THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1892.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 7317, 11 March 1892, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1892.

Mr '"I*. Wilson, who was 80 unfortunate as to lose the plaat that he sent over to Zeehan, returned a few days' ago. He haa no idea of unduly cracking up the place or being the means of sending any more New Zealandera there, as they are very numerous there already, and quite at home. They hit out in all directions, and eeem to hold their own in every line they adventure in. They Br >in all the usual lineß of business, from selling whiskey to baking bread, mining, and contracting. Nothing seems to come amiss to them. But at present there ia a lull at Zeehan, though it cannot remain iv that state for any great length of lime, a3 mining machinei y is being put on 'he ground with all possible expedition . The

ground Is very wfjbj and powerful pumps are required ; jbpt- there is no hanging back. The -Victorians hold large interests, and. they intend to give the place every fair p'ayi Money seems to be no objact. Whatever is wanted to aid in the development of the ground is provided, and the best of its kind obtainable* The fame of. Zeehan has been the means of tapping the hoards of English capitalists, odb syndicate of who en hai taken up 22 claims of 80 acres each, our old friend, Mr Gardn'r, formerly in the employ of M'Keone, Robinson, and Avigdor, acting as local agent. He appears to have fallen on his feet at Zeehan. At present only a few claims are down any considerable depth, the deepest being only 200 ft and the next deepest 100 ft .. So far the lodes live down, and are of extraordinary richness. The whole country aeema to be one mass of mineral lodes, as many as three and four intersect'ng some of the claims, though only an odd one here and there hßs been proved to any extent. The amount of ground, taken up ia of course enormous, but the lodes orop out of. the surface everywhere, so that there seems to be little chance of going wrong. It is evidently a marvellous mineral country, and seßms destined to overshadow B oken Hill altogether. But it wiU require a few more months I before the future of Zsehan can be ap ken of with any degree of certainty. However, the prospects are very brigh'. Smelling furnaces are being rapidly erected, and when these are under way and the sulphides and ore of various kinds are dealt with on the ground, instead of being sent to New Soutn Wales, as at preeeut, the furnaces now being erected will tike all the coke that the Brunner mines can produce. An enormous amount of timber will also be required, the bulk of which will very likely come from this coast, as there is comparatively little useful timber in the neighborhood of the mines. The prosperity of Zaehan will therefore have a very beneficial effect on the tcade of Greymouth in providing work for cokeburner?, sawmillers, and incidentally for many others. The port has a defective entrance, certainly, but the Tasmanian Government are bestirring themselves, and no doubt they realise the importance of the place and do all that is necesswy to facilitate th-j development of the country and the opening up of trade generally. The hotel accommodation is described a3 something palatial. It is on the most advanced and elaborate style that Melbourne can produce. Evidently those who are investing their money in hotel businesses have abundant faith in the pace. They are mostly Victorians. Indeed the bulk of the population seems to be composed of Victorians and New Zealanders, and the majority of them seem to he permanently located, the waverera having, betaken themselves elsewhere. Wet as the climate of the weet coast of Tasmania is described to be, there haß been a drought for the last conple of months, not a drop of rain having .fallen ; and if Zeehan does not get a welcome /shower shortly it will be nearly aa badly fff ac Broken Hill, fur the water in the creeks and gullies ia so impregnated with minerals that it Is not fit for drinking purposes or cooking. The community have therefore to trust entirely to the rain supply, and build enormous tanks to conserve the water that falls from the heavens. Although no contract has yet been signed, It is understood that Messrs Jay and M'Lean will get the next 10- mile Bectloh of the Midland Railway, on the eaßt side of Lake Brunner, while Mr Rees will get bhe contract for the construction of the bridge over the Teremakau. Messrs Jay and M'Lean are very well advanced with the Stony Creek contract. An unusual sight was seen on the north bank of the Grey River yesterday morning. A shoal of kawhai disported themselves jußt outside the centre training wall by jumping high out of the water. Gas consumers are reminded that no discount will be allowed on accounts left unpaid after 4pm this day. Nancarrow and Co."sell by auction this day, on the premises, Albert street, leasehold property and household furniture. Jast as every one began to think that we had seen the last of the influenza, with the exception of a few legacies in the way of -disagreeable aches and pains, the wretched disease seems to have taken a f reßh lease of life, no fewer than about a dozen persons having been struck down within the last week or so, and some of of them are Berlously 111. At present, according to all appearances, the inflaenz) ha 3*• come to say." Mr J. McCarthy, of No Town, who has purchased Mr Clifford's hotel, will give a house warming this evening, and quite a little crowd from Greymouth Intend to take a hand in the festivities. Goodly contingents are also expected from other parts of the district, for " Jerry" is rb popular as " they make them." A high old time may be counted on. Mr Grattan Riggs, the well known and popular Irish comedian, will pay hfa first visit to Greymouth next week, opening at the Public Hall on Moniny, Ma-ch 14. Mr R'pes, who fcai just concluded a highly successfal season in Wanganui, is supported by a cap ible company of 14 Melbourne and Sydney artists, and the pieces in which this famous " star" actor wi'l ba aeen here are entirely new to the Weet Coast. The opening play will be "The Irish Detective," a three^act drama specially written for Mr Riggs, and in which| he appear In seven different characters. The Oamaru Mall states that on Monday las' 1 , with seven, shots (no sightpr), Mr Robert Harding put on the possib'e at the GOOyds ran^e, this being the first time aich a feat has been accomplished in New Zealand. It may be added that Mr Harding has made the possible scores at every range up to 600yds— a record that no other marksmaa in the oolony can show. It is reported that Mr W. Macadam, on the Dunedin staff of the Bank of NewZealand, and a grandson of Mr Macadam, of road making fame, has fallen heir to an esta'e in Ayrshire of the value of L 30,000 by the death of an ancle. : By the Mawhera last evening there arrived three more competitors for the forthcoming races — Eoho, Mont dOr, and York Rose. A passenger who went on in the Monowai to ' Frisco gave a g'aphlc picture while in pet, of the s f ate of things in the Sydney Domain of a night. He states hundred! of men, women* and children may

be seen lying on the sward with no better i comfort than sorde pieces of newspaper 1 under them and a bit of bagging; over them . Passing through the Domain one evening he' heard an alteroatlon. between, two men, and stopped to hear what it was all about. One of the men said, - w-Yott:inßaar--fchon,-:-tQ*-jumpTmy-qlalm;?"- --" I do," waa the reply." The first man then rejoined, "Well, you are a mean* fellow; why, I've slept on that spot for the last six months 1" Even in the day time the Domain can scarcely be a desirable place, for the Mo no wai -man said a man dosed off there the other day with the heat, and when he awoke an Bj'6J hat was missing, while another man, who waa enjoying a siesta, found on.awakecing that his boot 3 had been taken off his feet. Mr Webley, Pianoforte and Organ Tuner, will return to (Greymouth at the end of March. Orders may be left at Mr W. H. Perkins', Messrs North and Wylde's, or at Gilmer's Hotel, and will be then attended to. — Advt. We wish to remind our readers that Christopher Smith, the cash draper and clothier, is one of the largest importers of "drapery and clothing in New Zealand, ■ and is therefore able to sell a single article at the wholesale price, and our country friends will do well to pay him a visit when in town. — Advt. Mr Greenwood, Dentist, has atrived on a short professional visit, and may be consulted at his rooms, opposite the Midland Railway Chambers. Those requ'iing his services are requested to call early.— Advt. Sporting guns an ammunition, all sportnen's requisites — largest assortment at lowest prices, Forsyth and Masters. — Advt