THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 149, 1 October 1864, Page 2

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) Maori Point, September 30. The Homeward Bound Company are still carrying on their sluicing operations on the east side of the river at Maori Point and, I presume, successfully. The name this company has chosen is certainly a misnomer; for not only are they doing nothing towards building themselves a home here, but are, by the aid of their hose, actually demolishing every dwelling near them ; and presently that young lady, the " Belle of the Point," will not have an inch of ground to stand upon. They, however, do not object to the alias given them of the " White Collar Mob," but do object to the public running away with the idea that they wear paper; and they beg to aver that their collars are linen of the finest quality, of snowy whiteness, and got up by the prettiest fingers that ever swept symphony fjom a lyre. Anent mining matters, one is obliged to take an auriferous view of them. Most men seem satisfied with what they at present have in hand; indeed, I see no reason why they should not be, for the whole district is held by a mere handful of men. One man comes to me, empties his gold out on a sheet of paper, and says, " There, that is my share for a fortnight's work—eleven and a half ounces." He gave me two pieces of what he calls " specimens," worth 8s or 10s, and said " I have sold my share in the claim because I can do better." This was a claim at Skipper's. Another man came to me and affirmed that for every ounce of gold got at Maori Point the miners at Skippers were getting a pound weight. The two Cornish miners tunnelling at Butcher's Caeek, Skippers, are taking sixteen pounds' weight per week from their claim. Th?y employ five wages men, and have struck splendid ground—an ounce to every foot of washdirt—-

aud they will certainly make between £3OOO and A £4OOO. They appear to have taken up old ond supposed worked-out ground; but they drove their tunnel further ahead, through a mas of solid rock, when they came upon this rich washdirt.

The Defiance party (Sullivan's claim) have taken out 30 ounces from the paddock I reported last week they had bottomed, and are stripping more ground. The Perseverance, Stapleton's Beach, took out 80 ounces from a paddock in their claim on Monday, and are still getting good gold. Cameron's party, below them, are also obtaining good gold, after a long time spent in unprofitable labor. Barrett and party appear to be busy in crating off new ground, and their wheel hangs listlessly in the air, suspended from pulleys, by means of which it is raised.

The Deep Creek rush, I am informed, is turning out well. Londonderry Terrace is being worked into by the various parties who rushed there, and the warden has gone up to determine on the respective tunnels to be retained by Jones and party and Davy and party. Of the rush lately mentioned by you, and to which Mr Warden Broad has gone, I may mention that several parties from here have made their way over the range at the back of the Court-house. It is situated at the head of the Twelve-mile, on the Arrow, and is expected to be extensive enough to afford ample remuneration for 1000 men. Discovery of a Rich Quartz Reef.—A prospecting claim was granted to-day to John Rosemergy, who has discovered a reef six feet wide, at a place known as Butcher's Gully, and situated about three miles from the junction of Skipper's Creek with the Shotover. I believe he has named it the "Justice Reef," after Mr Warden Aylmer. Some of the stone was exhibited in the Court-house, anu is exceedingly rich, the gold being plainly perceptible all through it. I noticed a most peculiar feature in it, and that is the presence of innumerable minute cubes of mundic or iron pyrites. There is a grand ceremony looming—not in the distance—but is almost upon rs. I mean the christening of the Skipper's Creek United Grand Junction Company's gigantic sluicing works.

WARDEN'S COURT. (Before Richmond Beetham, Esq., Warden.) August 28. An Extraordinary Case.—An objection byCamel and party against O'Brien and party for turning the river and taking in an amount of their ground at Butcher's Point. The plaintiffs , O'Brien and Co., had, it seems, taken up 150 ft. of ground at that point, and they found out that the defendants, Camel and Co., held 200 feet more than they were entitled to, under the regulations, at the same place ; and O'Brien and Co. now applied for 150 feet of this 200 feet of ground, to make up their claim to the proper size.

Mr Campbell for plaintiffs, and Mr Shepherd for defendants.

Mr Campbell *aid he had to make an objection against Mr Shepherd appearing in this case, upon very grave grounds. He was instructed by the plaintiffs to state that they had called upon Mr Shepherd last evening, and consulted him on this case. Mr Shepherd listened to their statements, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with the merits of their position. They then left with the understanding that they should pay the fee this morning. To this Mr Shepherd agreed, and they (O'Brien and Co.) left in the full belief that Mr Shepherd would appear for them this morning. In corroboration of this he would draw attention to a couple of sketches made by Mr Shepherd while consulting with them, which he now produced. However, upon O'Brien and party calling upon him this morning with the fee, Mr Shepherd told them that the defendants had called upon him since, and that he had agreed to appear for them. Mr Shepherd, he (Mr Campbell) must say, was placed at a great advantage by this line of action, which he should designate as highly unprofessional ; and he would ask his worship to mark his opinion of such conduct by refusing him leave to appear in this case. Mr Shepherd explained that the plaintiffs had called upon him on the previous evening, and had promised to call again and bring a fee; but as they did not do so, he accepted the case of the defendants when they called and feed him. He considered Mr Campbeil's remarks ungrateful, as he had recommended the plaintiffs to Mr Campbell, after he had been engaged by the defendants. He would retire from the case if Mr Campbell would consent on the other side to retire also.

Mr Campbell could not see the force of the suggestion, and did not think Mr Shepherd would have sent him a client if he could avoid it; and, indeed, he did not expect or look for it from him.

Mr Beetham would allow Mr Shepherd to appear, but would reserve to himself the right to stop Mr Shepherd if he found the plaintiffs' case was prejudiced by his conduct. The plaintiffs' case was then gone into, and several witnesses duly examined. At this stage the reporters entered the court and took their seats; and shortly afterwards Mr Shepherd handed up to the Warden a private note, when the following conversation ensued : Mr Beetham—You wish to retire.

Mr Shepherd—Yes, ydur worship. I take it upon myself to do so, as I now consider the defendants cannot lose their case.

Judgment for plaintiffs. The judgment of the Warden was that originally 800 ft. had been marked out. That four of the parties left, leaving twelve men to hold the 600 ft, The defendants ought to have shown the plaintiffs the proper pegs; but as they did not do so, they concluded the defendants still held the original 800 ft. He thought that in this line of conduct they had acted rather through ignorance than with a malicious intention. He should therefore adjudge that the defendants, Camel, Malfroy and party pay O'Brien and party the costs they have been put to in prosecuting this case, viz.—£l6 7s. Notice of appeal by plaintiffs was given.

f WAKATIP JOCKEY CLUB. A Special meeting of the members of the above club took place at Bracken's Hotel, on Wednesday evening last. Mr Bridge was elected chairman. It was proposed by Mr Bracken, seconded by Mr W. Clements, aud carried— That the first year's existence of the Wakatip Jockey Club be deemed at an end on the Ist of October ensuing, instead of the 14th November; aud that for the future the year shall date from the Ist October.

Moved by Mr Powell, seconded by Mr Elliot, and carried unanimously—- " That an extraordinary meeting of the members be convened for Wednesday the sth instant, for the following purposes:— Ist, to confirm the preceding resolution ; 2nd, to receive the nomination of new members ; and 3rd, to elect a committee and officers for the ensuing year." A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Bridges, Bracken, Clements, Powell, Elliot and Manders (hon. secretary), was appointed for the purpose of carrying out the arrangements of the concert given by Mr Morris and company. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.