The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1884.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1456, 13 October 1884, Page 2

The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1884.

The following letter has been forwarded to us from Dunedin, with a request that we should publish it. — The communication is headed " No. 2 Welcome Gold Mining Company, Reefton " and is addressed to the Editor of the Otifjo Daily Times, in which paper it appears to have been published: — Sir. — The action of the directors in making a call of 2d per share seems to require some explanation. When the previous call of 2d per uhare was made in March last the Company was said to be in debt then to the extent of £109, and the call of 2d per share would produce £i<oo, leaviug £91 to carry on the work. The tunnel had then to be. driven 232ft to the boundary of this claim, and the contract was let last month at 21/ per foot— or £243 12s in all. Of this sum the JSo. 2 Welcome must contribute oneeighth, equal to ±'30 10s, and the balance of th« call should therefore be sufficient, and leave a large surplus, as this Company's liability ceases when the tunnel is driven 232ft and the ground is then prospected. In the face of the above facts why is a call made this month, and what is to become of it I—l1 — I am, &c, A ShareHolder, October 3." The explanation is very simple. In March last the directors made a call of 2d per share, but the call not having been advertised in the Nelson papers, was informal, and therefore lapsed. In August last the call was re-struck by the directors, those of the shareholders who paid the call as tirst 'struck being credited as against the second call. "Shareholder" will therefore see that he is barking up the wrong tree. The Parliamentary Debating Club met on Thursday evening last when the Bill to amend the Milling Companies Act was further considered in Committee, and a lively discussion ensued upon the clause referring to the compulsory registration j of transfers at the office of the Company within a certain time after sale. Amendments to the clause were proposed by Mr North and Mr Nash and these having been discussed at some length, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed and progress was reported, with leave to sit again. Mr Watkins then introduced the motion standing in his name, affirming the desirability of married women holding property independent of the control of their husbands. An interesting debate followed in which Messrs Cumming, i Anderson, North, Barrowman, Cochrane, | ind others took part. Mr Watkius having replied, the House divided on the motion, which was declared lost by a majority of three. The House then adjourned at 10.30. It is rumored in the "lobbies" that a no-confidence motion against the Government will probably be i brought on at the next sitting. We understand that Mr W. H. Hobby who left Ueefton some months ago with the intention of settling in Nelson, sailed last week with his family for Victoria. The "slaughter of the innocents " has been commenced in the House of Representatives, the first measures to fall under the knife being" the Greymouth and Westport Harbor Bills. There are other indications that the session is drawing to a close, as the Government have appropriated Wednesdays for Government business and limited members to half days for private business for the remainder of the session. Tho Public Works Statement will be brought down to-morrow and after its delivery members will no doubt begin to scatter. Our telegrams this morning contain a very meagre reference to the East and West Coast Railway Bill introduced by Sir Julius Vogel. We are quite in the dark as to the proposals of the Bill, but assume that the measure is designed to give effect to the intentions of the Government as foreshadowed in the Governor's Speech. We understand that Mr Kelsey, the representative of the English syndicate, has been in Wellington for some weeks past, and it may therefore be taken that the Government are pretty well informed as to the nature of the concessions needed to tempt capitalists to the undertaking. Wo are sorry to learn that there is a large amount of destitution prevalent in Reefton at the presont time. Within the pas^ week or two several distressing cases have been brought to light and been relieved by a few charitably disposed persons. There is but twp good reason to believe that there are many other such cases, and the time has arrived when some steps should be taken to meet the difficulty. Of course there is always one resource for persons so unfortunately Bituated, by application to the County Council. But it is to be feared that the publicity attaching to the process keeps many deserving cases >>ut of sight while bringing others to the surface perhaps less worthy of recognition. It has been suggested to us that steps should be taken to for id a Benevolent Society, who would undertake to enquire into and administer to such pressing cases as those refered to. The movement is one which would receive the prompt countenance and co-operation of the resident clergy of the different denominations, and their efforts would no doubt be cordialy seconded by the public at large. For ourselves we shall be glad to aid the proposal. We believe the pressure is only of a temporary nature, and the probability is that it will pass away in the course of a month or two. The famous, or rather infamous, "Rodaiiow watch " fraud, practised so successfully upon Australnsian newspaper proprietors some two or three years ago, has, at all events, had onv good rcaulk, it has led to almoßtall. if indeed not all, the advertising business now done in the colouies for

American manufacturers and warehousemen, beingrtnnutlnonghoiKjcliannel -The Inteinafiniinl Newspaper Agency, of H. P. Hub bard,- New Ktiven, Connectumt, U.S.A. This is, 'we believe, the most extensive nnranipation of the fciml in tho world, as the ayenisy is the .«y>ltj representative of no less tlmn 33,000 newspapers published in ail parts of the world, and in over one hundred different lancrna'.'es. The agency has a monopoly of nearly the whole Advertising business of America, and the facilities it possesses for transacting business are perfect in every respect. In this way colonial newspaper proprietors 1 are relieved of the uncertanity of dealing withunknownandirresponsibleadveriisers abroad. All advertisments from the Agency are sent out ready printed in specimen form, with copious instructions margined for the guidance of the printer, thus ensuring; the most perfect compliance with the wishes of advertisers. We have just received a curious testimony of the cosmopolitan character of the agency. It is "Hubbards Annual Handbook of leading newspapers of all kinds in all countries on the earth." And one of tho remarkable things about it is that the paper upon which it is printed was made out of old newspapers, the Press in thirty languages j and from one hundred diflerent countries, contributing to its production, | The Rev Mr M'Lean, incumbent of St. | Stephen's Church, Reefton, is acquiring ' considerable fame amongst his parishoners for the excellence of his sermons, which ' are marked by great intellectual power, research and breadth of view. It is cerLain that the rev gentleman is attracting large congregations an dam on gat those who are now regular attendants are not a few erstwhile very "hard cases" who had been long hovering on the confines. A veteran pioneer settlor submitted his case to Parliament to-day in the capaciiy of a petitioner. Mr John Stratford, of Wadestown, near Wellington, the old colonist iu question, states that he ar rived in Wellington in 1839 in the ship Cuba, which was the first to cast anchor in the harbor of Port Nicholson, the petitioner being the first European who landed from the vessel. He was for a considerable time the only European at Port Nicholson who could act as native interpretor, and he claims that Ms services were of great value to Colonel Walefield and the officers of the New Zealand Company, and that, without any remuneration he was appointed the first constable, and during the first native disturbances at the Hutt acted as interpretor between the rebel Maoris and the ImJ perial forces under the command of Sir I George Grey. He also acted as scout at , considerable personal ri«k, but received no remuneration. The petitioner further claims to have been the means of restoring much valuable property abstracted by the natives, to have brought many of their offences to light, and to have induced tho Maoris to abandon many of their superstitions. Ho states that be is now 77 years of age and strionsly afflicted with asthma and rheumatism, and in straitened circumstances. He asks that such gratuity or relief may be afforded to him as the circumstances of the case may justify. Mr Bruce, the new member for Rangi tikei, made an excellent spoeeh, it is stated, in moving the second reading of tho Seaman's Franchise Bill. One correspondent thus writes : — " Mr Bruce has himself been a sailor all his life, and in moving for the special representation of seamen lie made one of the moat attractive speeches ever heard in the House. He treated the subject from the broadest point of view, and pleaded the cause of the sailors with a depth of feeling and a degree of humility and patriotism which secured for him the closest attention of the House while he was speaking, and a hearty round of applause when he aat down. Mr Seddon rightly observed th«t, quite irrespective of the merits of the bill, it would be impossible for any member to oppose it after such a speech. He explained that he was not the parent of the measure, for it was one that the Premier had prepared and intended to introduce, but knowing that he felt strongly upon the question, had graciously handed him the bill, in order that hi3 name rnigh> be identified with a measure which would be conspicuous in the annals of nations." The Opposition are making capital out of the delay in bringing down the Public Works Statement, and do not hesitate to declare that the Government are postponing it as long as possible in the belief that there is less likelihood of any adverse action being taken towarda the close of the session, when members are anxious to get away. As I previously explained, however, the Govermenfc state it is impossible to bring down the Statement until the North Island Trunk Railway Committee have reported, and so far they have declined to commit themselves to any particular day. The North Island Trunk Railway Committee finished the taking of evidence to-day, when Mr Wilkinson, formerly proprietor of tho Thames Advertiser, was examined. The Committee are expected to commence the compilation of their report on Tuesday next. I Our (Orei/ Argus) cock-fighting friends were determined not to be baulked of their enjoyment, and had their mnin out. notwithstanding that a "man in blue" was on the ground or thereabout. It would not be so easy to explain how they managed it under the nose of theconstable, who Beemed to be thoroughly intent upon the performance of his duty, but the main was fought and heaps of money changed hands. As there were not fewer than 300 people present, it was altogether a great day for Marsden. About 100 persons sat down to dinner at Russell's Hotel, and the host must have done as much business as he usually does the whole of Christinas week. There were over 40 birds on the ground. Sixteen battles altogether were fought, 13 on

Tuesday .and three yesterday morning, ( Greymnnth winning 13 out of 16. The, police lmd of course to encounter a con- j siderable amount of good-natured chaff at J the way in which the officer had been outwitted.! It is pretty evident from the j clever way the thing was managed that the promoters of the main have had a good deal of experience in this line in other parts if not on this coast. Mr R. Reeves reports in the Nelson Colonist: — "There are very good ac counts from the Mokihinui reefs, and it is expected that the Red Queen Company will start crushing at the end of this month or early next. Prospects are very satisfactory, and the reports received from this claim and the Guiding Star are of the most encouraging nature." According to political rumour at Wellington the new Minister will be either Captain Morris, member for Tauranga, or Mr Cadman, member for Coroniandel. Although it is believed in some quarters that a new member will be appointed this session, it is quite possible that delay in making the appointment, if notsanctioned at all, will not injure the Ministry on the division list. A corresponded writing to the Sydney News says : — The' Governor visited the lunatic asylum, when one male patient tackled him thus :— " Ah, I know you ! You've grown a fine beard, and think yon won't be recognised here but I remember when you were in Adelaide loafing about in public houses ; .and this chap that's j with you (Lord Castlerosse), I know him J well too. He was in Deniliquin when I was there. He lodged with a widow named O'Brien and weut away without paying for his board and lodging." Another poor fellow asked the Governor for a bit of tobacco. The Ross paper says : — Very little news j was received from the reefs on Saturday evening laat. The stone in the winze of the William Tell Company, which is now down between 25 and 30 feet, still continues to carry good gold. The contractors for the AH Nation's Tunnel are making fair progress with their work, falthough the ground is wet and the stone very hard. The contractors for the erection of the fluming for the Trial Battery have now finished sawing the timber and will shortly commence the erection of the framework. No matter what your feeling or ailment is, Hop Bitters will do you good. Prove it and see.