WARDEN’S COURT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2383, 18 April 1884, Page 2

WARDEN’S COURT.

Friday, April 18. [Before J. Giles, Esq., Warden.] SUIT. John S. Nicholas, by his agent Mr Seddon, applied that residence area No. 33918, Mignonette Flat, owned by Isaac Chapman, be declared forfeited, the certificate cancelled, and complainant declared first applicant for the land forfeited, said ground not having been enclosed by a substantial fence, as required by law, nor used for the purposes for which it was granted, and entirely unused and unoccupied for one month, and therefore abandoned and deserted.—The case was postponed to next Court day to enable complainant to mark out such ground as he required, APPLICATIONS. John Cullen and party applied by their agent Mr Seddon to amalgamate their head-races Nos. 1032 and 1049, situate at Dawson’s Creek and Shamrock Lead.—Granted. Denis Hannan, for James Miller, for the Long Tunnel Gold Mining Company, applied to construct a branch race at Dawson’s Creek.—The application was postponed to permit parties who might have any to lodge objections,

William Morris and party applied for fourteen days’ protection for their double-area claim at Larrikins.— Granted. SLUDGE-CHANNEL NEW RULES. John Gow, Manager Kumara Sludgechannel lodged for approval, in accordance with the “ Mines Act, 1877 ” “ Regulations for the Working of the Kumara Sludge Channel.” Mr Seddon said ho appeared for several parties. The holidays having intervened from the time the notice was given, that objections may be lodged, the priority and non-priority men had not had time to consider them ; and he appeared to apply for an adjournment. The Warden asked Mr Gow if he had any objection to make to an adjournment being granted. Mr Gow replied that he had not. Mr Seddon remarked that the feeling amongst parties was so strong in the matter of the sludge-channel conditions, that some had openly threatened to blow up the sludge-channel, and, as a Justice of the Peace himself, he thonght this ought to be made known. The Warden regretted that any such threats had been made; but he should take no notice of them and he hoped he would hear no more of that sort of language ; this was a Court of Justice, not a political meeting. He was readv to listen to all objections, any way they may be lodged. Mr Dungan informed the Court that Mr John White had been delegated by the miners to state their case. Mr John White said that owing to the shortness of notice and the holidays intervening, the miners working into the sludge-channel desired an adjournment to enable them to prepare written objections.

The Warden said he would prefer written objections, but he would hear any. The application would be postponed for a fortnight. He might notice that these regulations did not affect any legal right already established.