ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 804, 14 September 1877, Page 2

ARROWTOWN.

(from our Correspondent. ) Wo have had quite a lively tilno of it here lately in the matter of local matters. First, we had the water supply question, which was a pretty stormy affair, and resulted in the very general opinion that four thousand pounds was a much larger sum than the Borough Council was justified in borrowing, or perhaps, that the scheme was on too grand a scale for the means ot the Town. A poll in the matter, in accordance with the Statute was taken, when only thirty-one ratepayers, out of eighty, recordcil their votes, when the result was—seventeen for, and fourteen against. Two thousand pounds would be the utmost the Council could legitimately borrow, and even this sum could not bo obtained at the authorised rate of seven per cent,—some concessions must bemadoAt the meeting in question, the matter of issuing Auctioneers’ Licenses on Bills was brought up, and the action of the Council was very generally condemned in granting a License to Captain Barry upon four, six and eight months acceptances, which have not been honored. Our civic magnates after so much generosity, might have stretched that virtue a little further by paying the money themselves, and emulating the magnanimous conduct of the Davenport, Brothers, by handing back to the gallant Captain his Promises to Pay. Instead of this, they coolly informed the ratepayers, when called upon by that long suffering body for an explanation—“ That nobody has lost anything, and when the Captain is in funds he will stump up,” and they could console themselves further with the knowledge that a good turn had been done to a very deserving and enterprising citizen. Nobody of course blames Captain Barry, and it is really very clever of him, after catching so many whales, while cruising amongst the undiscovered Islands of the “ New He—Brides,” to thus capture and try out the entire Borough Conned, Arrowtown. The “ Tipperary ” case came out in quite a new form before Mr Warden Stratford on Monday last. It was almost a real Donny* brook this time, and a regular stand-up fight appears imminent. The affair partook of the shape of an application for a Mining Lease for six acres by the present proprietors, Messrs M'Kay and Co. To this there were no less than five objections. First; — No. 1. Mr Frederick Hoffman, on account of a writ of certiorari being issued at his suit in the Supreme Court to set aside the cancellation, which was alleged was obtained by fraudulent misrepresentations made before Mr Warden Simpson. No. 2.—Was by Mr James Scott, of Cromwell, who claimed that he had a verdict of L 350, damages and costs, against Hall, one of the proprietors, which action had been heard by the District Court and was now appealed against in the Supreme Court, and it was quite competent for that Court iu such a case to vary the judgment, and decree that Scott was a shareholder in lieu of giving damages. Mr H. J. Finn appeared in both these cases. The next objections by Messrs ' Healey, Evans and Preston ; Preston and Evans, and Preston, Evans and Evans, To explain these last three objections, it will be necessary to say—That when the nrigi- | nal Tipperary claim of 1200 feet was can- | celled, Mr Warden Simpson decreed that the applicant Owen Traynor should be considered as first applicant for 600 feet of tbc ground. Mr Traynov maikcd off the lower 600 feet (as he stated in evidence) the next day in company with MrT. Hall. A party called the Ocraldine Company taking up the upper 600 feet a short time afterwards. The three objections in question showed by tbeir evidence that they were all one party, and had gone in to possess themselves to a slice of somebody’s ground. To effect this object they pretended that the lower Tipperary or the 600 foot claim marked by Traynor was in reality an 890 foot claim, so they marked off a small piece at the lower end ; taking courage as they Were not in » mediately disturbed they marked off a larger or second piece, some 290 feet in all. It then appears to have occurred to' them that as the matter was doubtful as to whether Messrs Traynor and Hall marked their ground from the lower or upper portion of the old Tipperary, they would make themselves sure by marking off a third piece from the upper end of the claim, which was done, and included about 300 feet of the Ceraldine Company’s ground as well, so that in reality had this joint stock company of jumpers hail their way only some 200 feet of the new Tipperary would have boon left. As the objector Evans had been a shareholder both in the new Tipperary ard Geraldine, and almost immediately after selling out of either committed the encroachments iu both cases, the indignation of Mr Warden Stratford was very naturally raised, and he did not fail to tell Mr Evans that such conduct was most dishonourable, and when the evidence was concluded very peremptorily told Evans to stand down out of the. witness Box. The evidence offered by the objectors was very amusing. The Warden reserved his decision until after the sitting of the District Court ou tho Bth of October next. Beale and Co. next sued Evans and C'o. for costs of suit and L2O damages for encroachment upon the Geraldine. Mr H. J. Finn for plaintiffs, and Mr W. Tnrton for defendants. As the evidence in the preceding case very materially altered the features of Mr Finn's case, it Was decided to pay the costa of the day ami bring an action in another form, more especially as Mr Warden Stratford had decided to withhold his judgment until after the sitting of the District Court as before. Considering that with the exception of what the Chinese surfacers have done in the Tipperary claim not a single shovel-full of earth has been re--1 moved by either holders or claimants, and | taking into account law .costs and the ex- | peuses of scores of people riding to and fro, | as much money has been expended as would have opened the claim and prepaid sufficient stone for a crushing.

The RaUway Committee have arranged to ( co .opcrate with the Southland people o eccuro the completion of tho raUwav - Kingston to Cromwell, in accordance with Mr Blair’s report.