The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1197, 20 November 1882, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1882.

Mr Charles Dowsing has certainly gained the gratitude and good will of the juvenile population of Reefton, and we think he is fairly entitled to the thanks of the community as a whole, for "digging down " into an entirely new form of entertainment, so far, at all events as Reefton is concerned, for the amusement of the rising generation. Friday last being Mr Doy/sing's birthday, he hit upon the happy resolve of inviting the children of Heefton to celebrate the occasiqn for him. The Oddfellows Hall waß hired for the occasion, and at the appointed hour was crowded with the bright-eyed guests, who were entertained during the, afternoon with good things in abundance, and it is needless to suy that a very pleasant time •vas passed. If youthful good wishes could avail, then would the remainder of

Mr Dowsing's lifetime be one perennial birthday.

It will be seen that Mr Gardner has taken 'into partnership Mr Watkins, a surveyor of high standing, from Dunedin. The business will henceforth be carried on under the style of Gardner and Watkins. Mr Browning, Chief of the Survey Department of the Provincial District of Nelson, is at present in Reefton, on his periodical visit of inspection. Mr Browning will remain in .Reefton for a week or ten days. A man named Richard Webdale, who had been sentenced to one week imprisonment for the larceny of a frying-pan and axe, from the premises of Mr John Ching, was brought before Mr Revell, R.M., on Friday last, on a charge of stealing sundry articles from the police camp. The prisoner's term of confinement expired on Thursday evening last, and Sergeant Neville suspected that the man meditated a surreptitious attack upon the goods and chattels of Her Majesty, and accordingly, when he was on the point of departure, asked to be allowed to explore the prisoner's clothing, and upon doing so discovered a number of articles, such as nails, carpenters tools, and other portable property stowed away in the man's shirt and pockets, For this offence he was brought before the Court, and after hearing the evidence His VV orship remarked that as the lenient sentence of tho Justices of the Peace had failed to act as a warning to prisoner, it would be seen what reform three months confinement in Hokitika gaol would effect, and to that term prisoner was accordingly sentenced. The general opinion seems to be that the man is a "shingle short," but it cannot bo denied that his weakness runs in rather a methodical groove. He hails from Westport and had only been a few days in this district when he developed a sort of magpy propensity for collecting miscellaneous articles. His hue at Black's Point was searched by the police the other day, and was found to contain the oddest collection of articles ever seen out of a marine store. Many of the things were subsequently identified by the neighbours having been missed bp them, and there is no doubt that they were stolen. Reefton has hitherto enjoyed a perfect Arcadian immunity from pilfering of ihis kind, but in view of the numbers of strangers now daily arriving, householders would do well to exercise a little more vigilance in guarding their possessions.

His Lordship Bishop Redwood reached Reefton on Thursday afternoon last, but agreeably, we believe, to a wish expressed by himself, the reception was quite private. The Rev. Father Carew drove up from Ahaura with his Lordship and will entertain him during his sta/ in the Inangahua. Two Masses were celebrated in the Catholic Chapel Reefton, yesterday, and at 11 a.m. His Lordship delivered an eloquent and impressive discourse to a crowded congregation representive of all classes in the community. In the afternoon Bishop Redwood proceeded to Capleston, and preached there in the evening and we understand he will proceed to the Lyell and Hampden either to-day or to-morrow.

It is elsewhere announced that Mr H. Clapcott, lecturer for the Government Insurance Department, will deliveralecture in the Odfellows Hall, on Wednesday evening next. Mr Clapcott is spoken of very highly by the Press of the Colony, his lectures possessing an interest and attractiveness not generally associated with such deliverances, or to put it in the words of an Auckland contemporary "Mr Clap' cott possesses in a veiy high degree the rare facility of lAvv; able to impart a raciness and interest to an apparently dry subject." We trust to see a large attendance on the jDccassion.

We learn ihat the unfortunate man R. Hall, who recently fell dovn the Imperial shaft, at Boatman's, etill lies in the Hoapital in an almost hopeless condition. The dislocation of the spinal column precludes all hope of the poor fellow's recovery, thoiiTh it is impossible- to say how long he may linger on.

With nino nominations for the Inangahua Cup, there should be a fair chance of a good field for the chief event of the forthcoming lleefton race meeting. The redoubtable Mata, however, is likely to give the handicappcrs some troitbls, for how anything short of a blacksmith's anvil can bring such a flyer down to the calibre of some of the other hon-os entered it is different to see. Reeft-m, however, is the first West Coast district that haa been favored with a nomination from a veritable Melbourne Cup hone.

and the chance, such as it is, of the presence of such a distinguished, and at the same time extinguished visitor, certainly invests the meeting with more than ordinary importance.

Tenders are to-day invited by the Lankey's Creek Company for the erection of crushing plant, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns.

The contract for the sinking of the main shaft for the Golden Treasure has been completed, the stipulated depth of 150 ft having been reached. It is proposed to carry the shaft down 300 ft before opening out, as this will give the company a height of backs equal to many years work. Negotiations are now going on between the directors and the contractors with the view to the present contractors con'inuing the work, but should these not bo brought to a satisfactory head within a day or two fresh tenders will be invited. The north drive is still being continued through very promising country, and the many quartz leaders crossed of late holds out a fair hope of something good being met with in this part of the mine within a short time.

Intelligence reached town yesterday of the striking of gold -bearing stone in tho Melbourne Coimjiiny's lease, Boatman's. This ground adjoins the Southern Cross

lease, and the prospects of the venture are very highly thought of. A meeting of shareholders fn the company will bo held at the office of Mr VV. Hindmarah, on Wednesday next.