THE WEATHER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5797, 19 January 1887, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

Such a protracted period of dry weather has not visited the West Coast for a number of years, even if there ever has since the first great tush. About six years ago a long spell of very dry weather was experienced, but it could scarcely , equal the last four weeks for dry and unbroken heat. All the creeks and racea in the neighborhood have long; since run dry, r;hile the fluming is tumbling to pieces for the want of water. Amongst a large proportion of the townspeople it is a veritable water - famine. Hotels have to replenish their tanks from the stand-pipes by means of pumping. Others have private wells and engines from which they draw an abundant supply, but these are the fortunate few. Others are compelled to bucket the water from the river when the tide is most suitable ; while in the suburbs the carrying of water maybe ssen going -on every evening and morning, . when ; the heat of the sun is least felt. A few who have husbanded their resources, or are favored with good tanks, have still a supply ;fp u t "•'* it is no exaggeration to say that the s ' majoilty of the citizens are very short of water indeed This unusual drought and V heat ars not by any means local. . All the other ciiies in the colony are much' alike in respect to weather ; and in the AustrdhVn Colonies the same meteorological phenomenon is seen, aa the weather at Melbourne, Sydney and elsewhere is unprecedentlyhot, and has been so continuously for some considerable time. Alto- • gether, the last fear or five weeks' of Hot weather hsi been the best possible advertisement and argument in favor of getting a permanenent water supply for the town. Had we just emerged from a spell of this kind of weather when Mr Lord's scheme wr.g proposed the result might have been very different to what it wars. It is about time that the question was once more re-opened. According to the local press, the people of Hokitika are suffering from a water famine. At Reefton the heat of tha wrnjj}ifl MCjW'been phenomenal for the hp^TffZa^a On Saturday last it was lartah. in the sun. Of course water^o be got only in deep wells or mthj^lver. To make the case still more^nplor^ant, measles are ragfn* all ow'Uie town, but so far the malady is ?n a^nuld form. - - (UNIT.SD PRESS ASSOCIATION.) rnu i. , Nelson, January 18. lne heat here is oppressive, and the thermometer in the snn registered 137" I^-day, and 83° in a cool room. "^SNI^AL COMPETITION. The third competition for the cup presented by A. R. Guinness. Esq., M.H.R., to the Greymoufe JTavala. .fainic —^*— place on their range on Friday anlf^aW^^ day last, when Captain Scott placed a first win to his credit. The following are the Bcores : — Name *f> 400 500 , fl yds yds yds np# w * Captain Scott ... 21 17 21 0—59 Gunner Evans ... 12 19 20 8—59 2 P.O. Boyle ... 16 16 14 10-56 Gunner Pike ... 16 18 17 4—55 Gunner Smith ... 17 18 15 5—55 Gunner Wickes ... — _ __ 10-55 Lieut. Fricker ... 22 19 12 0—53 Gunner Dunnage... 16 17 4 12—49 Gunner Watson ... — _ _ 15—48 C.P.O. Perkins ... 20 15 13 0-48 P.O. Archer ... 12 14 0 10—36 Range prizes were won by Fricker, Evans, and Scott. IRISH NATIONAL~LEAGUE CONFERENCE. « __ The third annual conference of gates from the Grey Valley branches of the Irish National League was held in St. Joseph's schoolroom, Greymouth, on the Ist and 2nd January, 1887. The follpmine series of resolutions was proposed en globo, seconded, and carried unanimously : — " That this meeting of delegates of the branches of the Irish National Leaoue in the Grey Valley, do heartily thank the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone for his heroic exertions in the cause of Irish Legislative independence, and that we ardently hope (though in the 'sere and yellow leaf) he will live to see his dearest wishes in regard to Ireland triumphantly accomplished." "That we sincerely thank the Liberals of England, Scotland, and Wales for the thorough sympathy and support they have given Mr Gladstone in hia great effort to redress the grievances the Irish people are laboring under." "That we congratulate Mr Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary party on the onward strides they have made for the hber u y of the Irish people ; for their cohesion and determination as a party, whereby they sink all minor differences, and act together heart and soul for the regeneration of their country ; and. lastly, for the gal'ant fight they have made at the late Irish Parliamentary elections." "That we congratulate Mr Justin M'Carthy in ousting the bitter enemy, of Ireland, C. E. Lewis, from the ♦ maiden city ;' and also Mr Thomas Sexton in gaining a seat in the Tory stronghold— "That in the future, as well as in th 6 paßt, we are determined to assist both morally and materially the IP. party in gaining our dearest wish— the legislative in. dependence of Ireland." " That this conference do heartily thank our fellow colonists of New Zealand and Australia for the moral and material Bupport they have given the Irish people to gain a constitution similar to which theße colonies enjoy, and under which they are contend«d> prosperous, and happy."

"That we wish to express our entire concurrence with; the' federal council of the I.N.L. of Australasia in their intention to hold another convention of the Irish National League in Sydney at an early date, and sincerely hope their efforts In connection with same will be successful." " That this conference deem it advisable, should a convention be held in Sydney, that the West Coast of New Zealand should be represented by a delegate, and that the secretary be requested to com--municate with all the branches on the Coast in regard to same." Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the delegates from country branches, and also the chairman and secretary of the conference.