THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1836, 24 June 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAI LY WEDNESDAY , JUNE 24, 1874.

A meeting, convened by circular, by Mr W. H. Harrison. M.H.R., was held last evening, at the Melbourne Hotel, the purpose being to consider what steps should be taken during the forthcoming meeting of the General Assembly with regard to the prosecution of harbor works for this port. After a long and earnest discussion, it was carried tint a memorial should be presented to Parliament, urging the necessity of expediting tbe works which it is understood the General Government contemplate carrying out at Greymouth, A Committee was appointed to draw up the memorial, which it was understood should contain all the information available regarding the coal resources of this district. The signatures of the residents will be asked for in a few days, and it is to he hoped that the document will be extensively signed.

An appeal against the Borough Council assessment for the rate 1874 was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr l^mUi^.ot.tl\aCDinmerciaLHQj-jJ r coi9pli.ui«d which was LSO m "-o than any other hotel in town. Evidence was taken as to the relative value of hotel properties ; and ultimately the Magistrate decided that L3OO would be a fair valuation, the Borough Council to pay the costs of the appeal, amounting to L 3 9-s.

The following debt cases were heard at the Resident Maeistrate'd Court, yesterday : — Crogan v. Baylis ; judgment for Ll3 12a 6d and costs. Thomas and M'3eath v. Marriot ; judgment by default for L 3 and costs. Manson and Co. v. Betts, a fraud summons for' L4 l3s; an order to issue on application of the plaintiffs. The case)Reardon v. Hungerford, which has been before the Court in various shapes lately, came on again as .a claim for L 33 wages due. It was a simple matter of accounts between tbe parties, and in going over the books the Magistrate found there were a number of charges entered for liquor, which, as the plaintiff was not a licensed publican, he disallowed. He also made some strong remarks' on the case as it stood, showing as it did .thai; the truck system waa being carried on to a very larfe extent. Judgment was given for L 3 14s 6d and costs.

In our last we mentioned the arrest of a man named Bryer, or Burns, on a charge of robbing the house of Robert Rody, near the Australasian. He waa remanded uutil Wednesday, but yesterday morning he was brought up and discharged, as the inquiries of tbe police clearly proved that he was in Greymouth at the time the robbery was committed.

We learn from the local agents, Messrs G. V\ . Moss and Co., that the applications for shares in the Colonial Bank from the several Provinces are coming in rapidly to the head office, in Dunedin, and that branches of the new Bank are at once to be established in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and the other towns in the Provinces As the share list closes on Monday, 29th inst., intending investors should at once make application for the shares required, as they will be decided by priority. We understand that arrangements will be made to appoint local committees to superintend the allotment of shares.

Mr J. F. Johnstone, of the Ikamatua and Totara Flat, forwarded to the Central Committee, at Ahaura, on Saturday, a memorial signed by about ICO miners of the Little Grey Gold-fields, praying the Executive Council of Nelson not to remove the Resident Magistrate and Warden from the trey Valley. The memorial set forth the disadvantages the memorialists would be subjected to if the proposed removal of the Warden were carried out, and gave leasons why the present arrangements should be continued. The chief points of the memorial were at once telegraphed to tht Government, and tbe document itself will be transmitted by the first mail.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, at the last sitting, William Bexter was charged on information with using threatening language towards Martha Woodward at Try-Atain Terrace, Nelson Creek. The charge was proved by the prosecutor, and the defendant was fined 20s with costs, besides being bound over to keep the peace for six months in his own recognisance of L 25. The only civil case was that of Shearstone v. Potts. The defendant did not appear, and the clerk stated that no return of service of tbe summons had been made from Keefton, where the defendant resided. The evidence of the plaintiff was subsequently taken, and the further hearing of the case was postponed for one week.

In the Provincial Council on Monday evening, the Speaker took the chair at the usual hour ; all the members being present except Messrs Seddon, Cuming, Wickes, and Guinness. The Provincial Treasurer laid on the table a return of the amount of money expended under the vote [for CoritiugencieP)

and also a return showing the number of timber-licenses issued since the appointment of the Crown Lauds Ranger. Mr White declined to ask the four questions standing in his name on the order-paper. In answer to Mr Houlahan, the Provincial Secretary said it was the intention of the Government to immediately erect a bridge over the Kapitea Creek, near the Halfway House, Tenmile Beach. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Hokitika Street Closiug Bill was resumed by Mr Robinson, and after a short discussion, the second reading was earned. The next sitting day was fixed for the third reading of the Bill.

The West Coast Times states that the Appropriation Bill was likely to be brought down in the Council last evening, when the salaries proposed to be paid the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer will be made known. From what we can learn the Executive is not likely to be exorbitant in its demands in this respect ; in fact, the disposition is to cut the items too fine. Tf, as we understand, it is the intention of the Provincial Secretary to reside in Hokitika, and devote his whole time to the duties of the office, and it is also tbe intention of the Treasurer to devote a large portion of bis time, or as much of it as the work of the Treasury will require with the assistance of a clerk, we see no reason why fair remuneration should not be allowed to the holders of the offices, whoever may be the occupants.

Freemasonry is apparently making great strides in Britain. A home paper says there are 153 Freemasons in the present British Parliament — 55 in the Lords and 78 in the Commons.

The whole production of precious metals throughout the world during 1573 is estimated to have been worth L.44,000,000.

The London correspondent of the Auckland Evening Star states that the immigrants per Loch Awe, which sailed from London on April 6 for Auckland, are the finest class which have left England lately. He also states that there is a little difference regarding the price, which has arisen between the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Agent-General.

The Canterbury Press, of the 19th, says: — " A man named John M'Clcllan was received into the hospital last night with both feet badly frost bitten. He had been out tracking sheep in the Rakaia Gorge on Mr Palmer's run, through snow two feet deep, auu on Wednesday night could only succeed in making one of the outstation huts, where he was compelled to remain all night. While being conveyed in the train from Dunsandel he fainted twice.

The number of sheep in the Provinces of Otago and Canterbury at the beginniug o£ this year were :— Otago, 3,374,532 ; Canterbury, 2,813,601 ; total in the two Provinces, 6, 198,133. The increases during last year in each Province numbered : — Canterbury, 217,651; Otago, 65,145; total increase, 282,796.

At Tnvercargill, during the second night performance in connection with Mr Chapman's entertainment, a baby was handed to him, to test the clairvoyance of the medium (Miss Ada Bonifon). All particulars were satisfactorily and faithfully given ; and, when asked the child's name, Miss Ada replied that the child had no name, and she was correct — the child had not been registered or christened. Who can doubt the medium after this ?

As showing the value of lithofracteur for mining and tunnel ling'purposes generally, the Otago Guardian states that Messrs Lang and Thoneroan have received a very satisfactory letter from the contractors of the railway works nearjTokouiairiro on the subject of the efficacy of the lithofracteur supplied to them into hard stuff Ifiey found, it ihvaluaßle7"a'iir3 that since they have been using it, the working has been progressing at least 30 per cent, more expeditiously than was the case befsre.

A very determined case of attempted suicide took place in the Timaru lock-up, by a man who was placed therein recently, from Waimate, pending his appearance before a bench of magistrates, on a charge of housebreaking. On his cell being visited later in the evening, he was discovered nearly strangled, by means of his braces being twisted round his neck. He was quite black in the face, and would in a few minutes have been a dead man but for the timely discovery. Dr Macintyre was immediately set for, who on his arrival stated as his opinion that the man is suffering from a severe attack of delirium tre.me.ns.

The Bruce Herald humorously remarks :— " Two solicitors started in a buggy, drawn by one horse, from Balclutha for Tokomairiro, about three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. They got arguing some knotty point on the way, and in the end walked into Tokomairiro late at night. They have not yet said what became of the buggy ; it has been seen by a man who wanted to buy it for tirewood, and the horse was last observed making a hurried meal by the wayside, off the halfcalf binding of a law-book, ' Broom's Legal Maxims.' As he has not returned to his stable, it is supposed that his food disagreed with him." s

"One of the Asia's immigrants," states the Bruce Herald, •• got a job— stone breaking — at East Taieri. A man lent him a whare to sleep in. There were several cases of spirits stored in the whare. The immigrant was found one day fast asleep in the wharo, a case broken open, and many broken and empty bottles knocking around. The immigrant accounted for these inconveniences by saying that a dog had come into ihe house, opened the case, knocked the necks off the bottles, and drank their contents, and this extraordinary thing had stupified him. Nothing more has been done in the matter."

We make the following extracts from the prorogation address of the Superintendent of Nelson, delivered at the close of the last session of the Nelson Provincial Council : — "I will introduce a Bill into the General Assembly to make provision for putting the Province in possession of the funds required to carry out the important public works specified in the schedule assented to in your late session as amended in the present one, and will use every exertion, with the cooperation of the other members of the Province, to carry the measure through both Houses of Parliament. I will also take the necessary steps to give legal effect to your resolution affirming that the power delegated to the Superintendent by his Excellency the Governor, under the Gold-fields Act should be exercised only with the advice and consent of the Executive Council — a resolution which has my entire concurrence, and in the spirit of which I have invariably acted since these powers have been conferred upon me."

Ihe adulteration of liquor sold in Christchurch, aeems to be a serious matter, and is being taken in hand by the Government, A recent copy of the Press tells us that :— " During the debate on the estimates in the Provincial Council last eveiing, Mr Potts called the attention of the Government to the necessity that existed for an inspector of licensed houses to keep a watch over the quality of the drink sold. It was a wellknown fact that in numberless instances lunacy resulted from the poisonous character of the drink supplied. As a professor of chemistry was now on his way to the Province it would be as well if the Government considered this matter with a view of utilising his services in the direction pointed out. Mr Tosswill warmly supported the suggestion, and stated— what will rather surprise some of our readere—that ho had been in.

formed by a medical gentleman in Christchurch that there was not five per cent, of real pepper in the article vended as such in Christehnrcb. The Hon. Mr Buckley, in speakiug on the subject, disclosed a state of things which, to say the least of it, is somewhat discreditable to the Province. He stated that in his district a house had existed for years where grog selling had been carried on openly without a license, and that not very long ago for two whole days men were running about in a state of semi-lunacy from drink, and further than this that from his own station alone every year two or three cases of lunacy occurred traceable solely to the poisonous character of the liquor sold at the house referred to. Hon. members appeared to think the matter required consideration from the Government, and Mr Jollie promised that they -would seriously consider the question with a view to bringing forward a remedy for the evil complained of." .

The area supposed to be under coal belonging to the Kaitangata Company, Otago, says the Times, is very extensive ; not less than a thousand square acres is known to contain the mineral. The coal is so well known for superiority for generating steam, that description is unnecessary, although there is a manifest improvement in the coal the deeper they go. The situation of the mine is very picturesque, surrounded as it is with different species of trees, and entering into the side of the hill. The seam now wrought is 4ft Sin, and the quantity of c al produced is about 150 tons per week, which is carried by tramway to the bank of the Clutha River, whence it is exported to different parts. From improvements which are being made in the mine, it is calculated that in a short time the Company will be in a position to produce about 500 tons weekly. At present the principal trade is by s*a, but when the branch railway is completed, large quantities will be sent to Dunedin and inland towns.

From the Poverty Bay Standard, of the Cth instant, we lei'rn that a report has reached Gisborne of the murder of an old native near Waiapu at Tuparoa, It seems a young fellow named Pebikuru was taken ill and died, his death being attiibuted to the witchcraft of an old man named Poihipi. Two men went to where the old man was living and found him sitting with a child on his knee ; one of them .shot the poor old fellow through the breast, but as he did not fall, the other fired and killed him. At a runanga, held afterwards, 150 were for condoning the murder, and fifty for giving the murderers up to justice, but, in the meantime, the affair has been hushed up. The body was buried in the whare where the murder was committed. The murderers arc said to be well known.

At a receut meeting of the Otago Provincial Council, a motion was adopted to make an attempt to secure to the Province, and for the use of the miners, a new gold-saving apparatus. The report given in the Times is as follows: — Mr De Latour moved— "That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place on the {supplementary Estimates such sum as may appear to him sufficient as a bonus for the best gold-saving apparatus — for saving gold extracted by hydraulic sluicing — that can be devised cheap enough to be practicable — said apparatus to be constructed subject to such competition and regulations as to his Honor may seem fit." In answer to Mr Reid, Mr D<3 Latour said L 250 would be adequate. Mr P-eid said there would be no objection to place it on the Supplementary Estimates. After some further discussion, Mr Reid could not conceive how the expenditure of the small sum of L 250, if it would lead to the great saving of gold mentioned, Jiad .P^t^been omission of the words "said apparatus to be constructed subject to such competition and regulations/ [and the substitution of the words "said bonus to be paid to such an extent and on such terms." Motion as amended was carried.

The Otago Guardian of June 11 says :— At last something has been done towards attempting the formation of a settlement on the Auckland Isles. Dr Monckton's scheme is no longer a matter of possibility or probability, but a matter of fact. A beautiful schooner, named the Mabel Jane, the property of the originator of • the project;, has been fitted up for the purpose, and started for her destination in charge of Capt. Welch, a navigator of well-known reputation and skill. She carries a number of station hands, including one married couple, likewise a young bull and a selection of heifers, a few thousand feet of timber, and a large assortment of stores, tools, and implements. The vessel has been fitted out in the most complete manner, and carries, besides her own boat, two kauri-built copper-fastened boats, which will remain at the settlement. If the weather proves favorable, she will probably be kept running between the Aucklands and Riverton, for many months to come, for the conveyance of stock and stores, It is thought that a portion of the outlay will be covered by profits accruing from the seals with which those islands fairly teem. We certainly hope that this may be the case, for the sake of the settlement itself and for that of its projector, Dr Monckton. This gentleman has, we understand, commenced his arrangements for establishing a pigeon-post, and had procu,ed a number of young carrier pigeons. These, unfortunately, died, but the doctor has sent for a fresh supply. The Mabel Jane sailed for the Auckland Islands a few days ago.

A case of a most extraordinary character was heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, a few days ago. It resulted in a Frenchman named Buisson being committed for trial for assaulting his wife, with intent to murder her. According to her testimony they had been married for about two years, but had lived very unhappily, in consequence of her husband keeping company with a Frenchwoman of questionable character. The complainant had therefore left her home and taken a situation. Subsequently, however, she returned to her husband, he promising that he would be kind to her for the future, and that he would give kpr all that he earned. On the night of the 26th ult. he was more than usually kind, and made use of special terms of endearment. On retiring to rest he gave her a glass of porter. Shortly after this, she stated that she felt as if she was under the influence of chloroform. Later in the night she was awakened by feeling her husband's fingers thrust partly down her throat. She also felt a pricking sensation in the back part of her mouth. She then sat up in the bee, and asked her husband if he intended to murder her. To this it does not appear that he made any reply, beyond using I the expression, " That will not do." She then fell back exhausted, and remembered nothing more until the next morning, when she found her husband had gone to his work. She suffered great pain for some time. Dr Burrows deposed that the injuries were of a very peculiar nature, and such as he had not before met with iv a practice extending over 21 years. The accused follows the calling of a shoe-black in town, and is said to be an herbalist. It was sought to be proved that he had some knowledge of medicine, but that did not actually transpire. The prisoner preserved a quiet demeanor during the hearing of the case, but used frequently to ejaculate "no, no," to statements made by his wife, who frequently burst into tears while giving hei evidence. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to murder his wife by suffocation.