Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume 21, Issue 3047, 22 May 1878, Page 2

Tbo West Coast Times unjustly complains tbx.t the Fnplish mails via Sau Frnncisco, which arrived here on Sunday, at 11 am, were not forwarded on to HoHtika as expe-

ditiously as they ought to have been. Tf any delay occurred, it certainly was nob in Greymouth, as the Hokitika portion of the mail wa3 forwarded on by tho first urani, leaving at 3 p. m.

The polling for the election of a member to represent the Groy Valley electorate in the room of Martin Kennedy, Ksq, resinned, will take place to day, the candidates bfiiug Messrs Harrison, Keeves, and Barrowmao. The following are the polling places : — The Resident Magistiate's Court, Greymouth ; School House, Paroa ; Schuol House, Marsden ; Warden's Court, Greenstone ; Warden's 0 mrt, Dungauvillo, Clifton • Warden's Court, Maori Gully, Arnold ; School House, Brunnerton ; Warden's Court, No Town ; School House, Hatter's Terrace, Nelson Creek ; Court House. Ahaura ; Archibald's Dwelling House, Middle Township. Moonlight; School House, Granville, Half Ounce ; School House, Noble's, Waipuna; M'Harriie's Building's, Little Grey ; Resident Magistrate's Court, Keefcon ; School House, Black'a Point ; Archer's Cottage, Captestown; Warden's Court, Cobden ; and M'llroy's Out-buildings, Seventeen-mile Baach.

Last night Mr Richard Reeves, one of the three candidates for the representation' of the Grey Valley electorate in the House of Assembly, addressed a meeting in the Volunteer Hall. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and bespoke for Mr Reeves a fair bearing. Mr Reeves spoke for about half an,hour, his remarks being simply! an elaboration of his published address. He believed in universal suffrage ; he would advocite the facilitation of coal export, and the construction of a railway between the East and West Coasts ; he hoped a scheme ■would be introduced for putting a stop 1 to the truck aystem ; he considered that main roads should be constructed at the expense of the General Government ; be strongly opposed the formation of a harbor board until after the protective works had been completed ; he did not see how the Maori reserves couJd be interfered with, but he felt inclined to go in, should opportunity present itself, for thß. protection of the sablessee ; the subsidies to charitable institu tions and hospitals should be doub ed ; it ■was time tbat free immigration should be put a stop to ; property should contribute a fair share towards the revenue of the country ; and ha would support a tat on absentees. On the question ot education Mr Reeves said, ''lam a denominationalist ; I have lost some, and will perhaps lose more, friends on this aceouut, but if I were to lose the election twent • times over I would stick t> my colors." The candidate having answered several questions. Mr John Ollivier moved that Mr Reeves is a fit and proper person to represent the constituency, giving as his reason for doing so that "Mr Reeves has had a large experience ia a small way." Mr James Jones seconded the resolution and the Chairman declared it carried.

Yo3torday'a Inangahua Herald says :

"Mr W. H. Harrison addressed the electors at Dawaon's Hal], last night. There was a very crowded meeting. Mr P. Alexander was in the chair. In reply to Mr (Jrofts. on the Education Question, Mr Harrison said that it was idle to suppose that the country would recede to denoininationalism, but he was prepared to support a measure which would secure to Rom&u Catholics their share of State aid for educational purposes. A vote of confidence, proposed by Mr H. Smith, and seconded by Mr Blakeley, was unanimously carried."

At the Police Court yesterday, before W H Revell, Eaq, one inebriate was fined 10a, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. A few civil case- were also disposed of.

Two children met with violent dca hs at Nelson the week before last, Oue a child of 18 months old, fell backwards inio a camp oven full of scalding porridge. The other, an infant, was smothered in the shawl in which it was wrapped, whilst being carried home one evening by its mother.

The close of the London masons' strike left, it was stated, about 500 persons out of employment. The strike lasted 32 weeks, and cost the unionises, who have been aided to some extent by those of other trades, about L 30.000. On the other hand the master builders are said to have expended more than LlO 000 in the importation of foreign workmen and tho transport to London of men from different parts of the country ; aud when to these amounts are adtiel various losses occasioned by the strike, it; is estimated that Its total cost must have been ab least L 60.000.

An execution upon a judgment for L 3700, which was entere i about two months ago by default against Arihi te Nahu, at ths suit of the Hon. H. K. Russell, was put into force on Wednesday, says the Hawko'a Bay Herald, but ai tho moveables in Atihi's possession consisted of Maori math, valued at iive shillings for the lot, the rfficer bearing the warrant of execution returned to town.

JudgejMeynott, recently at the Tamworlih (N\S. VV.) Quarter Sessions, in sentencing a yoang woman, aged 20, convicted of bigamy, said it was a gross trr stake for persons to imagine that by simply putting an advertisement in a newspaper they could marry again when their hnsbands or wives left them. To do so was to commit a felony, unless the husband or wife has not been seen or heard of for seven years However, as the accused seemed y< ung, promised amendment, and had committed her offenca under the sanction of her mother (who ought to have known better) he thought he should meet the justice of the case by jiiving the light sentence of three months in Tamworth gaol, with iiiht employment. The defendant had married her first husband in 1873, when under 16 years of ag<». He left her and she married again in 1877.

During the Queensland Hilary Term the Law Society moved for no fewer than four " rules " calliug attorneys to account for certain grave malpractices. The Brisbane Courier concludes a leader on the subject as follows : — " It is evident however, we think, from the number of cases of this kind brought forward, that there is good reason for believing that the lower branch of the legal profession in Queensland would be benefitted by judicious weeding, and we regret to aay th*t we are of opinion that the safety of the public outride of thf profession is not at present sufficiently regarded by those who have the power to protect them. Unless the Judges of the Supreme Court will put down professional mal-practices sternly, it would be better to abolish the monopoly granted to professors of the law, and throw the profession open to the public as is done in America. As long aa we are compelled to employ particular meu authorised by the Court to practice, we have a right to expect that the Court will prot°ct our inlerests by enforcing them to deal honestly with us." Thess remarks have more than a local application.

William Simpsou Smith, EEq., has been gazetted a Commissioner of the Land Board of the Land District of Westland.

In onr advertising columns Mr E. A Drary announces that he baa resumed his business' at the Ahaura as a mining agent, &c. Mr Drury formerly practised in the ( 'rey Valley Courts and gave general satisfaction.

The Westport Times says : — "The rush to the Totara has, to all intents and purposes collapsed, none but the original prospecting parties now remaining oz the ground. The Addison's mon after sinking several duffer holes Have brought away their tools, ropeß; and windlasses." *