THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12,1891.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6987, 12 February 1891, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1891.

Considering the remarkable way in which mussels have flourished with the extension of our harbor works, it is singular that neither the Acclimatisation Society nor the Borough Conncil have gone to the trouble to lay down a few mud and rock oysters. The expense would be a mere trifle, while the benefit might be considerable. Oysters are always worth money, and the New Zealand oysters have a reputation second to none in any part of the world. They are in greater demand than ever — simply because they are scarcer. They are fished with great energy, but little or nothing is done to keep the supply up to requirements. Young as these colonies are they are rapidly running out of oysters, which appear to be threatened with the fate of the whales and the seals ; and if some steps are not taken to counterbalance the depletion going on, instead of being able to export oysters we shall most probably have to look elsewhere for our domestic wants in that line. It has been mooted that the Government should take the matter up by procuring a report on the present condition and prospects of the oyster trade with the view of opening up a fresh field of labor. But in the meantime local bodies situated as these on this coast might do something that would in the course of time lead to good result. If some Stewart Island oysters were put down in the lagoon on the southern bank of the river and protected from poachers for a time they ought to thrive and multi' ply, while no better place could possibly be found on which to plant rock oysters than the rocks at Point Elizabeth and in the neighborhood. A large and profitable trade in oysters is carried on between some of the Australian Colonies, New South Wales having oysters and Victoria few or no beds of the much coveted bivalve. Qaeenaland alsi exports oysters very largely. Tasmania once exported a large "quantity, but the supply has fallen off, no doubt through the want of a proper system of conservation. The regnlar meeting of the trustees of the Grey River Hospital was held at the Gilmer Hotel last evening. Present — Measrs Lahtnan (chair), Sheedy, Dupre, Arnott, and Jones. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed ,* and the outward correspondence read and approved of. Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. R. Guinness for the present meeting. The visiting committee reported everything satisfactory at the hospital, and the number of patients 37 males and 5 females. Accounts for the month, amounting to L 230 4s 10, were passed for payment. The hon treasurer acknowledged the following receipts : — Government subsidy for quarter ending December 31, 1890,, L105 12a ; W. Hamilton, sa ; W. G. Ni.chqlsj 21s; Bale of dripping, 20s ; John Warren, donation, L 5 ; Red Jacks local committee, per Mr Frankpltt, L 5 10a.— Received. The Hat of patients non-ticket holders admitted dunng the month was read, coneldered and ; dealt with. The medical officer's report waß read and adopted. Messrs Guinness and Jones were appointed visiting committee for the month. It is as well to remind bathers that sharks are at present very numerous about our sea shore, and numbers even make their way up the xiver. Only a few days ago, on the north beach, a little boy fishing the surf was frightened nearly out of ; his wit* upon sighting a large shark only a few feet from where -he was standing in the water. On the sooth beach also "the tiger of the sea" has been seen very close Id. It would appear that the Bharka are following-, up . the fish that have been at- j tracted here of late from some natural! cause, that we are not very clear about, as several .theories are propounded to account for it. ' E. P. ware, cutlery, &c, for presents^ .FoBSYTH and! Masters have the best as j Bortment. — Advt. An unusually large squad of Chinamen arrived by train yesterday morning to take part in the Chinese, festivities with which they observe their New Year. There were at least 200 of them. This is by far the lartreßt' crowd that has come from the Grey Valley. No doubt railway communication had something to do with It ; for however hostile John la to railways in his native land, in. the colonies he very soon finds out their advantages and is a good patron of the iron horse. The many friends of Mr A. R. Guinness will regret- to learn of the death' of his mother at Christohuroh. Fireworks' for the new year should be ordered early to secure. Forsyth and Masters, importers —Advt. The Rev. Charles Clark delivered his lecture last night on "Thackeray and his Book of Snobs" to not such a good house as he has been accustomed to. The lecture is .one' of.. his. best,., and curiously enough is appreciated quite as much by those who are not readers of Thackeray's works aa by those who are. Evidently the taste for Thackeray, is growing. His genius did not take the world by storoo, but It will live all the longer. It is a plant of slow growth, but its roots strike deep. For the fiwt time that there was any disturbance to speak of a few yahoos were unpleasantly conspicuous by the way in which they climbed up to the windows and vented their coarse ejaculations at the lecturer dating some of hia most emotional

and pathetic passages. They seemed to do it without let or hindrance. It used to be the practice until very recently for a man in blue — sometimes two even, for there is little to do in this humdrum town — to be present at public entertainments and protect the citizens while enjoying their pleasure ; but since the department of justice has become possessed with the rage for reform we never -know where we are or what we have a right to expect— things have become so mixed; Perhaps the simplest and beßt way for the citizens In respect to future entertainments, would be to appoint a watchman of their own to see that any performer or performers in any place of public entertainment is protected from the noisy interruptions of the boors who take outside tickets and glory in interfering with the rational pleasure of those inside.' . I The Grey Education ; Board held their usual monthly meeting yesterday forenoon, the following membere being present :— Messrs Kerr, Smith, Petrie, I White, Byrne, Nancarrow, and Marshall. A letter was read from the State School Committee declining to accept Mr Adams aa head teacher, and intimating that they wanted tenders to be called. The Board saw no necessity for that course, and will appoint Mr Adams head teacher unless good reason can be Bhown to the contrary. Mr Brassell, Maori Gully, resigned his position, and is to be given a testimonial. Mr Noble accepted the scholarship for his daughter. Certain complaints from the Red Jack 3 committee were deemed frivolous.— Resolved to effect certain improvements at the Westbrook school. — Resolved that B. Warnes b« appointed to the cadetship at a salary of L3O first year, 140 the second, and LSO the third. The names of the following applicants for the Cobden school were ordered to ba sent to the committee :— Miaseß Blair, Kemple, Stewart, and Morrisey. The Inspector was ordered to report upon the appointment of pupil teachers at the Grey school for next meeting. The output of silver from the mines at Broken Bill for the past year is estimated atll,ooo,ooooz, besides 52,000 t0ns of lead. The value of these products was about 15,700,000, being an increase of nearly L 1,000,000 upon the production of 1889. The quantities of ore treated and of silver obtained at the principal mine were as follows : — Proprietary Company, 182,560 tons ore, 7,824,6020x. silver; Block 14 35,946 tons ore, 670,0350x. silver; British, 17,218 tons ore, 315,6740z. silver; Block 10, 8993 tons ore, 540,000az silver; Central (approximate), 21,000 tons ore, 722,0000z. silver ; South, 3234 tons ore, 145.5300z. silver; Junction, 13,000 tons ore, 487,135 oz. silver. The total yield of silver from the Broken Hill Proprietary mine has been 28,532,2710z. of which nearly two-thirds has been obtained durlnp the last three years. The population of Broken Hill has increased by 10,000 during 1890, is now estimated at 26,000. Sir Charles Dilke, in a recent article, gives a warning that the adoption of the principle of payment of members Is more than likely to lead eventually to a dimlnutlon in the numbers in the House of Commons. He points to the effect in Greece and in New Zealand, which was to reduce the numbers ; and he considers that such a. reduction is highly desirable. Travelling trunks. Forsyth and Mas tees are the cheapest. — Advt. Very fine pale dry Port Wine for Invalids, guaranteed 40 years old. — Griffen and Smith, Beehive Stores, Boundary street. — Advt. On Saturday next and following two weeks, Christopher Smith will offer the whole of his well-selected stock of drapery and clothing at prices that will astonish the public. Thoße who doubt his word should call and see the goods ticketed up at the door. All goods marked In plain figures. — Advt. Miners will find Forsyth and Masters the cheapest for all their requirements. — Advt. Mr Greenwood, Dentist, will re-vlsit Greymouth in March. — Advt. Prime English York hams, from London by last direct steamer. Griffen and Smith, Beehive Stores.— Advt.