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Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 722, 3 September 1870, Page 2

A strong expression of opinion was given yesterday by Judge Ward, with regard to the practice on the Nelson side of the river of allowing mining agents to appear in cases heard in Resident Magistrate's Courts. He though!) that Magistrates should not allow it. The information contained in our telegram from Nelson to-day will be read with the deepest regret, as the gentleman to whom it refers was universally respected . It is to be hoped that the matter may be capable of explanation. There was no meeting of the Borough Council last evening. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, on Thursday, a charge of making use of obscene and insulting language was preferred by Mrs Burgess against Mrs Driscoll. It arose out of a woman's quarrel. The defendant was fined 10s and costs. There was no business before the Court yesterday. The newly-formed Town Band made its first public appearauce on Thursday, and we must say that, considering the shortness of the time since it was organised, the members deserve much credit for the proficiency they have already attained. An alami of fire was given yesterday afternoon in Boundary street;, when smoke was seen issuing from the rear of Ashton's Hotel, One tap was given on the fire-bell, and a rush was made to the spot, when it was found that a quantity of matting had been laid on the top of the kitchen close to the stove-pipa, and tlie lieat of cne pipe had ignited it. A few buckets of water soon extinguished it, but it was a very narrow escape for the block. The funeral of the unfortunate young man William George Hall, who was drowned by falling from the timber- wharf, took place on Thursday afternoon. As the deceased was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, the members of the Court Concord tinned out in regalia, and the members of the two local lodges of Oddfellows joined thtm in paying a last mark of respect to the deceased, The funeral procession formed at tbe Lodge Room. (Hunt's Club Hotel) and proceeded to the offices of Messrs Watson and Wickes, where the body was lying. Past-Chief Ranger E. Wickes read the funeral address of the Order over the body ere it was removed, which was listened to by the brethern with much, attention. The coffin was then placed in the hearse, and the funeral cortege, preceeded by the recentlyformed Town Band playing the "Dead March," and followed by over two hundred gentlemen, proceeded to the Cemetery. At the grave the Rev. MrCannell officiated, and O.K. Simmons read the last closing address of the Order, before the company dispersed. The deceased has been on the Grey since its first settlement, and was very much respected by all with whom he came in contract. The Christy Minstrels gave a concert on Thursday eveniugfor tie benefit of the funds of the Town Band. The house was not nearly so well filled as might have been expected, but the performance was excellent throughout. ' "The History of England," with local allusions, as related by Mr Bent, fcold immensely, and tbe dancing of Mr Carroll was as good as usual, and was greatly appreciated.. Last night we were astonished to find there was "no house," the members of the company very properly declining to play to the few who applied for admission. This is much to be regretted, especially after the kindness of the troupe in endeavoring to raise funds for a local institution. We hope to see a full house to-night. Tbe Minstrels will only appear for other two evenings, the last, on Monday eveniug, being for the benefit of that very clever dancer and tambourinist Mr Alfred Carroll. It is to be hoped the h.ouse will be crowded that evening. We notice that Mr S. Poole aud several amateurs will render their assistance on the occasion. A meeting of the Grey Valley Agricultural Association Committee" was held at Mr Lardi's, Totara Flat, on Wednesday evening. Present- Messrs Donald (in the chair), O'Malley, M'Neil, Ersbine, M'Kinley, aud Al;:orn. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. Collectors were then appointed to canvass the various di-tricts--Mr Donald, with the local members, for Greymonth and Cobden ; Mr O'Malley and Mr M Neil for the Little Grey and Ahaura, The reporb oi the Suh-Oommittee was then read and adopted. The following are its recommendations : — That the Ploughing Match be held on Mr James M'Kiiiley's land. That the quantity, owing to short lands, be one and a-half roods, to be completed in six hours. That the furrow be Sin wide and oin deep." That there, be an equal number of furrows on each side, mould furrows included. That there be five prizes given for the best ploughing ; also, one for the best crown, one for the best finish, one for the best ins and outs ; also, that a prize be given for the best pair of- horses, one for the best kept harness, and one for the. best groomed ho-ses It was agreed to call a meeting of the Committee on Wednesday, the 7th inst. , to decide the amount of prizes, and elect a president and vice-president. It was also agreed that the time for entries be' extended till Wednesday, the 7th. A man named Douglas Joseph met with severe injuries on Wednesday, at German Gully, Arahii'-a. He was engaged working in a tunnel claim, which was only, in as far as the space occupied by two sets of timber, the second one being a false set, the face gave way against this last set, bringing the slabs and gravel on top of the unfortunate man, who, when rescued by his mates, was found hurt about tho loins. He was taken to the Hokitika Hospital. The Duke of Edinburgh is now in Wellington, It will be seen by our latest telegrams that he was present on Thursday highfc at a farewell' ball given to the Commodore, who has been ordered home. A serious 'accident occurred at Lyttelton on Saturday evening to a seaman named Joseph Hay, employed on board the brigantine Camilla. It appears that the vessel had been towed during the afternoon to the buoy off the screw pile jetty, and the men werefemployed aloft furling sails. Hay was

on tlie fore yard, and by some cause missed j his hold. His head struck the rail of the | vessel anl he rebounded into the sea. lie j was picked up insensible and carried on shore, and thence to Dr Campbell's surgery, where tlie wound was quickly dressed. News of a sudden and unaccountable death at Wainniomata has reached Wellington through the police. A man named Clarke, a . schoolmaster, went out during the early part of the week to look for missing cattle. Anxiety was created .at his protracted | absence, aud a search, party was immediately | organised among the neighbors, -who found I his dead body in the bush. At a meeting of the Dunedin City Council lately the Mayor drew attention to a paste' board box wiiich had, he said, been laid on his desk. On a label pasted on the cover of this box was written : " Two specimens of the instruments for torturing bipeds, in use AD. 1870. at Mercer's crossing, Princes street, Dunedin, N.Z. Presented for the consideration of tbe. Dunedin City Council, by James Eattray, Dunedin, 13th August, 1870. " . (The box on being opened was found to contain two large sharp-cornered stones, artistically packed in wool, and they on being exhibited caused considerable amusement.) His Woisliip thought it a very good joke, but Mr Rattray had made a lr.istake in sending it there, as it was the Government that had charge of the main road. The Bruce Standard (Otago) relates the following :— It may perhaps be within the recollection of some of your readers that during the Crimean War a remarkable dispatch was sent from Lord Panmure, the Minister of War ab that time, to Lord | Raglan, the then General Commanding i\\ < the Crimea. It contained the mysterious — at least they were so to the British public — words, "Take care of Dowbigging." The comic periodicals and the other papers of the day got hold of it, criticised it, ridiculed it, cut it to pieces ; in short, for a long period of time it became one of the bons mots of English society. Even the Haymarket Theatre presented to a London audience a force bearing the title of "Take care of Dowb ," satirising the Ministerial dispatch. Few, perhaps, in the world, either here or beyond the seas, know that within the precincts of Tokomairiro Cemetry, far away from the world that was once so busy with his name and his affairs, sleeping unconscious of all the varied and varying phases of life, forgotten by all save perhaps a few loving friends at home, rests all that is mortal of the nephew of Lord Panmure — a striking instance of the uncertainty of human existence, and of the changes that may befall us through .life.