THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1885.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 5255, 29 July 1885, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1885.

That dear, old impractical and incomprehensible patriot; Sir Geo. Grey is always a law unto himself,' and no doubt thanks the Lord that he is not as other men. He is therefore only acting in keeping with his well known character when he throws up hia hands arid^ l exclaims* "For no advantage in the world I rob the children of Reefton of two 'millions five hundred thousand acres of land, which is the source of all wealth and independence," and he then innocently adds, " If I did it I believe I should ruin those you love to enrich foreign stock-jobbers." Poor Sir George ! The things of to-day are nothing to him. He is alway3 trying to project himself into futurity. It is the "women and little children" of another age that rack his benevolent mind with the deepest anxiety. Ordinary people, with plain common sense, and no pretensions to the lofty enthusiasm and transcendent abilities of the New Zealand G.0.M., would say that the best way to look after the interests of the " women and littte children" of the future wouldbe to do all you can for those who are to beget them. Sir George admits that the raliway ought to have been made by this time, though he did nothing towards it when he was* all-powerful and had the opportunity. He professes an ■ earnest desire to do what he can for the interests of the people on this coast; but it.'must be done by "judicious" means. Anyone would think that the people of the West Coast knew v their own interests best ; but Sir George thinks they are not acting judiciously in their desire to close with the proposals of the Government, and cheerfully accept the burdens that the contract imposes upon only them and those others who hope to benefit from the work. We are not susprised at anything Sir George Grey may do in a political way. In a fit oi gushing enthusiasm, when stumping the colony at the colony's expense, he professed a peculiar and sentimental regard for Greymouth. It was the only place in the colony named after him, and he promised the inhabitants that he would always be ready to do his utmost to assist them by every means in his power. We have remembered that promise and relied upon it ever since. The time has now come for Sir George Grey to redeem his pledge, and the Borough Council have very properly, as the civic representatives of the people, asked him to redeem the pledge he made years ago. The slippery old politician may by chance remember that he made such a promise, but the mental reservations that usually accompany all his promises uiay also occur to him, so that wo will be no nearer our object than we were. It is with a feeling of surprise and deep regret that we read Mr Wakefield's reply to Mr Dawson of Reefton. It would appear that we have as little to hope for from him as from Sir Geo. Grey. Both are apparently beside themselves with the fever of politics, and madly oppose the East and West Coast railway scheme on the pretext of hatred to syndicates and stock-jobbers, but really because the measure has emanated from the Government benches. Mr Wakefield telegraphs: — "I am as warm a supporter of fclie) railway project as ever, and your district has no firmer friend, but the present proposal is, I am convinced, a monstrous fraud on the Colony, by which

a ring of foreign speculators will get twic^ as much for making the railway as i* ought to cost. The way in which it is being done disgusts all honest men, and it is doing infinite damage to the railway cause and the best interests of the West Coast. You will have the whole Colony against you. If I never Bat in Parliament again I would oppose Vogel's proposals to the bitter end."

Still, notwithstanding all this unreasoning and stiff-necked opposition, we are not without hope that good sense and hard facts will triumph in the end ; and with this view we sincerely hope that Government will not try to rush the matter through. So long as there is any doubt as to the result, let them delay coming to the test with the House. Every day'B delay is a clear gain to those in favor of the proposals. The more the matter is discussed, and the more light shed on it the better for our cause. There is no fear but common sense will tell in the end. The land is of no value without the railway, and if we wait for the Government of New Zealand, or any Government we are likely to have, to construot the line, we shall wait in vain. The opposition we have to encounter now would be ten times as fierce at the bare mention that Government contemplated such a thing. Auckland and Otago would become hysterical over their peculiar railway wants. And even if any Government found themselves strong- enough to carry a loan for a railway connecting the two coasts of this- Island, the probability is that Auckland and Otago would at once conspire for an attack upon the Treasury on behalf of their own pet works, on the ground that they were of far greater importance to the welfare of the colony. And what Government could resist such an assault successfully 1 New Zealand politics never produced a Ministry that could. The loan would be diverted, and the line thrown back from time to time on behalf of interests far less colonial in character. The colony could not construct the line as cheaply as private contractors. Every one in New Zealand ought to know that. We have had experience enough of it by this time. What Government that we have ever had has been able to resist the demands of influential politicians and other for billets for their friends and relatives'? The nepotism natural to Governments is not half so mischievous as the pressure of that kind that comes from outside. Wa3 not our Public Works Department a few years ago a disgrace to the colony— there being two and thrae officers for one man's 'work right through the service — and all through favoritism and political patronage 1 How any honest-minded man, free from the blinding effects of political prejudice, who has travelled over the country between here and Canterbury, and looked at the hopeless nakedness of the land can reconcile his conscience to opposing the Government proposals in regard to the East and West Coast railway is one of those incomprehensible things that take away one's power of speech. But those who will oppose this work should be reminded and warned that in doing so they will help to throw back this West Coast with all its stores of undeveloped wealth at least fifty years.

Touching the East and West Coast railway, our Wellington correspondent wired last night that at a meeting held at Ashburton last night a large number of influential persons being present, it was decided that the Canterbury members bo urged to go in for financial separation. According to late telegrams last night the excitement over the East and West Coast railway proposals is very intense. The position of the advocates of the railway is gradually improving, but its opponents still hope to bo able to "defeat the " selfish machinations of Canterbury, Nelson, and Westland." The Ministry were thinking of making it a Ministerial question, but Larnach, Ballance and Tole would not have it. It is said that Yogel will modify the guarantee from £97,000 to £30,000 per annum.

Our Brunderton correspondent wired yesterday evening as follows: — "The following resolution has been around' today,'and over 200 signatures have been obtained : — To Messrs Guinness and Menteath, M.H.R.'s — We, the undesigned residents of Brunner and surrounding districts, respectfully ask you as our representatives to do all you can to assist the Government in passing the East and West Coast Railway Bill, and oblige yours respectfully. — The resolution was wired last night to Wellington. The regular meeting of the Lewis Mark Lodge, E.G., will be held this evening, at which the installation of officers will take place. Messrs Hillman and Anderson are the successful tenderers (labor only) for building Mr Pearn's Hotel at Taylorville. The amount is £208, the only other two tenders being .£2lO and £216 respectively, which is very close tendering. It is considered probable (says the Dunedin Star) that Colonel Reader will retire from the service on the expiry of his leave of absence. The concert given last evening in the Volunteer Hall, in aid of the funds of Trinity Church Sunday School, proved a very successful affair. The room was crowded by an enthusiastic audience. The first item was a glee, " Bells of St. Michael's Tower," which was sung by the company in excellent style. A duet, piano and cornet, by Miss M. Moss and Mr R. M'Lean followed, and was much appreciated. A song, "The Lighthouse Light," by Rev. Innes Jones, was loudly applauded, and a pianoforte duet by Miss Fricker and Miss R. Smith received its share of applause. Miss Batchelor then sang very nicely "Merry Birds." A piano solo by Miss F. Harrison was much admired. Mr Elmer recited The Leper" in a very pathetic manner, after which M'ss L. Smith, though a little nervous, sang " Cleansing Fires" very well. The second part opened with a pianoforte duet by Miss Moss and Miss M. Moss, which was executed with great ability, by the players. Rev. Mr Maclean read some very amusing comic extracts from Various authors. Miss Hales was loudly encored for her song " No, Bir ! " A duet ," Oh ! could I teach yon warbling bird" wsbi very sweetly sung by Miss Brown and Miss NJ Brown, and narrowly escaped an encore. Miss Easson had to repeat her song, " I would not say no." Awake! Awake 1" by the company was fairly gh en. The entertainment concluded with Mr Elmer reciting Vuvent Pyke's famous song " The brave old British flag." This proved a very fitting finale, there being a dozen of our "noble defenders" on the stage. The stags was lit up with colored lights*

The adjourned sitting of the Warden's Court was held yesterday morning, before Major Keddell, Warden, and the following cases dealt with :— Gallagher and Nelson were granted a tunnel right at Camerons Flat, George Spence was granted a dam right at Herbert Terrace, Kong Jeo and All Sing were granted a head-race right at Jones'- Flat; and Thomas "Mason was granted rights, for a head and tailrace and a dam at Jones' Flat. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, in the case of the Public Trustee v Maria Fitzgerald and Thomas Joyce, claim £63 10s, for the rent of a portion of the Native reserve, it was adjourned till the 11th August to allow of service being effected on defendants.

The adjourned case of Henry Powney Pow v the Chairman, Councillors, and inhabitants of the County of Grey, was finally settled yesterday. Pow claimed £57 16s on account of alleged loss through the Council having refused to allow him to sign a contract for which his tender, being the lowest, had been accepted. His Worship, Major Keddell, who had reserved his judgment, gave a verdict for plaintiff for £3 10s, being the amount awarded him by the Council when he submitted his claim in the first instance. It transpired during the hearing of the case that the contract was conditional upon a certain covenant being performed by a third party, and that when Pow's tender was accepted he was made aware of the special condition attached to the contract; John M'Quaid alias Wilson was sentenced yesterday to 48 hours' imprisonment for being illegally on the premises of Robert Gamble. M'Quaid belongs to the genus " teamp," and was merely taking a cheap lodging in Mr Gamble's loft. The installation of W.M. and officers of Lodge No 1233, E.C., took place last evening at the Masonic Hall, Bro. Hudson, P.D.G.W., being installing officer. The following is the list of installations: — Bro. Thos. Woods, W.M. ; Bro. C. Wainright, S.W. ; Bro: T. A. Murphy, J.W. ; Rev. Bro. Maclean, chaplain; Bro. R. Wilson, secretary; Bro. P. B. ; Cameron, treasurer; Bfo. Hay, S.D. ; , Bro. T. Polling, J.D. ; Bro3. Ashton and Robinson were appointed stewards ; Bro. ; Teasedale, 1.G. ; and Bro. M'Laren, I tyler. The proceedings were wound up with a banquet served up in Mr Kane's best style.

It is really time that cur American cousins reformed the nomenclature of some of the towns and cities of the United States. In a lecture recently delivered before the American Geographical Society by Mr D. D. Field, he quoted the following names occurring in the Gazetteer : — You Bet, Popcorn, Dirt Town, Wild Cat. Cub Run, Cut Skin, Bake Oven, Big Coon Burn Corn, Rawhide, Cat Creek, Doctor Town, Joy Tavern, Cut Off, Big John, and Fish Hook. During the next 250 years, it has be en computed there can only be one tot a l eclipse of the sun — that of August 12, 199^ — '-which can be seen in England. . ■ The Duke of Argyll estimates that the coal of England will be exhausted in a little over 100 years.

Irish Moss. — Bonnington's, the best remedy for cough, colds, croup, &c. — Gbifeen and Smith, agents.

Wicked for Clerjjy.men. — "I believe it to be all wrong* and even wicked for clergymen or otljer public men to be led into giving testimonials to' quack doctors or vile stuffs call'6d"medicines, but when a really meritorious article is made up of common valuabie remedies known to all, and that all physicians use and trnst in daily, we should freely commend it. I therefore cheerfully and heartily commend Hop Bitters frr the good they have done me and my friends, firmly believing they have no equal for family use. I will not be without them." — Rev. , Washington, D.C. Read

A Genuine Source of Health. — Thousands of invalids seek in vain, year after year, for some real source of health. They try one remedy after another until they begin to despair of finding the much wished for object. Oh, that some beacon could light those unfortunate groping in the dark to that genuine sources of health, Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps, an unequalled specific for diseases of the stomach, bowels, and kidneys and a matchless tonic and nervine. — Advt