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Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1077, 21 April 1882, Page 2

On Tuesday evening, the Exhibition Committee met, and made arrangements for getting a large number of exhibits, all the principal gold and other mines being laid under contribution, and a number of volunteers being enrolled. Since then, the hon. sec, Mr Hankin, has communicated with Messrs Clark, Inglis, and Smyrk, of the Lyell, requesting their cooperation, and asking them to assist in getting exhibits, and there is little doubt that they will respond favorably. Though technically in the Buller County, the Lyell is to all intents and purposes a portion of the Inangahua district, and its products should be side by side with those of Reefton. Room for its exhibits has already been bespoken in the Inangahua bay, and will, we have no doubt, be worthily filled. Mr C. Clifford went to the Lyell yesterday, and will do all that he can to forward the cause there. In our leader in re the proposed Borough, we did not criticise the alleged outlay by the County Council in Reefton, as the figures are so absurdly incorrect. There is one item, however, that should not pass unchallenged. This is the suspension bridge, the cost of which is put down at £4753, the real fact being that its cost was considerably under £1000. Foe uno disce omnes. The imaginary expenditure on Reefton streets, maintenance of roads, &c, are just as accurate — and no more— as the price of the suspension bridge. When the river protective works were completed, the County Council very prudently purchased the trucks and tramway along the bank from the contractors, but since then no care has been bestowed on either. A very large portion of the rails has been torn up and carried away, and very extensive repairs will be needed before the tramway will be again available. They have been appropriated partly for firewood, and partly to form fenecs, some of them being easily discoverable fulfilling the latter duty. This is too bad, and it tells especially at the present time, for near the bridge the late flood ha 3 done a little damage, and a few more trucks of stone are badly wanted before great harm comes. It is to be hoped that thp needed repairs will be.

effoctod without delay, and, if thetrami way be put in order., that cave will be ! taken that no mischievous pilfering of the kind be repeated. The site for the dray bridge at the Junction has been fixed at a point about three hundred yards above the confluence of the Buller and Inangahua. The bed of the latter river at the crossing place has been explored with iron" tubes to a depth of sixteen feet, and shows good holding ground for piles. The bridge will be of about the same span as that at Reefton, and will be constructed upon much the same model. The beauties of the scenery in the Christchurch (West Coast) road would appear to be well known at Home, as no less than eight English tourists, recent arrivals, have journeyed -through to Hokitika within the last six weeks. Two of the number— a younger son of the Earl of Kimberley and a newly fledged English medico recently paid a visit to Reefton, and after remaining a week proceeded overland to Nelson. While here they visited the Keep-it-Dark, Welcome, and other mines, their time, however, being chiefly occupied in making collections ofbirds, insects, and botanical specimens. ThSy spent several f €ayis at ihe Inangahua Junction, andLwere^by Mr F. Courtney shown over a portion of the wonderful limestone caves in the vicinity. The weather was, however, very unfavourable for the inspection, the main entrance being floodod up with water, but after wading in to the armpits the party caught sight of the magnificent stalactites ahead. The sight was nothing new to Mr Courtney, but the visitors fairly overflowed with enthusiasm, and proposed that they should doff their clothes and swim in. But although Mr Courtney "dearly loves a duck," the idea of paddling about the cave, mother naked, with a lighted candle on his head, like a floating lighthouse, for the especial edifi, cation of budding nobility, was, to himscarcely a sufficient set-off against the possibilities of rheumatism, and the tourists had, therefore, to rest satisfied with an inspection of a collection of Moa bones, and other curious relics obtained from the cave under more favorable circumstances. The visitors subsequently left for Nelson, and should their promised book of travels ever see daylight, the chapter on "The limestone caves of the Inangahua," with the many quaint, humorous, and convincing arguments which Mr Courtney slyly urged against the proposed aquatic excursion will, we think, be found "most confounded" good reading. We have received the prospectus of an Intercolonial Juvenile Industrial Exhibition, which will be held in Sydney at the close of the present year, 1882. Its objects are stated to be : — " 1. To stimulate the energies and display the abilities of the rising generation of the colonies. 2. To encourage a spirit of emulation by competition. '3. To develop the Inventive, constructive, and artistic faculties of all, and to gather new ideas from the works of others. 4. To create a taste for the fine arts and ornamental works, which will incite them to occupy their leisure hours in making home attractive with the results of their industry. 5. To assist the charitable institutions by distributing amongst them the proceeds of the Exhibition." All must wish well to an Exhibition with such objects, and we hope that some of the Reefton rising generation will send exhibits. The only condition is that they shall be under the age of 21 years, and both sexes are invited to compete. The co-operation of parents, employers, and teachers, is specially requested. Rules, regulations, and explanations, of the nature of articles for exhibits and other matteas will be published atan early date. We should much like to know from what fund Mr Heslop, rate, tax, and miner's right collector for the County Council, will be paid for his services in collecting signatures to the counter petition got up by the Council against the creation of a Municipality. Payment for such work was never contemplated by the Counties' Act, and if it be made out of the County funds, the money will be a direct and clear misappropriation on the part of members sanctioning its disbursement for such a purpose. We hear that a question will be raised at the proper time whether a petition to which signatures have been thus obtained by an officer of the County Council will be receivable or not. If not, what a sell. A telegram from a correspondent of the Grey River Argus of the 17th instant, says : — ".The railway promoters expect to hear from Yogel daily. They cablegrammed to Yogel to procure the Colliery Guardian containing Harrison's report upon the mineral resources of the Grey Valley." An unfortunate man suffering from mental aberration, was brought into Reefton yesterday by his mates, but his case was not thought sufficiently serious to justify his arrest, and it is hoped that a few days quiet and medical treatment will set him all right. A most beautiful Aurora- Australis was visible for about an hour last evening in the south-west. Its colors at times were of the deepest and most brilliant hue?, crimson, and orange, "with white streamei b shooting up at intervals. The air was cold and frosty, but the night was exceedingly fine, and the phenomenon, as it faded and flushed from time to time, was observed with great interest by a veiy large number of persons. There is fortunately one platform on which all Reefton residents can meet In harmony, and that is in connection with sending exhibits to the Christchurch Exhibition. The lately appointed committee are working well, and the County Council, wo behove, will liber Uy supply the

sinews of war. This is as it should be, and it gives us great pleasure to be able, in this respect at least, to commend the action of the local governing body. We believe that, after all, with the new energy infused Reefton will come out of the show with flying colors, and that the bay at present unoccupied, will shortly prove one of the most attractive features of the Exhibition. The attention of mine owners, speculators and others is directed to an advertisement in another column offering fo r sale. a 6cwt. five stamper battery, with 35cwt. stamper-box. Full particulars to be obtained on application to Mr Charles Bowater, Charleston. Simultaneously with the appearance of the Aurora last night telegraphic communication with Reefton became suspended, and for several hours after the lines were wholly inoperative, and as theresuit business of all kinds was delayed. The telegraph instruments were paralysed, and at about 9*30 we received intimation that it was unlikely that any Press messages could be got through. At a later hour, however, a short summary was dribbled through. The Grey Argus of Wednesday last reports thatf a parcel of forfeited Wealth of Nations Quartz Mining Company shares was sold at auction by Messrs Girdwood, Lahman and Co., and were knocked down to Mr W. G. Moss at 6a 3d per share. The electrical disturbance of Monday night (says the Grey River Argus) which had the effect of depriving the public of that day's budget of telegraphic intelligence, must have quietened down by Tuesday morning, as the telegrams which came to hand yesterday morning were all timed as having been finished between 10 and 11 a.m. The unfortunate operators must therefore have had rather a weary time of it in waiting all Monday night to get their work through. Sergeant M'Ardle, formerly in charge here, is about to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, and has resigned his position in the police force. Hehas recently been stationed at Masterton. The local paper, the Wairarapa Star, referring to him Bays: — "After seventeen years spent in the police of New Zealand, partly in the North Mand, but chiefly on the West Coast of the South Island, Sergeant M'Ardle, of Masterton, feeling the necessity of a respite, in order to restore his failing energies, has been reluctantly compelled to tender his resignation to the head of his department. The drudgery of official harness, for fully half an average lifetime, is no mean ordeal, and it is the absolute necessity of taking a rest that has caused Sergeant M'Ardle to quit his connection with an occupation in which his heart and soul were centered. It remains to be seen whether failing health and many years service will receive from the department the usual recognition in the shape of a retiring allowance. Of one thing we are satisfied, Sergeant M'Ardle leaves the force with the esteem of those of his fellow-members, with whom he has come in contact, and with the regret of the Wairarapa public, who have ever found in him an energetic, painstaking, useful officer, and, what is more, an estimable resident and colonist. How many offenders, from the penniless vagrant to the armed desperado, he has ' run in ' at all hours of the day and night will probably never be known, but from what we have seen of him, we feel justified in saying that few men in the New Zealand force have displayed greater activity, discretion and true valor, when work property or life had to be protected, or a larger amount of good sense and consideration in connectiou with public prosecutions. In expressing these opinions we are doing his merits but scant justice, but we are anticipate that before he severs his connection with the police department he will receive quite as high a eulogium at the hands of his brc. ther officers , and particularly of the Ressident Magistrate for the district." A Dunedin exchange says : — A strange case of child suffocation occurred at Port Chalmers on March 23rd. It appears that Mr Edwin Tucker and his wife Annie had their child baptised the day in question at the Wesleyan Chapel. Whilst they were returning to Mansford township a storm came on, and they sought shelter in the house of a person named Leamas. They had, however, a steep hill to go up before they reached the house, and before starting the mother put her child to her breast, and covered the infant up with a shawl. When they neared the house Mrs Tucker found that her child was dead. A doctor was immediately sent for, and on his arrival he examined the body of the infant and pronounced that death had resulted from suffocation. The schooner Elizabeth, which recently arrived in Auckland from the Islands, had to be submerged with a view to destroying the cockroaches with which the vessel was swarmed. They perished in thousands (says the Auckland Herald), their ranks were terribly thinned, they were decimated, but they were not exterminated, The jib-boom and masts were above water, and here the survivors took refuge. They were seen marching up the boom quite gaily in Indian file. The blocks and every crevice were thickly inhabited, and the Fijian crew had a lively time hunting them out of their hiding places. When the schooner came in on Sunday, her cabin presented a sight which would have been terrifying to persons unaccustomed to Island vessels. Scarcely the space of a threepenny piece was free from an insect of some sort. Yet the crew seemed quite happy, their companionship confirming the truth of the adage that use is second nature. ■ A most remarkable fact is that cockroaches do not take kindly to strangers. They will quite familiarly, and in an apparently affectionate spirit, run over those who beleng to the ship, bnt are shy of visitors. Bapgy visitors !

Much public interest (says the Buller Miner) attaches to the seizure made lately by the Customs in Westport. It appears that Mr John Munro, M,H.R., auctioneer and importer, has lately received a consignment of cases marked as containing Cologne Vinegar, but which in fact proved to be spirit in battle. The attention of the Customs officials was directed to this suspicious circumstance, and the result was a tardy seizure. Each case seized contained 3 doz. bottles counterfeit Hennessy's brandy. The counterfeit is, we are informed, very inferior in quality and deleterious in nature. There seems to be quite a manufactory of such poison in Dunedin. It is to be hoped that this affair will be thoroughly sifted, and all concerned in such a nefarious business be made warning examples of, for it is scarcely possible to exaggerate the evils resulting from a supply of bad liquors. That this is by no means the first importation of the kind that has been deceived in Westport is self evident, from the fact | that large quantities of this spurious spirit is distributed about the country district, more than could be accounted for by one or two shipments. The bottles are exact counterparts of Hennessy's, the label&lMid capsules being perfect imitai The Wanganui Herald announces with I satisfaction the establishment of the manufacture of parchment in that town. Our contemporary observes : — The parchment trade of the colony is valued at £10,000 per annum, the whole of which at present is sent from England, there not being a parchment factory in the whole of the Australasian colonies. The Thames Advertiser relates how a young Maori woman tried to drown herself a few evenings ago by jumping off the Shortland wharf, in Auckland, into the water. She was seen by another Maori woman, who caught her by the legs and pulled her back. The noise brought several Europeans to the place. They advised her to go home. She went as far as Dodd's Hotel, and then turned around, and made a run for the water again, but was stopped, as before, in time. Some of the spectators wanted the persons trying to keep her back to let her have a cold bath ; Maori as she was, she roundly abused her preservers in rough F.nglißh. A half-caste who has resided for many years in the King country, and who has travelled over the whole of it, informs the Auckland Herald that if it is determined to make the railway from Auckland by the west, to join the Taranaki lines, there is no difficulty which cannot be easily overcome. The route he recommends is by the Waipa valley to Orahiri, then by the Mangapu, then by Mokauiti. Here some broken country would be found, but none offering any serious difficulty, and then the line comes into the Urenui country, which is quite level to the Waitara. It is about time our legislators stirred themselves in the matter of cheques which are returned from the bank with the ominous initials "N.5.F.," observes the Lyttelton Times. Many cheques are probably returned inconsequence of there not being sufficient funds, when there is not the slightest ground for suspicion as to fraud on the part of the drawer. But there are also many cases where it is absolutely certain the person circulating and changing a cheque to the amount of several pounds is perfectly well aware his account cannot stand the strain, while he has no possible means or desire of meeting the demand. Such a case, quite analagous to the passing of a valueless cheque, occurred the other day. A man, well known in certain circles, ran, an account to the extent of £1, and then producing a cheque of hia own for £8, received the balance. The cheque was returned " N.S.F." and two days after this worthy filed his declaration of insolvency. This is merely a legalised form of swindling, and the sooner legislation is effected to meet such cases the better for the mercantile community. The Melbourne Argus mentions a curious case that has occurred at Stawell, showing a liability to error to which underwork exploration by means of the diamond drill is exposed, and which seems likely to form a serious drawback on its usefulness. Some months ago a brilliant success was effected by means of the drill in the mine of the United Scotchman, where a reef was discovered by its means that offered the most encouraging prospects, and a vast increase in the value of mining property in the whole district was the result. Work was at once started to sink a shaft in the direction taken by the bore, and has been carried on ever since. But though the place was reached four weeks ago where, according to the surveyor's calculations, the bore should be met with, all search for it by means of cross-cuts, drives, and so forth has been unavailing. The miners say that it is impossible that they could have passed it without seeing it, and yet it cannot be found. The supposition is that the bore by the diamond drill deviated from the direction supposed to betaken, but it would seem that such deviation must necessarily be very slight. Various proposals, such as the " letting of a powerful bar-magnet down the bore-hole, and searching along the drive with a • dipping needle,' so as to ascertain the direction of the bore from the drive," and exploding dynamite in the bore, have been suggested, but they are all open to objections. In the meantime that highly sensitive element— public opinion — has been injuriously affected by the difficulty, aud the general estimate of the diamond drill has very much lowered, and the market value of the mine has fallen by no less an amount than £44,000. Mr Denton is thus referred to by the Canterbury Times : — "Another example of the pretensions of scientific people has been furnished by Mr Denton. Mr Denton has made the kind of failure which

might be expected from an infaut. With one hand he demolishes Christianity and all revealed religion as imposing too much on human faith. With the other he builds up a creed of Spiritualism on a foundation of faith which is absolutely infantile. 1 There cannot be a resurrection, he informs us, because it is absurd to think that people will carry broken legs and physical deformities into the next world. In the same breath he tells us that he has taken plaster casts of the hands and faces of the inhabitants of the spirit world, who, as he recognised the likenesses, evidently carried their physical peculiarities with them. He asks us to reject the doctrine of the resurrection as absurd, and to accept as true the doctrine that a. man's body cau be in two places at once, and in two conditions — mouldering in the grave, and nice and fresh in the studio of the worker in plaster. Anybody who> after that takes Mr Denton for an authority in anything outside of elementary geology and claptrap, must be of weak intellect.