THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1704, 20 January 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1874.

The Nelson Colonist publishes an article upon "the future of our coal-fields," from a writer, the Colonist observes, " whose experience and opinions deserve attention," the purpose of which is to show that the most feasible plan for providing for a large exportation of coal from the West Coast is to make a port of the bay or bight which by courtesy is now called Port Elizabeth. The writer utterly decries the rivers Buller and Grey. He says : — " The Buller and Grey rivers, although sufficiently navigable for the limited trade and small class of vessels trading there, are impracticable for such a class of shipping as is necessary to convert wh<*t at present is a barren waste into a thriving, wealthy, and busy country. The Buller, although a noble river, is not suitable at all times for ships of large draught, the statement of Mr Harbormaster Cross notwithstanding, that he would have no difficulty in taking such a steam r as the Alhambra over the bar. That may be very true, at tiroes, but there are also times when even our local trading boats have found a difficulty in effecting an entrance or exit. We need, only refer to an occasion known to most of oar readers, when the steamer Charles Edward, in place of finding her way over the bar, succeeded in colliding wich the Murray, to the sad disfigurement of the latter ; on the same occasion the Kennedy was an unwilling spectator of the scene from the fact of her keel and the spit being on too intimate terms of acquaintanceship. Now, none of these steamers could have been drawing much more than six feet at the time, so that no larger vessel could have attempted the passage at all This, of course, is an extreme case, but so is the statement that the Alhambra could take the bar. The case of the Grey is still worse, for the river is not half the size, and the "scour" consequently much less, and it is more exposed to . the S W. gales to which the West Coast is subject." He then procesds to notice the idea which is so popular in the city of Nelson of making that port the great coal depot of New Zealand, but he very correctly points out that to carry coal by rail from either the Grey or the Buller to Nelson would be a very unprofitable operation, and prevent the possibility of that successful competition with New South Wales upon which the future of our Colonial coal trade depends. He then asks : — "What then is the future ? I will show. Along the whole of the West Coast from West' Wanganui southwards, further thau any of our coal-fields are known to extend, no natural harbor exists to which a thousand ton vessel could gain entrance, but in one place, close to a coal-field of unlimited extent there exists the means of making such a harbor. About five miles north of the Grey river, Port Elizabeth already forms a protection from S.W. weather. Elizabeth rock, about half-a-mile to the north, is partially connected by a sunken reef : the connection between the rock and the mainland only requires to be made good (and the means of doing so are on the spot), and a safe, though small harbor, is formed in which vessels of the largest class could load as safely as at the Nelson Wharf. But, because this spot lies at a distance from Nelson, and would not beneficially affect Nelson City, it is allowed to be neglected ; but I consider that no neglect an advantage placed at our disposal by nature, at the very spot where a harbor is required, is to take a selfish and narrowminded view of the matter for which there is no excuse. Any advance made by any part of the Province must necessarily advance the head-quarters of the Province to a greater or less degree, and it is a suicidal policy to allow this port to remain any longer in its present useless condition. A sum, trifling in comparison to the cost of a through railway, would make our coal valuable ; and it is high time that the Government or Council woke up and took some action in the matter.'' To all this we have only to. say, first of all, that the General Government has decided to make both the Grey and the Buller rivers accessible to large vessels, and that the late Mr Balfour, the Chief Marine Engineer of the Colony, and who made a careful examination of Port Elizabeth several years ago, reported that although a port might" possibly be made there, it could only be done at a most enormous cost, far beyond the means of the Colony to provide. The bay is shallow and flat, and the bottom, is so covered with huge boulders and rocKs that have slipped from the adjacent promontory that dredging would be impossible. It is best to accept matters as they stand, and to hurry on those works which the Government has undertaken in the belief that they are the best calculated to carry out the purpose for which they ?ire intended.

We would suggest that when next any considerable number of Chinese are expected hero, steps will be taken to erect a barrier on the wharf so as to enable them to land without molestation. If an extra policeman or two could also be present, there might be a chance of capturing some of the cowardly roughs who behaved so disgracefully on Sunday evening. — Talking about Chinese : we have heard that the question of preventing their landing at all, or if so, only on payment of a polltax, is likely to be brought forward by some member of the Provincial Council more zealous than wise. He, whoever he may be, may save himself any trouble on the matter. Neither the Provincial Council nor the General Assembly can legislate upon this subject. By the Convention of 1860 and by subsequent treaties and engagements, subjects of the Chinese Emperor in British dominions are to receive! the same advantages as those enjoyed by subjects of her Brittannic Majesty in China. .China is. now open to Europeans, the only obstacle to the utmost freedom being the ignorant jealousy of all Europeans which Exists in some parts of the interior. The 1 Sonß of the Moon generally style outer strangers

"Barbarians," and this title was; very j well deserved by those who assisted in/ the disgraceful scene on Sunday evening. '

It was a fortunate circumstance that the missing geese belonging to Mr M'Gregor, and which formed the subject of proceedings at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, were traced to the proper thief ; otherwise, as sure as possible, John Chinaman would have been accused of the theft. It occurs to us thatTtHel"enterprising restaurateur probably speculated upon the presence of Chinese in the town as offering him a secure opportunity for providing his guests with choice dishes at the cost of his neighbors without suspicion. Talk of the "Heathen Chinee" after this !

In confirmation of our remarks yesterday upon the value of public agitation when conducted in proper channels, we may quote the following from an article in the Southern Cross upon the turning of the first sod of the Waikato railway, which ceremony was performed by the Hon. Dr. Pollen a few days ago. Our contemporary says : — "It is only a few days more than six months since there was held in Auckland one of the. largest, as it was probably the most cordial and united of meetings that ever assembled in the city, supporting the movement in favor of the immediate construction of a railway in the central part of the Northern Island. The 'unanimity of that meeting, and of the persons who addressed it, was remarkable. The theme of the meeting was the necessity of appealing to the General Government, and pointing out the imperative duty of Ministers to proceed as rapidly as possible with this work, in order to secure the peace of the Colony, aud thereby avoid the expenditure of our taxes in war ; at the same time to secure the safe extension of our population, the due observance of law and justice, and the development of the large resources of the North Island. Men of all classes, and politicians of all shades of opinion expressed but one sentiment; and the newspaper press was no less united in opinion. Our duty, it was argued in these columns at the time, was and is, to 1 carry our modern powers aud appliances into the wilderness of the savage ; to drive the iron roadway to the boundary line of the confiscated territory, and then knock at the door of barbarism and enter in and possess the land and establish peace for ever.' These opinions were expressed six months ago ; and these were the opinions prevailing all over the Province. They found their way to the bureaux of the Ministry, and obtained distinct utterance in the Parliament of the Colony. Both Ministers and Parliament on' their representation responded liberally to the application so unanimously made from Auckland ; and when the close of the session arrived, we were enabled to announce that among the benefits which that session had produced for this part of the Colony, was the Parliamentary authority to extend the line of railway from Mercer to Newcastle (Ngaruawahia), and that not only were funds provided for this work, but also that the line from Ngaruawahia on to Taranaki and Wellington would ultimately be carried on as speedily as circumstances would allow." We referred to this case as an instance of what may be accomplished by sufficient importunity, and we may now mention another case. The Government, upon the advice of its engineers, decided that the central workshops of the Otago Railways should be at Port Chalmers, but this arrangement was very distasteful to the of people Dunedin j public meetings were held, and the result of these has been that the Government have abandoned their first intention, and decided to establish the works in Dunedin. There ought to be a large muster at the meeting to-night, the subjects presented are of the greatest importance to the whole of the Grey Valley district, and worthy of the most earnest consideration.

The party of Chinese which landed from the Alhambra on Sunday night did not lose much time in moving off up country. Early yesterday morning the first detachment, carrying heavy swags, started for the Arnold district, aud in the afternoon one of Ashton's four-borse coaches was loaded to the roof with swags for No Town, about fifty Chinamen trotting after it ass fast they c uld go. Those who remained in town last night were of quite a different stamp, being nearly all old Calif rnian diggers, most of whom could speak English well, and throughout the day thoy drove hard bargains with the storekeepers for picks, shovels, gum-boots, &c. It will be observed that the convenor of the public meeting to be held at Gilmer's Hotel, this evening, is MrW.H. Harrison, the member for the Grey Valleyin the House of Representatives. His name was, by eccident, omitted from the advertisement in oar issue of yesterday. ■ Mr Shalcrass, Commissioner of the Nelson Police Force, arrived by the i lhambra, on one of his periodical visits of inspection of the force on the South-west Gold fields. No doubt recent events at Half-Ounce, in connection with the proceedings of the constable stationed there, will call for close inquiry. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Peter M oiler, an old offender, was charged with smashing in the door of the house occupied by Elizabeth Stanford, and with threatening violence towards her. This was not the first time the prisoner had done the same thing. On this occasion he forced an entrance, but was speedily ejected and given into custody, after having been severely beaten about the head with a poker. He was fined LI, and L 2 for tUe damage done, or, in default, one month's imprisonment. George Rowley was charged with stealing a goose belonging to John M'Gregor. It was proved that the prosecutor and Mr Liddle were joint proprietors in a number of geese, all of which wore branded with green paint. Prosecutor saw a number of feathers so marked in front' of defendant's premises, . and, on searching' his premises, two geese ' with green marks on them were found hanging in one kitchen. After being arrested, the defendant offered to square the matter. Another witness proved having purchased a goose, marked with green, from the defendant on Saturday night last. The Magistrate sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment, with hard labor. The two charges of indecent assault brought against Constable Cashion, which were heard and dismissed at the Hokitika Magistrate's Court on Friday, were, says the Register,, paltry in the extreme, and how the information came to be laid on such trivial grounds is a mystery. The consequences to the unfortunate constable are far from pleasant. After having disbursed close on L2O for lawyer's fees, and other expenses, in defend- 1 ; ing cases which ought never to have been l brought into Court, he received an intimation

that he would be transferred to Greymouth, whither he has been ordered to proceed by the first boat. As he is married, the extra; cost to him of the transfer will be considerable. One circumstance in connection with police matters has long puzzled us, and that is, that whenever a police officer becomes in any way obnoxious to his superiors, he receives a " route" for .Greymouth immediately. . The Good Templars in Auckland had a grand field day on Boxing sDay. They mustered over 1500 from all' parts of the Proviftce,:had a grand procession^ .and w,ound . up with festivities in. the Domain, where nearly 3000 persons were congregated. The decorated female office-holders formed,a.conspicuous feature in the procession. [■-') For the Superintendency ( of Marlb,or,ojigh, Mr Seymour and Captain Baillie' are the only candidates at present, and it is not likely that any other gentleman will:come forward. It has been said "that whenever any, mischief occurs - it invariably happens that a woman has had something or "other"to do with it. Tako the latest instance, -'the wreck of the Surat : when the ship struck the captain was drinking with three of the female immigrants in his cabin, where he had been for some time. The compensation money to. the Otago Natives (LSOOO for the Princes street reserve) has been forwarded for distribution, -and will, be divided amongst the Maoris this week. . : We understand that the next examination for the New Zealand University scholarships will commence on Monday, May 25. In a leading article on Mr Arch's mission to Canada, the. Times. says :-—" However our. loyalty may incline to a Colony which is part of, the-, Empire, the great majority of English as well as Irish emigrants prefer the United States; "and. it is only the, Scotch who stidw' a preference for Canada, which is the mo t Scotch of all our Colonies." White swans are ino'w to be ifo'dnd in various parts iof the , Waikato district.- • Mr Mackune stated at a meeting held at New Plymouth the other day, that he had established sixty lodges of Good Templars in ftew Zealand. A fashionable journal devoted to the fashions says: — "The fashion of wearing paper articles is coming up again in London. Paper f raises in great variety are being worn; some of them are edged with most delicatelooking lace, and have the appearance of very costly work . Perhaps the oddest things in the way of paper articles are the jupons, which may be worn on a line day, without the slightest risk of detection, and look like fine calico and pretty embroidery, What would our great-grandmothers have thought of paper petticoats? The paper bed-quilts are marvels of imitation. In appearance they exactly resemble a Marsella counterpane of a handsome pattern. The tablecloths, which may be bought for sixpence a piece, are not so successful ; they lack the smoothness of damask, and being rough they catch the dirt very easily. Short lace curtains for windows, made of paper cut into extremely delicate lace patterns, are very pretty, and if not pulled about, will, last clean a long time, and the cost of them is very little more than the price of washing the heavier and uglier muslin and long ones." ■■■'•! In Auckland an endeavor is being made to obtain by subscription a sufficient sum — L2OO is wanted— to send a representative crew to the Canterbury Interprovincial Regatta. A private letter, dated 29 bh December, received from an officer on board H.M.S. Pearl, at Levuka, contains the information that H.M.S. Blanche will proceed from Levuka to New Zealand to act as senior officer's ship. . r The Wellington Gas Companyhave decided to reduce the price of gas to the extent of 20 per cent, on the rates at present charged, which will make the price equal to 14siper 1000 feet. ) The Southland News states that the residents about Half-Moon Bay, Stewart's Island, had quite a stroke of luck the other day, when a number of black fish looked in out of curiosity, and were driven ashore by means of harpoons, lances, boat hooks, &c. An explosion of foul air occurred in a sunken cylinder or shaft at one of the new railway bridges in Otago. lately, by which , two workmen were severely injured. The men were about to descend into the ! top cylinder, in which was a trap-door, when the gaffer or overseer gave them instructions to light a candle and prove it before descending, as the shaft had not been entered since Saturday. A match was accordingly struck by a man named John Duff ; and as hejwas applying it to a candle connected by a rope by which to lower it, an explosion took place, and Duff and another man named Wm. Paul, who was standing by him, were fearfully burnt. Their hair and whiskers were singed, and their faces, arms, and hands blistered, the skin actually peeling off f the latter in large pieces. : The members of the local Cricket Club are requested to meet to-night, and as the business to be considered is of a very important nature, a full muster of all is requested.' The Auckland Herald of January 8 states : * ' The long continuance of drought and hot weather is producing its results. Much siokries3 prevails, both among the adults and' children. The tanks for receiving rain water have run out, and much of the rain water is undrinkable. In fact, without the water received from such a source is boiled and al owed to settle, it is little short of being absolutely poisonous." The British Parliamentary Committee which has inquired into the subject has come to the conclusion " that coal will never again be so , cheap in Great Britain as it was two yeans ago." • . : A stable, the property of Mr Dennis Maloney, of the Junction Hotel, Queenstown, Otago, was burnt down on the 24th December. At the time of the fire three horses were in the stable. , About half-past four o'clock Maloney was awoke by a crackling noise, and on going out found the stable burnt down and the horses dead. ; The fire is supposed to have been produced by a spark from the candle having fallen among some grass for bedding, which was in the stable at the time. Damages estimated at Ll5O. No insurance. , Subscriptions to the amount of nearly Ll2O have been received towaids afire-engine, by Mr Gawne and other members of the Hokitika Fire Brigade. ' The Auckland Herald, of January 8, states : -" The following are the sums netted, during the three- days' racing at Auckland by the various : owners of race-horses— Mr James Watt, L 323 5s ; Mr W. Walters, L 299 ss; Mi- Henry Redwood, L 294 10s; Mr Munn, L 5 7; Mr O. M'Gee, L 57 10s ; Mr M'Geehan, L 44 lCs ; Mr Campbell, L 23 15s ; Mr RavanaghVlil2 5s ; Mr Fitzpatrick, L 9 10s; Mr Standish, L 4 ss. Total, Llll3 155." *:■" ■■■ . ■ ■■.■■'■-.;• The following are the details of the recent case of drowning in the Wataroa Biver, briefly , mentioned by our Okarito corre-- : sppndent : — ";A considerable number of miners have been working about forty miles up the Wataroa river. There was for some time a fresh in the river, and the diggers being unable to cross, had been almost entirely .without provisions for a week. Three )diggers,inamedi Alexander Bell, Whelan, and Von Braclflo; -attempted' to crossVlThe two last-named are good .swimmers; ibUt the do-

ceased <Bell) could swim but little. Whelan v ( oluntjeWed to cross first, and accomplished his task successfully. The deceased and Von B/ackle then took the stream, and were abQujrthe middle, when they suddenly went into'' deep water. The two separated, and made for the banks. Yon Brackle succeeded in landing safely, but the deceased floated towards the falls which were immediately #• belowr Whelan pluirg«l r in^^^teanpted • to save, him. He succeeded in reaching de- ' ceased j and caught him by ttie'left arm. £ Bott_were_.then . dashed_violently against a large"* 'boulder, and '- went Whelan came . to, tha surface, but again was driven under \>y the' f dree <ai the water. On trying torise, he found that he was under an overhanging boulder, and saw the deceased jammed under the stone. : There were air bubbles coming from, his mouth. Wbelan managed with great difficulty to crawl along the bottom, and on olearing the rook, rose to the surface; and waj»^ shortly .afterwards pulled out half senseless by Von; Brackle, The body of Bell has since been seen under the rock, but the river was .still so high that it could not be reached. If.there,was.a boat in the place, there would 1 not 'be 1 &6- much riak to life as there is at present. Bell was a native of : Armagh, and at the time >of bis death was twenty-two years of iage. He had been for years in Victoria, and;has friends at Sandhurst." > ■.-. , -,-■ ■■- i( -..■'.,' The Dunstan limes, saysltliat Vtheßlue Mountain Water-race Company Tinker's, finished washing up last week, with the very handsome return' of 700oz. '■ .■; .,■..-.. : -, i ,-, • ; A programme for a two days' meeting, on the sth and 6th March, has been issued by the Wellington Jockey Club, -i It . isa'feity that' the days selected should' clash' with the Dunedin races, as it will lessen the attend* ahce both of horses and' spoTtstnen. oirThe principal races are -the" Cup,nofJ»lso''sovs., two miles ; a Handicap Sweepstakes, with 10 soys. added ; and the Jockey Club Handicap, of 100 soys , with a sweepstakes of 5 soys. added, one mile and a half; 1 vf .: .' 1 D A good many meu have gone northward during the -past few days to Mokihinui, attracted by the report of more finds of alluvial gold. The Westport Times says :— "The favorite prospecting ground is a creek six miles' beyond the Halcyon claim, 'where on a bar in the creek some exceedingly good finds have been made. Every available boat and canoe' on Mokihinui river has -been pressed into service for passenger traffic up stream."