GREYMOUTH NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2510, 23 April 1902, Page 45

GREYMOUTH NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

GRF.YMOUTH, Apul 22. Mr Joseph Scott, late manager of the Blackball coal mine, ha* been entertained at a social and two banquet*, and presented with a purse of sovereigns. He wa= one of the most popular men in the district He leave* for South Africa in a few clays. In the Magistrate's Court Mr Gumnps*, M.H.K., charged .lamps Fitzgerald with using abusive and threatening language. Defendant objected to Mr Hawkins, S.M., hearing the ca=e on the ground of ha\ ing had a quarrel with him some month* ago. Plaintiff s> solicitor said he was willing to ha\e the case heard before justices. The magistrate expressed surprise at the objection, and said he had no feeling at all in the roattpr; but as both parties nad agreed lie would adjourn the hearing. The Minister of Public Work* has infoiined Mr Guinness that tenders will be called f or the Blackball railwny bridge at the end of the wepk. Sir .T. (i. Ward ha= nronmed to favourably consider the question of the fortification of (Jrpymouth as a coal port. The. Minister of Lands ha* again refused to take over the main Grey Valley road in Gr<;y County. All other parts of thu road from Okarito through Westland to Christ-church, with a branch on from Nelsou. are maintained by the Government. Mr Guinness has been addressing his constituents throughout the district, rnepting with a good lpception and votes of confidence. He made d special point of telling his constituents that Sir .7. G. Ward w quite as capable and experienced a leader as the Premier. The whole of the claims in connection with the proclamation of the Grey River as a kludge channel have been adjusted, with the exception of two or three who are standing out The total cost to the Government will be about £9000. In all'cases the cash has been paid over, and receipts obtained. Ahaura on Saturday night was quite lively, quite a number of cheques flying about." Farmers around Hokitika are not disposed to accept the amounts offered for compensation. and at a public meeting resolved — '' That this representative meeting of claimant* for compensaron on the Hokitika River, notw thstanding the urgent necessity for a settlement of the difficulty between the Government, miners, and settlers, cannot toe its way to accept the offers of the Government for compensation, owing to their total inadequacy ; and, furthpr. the settlers would prefpr that the matter bp referred to arbitration as spepdily as nos-ible."