The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1240, 2 March 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1883.

Maik^lfoiri&i^ra.lian Colonies, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, via Hobart, close at Bluff per Wairarapa, at noon on Friday, 2nd March. The regular meeting of the County Council was fixed for Wednesday last, but was adjourned owing to the non-attend-ance of members. Captain Barry left for the Grey Valley this unorning and lectures at Aliaura this evening and at Nelson Creek to-morrow night. We wish him every success. The date of the return- ■ cricket match between the Reefton and Greymouth Elevens has at length been fixed, and it has been arranged that the local players shall leave here by coach on .this day week. Ben Allah, tho world renowned prestigitator and illusionist has arrived in Reefton, and will give one of his astonishing magical exhibitions in the Oddfellows Hall, on Saturday (to morrow) evening. A feature of the entertainment is the large number of valuable prizes nightly distributed amongst the audience. The valuation notices under "The Property Tax Act" have just come to hand and have excited some little curiosity. Many persons who held sections in the early days of Reefton But parted with them years and years ago, find themselves unexpectedly rated for the properties. There are several cases of this kind, we are informed, but how the mistake has arisen it ia hard to say. Mr Hindmarsh, yesterday, received a telegram from Mr Prince, engineer of the New Zealand Electric Light Company, stating his willingness to visit Reefton. He is now engaged supeiintending the erection of the electric light plant for the Lyttelton Harbor Board, but will be in Reefton on the 9th instant, when he will afford the fullest possible information on the subject. The right to the booths, • gates, ant 1 , other privileges at the approaching Boatman's races, will be offered at auction to-day at Capleston, by Mr Brennan. In view of the fact that there will be no other attractlpn for the public on St Patrick's Day, 'the races will no doubt be very largely attended, and the rights to be sold should realise a handsome sum. The right to work the totalisator on the course has been purchased by Messrs Twohill and Heaphy,for the sum of £50 nett. A special meeting of the Provisional Committee appointed to make inquiries as to the cost of supplying the electric light for Reefton, was held at the office of Mr W. Hindmarsh, at 4 p.m on Wednesday last. Among those present were all the leading business men of the community and Mr John McGaftln was voted to the chair. The Chairman having opened the meeting, called upon Mr Hindmarsh to read the correspondence received on the subject. Mr Hindmursh explained that in pursuance of the resolution passed -it a previous meeting ho wrote, to the Now Zealand Electric Light Company, Dunedin for certain information re patent rights &c, to which a reply had

been received slating that the company were prepared to make very liberal ar- ' langemeuts with the Reefton committee for tho 1 supply of an electrical plant, and that should it be deemed requisite the Engineer of the Company (Mr W. Prince) would visit Reefton to confer with the Committee. The letter having been received some discussion ensued as to the advisability of pushing on the negotiotions and it was eventually agrcedth.it with a view of hastening the accomplishment of of the project Mr Prince be invited to Reef ton. It was further decided to make a canva33 of tho town to ascertain the exact number of lights required, and a resolution was also carried asking the County Council to grant a piece of ground on the strand for the erection of the plant. The meeting then adjourned. We take the following items from the Westport Times :— The arrival in town, 1 on Saturday evening, of John Davidson and Mrs Grammatica, was witnessed by a large number of persons, who crowded around the coach, when it stopped, at the corner of Wakefield- street, near the Gaol, to put down the prisoners and .their guardian, Constable Palamontaine. Mrs Gramatica (being a widow) was dressed in deep mourning, and was thickly veiled. Her appearance was much more reliant than that of Davidson, who looked very miserable indeed. Tho fact of his attempting to commit suicide is an index to his despondent character, showing that he has not numh faith in his ability to free himself from trouble. The male prisoner only was handcuffed during the journey.- John Davidson and Mary Gramatica were brought down from Lyell on Saturday evening, per coach. The general impression is that neither of 'the statements made by the prisoners are true except in slight degree. Both are considered guilty, and their confessions are taken as mere attempts to implicate each one the other while concealing the actual circumstances of each one's connection with the crime. It is not yet known whether the two prisoners will be sent on to Nelson together by the first steamer, or whether Davidson will be kept here to stand his trial for attempted self-murder, at the District Court on March 13th. The latter is most likely to be the case.— Mr G. W. McElwaiu, the telegraphist and postmaster appointed to the charge of the newly-established office at Boatman's, left Wellington on Thursday, and will reach Westport by first boat from Nelson. The office will be opened on Wednesday next for the transmission of telegrams and the transaction of ordinary business. The money oi'der and savings bank branch, however, will not bo available until the Ist March.