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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1951, 6 November 1874, Page 2

In connection with the Telegraph Department here the following tenders have recently beenaccepted :— For felling timber, O'Rourke and Co., 103 3d per chain ; for erecting telegraph poles, Keith and Co , at 25s each; for the cartage and delivery of telegraph material on the Marsden Rroad, Mason and Smith at L 2 per ton. It appears that we were mistaken in supposing that the immigrants now expected by the Waipara for Hokitika were for the proposed special settlement in the South. The "West Coast Times" of yesterday state that they are simply nominated and other immigrants for tbe Hokitika district. The " Westland Register" has become the preperty of the proprietors of the "West Coast Times," and ceases publication to-day. The Hospital Removal Committee will meet this afternoon, at 4 o'clock, at Gilmer's Hotel. The quarterly metting of the Licensing Bench for the Greymouth district takes 1 place on the Ist December, but all applica- | tions for licenses must be lodged with the Clerk of the Court not later than Monday next. Yesterday morning the Bench was occupied by Messrs Lahman and King, J.P., who cautioned and discharged four persons who had been guilty of indulging too freely. la each case it was a first offence, and was admitted. The deputation from the Hospital Removal Committee, consisting of Messrs Acheson, Dupre, and Kerr, visited Hokitika on Wednesday, and waited upon his Honor the Superintendent. They had a long interview

with regard fen the proposed removal of the Hospital Buildings, and afterwards the following written reply was received by Dv Auheson from the Supei-intendent : — " SlR — Referring to tbe interview I had this morning with yourself and the other members of the G-reyinouth Hospital Building Removal Committee, L have the honor to inform you that I have been able to close tbe negotiations with the General Government for tlie purchase of the present building for the sum of LI2OO. At your request I will communicate with the General Government with a view of obtaining an advance, if possible, for progress payments as the building proceeds. I am, &c, J. A. Bonar." The Committee formally accepted the ofter, and ib is to be i hoped that the progress payments ■will be I obtained as recommended by the Superintendent, or that the whole amount will be paid over at once, so that the Committee can proceed energetically with the work now before them. Writing on the supposed robbery at the Lyell, the local paper says ■. — " A certain amount of uneasiness was caused during the week, as it became known that amalgam worth Ll2O had been sold to one of the Banks by parties who were presumed not to possess such a commodity. The men affirm, and there is evidence to back up their assertion, that they purchased the amalgam from a person who has since left the district, and who, there is reason to believe, obtained it from tha Alpine shoot at a time when this structure was blown down. " At the half-yearly meeting of the Just-in-Time Gold-mining Company, held at Reef ton on Monday, Messrs Trennery, Reeves, Jacobsou, M'Neece, Wilson, Franklyn, and Ashton were appointed directors ; and Messrs M'Lean and Brennan, auditors. The "West Coast Times" says that Mr Cooper, surveyor, who has for sevei'al years past resided chiefly in the Greymouth district, has during the past year been engaged in a geological and tepographical survey of the Mount Rochfort coal-fields. He lately visited Wellington for the purpose of perfecting a record of the results of his work, but has now returned to the Coast, where he is to be engaged on the same survey, a work which is likely to occupy several years. The report that Dr Hector is shortly to proceed to England is understood to be correct. It had been his intention to do so for some time, but a year's leave of absence had to be anticipated by considerable personal preparations and departmental arrangements. Ab the meeting of the Wesbland Waste Lands Board, held at Hokitika on Tuesday, Messrs Kilgour. aud Perotti, by their agent, L. Belt, applied to purchase the excess (2 roods 8 perches) of land allowed them in sections 1661. 1669, Grey district. Granted, LI 2s 6d, G. H. Russell, by F. A. Learmonth, applied to have a run in the New River district put up to auction. Ordered to be put up on December 15. Charles Woolcock applied to have sections 337, 339, 341, town of Greymouth, reserved for Hospital purposes. Th 3 Board lecommended that the triangle of land be reserved for the purposes named. Gilbert King, by his agent, F. A. Learmonth, applied to have certain town sections in Greymoutli thrown open for sale. Adjourned till next meeting for the chief surveyor to report. In noticing the opening of a Lodge of the Hibernian Society at Tnvercargill, the " New Zealand Tablet" says:— " When it is remembered how short is the time which has elapsed since the formation of St, Joseph's, Dunedin — the parent lodge of the Colony — the success ■which has attended the introduction of the asssociation has been something surprising. Although but eighteen months have elapsed since the first lodge was opened, already there are eighteen branches, or one for every month the Society has been in existence in New Zealand. In, ever city in both islands the association is represented, while almost every town — no matter how small— on the West Coast, has its branch. Of couise when we take into consideration the admirable priciples which are embodied in the Constitution of the Hibernian Society, bestowing as it does all the advantages to be derive-l from a benefit society, with the moral influence it exercises o its members, it is scarcely to be wondered at that so many applications have been made to the Directory for the opening of branches." Our contemporary appears to be oblivious of the fact that a branch of the Hibernian Society was established in Greymouth about five years ago. Captain M'Lean, of the steamship Otago, has liberated ten pairs of magpies in the Dnnedin district. These (says the " New Zealand Herald") would thrive much better in Auckland than Ofcago ; but we may say they would do better in Taranaki than in either place. — " Taranaki Herald. May we venture to add another rider. They would do best in Wellington. — "Tribune." We are sure the best locality for them is the Grey Valley. — "Argus." The Fijians are at all times wonderfully ready in debate. On the occasion of Commodore Goodenough's first visit to the island, Cakobau was explaining the position of the counjbry as regards Maafu— how the wily Tongan had entered the islands a foreigner, and had gradually by craft and decision of character forced himself into a position in which he was now actually ousting the natives from their hereditary rights, and establishing himself in sovereign power. The commodore pointed out that this was what took place every day all over tbe world, and said, " Look at the hermit crabs on y»ur coral beaches : they take the shells of others." "True," rapped out Cakobaa, " but the hermit crab always takes the empty shell." A new friendly society, entitled " The Independent Order of Free Gardeners," has been established in Auckland, says the " tterald." It has been enrolled under the Friendly Societies Act, of New Zealand. The new society offers a most liberal scale of benefits to its members ; the sick allowance being 21s weekly, and the sum payable at death being L2l, The Right Rev. Francis Redwood, the newly-appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, is expected to arrive in New Zealand about tbe 20th November. Preparations are being made for his Lordship's reception in Wellington, and it is understood that as soon after arrival as possible Bishop Kedwood will visit Reefton, and the other portions of his diocese. It having been decided by the Roman Catholic residents to erect anew church at Reefton, we (" Herald") believe an effort will be made to have the work completed by the time his Lordship arrives. The Fijian chief Maafu once very happily hit off the great blot in the Fijian Government the utter want of proportion between its expenditure and the result achieved. He had come alongside the Dido in his pretty little yacht, the JZarifa, once the pride of Port Jackson. After admiring for some time one bf the two enormous guns the Dido carries amidships, he said to Captain Chapman, "Zarifa carry that gun, eh, captain?" "Oh, no," replied Captain Chapman, " Zarifa too small. Put that on Zarifa, and Zarifa go down, gun too big." All same poor Fiji," rejoined Maafu, "Fiji Government too big— Fiji go down." When this same chief of Lav was asked by Commodore Goodenough why he would not send his taxes 'down to the Government in Levuka, he gave a pointed answer, not at all flattering to the authorities. " Why should I?" he asked, "I live in the windward islands.

When I cufc a coco.iuufc tree it floats down to the leeward inlands, but like the taxes, no park ever comes back."