3s. 7<1,,

and the total value of business done, including guarantees and other receipts, is £18,324 3s. 10d., which, after deducting the cost of maintenance of stations and lines (£14,896 ss. Id.) leaves a balanoe to the credit of the department of £3427 18a. 9.', The interruption resulting from the extensive damage done to the lines in the months of August and February has lessened the cash receipts this year by at least £ 1000, and added fully £1500 to the cost of maintenance. " \Yr (Hawhe'a Bay Herald) deeply regret haying to chronicle the death of a comparatively recent, but most valuable gettler, Mi Uorcott Atkins, manager of the Hawke's Bay Steam Boiling-down Company, who suddenly ejep^red, at Homewood, whether he had gone the day before on the business o,f the company, on the evening of Tuesday last, while partaking of tea. Mr Atkins was an active, intelligent, obliging, and amiable man, and his loss will be much felt. He leaves a widow and five young children, who have but recently arrived from Qeelong, to lament their irreparable loss. An inquest was held by Dr English upon the remains. It was shown that deceased was apparently in his usual state of health. A very short time before his death ho appeared ■well and hearty. Soon after, he was seized with, convulsions, and died almost immediately . Tlje jury returned a verdict of " died from natural causes." An agitation is going- on in the Province of Auckland against the Qiclf and Destitute Ordinance passed by the Provincial Council, and since assented to by the Governor. It provides for the levying of a poll-tax thruughr out the Province for the relief of the sick and destitute, and the collection of the rate is meeting with the most violeut opposition. A large meeting to protest against it was held at. Parnell, when, among other resolutions, the following, moved by the Rev. S. Edger, was carried by acclamation — "That, in the opinion of this meeting, the poll-tax is unconstitutional — (cheers) — uncalled for — (cheers) — and unjust — (cheers) ; and the Provincial Council in attempting to impose it has done violence to the rights of British subjects, and proved its own incompetence to administer the affairs of the Province." Numerous other meetings have been held, with a similar result. ' A movement is on foot in this district, in conjunction with Charleston, to present to Mr Warden Lightband, who recently retired from the Government service, a suitable testimonial for past services rendered while in charge of the Grey district. It is satisfactory to know that strenuous endeavors made by Mr Lightband in past days to develop the resources of this important district, and to assist the miners in carrying on their works, are about to be recognised in a substantial shape. The subscription list has already reached a handsome sum, and will, no doubt, be further augmented. The West Coast Times of yesterday announces that a member of the theatrical profession. Mr Smutfonl Fawccbfr, diisd rather suddenly this morning after a brief illness. The deceased was a comedian of considerable ability, ho was much respected by his friends, ami was kind hearted and generous even to a fault. A pamphlet has reached u,s [Argus) horn London on the subject of the gold fields dis. covered in Africa, towards the Zambesi, in the scene of Dr. Livingstone's discoveries. It is by Robert Babbs, who was for twelve years a resident of Natal, and who proposes to return at the head of a party of 200 or 250 emigrants, for whom he desireai to charter a ship in London for Natal — on the co-operative principle— and then to guide them to the gold fields in the interior. He claims this newly-found, or re-found, gold field as the ancient Ophir, and adduces some curious proofs, from old maps, to show that for more than 200 years the country alluded to has been known as auriferous. He goes so far, iv fact, as to claim for the older geographers a very perfect knowledge of the lands, lakes, mountains, &c. , lately traversed by Livingstone, and by Speke and Grant.