ST. BATHANS.—October 31.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 40, 5 November 1869, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.—October 31.

(From our own Correspondent.) The weather here has continued veryboisterous since my last, but is now gradually expending itself in occasional showers of rain—a beneficial change for the miner and the agriculturist. The crops in the district are looking well, and the country generally is beginning, to assume the pleasant emerald hue of spring. From all present indications we may expect a season of genial prosperity. Sluicing operations have been suspended in the basin for a few days, all hands being engaged in repairing and altering the flushing water channel- —a very necessary work. It is now completed, and the claimholders may calculate on running steadily until Christmas at least. A. meeting of the School Committee was held last evening to appoint a fresh schoolmaster. A Mr. M'Diarmid was the successful applicant. This gentleman is highly recommended, and it is to be hoped that his advent may brighten the educational prospects of the place, which have been sadly neglected of late, I am sorry to state. As the soothing and healing properties of kerosene in cases of burns and scalds cannot be too widely known, I may mention another instance of its efficacy which has come under my notice. A fellow townsman, while melting some sealing wax the other day, dropped a large patch of the burning liquid on his thumb ; he immediately plunged the member into kerosene, and kept it there twenty minutes, since when no ill effects have/supervened; nor is there the slighteslfappearance of what would have otherwise been a severe burn. ¥

!Now that your town participates in the benefits of stage communication I do not see why the progressive influence of King Cobb should not be extended to St. Bathans. The difference in the length of route is but little, and with a very trifling expenditure the road could be made second to none in the Province. Intercommunication produces and increases traffic, so that the above hint may be worth Mr. Chaplin's consideration.

The new goldfield at Maerewhenua is exciting a good deal of interest here at present. Two practical miners from this place bave proceeded thither ; and should favorable accounts be transmitted by them, I anticipate an exodus. Miners are proverbially nomadic; and, after all past experience, should a rush set in I am afraid this should prove no exception to the .general rule. I recommend your readers to be on the look out for spurious coin. I saw a specimen of the genus " duffer " last evening in the shape of a counterfeit sixpence, bright from the manufactory I advise the amateur wbo produced it to give up the business, as nothing but detection and failure can follow sucli miserable attempts. The goat and pig nuisance is becoming intolerable here, and if not cheeked is likely to become a fruitful source of litigation. Everyone naturally wants to cultivate a garden plot at this time of year, but all efforts in this direction are rendered futile by the predatory habits of these roving beasts ; and, to crown all, it appears that the goat institution is to be perpetuated, as a rate of 3s. is being levied on all proprietors of the animals —tbe sum to be devoted to the purchase-of—don't start! —a superior billygoat I

Besidext Magistrate's Court. —Not. 2. (Before H. W. Eobmson, Esq., E.M.) Police v. Martha Williams. —Breach of Licensing Ordinance, 1868. Mr. Douglas, by leave of the Court, for the defence. The defendant in this case was the holder of a bottle license, and the complaint was that she had, on the 10th October, sold liquors bj retail. It was proved that the constable had entered her house atone o'clock on the morning of Sunday, 10th October, and had found a number of persons assembled, and drinks in. glasses on the tables. Several of the men were more or less intoxicated. A number of witnesses were examined for the complaint, to prove the delivery of liquors in retail quantities. None of the witnesses seemed to remember paying or seeing anyone else pay for any liquor, but the Court held that, under the 14th section of the Licensing Ordinance, the delivery of the liquor was sufficient 'prima facie evidence of the sale to support a conviction, in the absence of direct evidence to the contrary. Pined £lO and costs, 3s. 6d.

J. Duff v. J. Turnbull.—Complaint for abusive and insulting language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. It appeared that the defendant had come to the complainant's place to remove manure. Complainant desired him to desist. The defendant then used the words complained of. This was in front of the defendant's stable, and within hearing of the road. Pined 40s. and costs, 9s. 6d. D. C. Aubrey v. M. Mungovan.— Debt, £1 7s. 6d. No appearance of defendant. Judgment for amount claimed and costs, 9s. Same v. R. Dodds.— £2 17s. lOd. Judgment, by consent, for £2 17s. lOd. and costs, 9s, John Hewes v. R. Dodds.—£7. Judgment, by consent, for £7 and costs, 13s. S. Hanger applied for a billiard license for the Vulcan Hotel. Granted. Warden's Court. —November, 2. (Before H. W. Eobinson.. Esq., Warden.) W. M. Wade v. Thos. Turner and Others. —Mr. Douglas for defendants. The complaint in this case was, the defendants being the holders of a water race from Hill's Creek had, for more than a'month, left it entirely unused, and the complainant, who was owner of a race with second rights from the same source, asked that the defendants should be adjudged to have forfeited their priority of right. After hearing a large amount of evidence, the Warden gave judgment that the occupation by the defendants of the right to their water race from Hill's Creek be deemed to have re-commenced from the date of the last re-occupation thereof, viz., October 26. 1869,