THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1655, 24 November 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1873.

More diffused than intensified the interest taken in the election of the first Westland Superintendent may be said to become as the number of possible candidaes increases without the desired improvement in their qualities. The feelin", in fact," oscillates with increase or decrease in the particular of number. At first there was a possible five — Mr Lahman, Mr R<.binaon, Mr Hoos, Mr White, and Mr Bouar ; and the uncertainty of the result of a contest between these five gentlemen subdued the interest which would have been felt had there been fewer in the field. Then the number fell to three, and fresh interest was awakened, though, looking at the contest from a Greymouth point of view, public sympathy with one or other of the three was not much aroused. Now the number is five once more — not in actual fact, but in prospect, and the question for the constituency may be said to be as puzzling as at first. That it is less so to the Greymouth section of the constituency than any other may be safely said, because local feeling to a large extent favors Mr Martin Kennedy, and. because he is felt to be in many respects a very eligible candidate, and to be in good favor or repute beyond the mere locality in which he is best known ; but still the electors are in a partial degree puzzled because it has been pretty openly stated that he did not contemplate becoming a candidate, because he is at present absent from the Colony, and because, even were he nominated, his candidature could only be then ormmenced at a disadvantage People are still more puzzled by the proposal that Mr Todd, the present Mayor of Hokitika, should become a candidate, for the simple reason that it is impossible to discover what particular merits he possesses which would fit him to fill the place to- which his local friends would seek to elevate him It puzzles people to think why Mr Lahman orMrßobinsor should leave a field which Mr Todd might | be persuaded to enter, and it puzzles them more to think how Mr Todd can come to think that he would be preferred, or would deserve to be preferred, to gentlemen who have taken active part in politics or general public affairs— say, even Mr White, Mr Bonar, and Mr Hoos. Perhaps the questions puzzle Mr Todd himself more than anybody else, and, if they do, his better course would be to give himself " the benefit of the doubt," by dismissing

himself from the bar of private conscience, rather than invite defeat at the bar of public opinion. When better known as v public man, it is possible that he may be better appreciated than he is at present, when he can only be appreciated as a conscientious, careful Borough Councillor, elected Mayor by his fellows within a smaller circle, on much the same principle as a County Chairman, and nothing more. The proverb suggests a square peg for a square hole, but Todd in the hole would scarcely be recognised by political carpenters or cooks as consonant with the fitness of things. Coming to the other candidates who have been named, and whose number, being three, is just sufficient to intensify interest in the result, it may be said that, of the three, Mr John White's candidature is locally looked upon as least likely to be successful. And this element of success, it must be remembered, has not unfrequently in such a contest as much to do with the directing of votes as a man's individual merits. Neither locally nor jieuerally does Mr White deserve to be looked upon than as an indefatigable, industrious, and outspoken representative of the people, and in that particular he not only might, but does, specially deserve well of the portion of the constituency whom he h»3 represented. H<iw, even With that advantage of appreciative acquaintance, Hokitika may estimate Lis candidature for ih> j Superintbndency it is impossible to say, there having as yet been no indication of public opinion. Should he find favor with Hokitika and the southern half nf the Provir.cp, it will be frem more intimate acquaintance with him than prevails here, for here the popular impression, gained from hearsay, or from a perusal <>f his pithy writings and speeches, is that he 18 more apt in a' tack, in the demonstration of abuses, and in the assert! »n of certain popular principles, than in the gubernatorial management of the affairs of a Province. Mr White's reputation, in fact, as it has gone before him, favors more the feeling to retain him as a representative than to place him in a position to which he is, at least, new, if it cannot be said that he is unfitted ; and this, with his questioned success, are two circumstances; which he will have to endeavor to overcome, as best he can, by personal presence and perstmion. It mwy nut be psiyine a compliment, to him, but it will probably prove to be the fact, that as a candidate he will do more for the constituency than for himself, by demonstrating what he may believe to be the faults of those who are candidates with him, and who have already held the position of County Chairman. In that particular he will be what players ca^ the " utility man " of the contest, and upon the manner in which he plays his part may depend the popular opinion as to who is the "first villain," or who the "first walking gentleman"—who deserves to be a " super," aud who d Superintendent. Locally, and Inokmg away from Mr Kennedy or othnrs who may yat become candidates, the feeling is equally divided between Mr H<tos and Mr Bonar, each being said to be known to his advantage, and each being equally said to be known to his disadvantage. If it be not an even balance, th^ cast nf the balk will depend upon the manner in which they improve the present occasion by removing doubts raisod as to their fair treatment of Greymouth. in the past and in the future. Popularly, Mr Hoos has in that particular the advantage of Mr Bonar, but Mr Bonar has, so far, been as ready to explain as Greymouth has been exacting. And, without reference to one or the other, Greymouth will do well to remember that, while fair play to the district is a desideratum, the more honest candidate of all candidates who have come or are to come, is he who will promise fair play to the Province.

Mr Curtis addressed a larae meetins of the electors at Pinkeiton's Hotel, Ahaura, on Saturday evening Dr Phillips was in the chair. Mr F Guinness proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Curtis, and Mr W. S .Staite seconded tbe motion. Mr M'Kenna spoke strongly against the mo ion, and Vlr Pinkerton spoke in favor of it. The resolution was carried almost nnanimously. Mr Curtis visited Hatter's Terrace, Nelson Creek on Saturday afternoon He did not hold a regular ro etins, hut he explained in a conversational manner his views on Provincial matters to a number of the leading mm of the pl-ace. some o whom were afterwards present at bis meeting at Ah'iura Mr Curtis will visit Half-Ounce »nd Granvilleto- ay (Monday), and hold a meeting afc the farmer p>ace fco-nigbb. He will proceed to Reefton on Tuesday, after holding a meeting at Totara Flat On his way un-Ci'untry Mr Curtis held a meeting also at Brunnerton. about forty beina present although it was midday, and a vote of confidence was passed, orJy two dissenting.

A special meeting of the Committee of Management of the Grey River Hospital was held ah Gilmer's Hotel on Saturday evening, for the purpose of receiving tenders for painting (l»bop only). There were eight ten ers, the lowest being that of Mr J. Whitxnore, for LlO, which was accepted.

The English mail brought by the Albion will most probably arrive at Lyttelton, as the last onp did. only a f«w hours after the departure of the overland coach. Should this prove to be the case, it is to be hoped the authorities will yive instructions to detain the coach, otherwise the mail, instead of being received here on Thursday, will not come to hand until Monday, when there will be no opportunity of replying by the same sUvmer.

At a meetin"' on Saturday last, tbe Christmas Sports Committee appointed Messrs Woolcock, Walton, Strike, and Cameron to draw up a prog arome ; ground and printing commirtres were also chosen ; Mr Payne was elected secretary, and Mr W. M'Millau hon. treasurer. The programme is to be submitted for approval to a meeting to be held on Tuesday nejft, after which immediate publicity will be given to it. In addition to the sports and regatta, a movement is on foot to hold races also during the week following up n Christmas, probably about 31st December and Ist January, and to carry out this object a canvass in the town has been partly made, to see what encouragement would be given. This canvass will bo continued to-day and to-morrow, and if the funds warrant it a programme will in all likelihood soon be advertise'!.

A meetins of the match commictee of the Ureymmith Cricket Club was held on Saturday evening last, when the following sixteen players were chosen from whom to select an eleven t<> represent the Club in the match with Hokitika;— P. W. Paul, P .Martin, Dan Twohill, David Twohill, Pat. Twohill, T Woods, A. R. Guinness, J. Heaphy, T. Gleeson, F. J Gleeson, A. E. Creaswell, A. Masters^ A Mathews, H. Newton, 8. Poole, and G-. H. Turner. The ma*ch is fixed to take place ou Ist December, and as the Hokitika team will comprise the veterans Mace and others, along with some exceed-

ingly promising colts, our local eleven will have all their work cut out for them to ensure a win. Mr Simpson, the recently appointed mining manager for the Grey Coal-mining Company, arrived in Greymouth yesterday by the steamer Kennedy. The extensive property of Messrs W. S. Campbell and Co., farmers, storekeepers, •Vc., at the TweJvc-Vble Landing an>l No ■Town, was sill by auction on Thursday and Friday The fallowing were some of the [jrici-8 realised : — For the farm at the TwelveMile, L 95 0; store at iso Town, L 450 ; butchers' snop, cattle yards, ' c, No Town, L2BO ; brewery and garden. N o Town, L6O ; horse team and waggon, LI 00 ; and other p operty. V ringing the total proceeds close np to 1.2000. Messrs D. Maclean and Co. were the auctioneers. Mr Thop™as Fisher, a dairyman, resident nt Irishtown, in the No Town district, received serious injuries in the face from the kick of a cow at tbe New Twelve-Mile on Thursday. He wa3 attempting to fasten the animal in a bail when the accident took place. An inquest was held last week on the b"dy"of >ir Joseph Primmer, an old and respected settler at Hichmond. who dropped down dead on Monday last. From the evidence it appeared that he vas at the time walking along the road with Mr John >utton, who was talking • f the price of oats, saying that they were then Gs Qd a nushel. Mr Primmer replied kl Yea, and they'll scon be " — ; , vhen he staggered and M). He was immediately pickid up ami found to be quite d"ad. He had !>efoie lieen sufferinu from k«irt disease, aud his death was ascribed to that cause. Excursion tickets at single fares are bein<i issued on the West Coast duiing the opening of the Nelson Exhibition. From the report of the Postmaster-General we learn that tho order tor the new postage scamp dies h»s been executed, an ( that it is ititen<!e<l that a new isouk of the denominations of Id, 2d, 3d. 4d, Cd. and Is shall be made on the 2nd of January next ; and tha the half-penny stamp issued on the Ist oi ! last January was strictly a Colonial production. On Friday night, at the Empire Hotel. Hokitika, Mr < ishorn* 1 paul the lucky holders of the winning numbers in the LIOOO sw**e on the Melbourne (Jup their respective amounts. Mr Tomst.tt, who 1 drew Don Juan, received 1450 ; Mr White, of Ross, for [ Dauworth, L 13 5; Miss Benjamin, Horatio. I 90. Holders of tickets for starters took 1.6 5s ; and, for non-starters, LI 5s eauh. Ta<- [ amounts were paid ia coin, and the Wire winners were provided with, small canvas bags to hold their sovereigns. Mr Oshnrir. was congratulated at the meeting <in th<manner in which the arrangements for the drawing of this large sweep had lieen carried 1 out. an«i there was apparently a large amount i of mutual congratulations and champagne. \ir Prichard, after a very brief term of office as a Borough Councillor of Hokitika, has resigned his seat, on account of private engagements. The Stafford Presbyterian Committee are organising a bazaar in aid of their church building fund. A meeting of the Westland Board of Rdncatinn was held at Hukitifca on Friday. The business before the Board w»s to decide upon the mode of division of I 250, being a grant from the County Council for educational purposes. It was resolved that the division should bfi made upon the same basis as that adopted w'aen the Board last had a sum of money at its dispos il. It appears that the whole am >unt voted for this purpose at the last session of the County Council has not yet been received, and the " West Coast Times" remarks that it is desirable that an effort should be made to obtiin its payment before the Province of Westland Act ct>mes into force. The tender of Mr Janies Rea, for conveyance of the mails between Hokitika and Koss during the year 1874, has been accepted, and oi Mr Cnariea Robinson for conveyance of the Okarito mails. Mr La Nauze, Resident Magistrate and Warden for the Okarito district, was a passenger by the Waipara on Thursday night. The Hokitika Exhibition Committee hav# written to Messrs Stokes and Martin, diesinkers and melalists. Melbourne, ordering thirty-six silver medals in addition to the dies. Some speculator is trying to make money by selling the Claimant's VVagga Wagga hut, with a vi«w to its exhibition in England. The following advetisement has appeared in the "Times" : — " The Claimant's house, his butcher's shop, no»v standing in Wagga Wagna, New South Wales, for sale, A. splendid invesbmenb for speculators. The house is built of logs, has a b:ick chimney and ab rk roof. »>n the door still remains pencilled accounts of sales of meat, written by the Claimant himself The whole structure can be easily taken down; the door, chimneys and sheets of bark (roof) narked in cases, and hy the aid of plans ano photographs erected anywhere The loys will be numbered and also the sheets of bark, and everything done to render its reerecdon an easy matter. This remarkable specimen of an Auscralian bush house, rendered particularly interesting through the mo^t remarkable trial of modern times., will be' sent Rome 400 wile* by bullock wagons, and put on board a ship bound direct to London, for the §urn of L24DO. lavits will also aocomparjv it to prove its authenticity. The time occupied by transit will be nearly five months. When tbe above- named sum is pn<i to the L"nd<m branch of the Union Bank of Australia in my ]>»n>e, immediate st>-ps will be tak^n to forward tbe house, and instructions will be sent by the bank to Melbourne. G- B. | Allen, Melbourne, • Victoria " The house mi^bt draw wpll at present but it may be that before the purchaser could get it home the Claimant will be forgotten and in gaol.

They are of an economical turn in F-ji. Literature pal s its effectual fire before tne glare of battle. " Lead, lead," writes the publisher of a Levuka j lurnal. " For sale, several cwt. of type metal— the best uompctsitiion for casting revolver and rifle bulle'-.5." After being used in tnor-il suasion, you may have the Fiji type metal fired into you in an irr.'sistib'e fashion. The poetic fancy of kn eaele recognising its plume upon the arrow quivering in it* heart, may yet have togiye place to the more prosaic result of an eduor p ppered by a discharge of his own melted minion