THE PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARYI3, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1416, 13 February 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TH URSDA Y, FEBR UARY 13, 1873.

In addition to the entries for the Ahaura races published in our issue of Monday, Ronald, the chesnut gelding of Mr James Ferguson', of the Ikamatua, has been entered for the Grey Valley Handicap. The first exhibition, under the auspices of the lately-formed Greymouth Horticultural Society is announced to take place in the Volunteer Hall to-day. All exhibits must be in the hall by ten a.m. At the same time and place the Greymouth Poultry Society will also hold its first exhibition, and the combined efforts of these two young societies ought not only to prove highly attractive, but should also be largely appreciated and extensively patronised by the residents. The West Coast Times is informed upon good authority that the memorials of the parishioners of All Saints and of the other parishes in the Archdeaconry of Westland, praying that Archdeacon Harper be not removed, have been so far successful that the JBishep of the Diocese has intimated to the Board of Nominators that the Arch- 1 deacon will not accept the cure of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch. The Archdeacon's removal from residence in Westland is postponed indefinitely, but with the intimation that when at a future time occasion may demand such removal the interests of the Church generally will have to be taken into consideration. It will be seen by our European telegram that the' Times has published "a Paris letter denying authoritatively the joint guardianship of the Prince Imperial, and re-affirming "the existence of two Bpnapartißt factions. Prince Napoleon, it is said, awaits the course of events/ The joint guardianship alluded to would probably consist of the ex-Empress und Prince Napoleon. Perhaps the late Emperor thought to disarm the opposition and neutralise the intrigues of his very dear cousin by appointing him one of the guardians of his heir. But possibly PlonPlon has his own objects to Berve, and 30 prefers dividing the party, on the chance of gaining something for himself, to pushing the fortunes of the legitimate head

of the Bonaparte family. The acceptance of the guardianship would hamper his action, for although we do not think, judging by the past, he would hesitate one moment to sacrifice the interests of his ward for his own personal aggrandisement, the execration which would follow the betrayal of such a trust would militate greatly against his chance of ever obtaining power, Mr Joshua Strange Williams, Registrar General of Land, and Mr W alter Scott Reid, Assistant Law Officer, are at present in Auckland conducting the inquiry into the charges made by Mr J. B. Russell, against Mr Beckham, K.M. A woman was recently charged at the Thames Police Court, with disorderly behaviour at Shortland. The defence was that, as the offence took place below high water mark, the place could not be described as one of public resort. The plea was successful. Various amendments to the regulations under the " Merchant Shipping Act, 1869," are set forth in the Government Gazette of Thursday, which should be in the possession of every person occupying a position ot responsibility on board trading vessels. The regulations are inserted for the benefit of those "who may be desirous" of obtaining certificates of competency, but it would not have been too much to expect, in view of the disaster resulting from sheer incompetency in the case of the City of Newcastle, that the Government would have made it an imperative condition that persons having charge of vessels, whether in the capacity of master or mate, should possess that certificate of guarantee of competency which the examination under the "Merchant Ships Officers Examination Act" is intended to secure. As long as the matter remains optional, and parsimonious owners of vessels are permitted to appoint incompetent persons as officers at low rates of wages, the Examination Act, and the regulations issued from time to time under its provisions will appear to be what they are in reality, mere dumbshow. According to our London telegram, Mr Anthony Musgrave is to be the new Governor of South Australia. Mr Musgrave, though probably little known in Australia, has had some experience in connection with the Colonial Office. He was Private Secretary to Mr Mackintosh when the latter was Go* vernor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands in 1850-51, and in 1851 he entered as a. student at Middle Temple. He was appointed Trea-sury-Accountant at Antigua in 1852, and in the following year resumed his studies at the Temple. He was appointed Colonial Secretary of Antigua in February, 1854 ; Administrator of the Colony of Nevis in IS6O ; Administrator of the Government of St. Vincent in May, 1862 ; and Governor of Newfoundland in April, 1864. Subsequently be held the office of Governor of British Columbia, and was afterwards appointed to the Lieu-tenant-Governorship of Natal. The Hon. John Hall will take his departure on his visit to the old country in the outward trip of the Nebraska, his family following in a few days in the Lady Jocelyn from Canterbury. As a necessary consequence, Mr Hall will resign his seat as a member of the Cabinet, and as far as we can learn it is likely that Mr Waterhouse will temporarily, and probably permanently, take charge of the portfolio of the Colonial Secretary. The first Chinese marriage in the Mount Tda district, Otago, was recently solemni.sed at Naseby, and the Chronicle informs us that the Court House was filled by an anxious crowd, who were attracted thither by the novelty of the proceeding. The happy bridegroom, with a desire to secure more firmly his treasure, was anxious that the certificate of marriage should authorise him, when he felt so inclined, to convey his newlywedded wife to the Flowery Land. The fourth volume of " The New Zealand Stud Book " is now being prepared for the press, and Mr C. Elliott, of Nelson, the publisher, requests breeders of thorough-bred horses to send in returns not later than the end of this month, in order that they may appear in the forthcoming volume. Mr Joshua Finher, on the 15th ult, had an iuterview with the Hon. Julius Vogei, and the Hon. Mr Reynolds and brought under their attention the desirability of American steamers touching at some other of the islands on their route across the Pacific, and so open up a traffic between the Australian colonies and Central and North America. Mr Vbgel thought that at present there would be considerable danger in performing such a service with the class of steamers now engaged. Mr Reynolds endeavored to impress upon Mr Firmer the desirability of establishing a branch line via Sydney to Auckland. Mr Finner's object was to bring the colonies into direct communication, via the South Sea Islands, with New Granada, through the Isthmus of which it had been proposed to cut a canal ; but his views received no encouragement from the New Zealand delegates. The following regulations for the appropriation of funds of the New Zealand University, which have been approved by his Excellency the Governor, are to have effect from the 13th October last :— That one thousand pounds (L 1000) be appropriated for the establishment of twenty (20) Scholaiships, to be . awarded for proficiency in one or more of the following subjects :— l. Classics. 2. Mathematics. 3. Physical science. 4. Modern languages, other than English literature. That there shall be one scholarship in each of the above-mentioned branches of study of the value of seventy pounds (L 70 ); and that the remainder be of the value of forty -five pounds (L 45); and that the- tenure of each, scholarship be for the term of the University course. That the balance of the three thousand pounds (L 3000) be appropriated to the [payment of the incidental expenses of the Council.