THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1791, 2 May 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1874.

It is not a little singular that Mr Woolcock's substitution for an Executive has signally failed on the first and only occasion on which it was called into action. It will be remembered that it was Mr Woolcock's vote that virtually threw out the amendment bf the Administrative Bill which _ would have had the effect of constituting an. Executive ; and that it was he who moved and succeeded, in carrying, a potion appointing a " Recess Committee,',' to which should be allotted the. duty of arranging the schedule bf the 1 works to Be ■constructed out of the proposed Loan of £250,000. We never quite recognised the utility of. such a Committee, but it was at least tor be expected that its members, and more especially' the members representing the Grey district, would have attended to their duties. ".Urgent-private affairs," however; seeni to ' have blotted but from Mr Woolcock'a : memory and that of his coadjutor in'the Committee the fact that the Committee was to meet on Thursday. The members for Okarito, Hokitika, and Kanieri attended, but in the absence of the Grey members no business was transacted. We must remark that when gentlemen take upon themselves the responsibilities of public life they must be prepared to make considerable sacrifices of their personal conveience. If they are not willing to subordinate their private afiaira to their public duty, the proper course would be for them to resign a position which, under such circumstances, they have no right to hold.

The Hokitika journals of yesterday in discussing the business of the forthcoming session of the Provincial Council, whilst properly placing great stress upon the necessity of considering the financial position of the Province, hardly seem to recognise its paramount importance. The very first question that ought to engage

the earnest and most anxious deliberations; of the Council is the state oHh^tina^c^ 1 and the ways and means for carrying out those public works that are admitted to be so necessary. Ordinances for providing a.system of elementary_educ.ation, for improving the fencing laws, and amending the local Licensing Act, are no doubt necessary, but we can well afford to wait for them until the actual position of the Province with respect to its finances has been thoroughly ascertained and some well considered plan for improving it elaborated. We hesitate to ascriba to his Honor any intentional concealment of the condition of the Provincial Treasury, but we may venture to say that the Superintendent's " financial statement " was unduly colored, and did not fairly represent the actual position of affairs. Probably this was the result of a desire to put the beat face on matters, and of a temperament more sanguine than judicial. But be this as it may, it is no use concealing the fact that the Provincial finances are in about as bad a state as they can be. It is quite a3 much as the Treasury can do to cover the ordinaiy expenses of administration, and some means must be devised for placing the : Province in funds, i It is no use passing an Education Ordinance unless the Province can apply a considerable sum of money to the erection of school buildings and the supplementing of any form of local taxation that may, be devised — we may here remark, en passent, that we question if the Council has any power without an Act of the Assembly to impose rating clauses. At anyrate, before anything else i 3 done or attempted, the financial position must be first met. Of course the only obvious relief is a loan secured against the Waste Lands of the Province, and in presenting their case to the Assembly the Council must take the greatest possible care in the selection bf the objects of expenditure. As we said upon a former occasion, unanimity as to the schedule of proposed works is an indispensable condition of success, for it is still a doubtful question what position the Legislature I will assume with regard to the question of Provincial borrowing. It is certain that this question will have to be decided, and upon the decision depends I very largely the existence of other Provinces besides Westland. The policy of the Ministry last year was hardly straightforward. Their Provincial Loans Em; powering Bill was unsuitable to the circumstances of the needy Provinces, and the other "little pigs," as the separate Provincial Loans Bills were called, naturally raised the opposition of the Upper House. But although the whole subject of Provincial : borrowing was shelved for the session, it is impossible that it can remain unsettled any longer, and whatever may be Mr Vogel's proposals upon this I head, Westland must have its case thoroughly prepared. We know that it has many sympathisers in Parliament, but it must not be forgotten that it sometimes happens — as, indeed, it did last year — that the needs and reasonable requirements of one part of the Colony are sacrificed through the insatiable greed of others.

A most mysterious telegram reaches us us from that institution of unrevealed secrets, the Anglo-Australian Telegraphic Agency at Wellington. It reads as follows : — "Wellington, May 1. "Tenders for £50,000 New Zealand Government, debentures under the Westland Loan Act were opened to-day. The minimum price in sealed cheque was 10H, which tender was accepted. The Colonial Trust Fund tendered for £40,000 at 101| and £10,000 at 102, bufi was declined. The Mayor of Christchuroh tendered £300 at par. This is l£ lower than the last sale in London." We presume that it is intended to convey the. information that the whole of the Loan has been taken up, but by whom and at what price we fail to gather from the telegram; The minimum price fixed by the Colonial Treasurer appears to have been 101J, but the " which tender was accepted," we are not informed of. We should think it probable, however, that the whole , of the loan has been taken up by the Public Trustee at the fixed minimum. The small application by the Mayor of Christchurch, is similar to a previous investment of the sinking funds of the Municipal Loan of Christchurch. Our readers are probably aware chat most, if not the whole of the Westland Loan has already been advanced by the Government for the payment of eld liabilities. The balance will be so small as to be practically useless. [Since the above was written we received a correction- to the effect that the price realised was one-half per cent. lower than the last sale in London. But other facts we have none.] Public notice is given that all persons who, holding land or mining claims under license or leases along the route of the Nelson Creek Water-race, consider their pro•perty damaged by the execution of the said works, must apply for compensation before the 14th inst., otherwise, the claim will not be recognised. Full details will be found in another column. The anniversary services, in connection with the Greymouth Wesleyan Sunday School, will be held on Sunday, 3rd May, when the Rev. J. 8. Rishworth, of Hokitika, 'will preach two sermons at eleven &nd seven o'clock. .The address to parents and teachers ■will be/given at three o'clock in the afternoon. Collections will be made morning and evening in aid of the school fund. A sitting of the District Court will be held at Ahaura to-day (Saturday). . The only case on the criminal side is that of George Green, who- is charged with, stealing merchandise from the store of J. T. Skogiund, at No. Town. It is understood that the charge against the same person of robbing the sluice-boxes of B. Maguire and party, at No Town, of a quantity of gold, has been abandoned for waat of sufficient evidence to convict. We are requested to state that there will be a football match this afternoon— (issyllabic names v. the rest; Play to commence at 3 p.m. sharp. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column, that Mr P. C. Dupre, the long-estabilahed jeweller in Greymouth, in thanking his numerous customers for past favors, announces that he has on hand a magnificent collection of jewelry, which is selling at prices which defy competition, and invites the public of Greymouth and surrounding district to inspect his stock previous to purchasing elsewhere. Thehalf -yearly meeting of the shareholders in the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, .will be held at the! Company's offices, Dunedin, on Monday, tho 18th May. for the purpose of receiving tht half-yearly report and balance-sheet, and

1: . ■■■: ■ ! ' electing directors and auditors. W e wouM draw the^ttentioa of. shareholders residing in Greyrtouth\ and district to the fact— "that every person to whqin proxies are sent must be a shareh'older,-aud the instrument appointing proxies must bo deposited at the "office of: the Company not less than 24 hours • before, the time of meeting." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, the. charge was heard against Mibhael Conners.of having assaulted Michael Nilen, at Maori Gully, on the 11th April. It appeared from the evidence, of a large number of witnesses, and that of the complainant, who is still an inmate of the Hospital from injuries received upou the occasion, that the parties had a quarrel in a store and had several wrestling matches, in the last of which the defendant kicked and hit the complainant while he was on the ground. The complainant received other injuries, from tha effects of which he has since been in the Hospital. The Magistrate severely reprimanded the defendant upon the cowardly and unmanly manner in which he ha6L treated a man " when he bad him on the ground," and said he would not have given him the option of a fine if it had not been for the fact that the evidence disclosed tbat in the course of the row he had received much provocation- The sentence would be L 2, and costs .of Court and witnesses amounting to LlO. At the conclusion of this case the Magistrate remarked that it was not very creditable to the police force that such scenes could take place in the township of Maori Gully, where a Sergeant of Police was stationed. It had come out in evidence that the public-houses there were open at very irregular hours, and that these disturbances took place in the streets of the township. Inspector Hickson said that inquiry should be made, and steps taken accordingly.— Henry Boulton, alias Burtie, was charged with stealing 15s 6d from the till bf Muller and Gutjen's Hotel on Thursday afternoon. The prisoner, who had been caught in the act, admitted the offence, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labor.

Last evening the " Siege of Lucknow" was produced to a fair audience, although one not so large as ought to have been given to the fair beneficaire. In this melodrama Miss Aitken sustained her favorite part of Jessie Brown with all her wonted empressment and vigor, while her rendering of the pathetic Scotch songs told feelingly upon the susceptibilities of the audience. Mr Thomas, as the Key. Mr Blount, not only acted well, but so thoroughly carried out the character as it ought to be represented, that an universal approbation was by the audience accorded. - The rest of the performers in. differently acted up to their parts, and showed an evident want of rehearsal. Had such taken place, the " Seige of Lucknow " would have been put on the stage in better form, and a really good set of amateur performers could have presented the spectacle of an interesting drama in such a manner as would have been pleasing to Miss Aitken and the public.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Ahaura, on Friday, Ist May, the following cases were disposed of before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M. :— White and Garth v. H. Wick — a claim of L 8 19s ; the defendant filed a notice of his discharge in bankruptcy, dated December, 1873. as a bar to the action, and the plaintiffs were nonsuited with costs. S W. Ross v. J. Heslop— a claim of L 4 11s ; no appearance of defendant; judgment by default with costs. Similar verdicts were given in the undermentioned cases : — J. W. lioss v. B. M'Guire, L 4 15s 6d, for bread supplied, and for Board during 1872 The executors of Geo. Muu v. J. Cloran, L 23 9s lid; White and Garth v. W. Harvey, Ll6 6s 8d ; same v. Pickup. LI 5s 2d. A young fellow who threatened to become a Good Templar, if he got out of his present (fix, was fined 5s for being drunk and incapable, and the court was adjourned.

No fewer than nineteen girls have come forward to compete for provincial scholarships in Otago, and the fact is regarded with great satisfaction ' by the Dunedin press. Pour of tbe nineteen girl scholars are from the Duneiin District Schools, and seven are from the country.

Several persons in town and neighborhood have lately suffered at the hands of petty pilferers, whose depredations have, however, almost always been confined to abstraction of crsh solely. We have heard of two cases that have occurred upon the Preston road, and a number of other cases where goods and furniture had been tumbled about in search, it is to be presumed, of the precious coin have also been spoken of. The man who was yesterday caught in the act of thieving by Mr Muller is evidently one of these, and it is well that part of the gang, if gang there be, is caught. Mow that one is in custody, a clue may be had by the police as to the whereabouts and identity of the rest.

Tenders for the construction of sections 8 and 9 of the Waimea Water-race have been accepted— Section 8, W. Wilkinson, L 6915 ; section 9, L 731- Tenders from P. Conolly, W. Smith, Kemple and Coy, Cullen and Denfiejd, Douthwaite and Coy, and M'Con? nor, were declined, being too high.

The following applications were decided at the Warden's Court, Ahaura, on Friday, before Warden Whitefoord :— The Orwell Creek Gold-mining Company applied, by Mr Staite, for four sluice-heads of water from Orwell Creek; granted L. M'Nair and party, for an abandoned head-race at the same place ; granted. Michael Broderiuk and party, for protection for their claim and workings at Try- Again Terrace, Nelson Creek ; granted for tvyo months. Con way and Fitzgerald, for registration for a head-water-race at Moonlight ; granted. The application of Samuel rlafford and party for an axtendsd area of auriferous ground at HalfOunce was postponed.

Mr John Morrison, schoolmaster at Leithfield (Canterbury) for the last niue years, expired suddenly on Saturday morning last. Just ashe was commencing todress, andduring a few minutes' absence of his wife to procure him a cup of tea, he would appear to have fallen back on the bed and died immediately.

The next Wellington race meeting will be held early in December, when several good prizes will be run for, including Maiden Plate of LlOO; Cup. L 200; Handicap, L 100; Derby, LIOO ; Proviucial Plate, LlOO ; Hurdle Race, LlOO ; and several others of LIOO, with additions.

The Waipara brought up lOOoz of gold from the Haast to Hokitika on Thursday, 60oz of which was received from one party of miners. This quantity of gold is the result of many months' work, and is mostly coarse and nuggetty.

, At the opening of the Provincial Council of Otago, on Thursday, the Superintendent in his addresa said the past year had been one in which the manifestations of progress had never been greater. The trade returns of exports and imports exhibited a satisfactory increase, with the exception of gold, which showed a slight decrease, This was accounted for by the circumstance that many miners had availed themselves of the high wages to be gamed on the railway contracts. The payments into the Treasury during the year amounted .to L 451.425, while thp expenditure had been 1376,507. There bad been 258,840 acres of agricultural land sold during the year to 404 purchasers. The agricultural leases on the goldfields amounted to 30.000 acres, gi anted to 320 lessees. Measures would be proposed to deepen Dunedin harbor, in order to bring the largest ships up

fco Dunedin^ an d f° r the proclamation of new/ hundreds, and for the opening of 100,000 acres of land annually under deferred payments. Steps would also be taken to give miners the freehold of the land they mine on, in order to prevent the wasteful destruction of- the surface of the country.- , An~Asy-ium, for Inebriates, a new Industrial School for criminal children, and several new lines of branch railways would be constructed with borrowed money, raised on security of specific blocks of land. It would r be proposed that the price of land in the' Province should be raised to say L 8 per acre. He regretted that": the_ Council and the professors of the Otago University had agreed to relinquish the powers and status conferred upon the University by the Provincial Legislature, for the problematic advantage of being connected with, the University of New Zealand. He also stated that the Provincial Executive would resign next day. .". j .."' .;. H

The Register of yesterday says :— The Recess Public Works Committee of the Provincial Council met yesterday, there being, present — His Honor the Superintendent, ' Messrs White, Canavan, Seddon, and Robinson, M.P.C.'s. No business was done, owing to the absence of Messrs Woolcock, M 'Gaffin, and Guinness, the members preferring to adjourn the meeting until this evsning, rather than proceed with any business in the absence of the representatives of such important districts as Greymouth, Paroa, and Ross We are rather surprised that Mr Woolcock did not put in appearance, seeing that this gentleman was the mover of the resolution in the Council appointing the Committee. His Honor the Superintendent telegraphed to the absentees, who will doubtless arrive to-day. In a contrary event, the business will be gone on with in their absence. >

The Otago Daily Times says : — " The Chinese who arrived by the Tokatea appear to be not the.most desirable of acquisitions to the population of the Province. Apart from their bad conduct during the passage, it seems that a nutcber of them were Chinese gaol-birds, sent abroad out of the way. Captain M'Kinnon says that this was made no secret on board— one of the fellows mockingly told him that he did not care about gaol— 'Plenty gaol in China, and years there in gaol, plenty Chinamen on board the same.' Captain M'Kinnon also says the quality of his passengers was the talk of Hong Kong before tbe barque left. Pleasant this for the Colouy, we must admit. Only the ether day society was quivering with indignation at the idea of surreptitiously disposing of th« convict Sullivan, and now we are receiving, with the blandest unconcern, a ship load of people, including perhaps two or three score of Sulli vans of a Celestial type. Is not the General Government to blame for not exercising some supervision over Chinese immigration ?'

The 'I imarv Herald says : — " On Sunday night between the hours of 11 aad 12 some threshed wheat and straw on Mr Nicholson's farm, north of the Washdyke, were discovered to be on fire. By active exertions the fire was confined to a small portion of the bulk of wheat and straw and extinguished after having destroyed about, thirty bushels of wheat. Had the fire extended to the bulk of the grain the damage would not have been less than LSOO. The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary, and Mr Nicholson offers a reward of DIOO for his discovery."

The Wellington Independent of April 10 blr says, that during the past few days some trades-people in Wellington have made aware of a most undesirable addition to the " circulating medium " of the place. In one case — a spurious sovereign very closely resembling the new George and Dragon ''issue, was 'successfully 'passed off as the genuine article,and there is reason to believe that more of the same make have goc into the possession of unsuspecting people. A : person oft his guard would accept the base coin without hesitation. The George and the Dragon and the Victoria head are well executed, and the color of the metal is good, but a close examination quickly exposes the imposture, the coin being light in weight, and minus the :" ring " of the ligitimate sovereign.

! By the arrival of of the Waipara at Hokitika, on Tursday evening, the West Coast Times is placed in possession of the latest news from the South, the Haast especially. The unfortunate police who were doing the Robinson Crusoe life returned to civilisation by that vessel, and from what ;we can learn they have bad anything, but a Igheerful time of it sinoe leaving. Saudflies and mosquitoa were abundant, but no other population troubled them. The mining mews is by no means of a lively character. 'There are eight miners at work at Ship and , Bullock Creeks, but they are not doing imuch, though sticking to work like Trojans. ;A party of three, named Murphy, M'Kenna, and Walsh, are bringing in a race from Maori if Creek to the beach. They expect to have it I through in about six months, and when they ihaye accomplished it they are sanguine pi ■doing well. Mr J. Colly er, well-known in this town, has taken up some land, and got ; protection for a ferry at the Okuru, and Neil Carmichael, formerly of the Waimea, has a I! ferry at the Waitoto, a little further South. : The only store at the Haast is that of Messrs I Marks and M'Fetriob, who are said to have ' sufficient flour ia stock to last the existing population for two years. The judgment of Mr Mueller, Chief Surveyor, wemay add, has been abundantly manifested by the last heavy rains, there being no doubt that the township he laid oub if ever the place be occupied at all, mast be used, as the original site is being washed away.

', The 2nd of May (to day) will be a busy : day at Ahaura. In addition to the sitting of the District Court, at which a number of jurors, litigants, and others are summoned to attend, the first Licensing Meeting under the nev Act is to take place, Applicants for spirit licenses residing {throughout the Grey Valley will have to attend at the Ahaura to-day, and the date of the Licensing Meeting was fixed so that persons who were summoned to «ct as jurymen and who have applied for licenses could transact all their business at once. The sitting of the Licensing Board for the disposal of applications for liceuses in the town of Ahaura will take place on Monday. According to Mr Whitefoord'a reading of the new Act he has power to issue trausters of licenses in his district, this power beiug derived from the Nelson Provincial Licensing Ordinance, taken in its relation to the new Colonial Act. A special meeting will be held at a subsequent date, of which due notice will be gi /en, and Mr Whitefoord, in his capacity of Resident Magistrate, will deal with applications for transfers of retail spjrit licenses

The ex- Minister of Justice is continually getting into hot water with the bar in Dunedin. The other day a man named Thomas Logan appeared, on summons, charging him with, on the 13th inst., causing a breach of section 28 of the Prisons Act, 1873, by holding communication with one George Belcher whilst in legal custody, for which he was liable to be apprehended without a warrant, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor. His Worship asked defendant to step into the dock. Mr Harris: This is scarcely a charge, sir. Mr Bathgate: It is a very serious charge.! Mr Harm said Logan appeared on summons, and is was illegal for his Worship to place him in the prisoner's dock. He would like the Magistrate's authority for placing defendant in the dock. Mr Bathgate : , I nave taken a note of your objection ; are you quite satisfied? Mr tf arris ; Certain ly not.' It] is a question b£ right, and as he appears on summons he Ka s

no right to be placed in the dock. I ask your Worship's authority. It is the firsttime I ever saw on accused person under a statute of this kind placed in such a position. If your Worship insists upon it, damages may be sought against you. Mr Bathgate .(warmly^rr.lt is an extraordinary. thing, t^ hold out such a threat to a Magistrate! "Mf Harris;; It (is not. a Threat.} f Mr IJathgate : It is very bad taste ; nothing will keep me •from doing my duty. ;;Mr Haggifewas asked - by his Worship to give an {mmjon, but he| merely said it . made no 'difference to him whether defendant appeared in the dock or witness box. Defendant remained in the. dock, and thecase proceeded. • , :

According to -the monthly letter recently issued by the Protestant Alliance, , the |total number of Roman Catholic: bishops and priests in.EnelandandWalos at present are 1622, which shows an increase since 1851 of 8 bishops and 167 priests. The total number in Great Britain is 1893— an increase of 935 — Bince the above date. .The total number of churches, chapels, and stations in Great Britain jb 1253 (according to thaTablef) and 247. chapels of communities in addition, being an increase of 570 placesof worship since 1851. .There'are .86 religious houses of men, being an increase of 69 since the above date. There 268 convents, while in 1851 there were but 53.. Then there were bui 11 colleges, and now there are 20. ■,

A baby ; show,' recently held in Sau Francisco, is stated to have been the most elaborate thing of the 'kind that has ever taken place. Tn addition to the iisual prizes for the "handsomest" babyi there were rrizes for the "loudest bawler," for the " heaviest haired," for the " fattest dark-eyed," for the " fattest blue-eyed," for the "best dressed," and for the " sweetest smiling." Only fancy the pride with which the parents of the "loudest bawler," must look upon and listen to the offspring of their affection ; and what a blessiug and a comfort the child must be to the next door neighbor. Then there were prizes' for the "youngest mother" (who was under 15), for the " oldest " (who was over 50), and for " handsomest mother" (who doubtless was looked up to with scorn and indignation by all the mothers present). But what about the fathers ?

The following anecdotes" of the' recent licensing sittings at Dunedin are from the Daily: Times i:^, ' 'A. retnarkof Mr Bathgate's caused a 'great deal qf merriment in the. Licensing Court,' yesterday. After granting' Mr George Dodson's certificate for 'the Em- 1 pire Hotel, the Magistrate cautioned the applicant, and stated that ' His house had the. reputation of being the resort of Calcutta; sweeps !' We are not aware whether or not Mr Bathgate, in the innocence he so often displays, believes Calcutta sweeps to be a disreputable class of chimney cleaners . imported from India, bnt the observation we have mentioned caused no end of amusement. —Under the. present Licensing Act, it in rendered almost necessary that every holder of a license should be a married man. In Court yesterdad, a young inah. an applicant for a certificate, was told by Mr Bathgate that it was unfortunate that he had not taken unto himself a wife. To "the amusement of all in the Couri, he quickly called out, :« Your Worship, I got married since the inspection 1' Such praiseworthy conduct; was yery .^properly rewarded by the immediate granting of the certificate. Another applicant was sent away, blushing like a peony, with the Resident Magistrate's advise to get married as soon as possible."

Mr Bathgate, who presided over the Duuedin Licensing Court, laid down cerrain principles upon which the Court would act : — The object of the Court would be, first, "to protect the respectable portion of the licensed who may have invested considerable capital in supplying accommodation for the use of the public so long as their business is conducted ■ in a proper, and regular manner ;" anctseoondly, ♦' to deal rigorously with those who encourage drunkenness, gambling, prostitution, or crime, either directly or indirectly." Starting, then, on these principles, Mr .Bathgate proceeded to lay down the rules 1 by which they were to be enforced. The Court would rigidly insist on the provision of the amount of accommodation required, by the Ordinance: '" It would discourage unnecessary competition by the refusal or withdrawal of licenses where the accommdation was apparently, not needed. It would grant no license to an unmarried ;man, unless in exceptional cases. For "the law assumes that licensed houses are for the benefit of travellers j and no house, for the use of travellers can be properly conducted unless under the management' of a matron." It would refuse renewal to any licensee who allowed any drunkenness or disorderly conduct in his house ; who was convicted of any : inf ringment of the law against Sunday .trading ; who permitted improper characters jto meet at bis house ; or who supplied liquor :to confirmed drunkards— a list of whom i would be supplied to publicans by the police. jLastiy, Mr Bathgate announced that any ; licensee who permitted gambling on his I premises would be refused a renewal. He referred to several houses of standing in Dun--edin where gambling was practised : and has been proved by a case in the last criminal [Sessions of the Supreme Court j and emphatically stated that in no case wh.ere gambling was parried on would the good character of the house in all other respects save it from a withdrawal of the license.