THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1670, 11 December 1873, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1873.

It may be fairly presumed, from the figures already to hand by telegraph, that Mr O'Conor is not the .Superintendent of Nelson, and that Mr Curtis is. So far as present information goes, Mr Curtis has a majority of 235 votes over the whole Province, but there are still localities from which records have to be received — some of them, such as the Lyell, in which the majority is likely to be for Mr O'Conor, and others in which the majority is certain to be to an equal extent in favor of Mr Curtis. Even though the aggregate majority be reduced, it is. almost certain to be sufficient to secure his return, and sporting gentlemen may now with propriety cease their betting, as all will with propriety cease to maintain those feelings which the incidents of an election may have aroused. In fact, and so far as may be judged from the incidents in this district, it will be much more easy to subdue any feelings created by the event than it will be pleasant to some to square their betting accounts, for, while there was from the first a strong disposition to make the occasion a matter of sporting speculation, there was really little or no trace of that ardent feeling which occasionally disfigures political contests, even unto the personal disfigurement of the free and independent elector. Whatever may have been the case in what may be called the head-quarters oE the candidates, there was, in moat parts, so far as can be learnt, and certainly so far as could be seen in this vicinity, a reciprocal show of good nature which was creditable to both parties, and which will be appropriately succeeded by a cessation of even such slight excitement as may have been on such an occasion unavoidable. j That Mr Curtis should again be returned was by no means so certain as to make the interest on either side of slight character. It was felt, both on the Gold- 1 fields and in the so-called settled districts, ! that he might without serious loss to the country be permitted to retire, and that any opposing candidate deserved some measure of support. With this feeling prevalent, it was suggested even by those who felt bound to support him that he might be none the worse of being returned simply by a bare majority, but the danger involved in acting too much in the spirit of that suggestion brought others out at the last moment as his supporters, and hence, with the energy shown on the other side, the high average of the polling. That his opponent misled himself and others much is evident from the results even on the Coast, especially in the Grey, Brighton, and Charleston districts, but there were others who assumed to know who were equally misled as to the Grey Valley, believing as they did in the chances of a larger majority for Mr Curtis, but their mistake, it may be, is explainable by the fact that the numbers polled at Cobden. and Bpunnerton exceeded considerably the numbers on the roll — many who voted being now residents ot Westland, though registered in the Buller and Inangahua districts. That in the Blind Bay districts Mr O'Conor should have polled so well aa he did is indicativelboth of the extraordinary exertions which he made to ensure his return, and of the existence of a considerable amount of dissatisfaction with Mr Curtis in those districts where, through declining prosperity, discontent has become lately {prevalent and provocative of a desire for change. Overtaken as the telegraph wires and their workers were with an unusual amount .of . business, it was only at a late hour last night that wa received the particulars of the day's doings, bus as they came in many cases in duplicate, and. coincided, the following may be taken as somewhat accurately representing the

RESULTS OF THE POLLING.

. The monthly general meeting of the Greyroouth Cricket Club was held last night at Gilmer's Hotel. On account of the unavoidable absence of the President of the Club (Mr Masters), Mr Guiuness Was votud

to the chair. The secretary read a letcer from the Uoss Cricket Club, in connection with arranging an annual match between the North aud South of the Province of Westland. The treasurer read his statement, showing a balance to the credit of ..the Club of L 4 0s lid. Mr Dan Twohill was elected Uaptain for the next month. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting adjourned till the firsfc Tuesday, in January, Kews has arrived in Hokitika from the Haast to the effect that no new gold discoveries have been made since la3t advices. No time is being lost in commencing work on the Waimea Wciter-race contract. Several waggon loads of timber have left Hokitika for the scene of operations, and the construction of the race itself will at once commence. An inquest was held in Hokitika, on Monday, on the body of an infant named Sarah Brown. The Acting-Coroner, Mr Tabart, said that on Friday last it was reported to him that an infant had died suddenly at Kanieri, but at that time there was no evidence to show that it was necessary to hold an inquest. Subsequently it was stated that the child met its d«ath from being overlaid, and instructions were given to have tie body exhumed. The evidence was extremely conflicting, but that of the medical gentleman, who had held a post mortevi examination on l the body, would be conclusive as to the cause of death. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that death had been the result of asphyxia, which took place while deceased was being carried about in its mother's- arms.— On the same day there was another inquest on the body of a wraan named Ellen Hartridge, who, accord-, ing to the medical evidence, died of fatty degeneration of the heart and congestion of the brain. The Superintendent of Auckland, Mr Williamson, has nominated a coalition Executive, as follows ;— John Sbeehan,' Secretary ; G. M. Reed, Treasurer ; Andrew Beveridge, Solicitor ; Patrick Dignan, member without portfolio. The Presbyterian General Assembly at Auckland have considered a memorial from the Nelson Presbytery against steamers calling there on Sundays, and resolved •' Thac while prepared to do all in their power to secure the observance of the Sabbath, they do not feel called upon to take steps in the direction indicated." At the District Court, Hokitika, on Monday, two of the defaulting jurymen were called on to explain their absence at the recent sittings of the Court. Mr John Cross apologised for not attending, and explained that he accompanied his Excellency the Governor to Greymouth, in the absence of his Worship the Mayer. His Honor allowed the excuse and remitted the flue, remarking that he did not thiafc Mr Cross intended to offer any disrespect to the Court. Mr Cross thanked his Honor, and withdrew Mr John M'Guftin was then called, but he did not appear, The Court thereupon confirmed the fine inflicted upon that gentleman. A case of importance to any one finding money or valuables was decided ab the Court of Petty Sessions the other day in Auckland, when two men were sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labor for retaining a purse and spending a portion of the money which it contained, after they knew who owned them. The suntence was a light one owing to the fact that the purse with a portion of the money weie replaced ia the spot where the purse was originally found. A peculiarly unpleasant malady is prevalent in Southland, says the jfreiv-s. It is something like influenza, but, unlike that disagreeable, invadei'j instead of beginning with the ordinary symptoms of a cold, it at once takes possession of the lungs, and converts them into very "asthmatic organs." The disorder appears to be epidemic, but the conditions favoring its appearance are probably to be found in the frequent sudden changes of temperature to wjjich we have been recently subjected, Ifc appears that on Monday last, while the County Chairman was considering the applications for publicans's licenses which had been referred to him, he told the applicants generally that the yearly fee of L3O would have to be paid, though the license issued would run only up to June 30fch. Hotelkeepers would, therefore, have to trust to the justice of the Provincial Council for the necessary Febatft b#fc that of its being granted there need be no doubt, In, . the course of the proceedings the Chairman incidentally mentioned that there are in Westland 320 licensed houses to a population of 15,000. The applicants from Greymouth were all unobjectionable, and, therefore, granted-. We learn from the Lyell paper that, in the elec£jiqn of a Provincial Councillor, that at the Lyell Mr Maclean h&d a majority of 31 votes over Mr M'Gregor. Mr M'a.dlean polled 13 at Hampden and J2 at Ma'takitaki, whereas Mr M'Gregor polled 16 at Hanjpslen and 21 at Matakitaki, being twelve more than his opponent, which pulled down Mr Maclean's majority fco 19 votes.

Uurtis O Uonor GREY DISTRICT. Cobden 35 ... 64 Brunnerton 16 ... 20 Ahaura... , . ... 50 ... 7 Half- Ounce 28. ... 20 Nelson Creek .„ ... 8 ..." 9 Moonlight 6 ... 9 No Town 29 ..„ 36 Totals 172 ... 165 Majority ... V ... — INANGAHUA DISTRICT. Reefton,, 53 ... 78 Black's Point ,„ ... 22 ... 14 Boatman's .., „, 4 ... 50 Christy's „ . Q „, 4 Totals ... . ... 85 ... 143 Majority ' ... — ... 61 BRIGHTON AND CHARLESTON. Brighton ... „ 35 ... 29 Charleston .„ .., 172 ... 177 Totals , 207 „ 206 Majority ... 1 -rrrr BTTLLER DISTRtpT. Westport ... ... 65 ,„ 193 Northern Terraces ... 58 „, 3.2 Addison's Flat 18 ... 57 Totals 141 ... 262 Majority ... — ... 121 NELSON DISTRICT. Nelson City 362 ... 205 Stoke ... 34 ... 8 Richmond ... ... 70 ... 33 Spring Grove ... ... 34» ... 35 Motueka 86 ... 24 Moutere ... ... 60 ... 26 Ngatiinoti ... ... 17 ... 3 Riwaka... ... ... 30 „, 17 Waiau 18 ... £ Wakefield 73 ... 31 Waimea West ;; . ... 32 ... 23 Totals 816 ... 407 Majority ... 409 ... — GRAND TOTALS. Curtia 1421 O'Conor ... .„ 1130 Majority for Curtis .., 235 j