THE GREY. (from our own correspondent.)

West Coast Times, Issue 159, 22 March 1866, Page 2

THE GREY. (from our own correspondent.)

The election did not create anything beyond the very slightest interest here, Mr Shaw's expected arrival drew together a few score people, and probably had that gentleman come according to arrangement, a littlo ferment might have been occasioned. M ty w«l W Cfyte ? wh.Q

acted as proxy to Mr Shaw, went into a lengthy speech on the subject of Separation, and after the meeting heard him out it broke tlf). The polling day was wet and dismal, and no one seemed to care about walking a mile to the warden's office to vpte. Some four or five enthusiasticvoters made the journey and duly recorded their votes. Of course your readers already know the result, so 1 need not sayany more on the subject* 1 have already in a former letter alluded to the abominable irregularity in the communication between this place and Hokitika, and it is therefore with something akin to thankfulness that we notice thai C6bb and Cd are about establishing a daily line of coaches. You may imagine the neccessity of some improvement when I tell you that up to this (Wedneody) morning we have had no Hokitika papers since Saturday. I am also informed that the steamer , Persevere is about to ply twice weekly between the two ports. I mentioned in a previous communication that a proposal was oil foot to construct a large water race from Lake Brununer^ for the supply 01 water for sluicing pu.r* poses to the numerous auriferous gullied in the Arnold district. I am happy tot state that a company under- the Mining Companies Liability Act, 1865, is" in coursfe 1 of formation, and that the preliminary expenses of survey &c, have already been subscribed. The surveyor wont up on Monday, and was accomprtfiifid by Mr Job Savage the proposed manager of the race. Mr Savage is well known to miners from Otago from his connection with some bf the most important water races in that proviricb. t b'eiieVe that there is a proudbility pf other companies being 6horJ;l£ formed for the purpose of constructing water races in various parts of this district. The rush to Okarita has not quite abated, and some localities have suffered a serious diminution of population. Still, a great amount of gold is coming in from all quarters, and occasional discoveries of new good ground serve to keep our mining population in good spirits. There have been rllrtiollrs during the last few days of some good claims. having been opened oti both the north and south beaches. In fact) it Appears that gold is distributed more or less .plentifully on both the sea beach and the high ground behind. I tottti the trouble the other day to ascertain the quantity of gold exported from this" place from the sth December up to the 2 1st March, and I find it amounts to the respectable quantity of 98,429 ounces, or at the rate or 32,809 ounces per month. There appears to be no reason to apprehend any falling ofl in the return, but on the contrary, for the wet weather will Enable much ground to be worked which is now unavailable. A singular case was brought before the Resident Magistrate on Monday. A miner ( named Driscoll had lodged an information against tlie ' two 1 employees of Mr Christenson, the gold smelter, charging them with having fraudulently misappropriated a quantity of gold, his property," during the process of smelting. The evidence went to prove that being dissatisfied with the return of his amalgam, and suspecting foul play, he fetched the police. The fire was searched, and several pieces of gold were found in the ashes" although no flaw was perceptible' in £he cYucibfe". One of the acciised was searched, and some pieces of retorted gold were found in his pocket. Oa& o( the accused was committed for trial, but the other was discharged. The Union Bank are about erecting a smelting house here, and the work is to be commenced forthwith. I hear that yesterday the Banks here all reduced the price of gold 3d per oz. ;' the reason alleged being that the Mint returns show a loss on particular kinds of gold. An inquest was held on the 19th at the Red, White and Blue Store, South Beach, on the body of a miner named William Harrison, who had suddenly expired whilst working in his claim. The medical evidence was to the effect that, the deceased had died from the rupture of an aneurism. He was a man possessed of considerable means, there being on him Bank deposit receipts to the amount of about LI SO, and papers showing that he had sent £1950 to Victoria. He is said to have been a resident in Kyneton. The town of Greymouth is going ahead rapidly, and dull as the traders say business is, new stores are going up on every hand. Still it is evident that building is being overdone, for there are very many persons anxious to clear out. The number of hotels is out of all proportion to the legitimate requirements of Sthe population, and already the thin edge of the ♦' sixpenny nobbier" system has been driven in to revive the demand. Several hotels in town are now selling ale at 6d per glass, and the publicans generally are " funky 1 ' lest some fine morning a second Wagner may pull down spirits to the same level. Considerable improvement is being made in the streets ; the Improvement Committee have commenced the formation of the footpath along the main street. It is 10ft. wide, and is expected to be finished in about a fortnight. That unfortunate craft, the Sea Bird, has during the present spring tides been washed on to the top of the Spit, and the contractors for launching her, hope to get her afloat without any serious difficulty. The steamer Nelson cannot be many days before she is got afloat again, as she*is close to the water's edge. The ketch Secret washed off the South Spit on Sunday. The Falcon and Eleanor remain in their old positions. A Magisterial inquiry was held as to the cause of the wreck of the Eleanor a few days ago, and the evidence went to prove that whilst in the breakers, her fau becamp entangled with some ropes, and that losing way, and consequently steerage, she drifted helplessly on the Spit. Trade continues very dull, and with but * little hope of improvement so long as stocks remain so high. The weather remains most charmingly fine; in fact, I never experienced more agreeable weather during many years residence in New Zealand.

Tho new ground that was opened a week or two ago noar tho Comotry terraco has not answorod tho expectations formed of it, and at prosent thoro aro only two or threo claims yielding any gold at all. Tho prospectors oan, we belioro, make small wages, and the parties north and south of them are also ona littlo gold, but wo have not heard that any othors havo succeeded in striking payable drift. The ground, however, haß not been half prospeotod, co that there is ovory likelii hood that those who are on gold will yet trace tb,0.1e&4 or patch os the onse may be.

Tho gold escort left this morning at sove o'clook for tho Waimoa, where, we boliov< there are somo parcels waiting to bo convoye to town. Tho full complimont of avnie< troopers was despatched. Tho old Kanieri Flat is onco movo begin ing to raise its head, and tho advantages to b derived from tho uso of steam maohiner; promise to be very groat indeed. Those claim which are drained by tho Star company' steam engino having been tho first to intro duco steams powor, aro tho first to reap ; direct benefit from it, for out of a shaft wind was bottomed in ono of them [last weel between 40 and 50 ounces of gold was ob tamed. Tho dirt washed for this auioun includes a small portion tint was ronioved ii opening a driyo. But oven had their boei threo times tho quantity washed tho retuvi would have been oxcellout, and wo eincorelj congratulate those enterprising mon upon th< buccoss tb.at has attondod their labors, anc wluch they so well doservo,

Tho " Gazotto dos Hopitaux" points out a method for curing coryza (cold iv tho lieadj with rapidity. It consists iv inhaling the tincture of iodino, a phial of which is to bo hold in the hand and placed under the nose. Tho warmth of the hand causes tho vaporisation of tho tiuctiiro. The inhalatious aro to bo Tmade every three minutes, and soon all symptoms of tho malady will disappoav.