THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1833, 20 June 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1874.

On Thursday a man named Thomas Hunter, who has for some time been resident at Camptown, but has been unwell for some time past, was brought down the river in Mr George Beeves's canoe, in order to be conveyed to the Grey River Hospital for treatment. On arrival, however, it was found that he was dead and cold. Yesterday an inquest on the body was held at Gilmer's Hotel, by the District Coroner, Mr Revell Dr Morice stated that he had made a post mortem, an<l found that the deceased had died from natural causes, but believed that he might have been saved if he could have received proper medical treatment some time previously. Senior-constable Neville stated that he had known the deceased for the last four or five years. He had often stated to him that he was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and had relations living near the town of Spilsby. Since then he (witness) had heard that the deceased's mother was living in Nelson. At one time the deceased belonged to the Ancient Order of Foresters. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence, " that the deceased died from natural causes."

In the Borough Council last night, a letter from Thomas Joyce, having reference to an extension of Alexander street, was referred to the Public Works Committee.

Mr White has given notice to ask the following questions at the next sitting of the Council: — (1) Was it the : intention of the Provincial Secretary to reside permanently in Hokitika? (2) Was it the intention of the Provincial Treasurer to give his whole time to the duties of his office, or only such portions as he could spare from his private business ? (3) Before a Solicitor was appointed was it tke intention of the Government to inform the Council who they intended to confer the office upon ? (4) Could the Government furnish the Council with any information upon whose recommendatiou to the General Government the name of William Todd, Esq., was added to the roll of Justices of the Peace ? This last question is simply a vulgar impertinence.

At an ordinary meeting of the Greymouth Loyal Hand of Friendship Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., held at Gilmer's Hall, on Wednesday, the 17th instant, the election of officers for the ensuing half-year took place. The following was the result :— P. V.G. Anchor as N.G.; P.E.S. Collins as V.G., and Bro. Bisk as E.S. The installation of the officers elect will take place on the Ist proximo.

Commenting upon the indecent conduct of Mr John White in the Council, the West Coast Times, of yesterday says : — '• For some time past this journal has been eminently favorable to Mr White, and thought certainly that in the selection of that gentleman as Provincial Secretary the best choice available bad been made. Unfortunately, however, we are very unwillingly compelled to change suoh an opinion, for, whilst admitting that gentleman's abilities

and experience, we must say that the infirmities of temper, that so seriously interfered with his usefulness years a«o, have lately come upon him with redoubled force, and that his conduct, on more than one occasion in the Council, has been such as his best friends must most sincerely deplore. 1 ast night his demeanor and language were neither more nor le*a than disgraceful, discreditable to himself, and fatal to the party that he is supposed to lead. The expressions used were such as should never have emanated from his lips, and it is with th« mosb heartfelt regret that we condemn them in even these comparatively mild terms."

The following civil cases were heard before the llfc»i lent Magistrate yesterday :— Wm. Jones v. Hewlett— Ll 11s, for bread ; no apperance of defendant, and verdict given by default Hall v. Peters — LI, for services rendered as agent, and 103 for one day's attendance at Court as a witness in connection with the same. For the defence it was contended that the one pound which had been paid into Court should be considered satisfaction in full. His Worship, however, thought differently, and gave a verdict for the full amount claimed with costs and professional fee ; Mr Warner for the plaintiff. M'Glassey v. Burns— Lll 7s, balance of account for wages, &c ; verdict for plaintiff for LlO and costs. Reardon v. Hungerford— L33 add for wages. Evidence was given at length, as to a statement of account between the parties, and ultimately it was adjourned until Tuesday tor the production of further evidenco.

It is by no means an uncommon thing to shake a child for being naughty, but that it is a dangerous and barbarous mode of punishment is proved by the following facts, recorded by a Castlemaine paper : — A child of about two years and a half old was brought into the township in an apparently paralysed and certainly dying condition. It seemed that the little one was seated at table in her father's house, and became a litble rebellious ; quarrelling with her sister about a plate. The mother interfered to restore peace, and punished the little two-year-old by a bnx on the ear. This failing to produce quietness, the mother took up the little thing and shook her smartly. After this the child became speechless and senseless, lying inert, and in a semi-conscious condition. As she seemed poweiless and really ill the father brought her in to the doctor, only to learn that the child was dying from the injury, which had dislocated her neck. Tt is stated that no unusual violence was used, and the occurrence seems purely accidental. The mother is most affectionate and attached to her children.

The late fire in Auckland, according to the Herald, has shown the reverse or unfavor-

able side of corrugated iron, which is now so generally adopted in building. It might have been observed (our contemporary remarks) that corrugated iron, whether for partitions or side walls, or roofing, is even worse than timber. Wood must burn through before the flames can reach beyond, but .sheet iron, as soon as it becomes heated, curls np and exposes the contents of a store or room to the full fury of the flames. A touching and graceful tribute to the memory of a drad comrade has been paid by the miners of the Blackwater district. It will be remembered that on the occasion of the presentation of a parting gift to Mr James Ferguson when he was leaving the Little Grey district for Australia, a man named Anthony Henderson died suddenly at O'Malley's Hotel, at Ikamatua Henderson \va3 an old respected resident of the Little Grey Gold-fields, and had for some time previous to his death been working at jhe Bjackwater. The few residents of that -T'"""/- «»js— *«»iM»»tpKtaa;.- n.xajxaa — iltamselyeS— have just erected a handsome ana substantial fence round HendersoD's grave i n the cemetery at Ahaura, and placed a slab with an appropriate inscription within the enclosure. The carving and other ornamental work done at the headboard and at the corner pillars of the fence, was performed by MiThomas Finlayson, of Totara Flat, and is .done in a manner considerably above the average style of mortuary art. Congress has abolished the gold coinage charge at the San Francisco Miut. For the conversion of standard bullion into coin the charge up to April last was the one-fifth of 1 per cent,, and the revenue from this source amounted to between 60,000d0l and SO.OOOdoI a year. Bat Congress assigns as a reason for the relinquish tn en t of this large sum that no charge is made for the conversion of bullion into coin in England or the continent of Europe, and that it is much better that every inducement should be held out for the coinage of gold in the United States than that it should be sent abroad to be coined. The San Francisco Mint is almost exclusively confined to the coinage of gold and silver procured on the Pacific coast ; and from July the Ist, 1873, to the 31st of March, 1874, its coinage was valued at 20,341, 000d01, against 17,061, 500d0l for the whole of the preceding financial year, that being an excess of 3,279,500d0l for the nine months only. This large increase in the coinage has kept the mint at work up to its full capacity, and new buildings and new machinery will have to be supplied forthwith, as also a larger amount of subsidy for working the mint. At the present time it cannot, when put to its utmost capacity, execute more than 20, OOOdol a day, whilst the demand for coin often amounts to 100,000dol.