ST. BATHANS.—November 7.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 41, 12 November 1869, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.—November 7.

(From orn* own Correspondent^) We have had a week of very warm weather since mj last, but to-day a cold wmd is blowing, and indications portend rain. These sudden alternations of heat and cold are productive of epidemic disorders, and one is how prevalent here, affecting man and horse, which a. friend of mine sums up under the name of "Brown Katies,""causing Vjr y unpleasant sensations in the thoracic region, as I can personally affirm. Tour periodical outbursts of gratulation on the largeness of the Mount Ida escort returns induce me to call attention to the last contribution from t }is ; p!a -e. viz.. 581 ounces. This fVorn a population of mider 100 miners may, in old colonial parlance, be considered " not so dusty." I am sorry to have to record my conviction that comrnercial morality' is at a low ebb among the "horny handed " in this phice^—three more of the mining, Iraternity having departed for that undiscovered bourne from whence no debtor returns, during the week, ing large circle, &c., &c. I have heard of leyanters, of slopers, of skedaddlers, or wnatever. inay be the generic title of trie species, but never saw the evil fully realised until now. These illustrators of the song ." We My by Night' v do incalculable injury to the honest miner, and may expect to have their names field. in universal execration in the place they so cleverly; but dishonestly evacuate. :

The entertainment spolren of in my last in aid ot the school funds came off oil Friday evening and a bumper house rewarded the praiseworthy efforts^-of" the amateurs. The ' panoramic scenes were ; excellent" and well manipulated., the audience testifying their delight at each new' transformation. The musical accompam mentis were well give n and being a now feature were great! y' appreciated. Songs, stump speeches,and dances follo wed; Mr. Grierson convulsed the house with bis parliament-. ary address ; .Mr.Murray alid others sang well and with great taste ; : and Air.Cormack, who danced the highland hing and.sailor s liorpipe, in -.costume.' was lo u dly en core d an d ac quit te d Inin - saelt admirably, a Low nu.nd-ri on ii ■ 1 up one of the pleasantest even'mgs we have, experienced in St.. So much for native talent.

There was a ; gbod deal of business transacted-' in the Court las fc Tuesday ; another will be held to-morrow. I should think our Warden's powers of endurance must be pretty well taxed in the immense district over which he presides. I should say, in/the language °f Mr. ; Mantalim, that it was one demnitioa grind." lunderstand a;np--tber case of unlicen*ed grog selling will be heard' on Monday. Truly the si J n TO n institution is in darigeiw -~ -.... Trie glowing accounts from the. quartz reefs at Cromwell and elsewhere ou;ht to have the effect of causing a little prospecting in this direction, as the entire auriferous drifts of St. JBathana are composed of quartz debris. It is possible that some portions of the reefs from which they came inay be left in sitw,- arid .easily' fauiid if searched for ; and, judging from the surroundings' would, I predict, be found payable, "if not very rich. -

Warden's Court.—Xovember 8.

(Before H. W. Eobinson, Esq., Warden.) Colin Toussaint v. Philip Murray.— Mty for plaintiff*. The complaint in this case was that the plaintiff had, in. June, 1867, transferred to- defendant a share in an, extended claim at Surface Hill, St. Bat nans, m security |for a loan ; that the money had been repaid, hut that the defendant had refused to re-transfer the property. It appeared by the evidence that the defendant had, in June, 1867, lent the plaintiff the sum of £llO on bills, and that, as collateral security, the defendant had given him transfers of his own fourth share in the claim now in question, and one-sixth share in a race at Tinkers - Grully, The money was ; to have been paid in six ■ month sj but more time was allowed, and the plaintiff had since paid the ..whole by instalments the last payment being made in June, 1869. The defendant had re-iransier-red the share in the race, but not that in the claim. The case for the defence m as that the claim was abandoned by Toussaint's party before the transfer to Murray, and that in fact there was no claim to transfer: " In support of this,

John Ewing,who had.been a.irnte of Toussaint's in the claim, was called , as a witness, and Jus eyidencelwas positive as to the claim.having been unworked and unprotected for some time before •Tune, 1567. The Y/arden decided to dismiss the case, with costs lis.,, and 20s. expenses ; but, at the request of Mr. Brough; agreed to; suspend judgment until the opinion of the District Court should have been l given upon a special case to be stated. Resident Magistrate's Court. Nov. 8. (Before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M.) Police v. John (xrifhths.—For exposing liquors without a license in his store at Welshihans Chilly/ The constable (Morton) proved tW seizure of two cases, of gin and one c.-ise of porter. In extenuation .it was pleaded that the defendant nad ..quite recent ly oncned toe store, auu- that tne liquors had only oeen received on-tn© dav on v." \*h tie seizure had been made. 'The Court ordered the liquors to be sold, and Unposted a penalty, of 405., and costs 5s 6d