SALTWATER AND NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 355, 23 April 1868, Page 2

SALTWATER AND NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

(FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.) Rutiieeglen, April 21. The necessity of a Warden's Court being held in the centres of the mining population has been agitated for the last twelve months, and the long-looked for boon has at length been granted. M. Keogh, Esq., held the first Court yesterday, at the Police Camp, Rutiierglen. There were only two ca3es to be adjudicated on, but they were sufficient to show that a local court was not only desirable but necessary. The only drawback w«,s the unsuitableness of the room, or rather tent, in which the Court was held, and it is to be hoped that the Government will lose no time in erecting a building that the emergency demands. As it is the present police tents are not adapted for a court, and as they are in a very dilapidated condition it will be far more economical to erect a new building altogether, besides it must be apparent to all that some alteration is very necessary from the fact that about a month since a prisoner who had been arrested for having property on him supposed to have been stolen escaped from the present lock-up. Prior to the opening of the Court some consternation was manifested by seeing some 30 men carrying an unfortunate man on a stretcher. Ou inquiry it was found that they had brought him from Welshman's, and that he had met with a severe accident the day previous whilst chopping wood, by the axe slipping and cutting iuto the instep on the right foot. He was immediately placed in the Tramway buss en ronte to the Hospital at Greymouth. It is to be hoped that he will soon recover. His name was William Crooks, and he was camped near Charley Nolan, at Welshman's Terrace. The first case brought before the Court was Gordon and Co. V. Oamelato and Co. Robert Gordon and Peter Campbell having applied to form a race at the Lagoon Lead, objection was made by Camelato and party. The evidence went to show that the water in dispute was derived from two or three little streams or drainage from the high terrace, and that it was impossible for the Warden to form an opinion unless he visited the ground. The case was adjourned till the next meeting of the Court, in the meantime he (the Warden) would visit the ground. He might, however, say that no right of registration could be obtained for mere surface water. Matty. Wilson and party. — In this case the plaintiff summoned the defendants for refusing to allow him to resume possession of his share in the claim after he returned from the Hospital. Constantine Matt, who gave his evidence through an interpreter,'stated that he ha r l been in Hospital, and when he returned and resumed work Wilson told him that he would not be allowed to do so unless he paid for the time he was absent. No sum was mentioned. He worked three weeks in the claim before he jarred himseif and had to go to the Hospital, where he remained for three months. He produced a protection paper from Mr Revell, and also a certificate from Dr Morrice. George Duncan, a shareholder, said Matt was well when he joined the party, and worked about three weeks before he wa3 taken ill. There were no bye-laws. Some of the party had been absent, and he was not aware of anything being asked of them. John Waters said he was a shareholder in this race, and worked with plaintiff between a fortnight and three weeks. He remembered Matt complaining of spraining his back, and he recommended him to leave off and get an easier job. John Discachati said he was a shareholder in the company. He was told when he joined that there were no bye-laws. All the parties had been. absent at various times. John Wilsoa said that Matt only worked ten days in the claim ; that they had undertaken a long job of bringing in this race ; that he objected against another man getting the benefit of his labor without getting paid for it. Matt had been out of the hospital for five weeks before he came to work. When he did do so the company objected xinless he paid compensation. He had seen Matt on the race-course ; though he might be an outdoor patient and under the doctor. John Langton, D. Fitzgerald, J. Campbell, and Patrick Burke gave similar evidence as Whelan. The Warden said the plaintiff was entitled to the possession of his share in the race, and would pay Ll3 los as compensation, which was to be spent for the benefit of the shareholders in working the ground.