NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 202, 10 January 1873, Page 4

NOTES FROM ST. BATHANS.

I'regret that my first notes for the year of grace 1873, should commence with an account 1 of a disastrous fire which took ..place here on the morning of Friday, the 3rd instant, and -which, resulted in the tola! destruction of the Montezuma Hotel and Store, together with the stock, furniture, &c. —not a single article "being saved. The fire broke out at two o'clock in tlie jnormng;.'in the kitchen, and was discovered by the servant girl, who immediately aroused Mr. Mallon and his brother —}he "v)]y persons beside herself who were in the house at the time—but, so rapidly .did the fire spread, that they had nr|- tinKy.ovfMj 'n secure- their clothes- bc-

fore the whole premises were enveloped in flames. • Before/ many minutes had elapsed ■ a considerable number of the neighbors were on the spot, and, as it was apparent that nothing could be done to save the Hotel and its contents, they at once directed their attention to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjoining property. Fortunately the night was calm, and a stream of water for the use of the men engaged in flusiiing'out the public channel was running down the gully in front of ibe fire. But for these fortunate circumstances, in all probability the ivhole of St. Sathans would have been destroyed. On the east of the hotel, and within a few feet of the fire, stands Mr." G-. Prescott's blacksmith's shop and dwel-ling-house, and to this point the attention of the crowd was first directed. The roof was covered with wet blankets, and a copious supply of water vigorously applied, which fortunately prevented the fire from spreading in that direction. On the. west side, and at a distance of about thirty feet from , the , hotel, ■ stands the schoolroom, and beyond that the store and bakery of Mr.' Towers, all of which were for some time in imminent danger. The'wooden walls of the schoolroom were scorched, and but for the accidental supply of water already mentioned, the building, together with Mr. Towers' property, must have been consumed. The fire, from its first discovery till it burned itself out, lasted about an hour and a half. In addition to the loss of hotel and furniture, and the stock of draperies in the store, Mr. Mallon had his books, ■ wardrobe, jewellery, and about £35 in notes burned". His "brother/ Mr. Peter Mallon, lost all his clothes and £45 in notes. The servant girl lost everything she possessed", and made her escape with a blanket wrapped round her. The premises were not insured, and Mr. Mallon estimates his total loss at from £BOO to £9OO.

The miners, having enjoyed.their holidays, have resumed work. A large' number are engaged iu washing up the public channel. This is the first time ithas'been was lied up, a,nd some curiosity is felt as to what is to be done wit It the gold. Perhaps the best, if not the only equitable plan that could be adopted for the division of the proceeds, would be to refund to the contributors all the moneys they have paid towards its maintenance since its construction. Should'this plan be adopted, ihe interests of absent contributors will no doub 1 ; be attended to. There was no business to transact at the usual For!nightly sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, on the 31st ult..

W ARDi&fs Count—Dec. 81, 1872. (Before-E. H. Oarew, Esq., Warden.) Scandinavian Watur liace Company (Registered) v. iianrahau.—ihis action was brought to recover the sum of £6O 6a. -for wacer supplied by complainants for mining purposes.' Debt-admitted,and judgment given" for the amount claimed and costs oi'.Court, to be paid by instalments within six months. Scandinavian Company v. Fitzpatrick. —Adjourned-for .fourteen days at complainants'" request, with a view' to a settlement out of Court. The case.of Police v. Sutherland, for damages done to road near Muddy Creek, was allowed to be withdrawn, the defendant and others having put the road into repair. The following applications were granted: —Howe and another, protection to claim-; Mailon and others, protection to claim and tail-race,: Wade and another,'dam; Tiernan : and another, protection-; Thomas Hughes, for a residence area.

An application by Armirage and party for a dam' site near Elackstone Hill;, was opposed by JTohn'S. Foote, who produced a Regulation certificate for the same area. The application -was refused, and another by the same party, for a water race, was withdrawn.

Sutherland ;md another applied for a water race',-'but-as it was shown 1 that a title already-existed-for the race, the application was refused. ' ■ ■