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Grey River Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 2321, 18 January 1876, Page 2

Tha return of then Energetic Quartz-mining Company for the week was 386 of amalgam, 121oz 14dwt retorted gold ; ODly 20 heads of stampers have been employed, an accident having happened to the belt wheel of the new battery, which prevented its being worked.

An event of great importance to all having children requiring education took place today in the opening of the Government School under the direction of Mr Thomson. The various teachers engaged in the school were in attendance at 9 o'clock, and when the doors were opened, it was at once seen that the small room temporarily used was quite insufficient to accommodate the number present, which was considerably over 200, there being upwards of 40 new scholars enrolled this morning. It was found necessary to send home the senior pupils, who were requested to assemble at the Good Templars' Hall on February Ist, at 9 o'clock. In the meantime Mr Thomson will receive the names of those who have not yet been enrolled, and will examine them so as to see which class they are fitted for, so that no more time may be wasted in getting to work as soon as the hall is ready for occupation, Parents are particularly requested to either send or bring their children during the week for this purpose,

Last evening three young men employed in the Melbourne Hotel, named . Sydney Percy, James Bolass, and William Flockhardt, went away at about a quarter past eight to bathe in a bye- wash of the river opposite Coal Creek. Mockhardt said he could swim, and went into the main stream at the junction of the bye-wash and the river and remarked there was a very strong current. Percy and Bolass were bathing in the bye-wash, and Percy turning round saw Flockhardt struggling, and calling out " save me !" Percy called out to Borne others who were bathing a little higher up to pull off in the boat to him. After » little while the boat was shoved off, but before it could reach Flockhardt he sank. Bolass nearly lost his life in attempting to save the deceased, and was only just rescued in time by the boat. Deceased was about 16 years of age, and was second cook at the Melbourne Hotel. The police took immediate steps to drag for the body, but as where the deceased sank the water is very deep and a strong current runs, it is doubtful if it can be recovered before it is carried out to sea. It is supposed that deceased was seized with cramp, the water in the river being at all times very cold.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, before W. H. Re veil, Esq., R.M., William Berry, who had been summoned foi drunkenness and disorderly conduct on the Race-course, but who did not appear, was fined 20s and costs.

The Wheeler Troupe, whose performances a few weeks ago gave such great satisfaction in Greymouth, will appear again in the Volunteer Hall this evening, for one night only.

A meeting of the Paroa Koad Board took place at Marsden yesterday, when there were present Messrs Faulkner, Castle, Russell, dimming, and Lalor. The first business being the election of a chairman for the ensuing term of twelve months, Mr Lalor proposed, and Mr Faulkner seconded, that Mr H. S. Castle be elected chairman. The halfyearly balance sheet and cash statement were laid oa the table and adopted. The correspondence was received, including a letter from Mr J. Bochfort, regarding the necessity of erecting a bridge over Omotumotu Creek. Several accounts were passed for payment, including the contract for erection of the Maori Gully bridge, at a cost of Ll2B 103. It was recommended to construct a track from No Name to Cameron's Terrace, a distance of about five miles, and to take some steps to ensure the safety of the Marsden Tramway to persons travelling thereon. Mr Hunter's absence from the Board's meetings for three consecutive months was taken into consideration, and his seat was declared vacant, and the Board, after transacting some business of a routine character, adjourned to Thursday, the 3rd February next.

By a fire, which ended in the destruction of a dwelling at Green Hills, on the afternoon of Thursday week (says an Invercargill paper), a number of recent arrivals were left houseless, homeless, and entirely destitute of food and clothing. The house had a thatch roof, and the chimney being lower than the roof, it is supposed the fire was caused by some sparks lodging in the thatch. The inmates at the time consisted only of women and children, the male heads of the families having gone to look for work up-country a month ago. Everything owned by these poor people, except their personal apparel, was destroyed.

Recently it was found that three men were lying in a tent on the Oamaru beach, about a hundred yards to the north of the creek lagoon, and that one of them was dead. Constable Henderson proceeded to the tent, and found two of the men asleep and the other dead. It seems that the whole three had been in liquor, and went to lie down and have a sleep, and the man who was lying between the other two, John Crowley (an old pensioner), died without the slightest struggle ; indeed he did not make noise enough to arouse his companions. When Constable Henderson aroused them they could not believe that Crowley was dead, but said he was merely sleeping. Dr Wait was sent for, and after examining the man, pronounced life extinct. The other two are in custody.

The Timaru Herald says :— We are informed that Professor Black, of Dunedin, who analysed a sample of quartz from the Waiho, submitted to him by the Waiho Gold-mining Company, has reported that it contains gold to the amount of one ounce one pennyweight and three grains to the ton We are not aware whether pioked specimen^

of quartz were forwarded to him, or whether a full ton of average quartz was sent. It would be well, therefore, for our readers to receive this information with great caution. If the report is as satisfactory, as it appears to be prima jade, there is certainly a prospbct of the Waiho district proving auriferous.

Wireum Katene, one of the Mioii members of the Executive haa lost his seat for the Northern Maori Electoral District, whilst Karaitiana, of Napier, a strong opponent of the Government, has been re-elected for the Eastern District.

Mr Higginson, the Superintending-en-gineer, has arrived in Westland, and is how inspecting the works ia the Waimea district, accompanied by Mr O'Conor. ;

A pigeon flying match has been arranged to take place in Canterbury on February 11th, the distance to be from Dunsandel to Christchurch.

During the sittings in bankruptcy at Christchurch on Thursday last, Justice Johnston remarked that in that district one of the most common causes of bankruptcy arose from the fact of contractors undertaking contracts which they knew they would never be able to carry out. ■ '. -

The Southland rivers are being stocked with river and sea trout, a large number of each kind having been recently liberated by the Acclimatisation Society in Various suitable streams.

A former resident of Auckland named Mrs Mary Anne Colclough, who used to write in the Southern Cross under the non de plume of "Polly Plum," two years ago went to Melbourne, where she took a prominent part in the Woman's Bight question. We learn by late Melbsurne papers that money is now being raised by subscription for the purpose of sending her back to New Zealand,

Mr W. S. Fitzgerald, who has been appointed Rector of the new Normal School, at Dunedin, on leaving the Grammar School, at Oamaru, was presented by the inhabitants with a real silver tea and coffee service, valued at L 62.

A Wanganui paper states that a child living with a lady in Wilson street, pushed a button up its nose some six months ago, leaving it there and forgetting all about it. Lately the nose appeared very sore as if it was festering. The lady, anxious to find out the cause, passed a hairpin up, and much to her surprise brought down the button, which is about the size of a sixpence. Sir Donald M'Lean has intimated to the Inspector of Schools in Otago that it is his intention to have printed an epitome of : the history of New Zealand, written by Mr Alei. Mackay, for the use of schools. Such a work should be very useful. To show what may happen to a magistrate in Victoria, Mr Lane, P.M, at the meeting of the Belfast Licensing Bench on the 30th inst, read a document, of which the following is a copy, verbatim et literatim. It wa» addressed, MrLaue, P.M, Belfast :— "Notice —If you or Chambers or Gray opose Fitzgerald's license death will be your doom, have sense in time. - You will be shot like dogs." Mr Lane remarked that personally he had no fear, nor would it influence the Bench in any way. The letter was then handed to the police .