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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1900, 8 September 1874, Page 2

The Town Clerk received last night the formal resignations, in re the Borough elections for the Middle Ward, of Messrs Jones and Thomas; for the West Ward, of Mr Coates, so that the contest no - v lies between Messrs W. M Ali.lan aid Joyce iv the Middle Ward, an . iv the \\ esc Ward oe tween Messrs Wickes aud J£issenhardt. A serious accident occurred to a man named David Evans, one of the workmen in the Brunner coal-mine, yesterday. vVhile at his work, shortly before mid-day, a fall of coal and debris took place, striking him on the head, breaking over, and. partially burying him. On being extricated, he was taken across the river, and as soon as convenient he was brought to Greymouth, when he was admitted to the Hospita). On examination it was found both ankles were fractured,

with several severe contusions amt Oiher injuries to different parts of the body. As usual, the fellow-workmen of the sufferer turued oub to a man, and carried their comrade to Gveymouth. j It is announced that a grand vocal and instrumental concert will be giveu in the I Volunteer Hall on Thursday evening. 10th I inst., in aid of the funds of the Town Baud. The monthly meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last night. There were 15 members present, and Foreman M'Gregor was in the chair. On application the members of the Jewish persuasion were allowed the hall on all their holidays, and the same permission was extended to the Order of Good Templars for two meetings per month at the rate of 5s per night. By resolution Mr Fraser was empowered to obtain and erect a flagstaff and flag for the Brigade in front of the engine house. Mr G. Taylor was re-elected a member of the Brigade. By the ships Cathcart aud St. Laurence 900 immigrants arrived at Christchurch on Saturday, 29bh August. The " Press " of the 2nd instant states that no less than 154 waggons, loaded with at least 11,000 tons of dead weight, passed through the tunnel yesterday, the largest quantity, by 300 tons, that has ever passed, in one day. Auckland papers report that many stores in course of erection at Kandavau, have been abaudoned in consequence of the intelligigence having come to hand of the withdrawal of the mail service. A Christchurch contemporary says that the American and French observers of the transit of Venus will pay Canterbury a visit before finally departing from the colony. The American expedition has selected Bluff Harbor, and the French the Chatham's, as their points of observation. An unusually large quantity of powder was lately used in one blast at the harbor works at Lyttelton. It consisted of not less than 300 kegs, each containing 251bs of powder. They were placed in two chambers and fired simultaneously, Seventy thousand tons of stone were displaced, and the exj>lo- , sion made scarcely any noise. The copper mines of New Caledonia are attracting much attention, aud it is confidently believed that the deposits of this ore are very extensive, and will prove a source of great wealth to the French Colony. A shipment has been made of copper ore to Adelaide from Dishoi River, to be sorted there, and those engaged in the enterprise anticipate realising a handsome profit. The rumored gold discoveries in the centre of the Island still require confirmation. The following are the entries for the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap of 200 soys., to be run at the next Christchurch meeting :— Patrobe 5 years, Malvina 5 yrs, colt by Caledon— Zigzag, colt by Oaledon—Emmeline, Remmant 3 years, Tamburini b years, Batter 4 years, Titoko 3 years, Roro 3 years, Yatterina aged, Templeton, 4 years, Traitor, 4 years, Tadmor, 3 years, Castaway 4 years. For the Canterbury Cup, Petrobe 5 years, Malvina 5 years, Meteor 3 years, Somnainbula 3 years, Tamburini 6 years, Wainui 3 years, Toi 3 years, Templeton 4 years, Traitor 4 years, Castaway 4 years. We take the following from the ' ' Register" : -" [fc appears that the old-fields Bill No. 2, amending: the Act of IS6B, so as to remove difficulties with regard to the usiog of the waters of rivers and streams for mining operations, did not pass, as was stated. This serious fault iv the mining law therefore still remains, and it is impossible to tell how soon, or in what locality it may prove disastrous to miners. The pity is that since it was not thought worthy of amendment, attention was drawn to its existence at all. The Bill introduced by Mr Tribe, and known as the Gold-fields Bill No. 3, seems to have been amended in its passage so as to limit its application to the township of Ross only." We ("West Coast Times") learn from a statement cade by Mr Tabarb on Saturday evening that the completion of the Kanieri Lake Water- race, as far as the Hau Hau, will not be delayed beyond the beginning of the year. Mr Tabait, who is chairman of. the Board of Directors, stated positively that contracts for the remainder of the race would be signed this week, and it was not probable that any hitch would occur to prevent the whole of the main race being completed at the time mentioned. Although the race has up to the present time passed through country more or less auriferous, the best country in that respect is considered to be in the ground adjacent to the new contracts. From Scribhling's Creek to the Hau tlau the land is all highly auriferous, and though much of it has been partially worked, yet with a good water supply, hydraulicing, and ground sluicing can be advantageously carried on. We hear that it is iutended to form a company to work the old leads in the Big Paddock. M. Edmond Bourgeois writes to the Otago " Guardian :" — " I read in one of your evenirg contemporaries of the 25ch inst, an article respecting two paintings on view at the c-ntral chambers of Messrs Sidy and Co. I think, Sir, that the gallery of the Louvre was sacked by the Communists. I was present and saw the whole affair, and I can assure you most positively that the gallery of the Louvre was respected, and that the doors remained under seal during the whole of the Commune. I may farther assure you that this gallery is considered sacred by all Frenchmen, and they would believe they were committing the greatest crime should they perpetrate so sacrilegious an acb as the one attributed to them. I have seen these pictures, and, as your contemporary observes — 'it is impossible to do justice in words to the beauty of these paintings,' as they are evidently the chefs d'eeuvres of one of the old masters, and iv the gallery of the Louvre they would certainly be classed in the highest rank.'" The Wanganui "Herald" notices, with a certain amount of reticence, a disgraceful row which took place one night last week iv the house of Mr Blake, saddler, Wanganui. The journalist says that the offender was " a person who professes respectability in the day time." Of course, those who are acquainted with Wanganui have no difficulty in identifying this person, whose conduct not long ago was much canvassed, without however apparently teaching him circumspection. The paragraph goes on to say that this person found his way into the bedroom where Mrs Blake was lying asleep. Blake coming into the bedroom at the time (about 12 o'clock) closed with the man, and a scuffle ensued. JScreams were heard next doer, at Atkinson's hotel, where the Odd Fellows were holding their banquet, and several men rushed to the scene, where they found Blake holding the midnight marauder down on the floor by the ears. Blake and his wife appeared to be indignant, and intended laying an information, but it is stated tw-day thtt he has received from tbirc 1 parties Ihe sum oi L3O and a promise to hi- set up in business, if he will say uo more about it. Blake, it is said, is satisfied with utu. It is mentioned by the " Otago Guardian " that on a recent morning Dunedin harbor, in the vicinity of the shore at Anderson's Bay and Vauxhall, was covered with many acres of aheet ice. It is added that " such a thing has never been known before," but this is a mistake. Ac this season, twelve years ago, the bay was so frozen over that boats leaving the jetty at an, early hour in ' the morning were unable to proceed until the

ice was broken with the oar, aud the sheet of ice extended from the jetty to what is known as Black Jack's Point. Owing to the outflow from the Water of Leith, the surface water in Dunedin ia often fresh, and a thin coating of ice is the consequence on nightbof severe frost.