BLACK’S NO. 1.

Dunstan Times, Issue 647, 11 September 1874, Page 3

BLACK’S NO. 1.

- -o—(from our correspondent.) [Tliis coinmunicarion was unavoidably held over from our last issue. ] The usual monthly sittings of the Resident Magistrate and Warden’s Courts was hold on Tuesday last when tho following cases were heard, Police v. Fraser, drunkenness, dismissed with a caution. .Pitches v. Inglestone, Claim, Lll—the merits of the case were gone into, hut au amicable arrangement was ultimately come to ; Mr Mr Wilson appeared for defendant. Pitches v. Dixon. Claim Lls—Judgment by default. Some othor unimportant cases wero dealt with.

In the Warden’s Court a number of applications were heard for extended claims on the flat, nearly the whole being objected to- The applicants were mostly Europeans, the objectors, Chinese, whose grounds of objection were that, the applicants would not work, they evidently showing a desire to reap without trouble the benefit of the objectors’ labor in bringing up a drainage channel—the cases wire adjourned till the next sitting of the Court. 1 will endeavor to make this more exylicit : —A large area of ground at the head of the old workings has been proved to ho highly payable, and consequently has been marked out in claims ; to work the ground however, as it holds a lot of water, it is necessary to extend the existing drainage channel, but it appeared the European holders of claims, object to unite with the Chinese in the work, and evidenced a desire to take advantage of “ John’s ” labor : this was so apparent that the Warden in adjourning his decision on the applications spoke rather plainly to the would be “ Shepherd’s,” which 1 doubt not will have the effect of bringing them up to the scratch, To construct this channel the Government voted long since the sum of L3OO to be paid as aL2 to LI subsidy on money raised, or on labor. By some piece of blundering this vote was allowed to lapse, and the ground accordingly up to the present lias lain idle. I think however if the matter is fairly represented to the Government that it is purposed to carry on the channel, the money might yet be forthcoming, at any rate it would be worth trying.

The bridge across the Manuherikia is being proceeded with, but no groat headway is being made on account of tho scarcity of masons to build the abutments ; the foundations are being excavated, and general progress made, and the day is not far distant when the greatest noon that has yet been conferred on Black’s will bo accomplished. Whilst on the subject of bridges, I desire to enter my protest against building a bridge at Chatto Creek, as contemplated, and leaving the most dangerous creek on tho main line of road, the Spottisburn, unbridged, it is a fact patent to all that tho Chatto Creek can bo crossed without the slightest danger, in fact with dry feet at all times, whereas the Spottis is ever a terror, more especially to foot travellers, who have to wade through middle deep. Now, as the cost of either, would be about the same, it is to be hoped the Spottis will be the first spanned. A report from tho Road Engineer on this subject would bo apropos, and with the view of eliciting the same I am principally induced to mention tho subject.