GREY VALLEY ITEMS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1934, 17 October 1874, Page 2

GREY VALLEY ITEMS.

« [from a correspondent.] Ahaura, Oct. 13. The believers in lunar influences over the weather predicted, most kindly, a favorable change in the event of the new moon coming in dry; it is a thousand pities their prognostications should not have been realised. Incessant rain and stormy winds still prevail, retarding the progress of all mercantile, agricultural, and in many districts, mining pursuits. Little land, comparatively speaking, has been sown with cereals, although several of our farmers made an early start to prepare the ground for oats, &c, they have had no favorable opportunity to put in seed, and, should the much looked for fine weather not speedily arrive, we may expect to see farm produce rise to a very high price — for stores are fast decreasing their stock with but a poor chance of fresh importations. Butter is an article unattainable at any price. It is over a week since a single pound of keg butter was in the Ahaura, and the product of the local dairies is too insufficient to be noticed in the market. In fact if this continuous downpour of rain does not cease, we shall be reduced to the simple fare of damper, beef, and tea. If Mr O'Conor reads the West Coast papers, I should think the expression of public opinion ou the cause that has led to Mr Whitefootd's removal, the unanimous respect and sincere wishes for our late Warden's welfare, and the deservedly high enconiums that have been paid to him for his ability and impartiality from all classes, coupled with the odium and disgust for the Nelson Executive Council, must have been truly gratifying to the Provincial Secretary's love of notoriety. On Saturday Mr Whitefoord visited Nelson Creek to say a quiet goodbye to his friends. I am sure he little expected to meet with such a cordial" reception and demonstration of respect as was accorded to him on Hatter's Terrace last Saturday. His arrival was no sooner known than a crowd of digging friends began to assemble, and Mr Stephens kindly placed his Jarge room at their disposal, which was speedily filled to repletion. A public meeting was then held, Mr Gordon occupying the chair, and with a few suitable and appropriate remarks, proposed the health of« Mr Whitefoord. Mr Whitefoord, in responding, thanked them for the kind, honest, and enthusiastic manner in which they had drank his health, and expressed in most emphatic language, his great regret that circumstances should compel'him to leave a district in which he took a deep interest, and .where had met with such kind consideration and respect from one and all. Through the course of his remarks, touching upon all subjects of local interest, Mr Whitefoord wisely refrained from saying anything having reference to the late actions of the Nelson Provincial Council, but he informed us of one or two facts worthy of record, taken from the best of Government authorities, the "blue book." New Zealand ha 3 thirtyfive Resident Magistrate's and Warden's Courts, the Ahaura being fifth on the list, taking the revenue returns as a criterion of importance. The gross amount of revenue collected in the little Ahaura Court House from the date of Mr Whitefoord's appointment up to last Christmas amounted to the astonishing sum of L 50.000, and yet in the face of these facts we are now left without a Resident Magistrate, and, literally speaking;, annexed to Reefton, a place hitherto of minor importance. He then spoke of the vast mineral resources of the Grey Valley, asserting that in his opinion Greymouth would rapidly increase its size, and must eventually become the capital of the West Coast, and wishing that prosperity might attend one and all he ! concluded his remarks by saying that wherever his lot might taKe him, or whatever position he occupied in the future, he should always consider it only a duty to do anything in his power to further the interests of the Qrey "Valley resident's, either collectively or individually ; for he could not help looking upon them all as personal friends, after they had so sin^ cerely testified their kind wishes and regards for himself on this the eve of his departure from amongst them. The com- 1

pany did not break up until a late hour ; toasts and healths were drank and responded to in galore, a more jovial and pleasant evening was never passed on Hatter's Terrace, though the happiness waa somewhat damped by the knowledge that we were saying "good-bye" to a kind friend, able Warden, and good citizen. The few nominated immigrants that have come up here were, without an exception, immediately absorbed in the population. All readily found profitable employment, simply because they searched for it and showed an aptness for their new life. One is often amused at the unsophisticated remards of the " new chum" ere acclimatisation is perfected. An old lady, who has evidently lived in some quiet village in Scotland for upwards of 50 years, where trees are only seen in a copse, exclaimed, as she came through our bush, " Aye, mon, wha planted a' the trees." This is rural simplicity in earnest, and could be used as an argument to prove the guileless nature of the nominated immigrants .as compared with may of the knowing sayings and doings of the free immigrants. For the last ten weeks mining has been at a standstill in all districts where additional water is a bad enemy. From Moonlight we hear of immense land slips, damming back the creek for 300 or 400 yards, uutil the pressure of water could break the obstruction, and then the huge body of debris and water rushes frantically down the channel, carrying all before it, and undoing in one minute the work of months. Flucning, crates, mining tools, and plant of all kinds have been destroyed and lost. It will take many parties three months to repair damages.