MATAKITAKI NOTES.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 267, 3 April 1886, Page 2

MATAKITAKI NOTES.

(from our own correspondent.) Murchison, 27th March.

This nsnally quiet district has beei startled from its ordinary state of somno lence by the news of a robl»ery of sluic boxes, that, unfortunately for the owners has taken place near the Six Mile Messrs Hewitt and Thompson, who ari known to possess a very good claim, ha< been working away for the last thre< months without troubling to wash down intending to do so on Mouday, but their intentions were anticipated by some kindly disposed person or persons, as when Thompson arrived at the claim on Monday morning something about the boxes aroused his suspicion, consequently, he drew the attention of Messrs Steele and Belle, who were at work in the adjoining claim, and they concurred with him in thinking that the boxes had been tampered with, and on further investigation found that a clean sweep had been made. The police were at once telegraphed to, and Constable Bowden soon put in an appearance, and, on his arrival, conducted the most searching investigation, bnt could succeed in finding no clue to direct suspicion to any one. So thoroughly were the boxes gone through, that, after the most careful gathering together of the fragments by the rightful owners, only 4ozs was left ot an estimated 30 or 40. The increasing number of the heathen Chinese, and his noted partiality for " ways tha*» are dark, and tricks that are deep," gave occasion for various surmises, bnt they are merely that at best. Great credit is due to Constable Bowden for bis promptitude and zeal in conducting the inquiry, though productive of no results. The river has been open now mauy years, and this is the first case of the kind that has ever occurred, and consequently, those who have been located here from the first are very indignant, and feel the stigma cast upon the place very deeply. The Horse Bridge stands ambng ns a monument to the parsimony of those august bodies who tax us nominally for the purpose of constructing and maintaining highways, &c., as now it is completed there is no way of getting to or from it, about one mile of a horsetrack needing formation, and as the wiuter is now approaching, when the river may reasonably be expected to be often nncrossable, the noble edifice will stand perfectly useless to those for whose convenience it was built. For what we have received we should be most truly thankful.

Our local Race Meeting has beeu postponed to the 12th of next month; not much to the delight of those who own bona fide hacks, as it offers too great a temptation to the defeated candidates for honours at Nelson, and we are not wealthy enough to introduce foreign blood to scoop the pool.

Quid Nunc.