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Dunstan Times, Issue 995, 13 May 1881, Page 2

ALEXANDRA

COURT IKTF.LLTOF.NCB. In the Resident Magistrate's Court, before Jackson Keddell, Esq., R M., and W. G. Rees, Esq., J.P., on Wednesday last, the llth inst., four or five cases set down for hearing were either struck out or setout of Court, the only one that was gone into was Rivers versus King, a claim for L 3 4s, for feed and attendance on a racehorse Mr F. J. Wilson, for defendant, pleaded not indebted, urging that the horse was lent to plaintiff to coach other horses in their training. Plaintiff asserted that the horse was not used for the purpose of coaching his horses ; and, further, that, in correspondence, the defendant said he would pay 10s per week for his feed. This amount and the cost of removing a set of shoes he now claimed. After a lengthy explanation of the whole transaction by plaintiff, judgment was given in his favor for L2 10s, and 4s costs.

In the Warden’s Court, the unopposed applications of some Chinamen for two extended claims and a tail race in Butchers’ Gully were granted. Dawson versus You Chow and Others. This was a suit for the Cancellation of a certificate for an extended claim, as the plaintiffs solicitor (Mr F. .1. Wilson averred wrongly granted, inasmuch as it was not marked out in accordance with the regulations, and that the party had not a suffi dent number of miner’s right to hold this and other claims in their possession. Mr Jas. Rivers, appeared for defendants, admitted that the claim was not marked out strictly in conformity with the Act, but urged that it was a bona fide marking, and reasonable allowance should bo made for defendant, who it was not to be supposed could understand in every particular the law with respect to the question of miner’s rights raised. Ho produced miner’s rights in the names of those in the certificate, and said that the party more miner’s rights than they any immediate use for. He asked that if the ruling should he against him that a penalty, instead of forfeiture, be inflicted. The Warden did not see that a penalty would meet the justice of the case, as it appeared that the claim was held not for immediate working but as a standby for some future day. He would grant the order for cancellations with costs Court L2, witnesses L2, and L 3 3s professional fee.

Ah Tong an<l party v. R. Dawson ; a case for the cancelling of a certificate for a tail-race in Conroy’s Gully, on the ground that Dawson, for some months past, had not need the said tail-race. Mr Wilson, for defendant, said there was no case to answer. By an agreement dated 1879, the tail-race was handed over to a party of Chinamen, to whom defendant had sold a claim, a condition being that the race was to revert again to Dawson on the claims then held by them being worked out, and consequently the tail race being in work. There were no grounds for cancellation. The application was refused, professional fee of LI la being allowed defendant.

C. Goltz’ application for an extended claim of one acre in Conroy’s gully. This application was objected to by a party of Chinese, for whom Mr Rivers appeared, on the ground that the claim as marked out overlapped a claim hold by them. Goltz stated tnat he did not want any part of tho objectors’ claim, and if his pegs were within their boundary it was their own fault, as they refused to show him their pegs. Application granted: claim not to overlap the objectors' claim. This concluded the business of the Court. MINING. It was stated some months ago by you that the Chinese had got possession of tho whole of tho gullies falling from tho Old Man range ; the above cases will shew that they are not to bo allowed to retain undisputed possession. By all accounts tho “ Heathen Chinee ” has been realising a rich harvest of late, especially, in Conroy’s gully. From the claim they purchased from Muir and party for, 1 think some 1.40, they dropped upon a patch of 400oz, This welcome find was principally under where Muir’s house stood, and in tho garden.

From Dawson’s claim, which was purchased for LBO, a large amount of gold was obtained, and the speculation proved a good one. Regarding the claim, of which the certificate was cancelled on the application of Dawson, I expect more will be heard, as st once, on tho decision being given, there was a simultaneous movement from the Court-house of some of the Chinamen and some of Dawson’s party, to go and re-mark the claim. From what I could glean, however, the Chinese, antioipatig that tho decision would be against them, had araiigod by posting men on elevated positions along the road to be on the ground first, so it is more than probable that, it they do not make a mistake again in marking the claim, it is more than probable they will eventually fall into their hands. At Bald Hill Flat the few parties that are mining are Europeans. Wilkinson and Mitchell, at the foot of Coal Creek where it abuts on the flat, and Webb and Sorenson, some distance lower down tho creek, are doing well, with a prospect of doing so for years yet. Carroll and party are still engaged with their tail-race. They have been three or four years on it now. It is a weary job,and when they get on to bottom they will richly deserve unbounded success. AGRICULTURAL, 1 don’t think I have more just now regarding mining. The farmers having all their crops of the past season housed, which by-the-bye, were, both in respect to, quantity and quality, first-class, are pdw turning their attention to ploughing for the coming season. This is as it should be, as there is nothing like having ploughed lands exposed to the winter frosts and snow. MISCELLANEOUS. The wooden monument of folly, the Bald Hill Flat new school house and master’s residence, all under one roof will be a marked feature in the landscape ; but L cannot help thinking that the plan, and the material used is tho very worst that could possibly have been re-elected—in the first place in a locality that is particularly noted for its high winds as is Bald Hill Flat, the building is too lofty ; secondly, wood was the very last material that should have been used, it for no other reason, that stone abounds on every side. There surely would have been but little trouble in consulting the local committee. The Education Board, however, like many more of the Government departments, know-you-know, how best not to do it—mistake and ail as it is. 1 suppose it must be looked tor upon as one of tho small mercies for which an ungrateful public ought to be very thankful, and I suppose they will be; that is, it some of the youngsters during the coming winter are not frozen to death in the veritable ice- , house it will prove to be, or, if some windy day, it is not blown over, and a dozen or so ! of the youngsters smothered in tho ruins. ' The new schoolmaster, vice Mr Bishop, who has gone to Ophir, 1 understand will enter upon his duties in a tew days in the old i school-building. I have merely room before closing this long letter, to refer to the rabbits—a most noticeable reduction in the number of this pest was observed, whilst the poisoning was going on, but sine* it has been knocked off, bunny is again ap- . pearing in full force. This spasmodic attacking is of no use, and if the intent, or, even the desire is to eradicate them, they must be attacked with more system than as yet has been adopted.