OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3357, 22 November 1873, Page 2

OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Upper Shotovbh.— .Some interest has been felt here on account of the arrest of a young man named Collins, in the employ of Mr Bordean, storekeeper, on the rather unusual charge of kidnapping a child. It seems that the child —a boy of fifteen months old —is the illegitimate son of one Hllipiue, who is connected with the business of Mr Bordean. That the father has, since its birth, paid a weekly sum of LI to the mother, who resides in Queenstown, for its support, and wishing to terminate this arrangement and take charge of the child himself, he asked Collins to take possession of and hand it over to him, which was done. The mother applied to Mr Warden Stratford, of the Arrow, for the arrest of Collins, and he was taken into custody. I think that some understanding between the parties has been made, for Collins is at liberty, and I saw Mr Bordean, with the child in his arms, arrive here on horsebeak yesterday. The little fellow, although so young, was holding the reins of the horse, and would not allow them to be taken from him, and seemed to be well aware that he was an object of interest. Only the other day I saw a child of about eighteen months looking out of a gin case —in which he was secured on the back of a pack horse—with a contented air upon the yawning precipices around, as quiet as a mouse, and munching at a biscuit. —A letter from Mr H, Basting to Mr R. Clarke, on the sale of the runs, was published in the Mail, and seems to give universal satisfaction. Nothing more liberal to the public and compatible with justice to the Province could be suggested, and it reflects very great credit upon the Government. As Goldfields Secretary, Mr Bastings has proved the best we have eVcr had. The business ability, intimate knowledge of goldfields matters, and earnest desire to do justice which he has shown, ought not to be allowed to pass unrecognised. A public meeting is to be held at Skipper's Point on Saturday next, to discuss the proposed sale of the runs. —In mining matters there is little to report at present ‘ but as the season advances, extensive operations are in progress. The Shotover.Company are sinking an air shaft and enlargingtheir main drives. The Nugget Reef are on an Lift, wide lode, showing gold, and contemplate very extensive works and improved machinery. This is a mine that only requires labor-saving appliances and good machinery to make it one of great importance. The same remarks hold good with regard to the rest of the reefs in this locality, which is an extensive reefing district, although the stone being generally poor ami the nature of the country rendering the transport of heavy machinery very expensive, added to the rigors of the winter season, has prevented any rapid progress iu this branch of mining here.