GREYMOUTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10593, 28 February 1895, Page 6

GREYMOUTH.

("CORRESPONDENT “ CANTERBURY TIMES#. Greymouth, Feb. 25, PRESENTATION. On Tuesday evening last there was a strong muster of the members of t!be Savage Club at their rooms to spend a last social evening.with Mr J. P. Will, the local manager of the Union Bank ®f Australia, who'is leaving Greymouth to go to Victoria; Mr A. E, Guinness, occupied the chair, and a capital programme of; songs and recitations was gone through successfully. During the evening the. Chairman in a neat speech expreesivaof the goodfeeli'nga and well wishes of all the members, prebented Mr Will with a handsome silver-mounted pipe, on which was engraved the recipient’s name. , Mr Will suitably replied, and reciprocated tbe many expressions of friendship extended to him that evening. Subsequently his health was drunk with enthusiasm, and all joined in wishing him lon. voyage and a prosperous career in Victoria. His promotion there to bo manager of one of the most important branches of the Union Bank is a distinct loss to Greymouth, as he was a most popular and efficient official. On the following evening the choir, teachers and Bible class of St John’s Presbyterian Chursh assembled in tbe vestry, .to ’bid Mr Will farewell. The Eev Hr' Stewart occupied the chair, and spoke eulogistically of the guest, who was then\presented by Mr Eing, on behalf of the teachers of the Sunday School, with a splendidly-bound Bible. Mr Moss, on behalf of the choir, spoke in flattering terms of Mr Will’s efforts to promote the musical, interests of the church, and Mr Bain,.;f.or, thp Sunday School, presented Masters John and Charles Will with first prizes won by them in the recent Sunday School examination of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Mr Will responded in a few appropriate words, and thanked all .who had been so kind to him. Songs and speeches brought a most pleasant reunion to a close. PUBLIC BATHS. A fair amount of interest has been shown lately in the attempt to obtain, public swimming baths for Greymouth. Efforts iu the past seem to have met with but temporary success, and now fresh suggestions are being freely canvassed. Certainly with such natural resources as Greymouth has at her very door, it doea seem a pity that the local authorities cannot see their way to erect a suitable bathing-house either by tbe Grey Eiver or on tbe expansive beach bordering the town. The art of swimming and the habit of regular bathing are being assiduously practised in the face of many difficulties in the,larger centres, and it behoves the people of Greymouth, with so many natural advantages, to emulate kindred spirits in this pleasant and healthy pastime. EASTER RACES. The races for the coming Ea sfcer promise to be exceptionally interesting and successful, as the entries are very numerous and comprise some capital talent. For the Trial Stakes there are ten entries, for the Produce Stakes six, and for the big money event nine from eight owners. Amongst the horses entered are the well-known racers Poiuaettia, Prestige, Lord of Misrule, Musket and Goodwood. Geraint is said not to be as fit as formerly, and hence this game little horse is not entered. A WOULD-S2 SUICIDE. Some little alarm was felt early cn Friday morning by tbe discovery of a man’s clothing lying on the wharf, and tbe police were soon investigating the case. A search revealed a Chinaman sitting on

one of the stringers under the wharf, and when questioned the Celestial volunteered the information that some time during the night he had contemplated a precipitate exit from the world, and had consequently divested himself of his hat and coat to hurry hia departure. The plunge into tho cold waters of the Grey caused hia determination to totter on its throne and hia reason likewise; for when he was discovered tho poor fellow was clinging to the under-timber of the wharf, in a semi-conscious state. He was ultimately brought before the Court, and committed to the lunatic atylum. .

PERSONATION. . An audacious, yet amusing, episode m the social life of the town occurred last weak. A young man, woll-known in the Grey Valley district, with the coolest effrontery, passed himself off here to a clergyman and other worthy people as a sort of Bishop Cowie. Of gentlemanly exterior, fair education and suave address, the culprit enjoyed himself to the top of his beat, and for a few days all went well. _ He attended church, gave good advice in the Sunday school, and visited the day school. In short, he acted the part of a bishops son “as if to the manner born.” But the inevitable exposure came, and many excellent folk are now wondering why they ever doubted that a man was a rogue until he was proved otherwise.