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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1744, 7 March 1874, Page 2

Tho usual meeting of the Borough Council was held last evening, at which a- good deal of business was transacted. Owing go the pressure on our space by other news we hold over our report until next issue. The fire bell at the Brigade Hall rang out a lusty peal last night at about nine o'clock, the cause of alarm being a fire in a small hut near the gas works, which soon extinguished itself by burning out. The premises were of no value, and the origin of the fire is unknown. The population of the Greymouth Warden's District is estimated as follows :— Greymouth, 2760 ; Paroa, 370 ; Rutherglen, 300 ; Teremakau, 57 ; Omotumotu, 200 ; total for Oreymouth district, 3657. Clifton, 20 ; Maori Creek, 118 ; New Eiver, 140 ; German Gully, 80; Cock-a- Bulla, 100; Marsden, 130 : Nemona, 50 ; total for Clifton district, 630 Maori Gully, 260 ; Waimea and Stillwater, 160 ; Italian and Riley's Gullies, 100; Coal-mines, 35; total. 555. Grand total for Greymouth district, 4872. The total amount of revenue collected in the Grey district for the last half-year is stated by Mr Warden Reveli to be as fol-L-63T KJs'-o^r'^Fofi^mU ngpvi "fliSJh Gully, L 253 12s; total, LIOS6 12s 6d. Under Resident Magistrate's department, L 520 5s ; spirit licenses paid County Treasurer, L 990 ; share of gold duty, 11359 0s 6d ; customs revenue, Greymouth, L 22.146 7s 6d ; total, L 25.015 13s Od. Total of both departments, L 26 ,102 5s 6d. The following returns show the number of cases heard and decided in the various Courts in the Grey Warden's district : — Office. Civil. Crim'l. Wdn. Total. Greymouth ... 462 176 11 659 Maori Gully... 31 IS 7 56 Clifton ... 25 8 2 35 Total ... 518 202 20 740 We have the authority of the Hokitika Star for the statement that during the discussion in the Provincial Council on Mr Houlahan's motion for the formation of a track from Kelly's Creek to the Taipo, it was mentioned by that gentlemen that twenty-five dwts of gold to the ton had already been obtained from stone taken from one of the reefs at the latter place.

We acknowledge the receipt of the first number of the Tribune, a new penny daily paper published in Wellington, and conducted by Mr Hutchison, formerly editor and proprietor of the Wanganui Chronicle. We wish the new journal success. We have received a copy of the Provincial Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the year ending December 8 1st, 1874, but have not time to notice them particularly to-day. The financial position of the Province will receive attention in our next. In consequence of an error having occurred in the advertisement, we call attention to the auction sale of the Paroa bakery which takes place on the premises, at 2 o'clock to-day. In the Provincial Council, Mr Todd has given notice of the following motions : — "That his Honor the Superitendent be respectfully requested to place upon the Supplementary Estimates the sum of LSOO towards subsidising a steamer or steamers for the purpose of towing vessels over the Hokitika and Grey ba^s, and communicating with the southern parts of the Province. " — " That, in the opinion of this Council, it is absolutely necessary for the welfare and prosperity of this Province, and in consideration of the highly unsatisfactory arrangements as to the towage of vessels in and out of the Hokitika and Grey rivers, that a tug-steamer or steamers be subsidised for the above ports for a term of five years, and that the rates be fixed for the said term as undermentioned : -r-r Vessels from foreign ports, 15a per registered tonnage ; vessels from New Zealand ports, with cargo, 7s 6d per registered tonnage ; vessels in ballast, to load with timber or coals, free ; and that effect be given to the foregoing resolution with all possible dispatoh." Regular trains commenced to run on the Woodlands section of the Mataura railway on the 18th February. There are two trains daily each way. An Auckland paper says that the order of Good Templars receives some very poor compliments from numbers of prisoners who are placed in the dock charged with various offences. They almost invariably plead for a discharge on the ground that they will become Good Templars. His Worship on one occasion remarked that the order must be particularly anxious to make converts when they would accept such demoralised individuals. In his recent great speech before the Glasgow University, the Right Hon. Mr Disraeli drew attention to the happy fact that in English society politics do not interfere as a rule with social intercourse. The Bight Hon. gentleman said that he had always thought it one of the happiest circum-

stances of public life in 'England " that we have not | ermitted our political opinions to interfere with our social engagements." He believed this was a characteristic of the country and of the race wherever they were found ; at all events, lie was not aware that it was shared by any other. And then follows a characteristic and tilling illustration of the point to which he was speaking : — " For instance, if you are on the Continent and wish to pay your respects to a Minister and go to his reception you are invited by the Minister. The consequence is you find no one there except those who follow him. It is not so in England I remember some years ago meeting under the charming roof of one the most accomplished women of the time, the most celebrated diplomatist of certainly half a century, and he said to .me, 1 What a wonderful system of society you have in England ! I kave not been on speaking terms with Lerd Palmerston for three weeks, and yet here I am ; but you see 1 am paying a visit to Lady Palmerston. " The population of the Thames gold-fields is estimated at 10,000 souls. The Auckland Harbor Board passed a resolution on the 17th February, adopting Mr Moriarty's report upon tbe site for a dock, and announce their intention to call for tenders at the earliest possible period. There were five members against the motion and six in its favor, or seven, if the chairman, Captain Daldy, be included.