Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5416, 9 February 1886, Page 2

Late cable news announce that by the explosion of an ammonia boiler in an ice factory at Ballarat, a man and a boy were killed, and another is in a critical state. — The Under Secretary for the Colonies assured a colonial deputation that the British Government would not consent to any foreign nation acquiring New Hebrides without consulting the Colonies. A party of about 40 of the leading business men and citizens of the town met last evening at the Melbourne Hotel for the purpose of making a presentation to Mr T. Ronayne, and bidding him a formal farewell prior to his departure to Wellington. The Mayor (R. Nancarrow, Esq.) occupied the chair, and after a complimentary and appropriate speech presented Mr Ronayne with a very handsome marble clock, an albert chain, and a locket suitably inscribed. Considering the feeling of regret that prevailed at the departure of Mr Ronayne, the party passed a very agreeable couple of hours or so ; but owing to the lateness of the hour and the pressure of other matter that came to hand earlier in the evening, a more detailedaccount of the business of the.evening^cannot be given at present. ~~:~^«*^^S«^Btt The us,ual weekly sitting of the Warden's Court was held yesterday morning before Major Keddell, when the following cases were dealt with : — John Thos. Kiell and two others applied for the amalgamation of two extended claims at Camerons. Tho application was refused, the mining regulations only providing for the amalgamation of ordinary claims. J. T. Kiell and two others were granted a tailing site at Camerons. Kiell was granted a residence area for himself. John and Win, Chapman were granted a dam at Welshmans. Patrick Kane and another were granted a special site for tailings at Came r ons. Stephen Tyther was granted an extension of his head race at Barrytown. A number of Chinamen were summoned for mining . without miners' rights. Only one — Ah Sam — put in appearance, and he was let off with a small fine. The others —Ah Shang, Ah Kon, Ah Mi — were fined 40s each with the option of 14 days. The costs ranged from 14s to 15s in each ca^e. In a friendly suit, Jno. Hughes v. Felix Campbell, for failing to renew certificates of two water races, a fine of Is was inflicted in each case ; costs of court, 3s. M. Phillips, County rate collector, summoned Hugh Barnhill for carrying on business in a store at Welshmans without a license. Defendant paid the money under protest. It appeared that the place had been let for some time back to Chinamen ; that recently he sold the place to a European, and the only thing required to complete the transaction was the" payment of the money ; that personally he carried on no business there, merely keeping a boy to look after the place. A fine of only 5s was inflicted, but the costs amounted to £3 15s. The Chinamen had their annual burst of fireworks- if they can be so called after having seen European displays — at the font of Boundary street last night. The smoke and din were if anything rather less than we have seen during previous years ; but the enjoyment to the. Celestials was as ecstatic as usual. . : Mr W. H. Scott delivered an interesting lecture on "Light" at the Young Men's .Christian Association Rooms last evening, Mr G. S. Smith in the chair. There was a very fair attendance. The lecturer went into details very minutely, and with diagrams, experiments, &c, explained reflection, refraction, and velocity of light. The use of that wonderful fnstrument, the spectroscope, was also fully illustrated with the -aid of the electric lieht. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer for his able discourse. It is understood that an eight hours' go-as-you-please has been arranged between Haylett, of this town, and Johnson, of Brunnerton, for €25 aside. The match will, most likely, take place in about a week's time. Mr fting, who never misses an opportunity of practising his art when there is a new pageant, display, or sight of any kind that will make a good photo, had an exceedingly busy time of it during the Governor's visit, and has t >ken a number of very sood, pictures of the sights duri g those days, might almost be called memorable from the"fa°.t that such occasions are like angels visits with us— few and far between. . It is probably on that, account that Mr Ring's sun pictures of his Excellency's visit are in demand not only

amongst Greymouth and Brunnerton | people, but have been ordered by several ; visitors who happened to be here at the time. j Two "drunks" appeared before the ■ Magistrate yesterday morning, D. Cox and J. Firth. Each was fined 53, and given the usual alternative. The " Flying Dutchman " is to the fore again, making as many " alarming sacrifices " as ever. One of the most palatable and useful products for human consumption of this coast is honey. It is of most excellent quality. Connoisseurs in that commodity profess to detect special virtues in it, especially in saccharine strength, not to be found in the honey produced in many other places. Unfortunately for producers of honey in these parts the supply is considerably in excess of the demand. In a great many of the back gullies and other I suitable places on the edges of bush there are many little apiaries where considerable honey Is produced. But as it is not a necessity, as sugar is, large quantities accumulate. We know of one instance where 15001 b weight is on hand ready for sale. Still, there ought to be an enormous deal more of thelocal product consumed than is the case. This is not very creditable to our recognition of the principle "live and let live," because we have frequently seen honey imported from outside sold here. This is not as it should be; but probably the cause of this may be the want of sufficient publicity of the fact that there is honey enough produced in the Grey Valley to glut the local market. We have been presented with a very fine sample of honey in the comb by Mr John M'lvor, of Welshmans Track, and a better article in that line it would not be easy to find anywhere. Mr John M'lvor, like other apiarists in the Grey Valley, finds some difficulty in disposing of his surplus store. Is it not possible for some enterprising person to do for honey what Mr Foxcroft has done for whitebait, for the purpose of exporting it to a market where there is more demand than appears to be the case here ? But this is not the only part of New Zealand where surplus stores of honey accumulate. Sunny Auckland, with its almost perpetual fine weather is a paradise for bees, and will be no doubt a very productive field — until the bees find out, in the same way as bees in the West Indies found out, that where flowers grow all the year round there is no necessity to hoard their honey, and straightway start off on a sort of pleasant vagabond existence, leaving tomorrow to take care of itself. It is only a few days ago since a shipment of six tons was sent from Auckland to London. It is to be hoped that the result of that shipment will be satisfactory enough to induce others in different parts of the colony to do likewise. We are quite cer- , tain that if there are many apiarists like Mr M'lvor on the coast, a great quantity of honey could be shipped from here. The work of preparing it for the market ought to be neither difficult nor costly. The Melbourne Argus of the9fch instant says :— The claim Victoria can make of possessing the most variable .climate in the world is still to be maintained with a just pride against allcomers.. The middle of the week found us panting'in an extreme heat, and before the end was reached-tKer&wasa people, with astfspicion Of liver attaching to them,' were to be heard speaking about a call for fires. Wednesday's papers reported 147 degs v in the sun, in Friday's Journal a minimum of 55 degs is recoided, making a total drop in less than 48 hours of 92 degs; That record would be hard to beat outside Victoria, bat in justice to ourselves it has to' be stated that according to Mr Ellery's tables we have achieved more in other JanuariesT A range of over 100 degs has occurred. In like manner do we pass from fire to. flood. The one day the accounts in the papers were of a country side given to the flames. From Caraperdown to the Otway was one vast conflagration. Vessels at sea were enveloped in the smoke, had to light their binnacle lamps at noon, and found the decks covered with the charred litter of the forests. Hamlets were threatened, and homesteads were swept away. The succeeding day the heavens are opened ; the fires are literally beaten out ; from this comes ajecord of five inches of rain, from that of four, and from others of three. Here the hay is swept away, and there the root crops are half washedj'out of the ground. Even in the flower gardens of Melbourne the blooms burned to a cinder and yet dripping with moisture, seemed to remonstrate against the of nature by'extremes. The weight of gold received for coinage at the Sydney mint during last year was 422,1600z5, valued at £1,510,061, against 475,0530z5, valued at £1,713,844, received in 1884. The value of coinage issued at the mint since its establishment is £55,167,897. Mr George Muller, the well-known head of the Orphan Homes at Bristol, announces that during the last year he has received £41,558 "in answer to prayer," not a single donation having been solicited. According to the Wellington Evenhuf Press an appointment similar to Mr Driver's at Dunedin has been offered to Mr Matson, " Sir Julius Vogel's most active supporter at Christchurch." The new fortifications around Paris are no safeguard, according to German military authorities, but its siege would be more difficult than in 1870. About Cnurch-going. —An American paper says some go to church to weep, while others go to sleep. Some go there their wives to please ; their conscience others go to e>se. Some go to hear the, preacher ; others like the solo screecher.s Boys go to reconnoitre ; girls go because they oughter. Many go for sage reflections ; precious few to help collections. Cured of Drinking. — "A young friend of mine was cured of an insatiable thirst for ■ liquor, that had so prostrated his system that he was unable, to do any business. He was entirely cured by the use of Hop Bitters. It allayed all thai burning thirst, took away the appetite for liquor, made his nerves steady, and he has remain 3d a sober and steady man for more than two years, and has no desire to rej turn to his cups." — From a leading R.R. Official. ' Read.: — Advt. An- Alabaster Box — Young girls finding their complexion growing sallow, and their skin becoming rough and freckly, resert to perfumed ointments for a restoration of their bloom. All such should use Hop Bitters, which will restore bloom ?*to cheeks, whiteness and beanty to^their complexion, making rich blood, good health, and happy smiles. Readi»— ADVI.Jv; . '