The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1884.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1475, 26 November 1884, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1884.

The regular monthly practice of the Fire Brigade will be held this evening, at 830 o'clock. A full attendance is requested. The Red Queen Company, Westport, is shaping well to realise the glowing anticipations of the shareholders, the. tirst sct.tpiug of the plates, alter a crushing of 137 tons having yielded about 5700z of amalgam. The amalgam has since been retorted and yielded 190nz of gold. The members of the Heather Bell Lodge will commemorate their anniversary this year by a banquet, to be held at Dawson's Hotel, on Friday evening next. We regret to learn that Sergeant Neville was stricken with paralysis at a late hour on Monday evening last, and throughout yesterday remained in a very dangerous condition. The District Court, before His Honor Judge Broad, will sit this morning, when the matter of the Lankey's Creek Company (in liquidation) will be once more called on for a settlement nf the list of contributories. There are several other applications affecting the same matter, which will also be dealt with. A much needed change in the weather set in yesterday morning and during the afternoon and evening a considerable quantity of rain fell over the district. For ■ome time past all the batteries had been running on short commons, and in Murray Creek particularly the water supply had almost entirely given out. The rain will be hardly less welcome to the farmers in the district. The quarrel which has arisen in Greymonth over the constitution of the Harbor Board is an unfortuuate one, but that cause of complaint has been given is, w e think, beyond all question. No stronger proof could be adduced of the intensity of public feeling there on the subject than the fact of a number of the leading commercial residents braving the imputation of Belf-seeking and publicly denouncing the selection. However, it seems to us nothing is to be gained now by quarrelling further with the appointments. The amendment carried at the public meeting admits everything claimed by the conveners of the meeting and is about the strongest protest that could be recorded against the nominations. The appointments having been once made, they would in the ordinary course run for the period, whatever it is, prescribed in the Act. But it is hardly possible to think the Government will overlook the strong expression of opinion jnst recorded agamst their first step. The Board will possess very extensive powers, and as Sir Julius Yogel has taken them specially under his care as a branch of his new regenerating policy it would not be surprising to see an attempt on his part to "try back," in which case some excuse will most probably be found for making the first nominations of the Board terminable next session. This, it seems to us, is the only way out of the difficulty.

More Tichbornia. In reference to th c ainuiiition cases marked "Osproy" found in Mount Cook barracks, an old colonist informs the Post there was a Government transport brig of that name employed about 1840 on the Australian Station, and that she several times visited Auckland with troops and military stores from Australia. She was a short time afterwards wrecked on the West coast north of Auckland. Her figurehead subsequently formed the sign of a public house in Auckland named the "Osprey Hotel." This building was destroyed in the great fire in 1858, bu"- the figurehead was saved, and is now in the naval reserve at north shore Auckland.

The Hun. Dr Pollen's ideas concerning gold mining are uovel and interesting, and cannot be too widely known. In the course of a recent debate in the Legislative Council the hc»n. gentlemen is reported to have said : — Throughout the history of gold mining from the earliest times it has always been found to be a non-productive industry ; and why the people of this Colony Bhould be taxed to sustain a non productive industry is what I cannot understand. It is not only nonproductive, but 'it is, in reality, not so much an industry us the gambling business. And the only force sustains the occupation of gold-mining generally is that gambling spirit which ia inherent in

nature. I have previously said that gold-

nature. I have previously said that goldmining is not only a non-productive industry, but it is a destructive industry. It destroys the face of the country. Miners leave behind them a desert ; they disforest the land ! they choke its rivers ; thi.-y jhoke its harbours. Tlje .nischief done in this way is incalculable, outside altogether of the circle of its production. Why, under these circumstances, should we be called upon to make sacrifices to sustain tlmt in lustry. Mr Warden Stratford will, we understand, be transferred to the Tnapeka district in Otago, and Mr Warden Woods, one of the oldest Wardens in the colony, will take charge of the Greymouth district. The transfer will take place some time next week. The change is doubtless owing to the recommendation of the Goldfields Committee to the effect that Wardens should be transferred every three years. The many friends throughout theßuller and Inangahua districts of Mr W. H. Revell. RM. and Warden, will regret to hear that he is under orders to remove to the district of Naseby, in Otago. No information is yet available as to who has been appointed to succeed him. During his residence here Mr Revell's careful and conscientious discharge of the difficult duties attached to his position has won him golden o[ inious. Aa a citizen, al' o, he has gained the universal respect he deserves. The departure of Mr and Mrs Revell will indeed create a void difficult to fill. — Westport 'imes.

The managers or committees of public libraries will do well to take notice of a Gazette notice relative to the distribution of Government subsidy. The distribution will take place on tho Bth Feb., 1885, and no claim will be considered that shall not have been sent in in due form and received by the 'Secretary for Jciuucaiiou, Wellington, on or before the 31st January, 1885. Every public library maintained by rates will be entitled to share in the distribution according to its income from rates ; and every public library maintained by subscriptions and voluntary contributions will be entitled to share according to its income from subscriptions and voluntary contributions.

The Nelson Mail says : — The route of the Nelson-Brunnerton Hue from Belgrove would be via the Motueka Valley to the Rouudell ; thence along the Buller Valley to its junction with the Inangahua ; thence along the Inangahua river to Reefton ; and thence along the Mawhera-iti and the Grey River to Brunnerton. The distance from Belgrove to Brunnerton is 159 miles, and the estimated cost is £1,460,000, but this does not include the £140,000 already provided under the Loan Act of 1882 for extension of the Nelson-Belarove railway towards tho Roundell, and of the Grey-mouth-Brunnerton railway towards Reefton, so tbat the total Aveuld be brought up to £1,600,000. The steepest grade would be the same as in the Arthur's Pass route, namely, 1 in 44 on straights, and 1 in 50 on curves, but, no mention is made of tunnels. The tariff rate on coal per ton by this line would be 12s lid, and on timber 4s. The distance between Nelson and Brunnerton is 182 miles, and this, added to 138 miles from Brunnerton to Christchurch, would make the through line from Nelson to Christchurch 322 miles, or to Rolleston, the junction on the Christchurch-Dunedin line, 308 miles.

The Dunedin Mar says : The following is vouched for : — About a week ago a tradesman carrying on business in a southern town wrote to his creditors that

he was unable to meet his engagements, and offered a composition of 6s in the £. A Dunedin merchant, who is the largest creditor, expressed his unwillingness to accept these terms, and to him the debtor replied that he had made up his mind to go to the Christchurch races, and would take his spare cash with him, but it would be perfectly safe. At the Dunedin railway station the irate merchant met him, and a stormy interview ended iv the traveller from the South giving an assurance that if he were permitted to proceed on his journey without molestation he would, in the event of Vanguard winning the Cup race, pay his creditors in full. These terms were accepted, and, since the Hon. Mr Robinson's horse did win, the other creditors will doubtless have cause to be thankful for the terms wrung from their debtor.

The only safe and sure cure for Gravel or Urinary troubles, is Hop Bitters. Prove it. Read.

mining is not only a non-productive in-

they disforest the land ! they choke its rivers ; thi.-y jhoke its harbours. Tlje mischief done in this way is incalculable, outside altogether of the circle of its production. Why, under these circumstances, should we be called upon to make sacrifices to sustain tlmt in lustry.

Mr Warden Stratford will, we understand, bo transferred to the Tnapeka district in Otago, and Mr Warden Woods, one of the oldest Wardens in the colony,