Grey River Argus. and Blackball News.

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1912, Page 4

Grey River Argus. and Blackball News.

Delivered qrpry morning in Grejruoutb. Kuinara, Hokitikn, Dobsoii. Wallsend, Tiiylorville, Bruiinertou, Still water. Ngahpre.Btackball, Nelsou Gragk, , 4haurn, , Ikdinntun, Waiu|a, Keeftoji, Croiiodiiu,' Kiiiiajiga/Duiibllie; Cotj'den, Baxters, KoJ;iri, . !Eatara, .. JCaituata,! Aratika, ■ICotiiku; Mdana, Riitii", Te Kiug-a^ "Kbtoja^uu, Poeriia. liiclibonhie, Jacksous nud Otira-.

WEDNESDAY, May 15th 1012./

The news that the Cabinet have -agreed to;subsidisc,.ithe sinking- of a 'deep level shaft a^t Reef ton .to prove the Boatman's -Fiery .CrOSs-Welcome daiinj must be oxceedinjjly gratifying- to all who take any interest in :th<^ development of that district. . Gold mining has already done a. great deal, towards dev'filqpiiifi- the; /resources of New Zealand, and is destined to do a 'jjreai deal mare in , time to-qprne. , The. importance of alluvial gold anihiaig- iis. .. ;ainei'e fleeting- afJFair as \ compared ■ with reef • mining;. ■ While : tho. cream of alluvial 'm.i^iag hasr-long-' since' ; .d;sa,ppearejd.. th,e eira of matrix . ■nijuii.ng- in this .islaiiid may be said to Be r still in kg infancy. . : On the. \Vest ' '.Coast_ Q& pecialiy_it is r quite' Safo,.to prbciict ..a busy and prospetrous. f utui'e . for' .it. Thvs ir'uaranteeci subsidy jof may seeina Jarg-e sum -in tjiq. eyes o^ pq.rochialiy-mihded persons, ancj^ rthei;e are^ not, a. few whose, colonial henzon is'Uioiiled to'iheir .mvu diji.^tt.' _ The graiitin^ of M^subsidjf for the. purpose of proviii's: a deep level oh a certain line reef at Boatman's will 1^ the mchhs <)f •■ ■'scitinff at. ' -resc ' any doubt that may sail biR. felt as to the existence of the reef hit a' much g-rfcat-er depth itliari previous working^ had dcmonstratecl. If tjio- s'liaft about."tobe siihk. pi-byes tho ■' existence of pay-" able s'tione ivt deep levels— and there caii be lib doubt at all that 'it will-^ the result cahriot 'fail to g-ive' an. impetus to' quartz mining: a>: Roefto/n and elsewhere? -.on this coast:; that ■ nbthiing else could do iiti* so convincing a 'manner. Many: will .! probably- ask why such a shaft could, not be. sunk' .wi-tjfi^ out Government an ce.-.\ Tho iriiply. :is; very- simple. ; 'Sinking-: a deep shaft is necessarily ■, a a-ath.er -costly opGratibn, quite' beyond VthV 'means ' «f anyt -ordinary . -small i company. \ ..;

though the original proprietors ot the claims at Boatman's got a greai deal of gold out of the ground, it was not -the custom of those remoie days 01 primitive methods of mining ito keep a reserve fund for -ihe purpose of prospe"ctihg- the ground ahead so as w provide for the future. When int.* stone become poor and it was necessary to explore' deeper levels, the wherewithal to -do> so was absent ano ;he. .ground was abandoned for the want of capital to. work the mine «n a j proper manner. Consequently these good old. claims. in their day have remained goodfoi' a long series of years as a standing- reproach to the enterprise of Keefton. Everyone wlio has paid any afientioii' to the. history of gold mining, or indeed" to matrix nidnirig geno'-aily, must know that real lodes do not begin and end in a mysterious way .without regard to natural laws. ■Where lodes ncg:,n or end no man knows. They arc merely picked up on the surface, and followed as far : t hey arc. payable or it is found convenient to follow them, as they have :beeh followed for hundreds of years in all the mining countries of the earth. This Boatnian's subsidy will most probably be.. the 'means of starting « reefing revival at Reef ton. There are many reefs in that neiighborhood that have been profitably Worked for a loiig time, and from one cause or another were abandoned. These will all be taken up again and worked— at a profit, :.00, it may be hoped. /' But all of them will certainly be carried to deeper levels. So that when the Government undertakes to guarantee a ten thousand pounds' subsidy for •explora- • ion purposes at a deep level they, arc really taking ho risk. By doing m 1 they are legit ; ,.mately encouraging [and stimulating mining jin a diistriclt where the industry has a great future Before it. When Governmeni granted the. Ross Goldfields £15,000 subsidy they took a hundred times the risk \that they are doing ax Boatman's. The ou-icomc of the Ross affav wa= rather disastrous to the public who invested in it in the hope ot great things. The operations were confined to pottering about. .in the old levels. The shaft was mot sunk any deeper to see whether further Wvels exist or nbc. in t'aat respect the new ocganisation is no wssei* than 1 their predecessors. In any case the future of the Ross Goldfields must very .largely depend upon Whether any further gold-carrying levels exist. The deep alliiyaal at lio-ss is not part of a, defined lead. It is simpJy a ser- [ ics of lnorainic depos ; its in. past geologic ages that were sorted and levelled by the sea and the influence of which did not extend very far either ! north or south.' The most important work i hat tho Ross Goldfidds Company .should have done—that was iv look .fi>r other levels — they mad© no a-tempt to do. In that respect at least the company's operations terminated in a rather ignominious and unsatisfactory manner.. It will therefore be seen/ that there has been nothing in common between the subsidy at Boatman's and the subsidy to the Ross speculation. While there as good ground for she most sanguine expectations regarding the shaftsinking at Boatman's, the disappointments of th* Ross affair are to be forgotten as soon- as. possible, and wish the new Venture flaat success which die previous company failed to obtain. Reefton is therefoie to bo oougTatulaied on its success rin getting so useful and necessary a subsidy from the new Government. It will prove of immense benefit to the Inarigahua district, and the Government arc not Likely to have occasion to reguet their generosity. 1; ,is the, first subsidy granted on tho field, but we-are.con-fident v'hat the result will justify the expenditure:

I'HEK.ii arc iuosv" encouraging- indications that Australia, or tlie Fifth Continent, as-.it is cailed, is going: to foliow .in the wake of Canada at last in respect to immigration. It is a i'eproach .to all the Australian Govcrninents.qf the pas; that such a development has hot taken place before. Mr Coghlan, tile Ageut-General, -and formerly . the lnost nßted Australian statistician, predicts that the addition 10 the x population tliis year will reach 140,000. . 'This .' influx .of people* is , quite wonderful for Australia,' though it would represent a diminution in the immigrant stream to Canada. But as Austrai'ia caii only be regarded as a new begdnner in .lightening the human burden of surcharged and ove-r---(lowi- Europe, there is room for great; development an the future. As far as cliriiate go u> make' a land au enjoyable home, Australia is singularly formna'te. ' Throughout aus length and breadth' it is buo of the most healthy countries an. the world. It is a little' hot aiid parched at times in sonib parts of it ; : but with popula--tio'n the want iof-. moisture can -be provided against; Otherwise all the conciitions are unexceptionally good, as white men. .can work in th© o^igix in all parts of- 1 the island continent. This was for ; a long- tinie denied, but. the expulsion.' of : he Kanakas showed that white;.: inen could -.work< an the- sugarcane, fields, which settled that matte.r for ever, it has been the same with >he n^pre nbrt'hei-n parts of Australia, for white men who have lived fin the . N or th ern territory prefer it -to any other part, n,o doubt, having- become 'acclimatised.. •■ Now .ihat-., ; Australia. t has begun to launch out on the same lino of policy as 1 "Canada, by pushing the^- railways ahead of. settlement, sucji. an advantage Will io.i be lost-sight-of. As Australia wants polpur iatj^ri as^niuch as Canada; she has ohiy' to hold, out .sufficient .;.ihdjicement tile' people, will sUrely Afloat in- fi-om the ends of the earth where pecSplfe are niore plentiful 'than land. ;If 'Australia's addition to her population .this year f roni qut'sido sources is to\bd ■140,000,'' it will be hot. less than a ■•'■•quartier- of a milli'oh : annually before i92p.---- : -.' "_':\--"'\ '.■'•"" -"v. ";■ ■■•■ ■;■■■■■

•; The .■■'Arawa, •"'Mbcraki. Victoria and VVimnierji were ; expected to be within Wireless ra'ii^e last. evening-. . ■-•• ", •- v Great P qppermin t .Cure. Is 6d , 2s 6d ; . Fbr - Chrome ; Chest Complaint, Woods'

Forty .thousand cadets will receive a week's training in camp at the expense- of the Canadian Government next July. .

Chinese living m New York celebrated the proclamation of- the riew v Chinese Republic by a banquet at which no fewer than 88 courses were served. - " , :

It has been decided by. the Cabinet; to appoint veterinary surgeons to tlic Defence Department, the salaries recommended by the Department • beingapproved. ■--.-.

.At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr Hewdtt S.M., . a first offender for being found drunk on the Greymouth railway station wa> fined 5s or in default 24 hours' imprisonment. ■- ''■'■'-' ■■■

ihe bicycle road race at Kumara on Saturday afternoon resulted in a dead heat for firs? place between J. Reedy and J. Murdoch with F. Reedy ithir'd: J. Reedy's tvme was 61 minutes andj. Murdoch's 65 minutes. •

- We again remind our readers of the important auction sale to be held this afternoon'; -at- 2 p.m'of 'Mr' J- Kelsajl's household furniture and effects "by Harley and Ob Ltd., the furnituire auctioneers. As the articles' are -of a liiigh-class we advise all who can to attend. \ • . ' .

Those whose business it is to attend the Magistrate's Court see the seemy side of. life, and 'many a- touching scene is witnessed. During the %yeek there have been some cases of. a !touching nature. Unfortunate humanity has been pourtraved in many -lights, which showed ithat life to many does not • contain - the sunsh i.ne that • . it should.

I...'■■• ■ ...'■■• . ■ ■ The Kohinoor President .team will be chosen from the following:— Furness, McCarrhy, T. McGuinness, Osborne, Thompson, McAlpine, Dixon, Hogan -(2),.Egan, Heaphy (2), Bowmanj J. McGirr. Mussen (2) Sheahan, Fooxd, Moss, Oxenham, Willis, Gibbons, Ball, J. McCarthy, Gaskell, Fraser, Cochrane, Thomas, Kear\ Evans, Parker, King-j Harrington .and T. Campbell. Tlie above are requested to attend at the gymnasium tonight f ■* "

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday in the civil cases the high cost of lining was brought forward. A defendant to a, judgment summons stated he had a wife and five children, one an invalid. He received in wages- £3~^. a week and it cost him £3 9s>3d to-, live. His grocer's bill Ava-s £2 2s 6d a week and his meat bill 7s. He" enumerated his expenses in detail, and ■ Magistrate decided to malce no order as the defendant was having a. hard time. - ..'." ' ;

At present there is to be seen regularly on the Clutha river above Lowburn a flock of shags, upwards of s'i-xty, working the river systematically in search of trout. They appear to work the river in sections, dnifting with the current when at work, and. an two lines extendlng^right across. After witnessing the operations of the shags there is no reason to doubt 'the rapid decrease of trout in the Clutha i<iver. :

' "The issue of fresh capital by' -ithe P. and O. Company and the definite and precise contradiction or the'rumours that the P. and O. was 'endeavouring to amalgamate with jthe Australian and New Zealand interests stifle the speculation in Union Steam shares. A week or so ago shares were sold as high as £2 17s 3d, while now they are difficult to quit,a---£2 7.s 6d. '

Says the Kumara Times:— lt is a tare thing to hear ot anyone being molested 'in Kumara, but we' are informed 'that a case occurred in Main Street on Sunday' evening when - ;i stranger was knocked down by sonic ruffian or ruffians. .We understand that wto iinen and probably a woman were concerned in the assault. .The man assaulted was proceeding ■ . alongMain Road towards Sandy's HiU when he was asked for. a match and alniosimmediately received a . blow oiv the: head. The woman ran away and the men also decamped. The anjured man returned to town and the- police constable was inrorined of the affair.

' Ladies interested in Stencil Work are invited to call and inspect the new stocks of Stencil Designs just opened up at Ji. Dixon's, Tainui ; Street.—

The up-to-date design— finish— aincl ease of running — are .special features of the new artistically finished prams at WADE'S. ."■ : ;-,.- ''

A sum of £7000 from the pennies paid for the use of deck chairs on Manly Beach (Sydney) seems a surprising figure, but' that is -the ActingTown Clerk's 'estimate of the gross taking from these convenances up to the end of the new contract for the chairs, which 'is tor four years. For the period ended March, 1912, the . gv.oss total earnings of these beach- + seats 'Showed an increase ot £344 over the "figures tor the previous year. Presuming" the jsame rate ot Increase is xmaintained during the next four years, ■the foregoing sum ot £7000 is estimated as the probable gross takings Of this sum the council's commission would be £3174. The successful tenderer pays >the cuuncil 413 per cent of the receipts. Apropos of Botticellii, Mrs. Webster told a story which, even if it- has a rather chestnutty flavour Is worth reproducing. Two young tourist s-^ he piously hoped they weren't really from Wellington—^vere in Florence not long ago and at their hotel met an English, lady to whom. they talked Arc at the ' dinner table. Quoth the lady, "Oh, by.Hhe way, how do you like 'Botticelli'?" The youthful ; tourists looked doubtfully at each other. Then one of them answered, "Well, to *ell the t-ruth I like Chianti better. It has a nicer flavour."- The lady went out in a hurry (to have, a laugh. Then said the tourist, who hadn't spoken to the one who had put his loot m it, "What bally fools you've made of us with your blooming Chianti. Don ? t you ' Know BoticelH is not a wine. It's a cheese." Prof. Mac Brown reckons to knock some good stuff in the way ot ethnological lore out of the giddy Malays and the other, coppery- skinned peoples ot tho Spice Islands. He has a big 1 work on Polynesian languages and kindred learned topics on hand, and Avith his -immense powers of concentration he has learned the Malay language as a preparation for this island-unto-island jaunt of his. He'll try it on his retinue in the Archipelago, and get the colloquial finishing touches. The Professor has letters to the Governor of' Ba'tavia, the Dutch city of Java; he wilkfind his way to the Celebes, Gilolo and other strange islands of the tropic seas, and then make, for Dutch New Guinea, w-herc he will study the untamed darkey in his native lai:a\ A fascinating t^P this, for one who loves travel in the little-known corners of the^earth. Many a New Zealand boy and grown-up too, will envy the sturdy little Professor his six-months' crunse in frhc laiigourous isles where the li-t-----tc monkeys tie playful knots •in the birds-of-paradise tails — 'neath -the shad© "of the -sheltering, palms: — Free Lance. ...,'-•■•