ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 90, 4 November 1870, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

• J . ;'> i'Vil i ' . ■ , ■ October 31. in mining matters. Christmas is now only seven weeks distant, and already may be heard the undertone of preparation which -is being made on all sides to honor it, in a becoming manner. A general washing-up will have taken place before' then, and I trust that in every case the miners will receive such ample remuneration for their toil, as win enable them to render the coming Christmas both " merry and happy." •. •: Natives of the Old Country residing here cannot well, speak of remarkable festivals without feeling that they are , differently observed in. the . Colonies. How very for instance, is this (Hallowe'en) night in Otago.those. innocent, mirth-provoking customs which are at this moment engaging the attention of our relatives in Ireland and Scotland., A bouncing, blooming younsr girl goes to a lime kiln after night, and drops down a ball of worsted, holding .one end of the-thread herself—it is caught by something below; with palpitating heart, and firm faith that she is going to learn the name of her future husbaind, she asks, " Who. holds my cotton ?" when, horror, a sepulchral voice answers from below, "The d—l," and sends the poor girl home in mortal terror. (An urchin of a younger brother has secreted himself in the kiln whither he knows her to be going). At another place, a young man, filled with the same anxiety to behold the figure and complexion of his future partner, is busily employed washing his shirt in a " south -running stream," when a huge shadow falls across the water, or some unearthly noise proceeds from that " lone bush." and in an instant he is flying along the shortest track to his home, minus his shirt, which he has left behind to be picked up by the "black emperor," or whoever else caused the interruption. The memory of these, and a thousand other familiar tricks, make us think of the old country"and its amusements on Hallow Eve night all the more, because there is no equivalent for such amusements in the Colonies.

Another meeting of the Sports Committee took place to-night. -Of the members and' patrons of the movement present, and who reside away from' the township, were Messrs. M'Phail and

Bobinson of Hawkdun, and Mr. Inder of Hills Creek. With tlie liberal '-support which is promised from Hill's Creek and Welchmans, the coming races are-likely to attract more than, the- usual amount of attention.— A. B.C.

Warden'S COURT.—NOT. 1. , (Before H. W. JRobinson, Esq., Wftrden.) John Murphy y. James Leonard.— This was a partnership dispute, but was not heard, as the parties had come to an arrangement between themselves.

.The following grants were made : —■ J. Purcell, extended claim and tailrace ; M. Wade, extended, claim, tailrace, and extension of water-race ; H. Carr, extended claim and dam: J. H. Carr, extended claim; Marks and another, extended claim; S. Neilson, (extended claim ; J. (rilhoolev, extended claim; Tierney and Alderson, tailrace.