Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 3314, 1 April 1879, Page 2

Although the particulars to hand are very vague, there is strong reason to fear that a fatal accident occurred at the Arahura on Sunday. Kumor reached Greymouth yesterday that a coach accident ha^ occurred at the crossing place, and that Mr Win. Pitt, solicitor, of Reefton, had been drowned ; and subsequent enquiries during the day threw no further light on the matter than that the coach from Kumaia to Hokitika had stuck in the Arahura River, and that the passengers, with the exception of Mr Pitt, had succeeded ia crossing on the horses. A gentleman in town received the following m ssage from Kumara in answer to a question regarding his brother, who was a passenger:—" Coach stuck ia river. "Your brother and obher passengera crossed on coach horses. Pitt got other horse, but was not so fortunate." 'Che absence of any Press telegram on the subject i 8 no doubt Sue to " the faot that the information would be con-

tftined in yesterday's Woab Coast Times , which, however, did not arrive through , stoppage of communication. Unless the School Committee have already attended to the matter, it i.time theylookM after the State School building. In hia , annual report, the Inspector saya thing should be done at once to the northeastern gabJe of the Greymouth State School. In windy weather it vibrates in an alarming manner, and moves several inches away from the ceiling lining. The water pipes, or gutters near the belfry are also out of order, as in rainy weather water can be heard rushing down inside one of the buttresses. The children's annual concert of the Wesleyan Sunday School tosk place in the Public Ha]l last evening. Owing most probably to the public haviug been somewhat surfeited with concerts lately, the attendance was small. The choir acquitted themselves exceedingly creditably in a number of Moody and Sankey's hymns, the choruses of which were given with spirit and precision. Between the pieces there was at intervals an exhibition of the magic lantern, the comical scenes of which vastly amused the juveniles. Owing to the flooded state of the rivers, the Reef ton coach could not get through yeaterday. The Rosa Guardian has cea3ed to exist, the proprietor, who is also proprietor of the Wellington Chronicle, finding his new venture to require the whole of his attention. We learn from the West Coast Times that a meeting of creditors of Messrs Learmonth and Wade, took plane in the Supreme Court House on Friday. Mr Purkiss attended on behalf of the arranging debtors, and Mr Hankins for the Union Bank. The total amount of debts proved was L 6720. A fresh deed, was ordered to be prepared, assigning the debtors' estate to the same trustees, with the addition of the name of Mr Kerr, of the Union Bank. The sittings of the Circuit Court at Hokitika stand adjourned unt 1 to-morrow. The Jackson's Bay Commissioners are still at the Bay taking evidence. It is to be hoped they will have enough of it. The Wagga Wagga Advertiser is responsible for the following :— A few days ago a smart-looking person was charged at the Court with theft, and in order to show the Bench that he was of respectable caste, in reply as to who knew him and could testify as to his character, he named the inspector ol police. This functionary, on being called, declared he had never to his knowledge seen the prisoner before, when the prisoner remarked that he had made a slight mistake — he intended to have named the sergeant of police. This officer, being called also declared he had no knowledge of the prisoner. The prisoner, scratching his head, as if calling forth fresh facts, said, " Your Honor, it must he the senior constable of this district I meant." The senior constable being called, answered in the same way as his superior officers. This appears to have been the prisoner's point, for he stated as follows: — "Your Honor, have I not given you proof sufficient to show that, as I am not known to the police, my character must be uuquestionable?" There was an exchange of courtesies at a sale of run leases i v D.vu u diu (according to the Star), between Mr Driver and Mr D. H. Mervyn. The latter had run up the bidding for run 424, Waikaia (M'Kellar's), from LI 2O, the upset price, to L 260, at which price it was knocked down to him. Though several presput aided with the auctioneer, Mr Mervyn denied that the bid was his, and Mr MavtiD of course put up the lease again, taking advantage of the power given him by conditions of sale to exclude Mr Mervyn from bidding. The lease was then knocked down to Mr Driver, as agent for the present holder of the run, at the upset price, Mr Mervyn offering L2OO, but it was not taken aiervy.i also Did, though Mr t»Yi ! rlE 5 ' l %oou objection to his being allowed to do so on the ground of his previous default, which the auctioneer ruled applied only to that particular run. Mr Mervyn also bid unsuccess. fully for run 437 (Eraser and Strode's). At the close of the sale there were some high words, during the passage of which the terni "cad" was applied to the ex,M.H R. foi Mount Ida by an M.L.C. of tbis district, who seemed desirous of throwing him oven bhe stairs ; whilst another hon.. geutiemat offered to kick him (the M.H.K.) out of the room for halt-a-crown. Under the hoadins; of " Another Losi Gainsborough," the Lyttelton Times has the following paragraph :— " In reading the minutes of the City Council last evening, ar item of business came to light which hac escaped the reporters. I s appeared that ai the previous meeting of the Council, aftei being in Comnrittee, the following resolutioi was recorded :— * That the picture of Coun cillor iVilson be removed from the preseni hiding place, and replaced on the walls o: the Council Chamber.' On this being reac last night, Councillor Wilson strongly ob jected to the words ' its present hiding place/ and the mover of the resolution, Councillor Cass, denied having used them. It transpired that the words were used it the course of conversation, and that the Town Clerk inadvertently embodied them it the resolution. The lost portrait once more smiles down upon the assembled. Councillors, but in the meantime two other portraits oi distinguished past Councillors and Mayo« have disappeared. Where is their hiding place ?"