ST. BATHANS.—July 4.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 23, 9 July 1869, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.—JuIy 4.

(From our own Correspondent.)

As " Shamrock" stated last week, the weather, is a convenient topic; so the weather be it. We have had the best sample to be-found at this time of year—fine days alternating with, frosty nights. The frost, so far, has not beeii intense enough to seriously interfere with, sluicing, and if the refrigerating process does not increase in power we need not apprehend any serious stoppages. A' littie more flushing water would not be objectionable for the sludge channel; in tact, we would not grumble at a flood. - The public meeting spoken of in my last was duly held, and a Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Gillies on the subject of our wants, &c. As they have not issued a programme I cannot state particularly what they intend to talk about, but I can assert that our interests are in good hands, and will be well attended to; and if Mr. Gillies will only grant what is required, he will be doing a. wise thing for the Province generally. I see that the ' Witness ' has noticed the " nozzle " improvement. I trust we may soon see them in general use. The great event of the week has been a public meeting held in the school room, to consider the - proceedings of the School Committee. As I stated in my last, the Abstinence Society intend holding a concert and;-ball in x liid of their funds, and applied for the. use of the building for that purpose. ' The Committee, .in an epistle of four pages foolscap,, refused it on the ground that, it being used occasionally as a place of worship unfitted it for the holding of entertainments of such an immoral tendency as music and dancing! TTnfortunately for the sincerity - of their

motives, the chairman of the said Committee was p, local /publican.- -This, combined with the general tone of the production, set the teetotallers up in arms. They immediately appealed to the gentle' public, who have had the privilege of paying for the building, to decide. Mr.< Douglas was called to the chair, and "speeches were delivered by Messrs. Taylor, Stratford, Purton, and others, on the question of right to the building, immoral tendencies, and treatment by the Committee of the schoolmaster. Mr. Taylor was very effective, and elicited frequent applause from the meeting. Mr. Stratford delivered the longest speech on record in St. Bathans, on behalf of himself and colleagues, in defence of their policy in refusing the use of the building. It was a singular production—a strange mixture of piety and soft sawder, thickly laid on. The' latter material seemed to be plentiful with the speaker. There appeared to be an undercurrent of something pervading the harangue of which the following lines may perhaps convey an idea:—

" A robe of seeming truth and trust Hid crafty observation, . And secret hung, with poisoned crust, - The dirk of defamation ; A mask that, like the gorget, showed Dye varying on a pigeon, And for a mantle, large and broad, He wrapped him in religion." However, the logic was entirely thrown away, as the public, considering themselves the. best -judges of the case, were about to consent to a vote, of want of confidence, when the Committee took the more graceful course, and tendered their resignation; which was at once accepted. A new body were appointed who granted the request of the Abstinence Society. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed one of the most enthusiastic meetings ever held in this place." ' It would be a good thing if we could have a clergyman to visit lis, say once = a fortnightand I have an idea that this desideratum might be arrived, at by co-operating with the Hogburn folks. • As this matter is likely to be agitated here shortly, I merely throw out this hint en passant. I hope the Gillies Committee will think of asking for a bi-weekly mail for this place. The present arrangement is very inconvenient.

Resident Magistkates's Court. June 6. (Before H. W: Robinson, Esq., R.M.)- ; Applications for slaughtering licenses for Keenan and Morgan and Pearce and ~Washer were granted. "Warden's COTJRT,—JTTITE 6. (Before H. W.,. Robinson, Esq., Warden.) M'Cullough and M'Morrin v. "Wm. M'Endow.—-The complaint in this case was to the effect that the defendant was constructing a race from a creek known as - No. 8 Creek, near Welch-man's Grully, without, having given notice to plaintiffs, who held superior right • and that he had diverted the water, which would otherwise have been available for plaintiffs' race. ./ The plaintiffs claimed £l6 damages, and asked that defendant be adjudged to desist from cutting the race, and that his license be cancelled.

The Warden, in giving judgment, said that the race now claimed by defendant, from Shepherd's Creek, could not be held to be, so far, a portion of the Lauder Creek race, as to exempt the holders from the necessity of constructing it, merely because they were at work on the Lauder race. He must bold that the right had been abandoned. The judgment of the Court would therefore be: That the defendant desist from cutting the race from ISTo. 3 Creek, now commenced by him ; that, subject to the concurrence of Mr. Warden Pyke, who made the grant in renewal (No, 658), the, water license ISTo. 658 be cancelled (Mr. Warden Pyke having apparently granted the renewed license under the. impression that the locality of the head of the race was in his district) ; that the defendant pay to plaintiffs the sum of £l6 damages, and costs, Bs. The defendant intimated his intention to appeal. [Want of space prevents our publishing the evidence.] ". There were two' objection eases heard, and a number .of applications disposed of. . ' ;