DISTURBANCES BETWEEN EUROPEANS AND CHINESE AT BALLARAT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5355, 27 May 1878, Page 3

DISTURBANCES BETWEEN EUROPEANS AND CHINESE AT BALLARAT.

A very serious affray (says the Ballarat Slav) occurred on the White Horse Ranges, near Magpie, on the 13th May, which at present seems likely to end fatally. I'rora the information obtainable, it appears that a party of some twelve Chinese hold a lease of ground on the ranges from Mr. E. O. Baker, of the Bal--larat Mining Board, and also get the water they use for sluicing purposes from what is known as Baker’s race; but Mr. Baker, being under the impression that the Chinamen were not treating hint fairly, by omitting to pay their proper amount of tribute, gave a party of Europeans, working in the same locality, permission to work on the ground occupied by ths Chinese, if they could get possession of it. The lease to the Chinese has not yet expired, and it seems that they have been a good deal harassed lately over tthe matter in question, for they were net unprepared for the events of Monday morning. The European party referred to, consisting of three persons, named Lester, David Lawson, Henry Boworman, and three others, wanting to use the water coming through the Chinaman’s ground, proceeded some distance above it, and began to divert the course of the stream, when the Chinese jumped put from behind the bushes scattered about, and attacked the other party, the result being that a general fight ensued, and serious injuries were inflicted on both sides. Some time after the row was over, the Sebastopol police, hearing of the affair, wont over to the place, and found one of the Chinamen (Sue Boon) lying in his hut with his skull cracked, and the brain oozing from the wound, and another (Ah Boy) with a" severe wound over his eye, while most of tho others wero more or less cut about. ; The Europeans were not so badly hurt, one of tho worst (David Lawson) haviug his wounds dressed at the hospital on Monday morning, and going home again. The Courier states that"'Bowerman, who is charged with this attack, was arrested afterwards, while proceeding towards Buninyong with tho avowed

object ol summoning the injured Chinaman for i assault. Sue Foon was taken to the hospital, where a consultation of doctors was held, their opinion being that his life might be saved, His depositions were taken before Mr. Chauncy, J.P., in the presence of prisoner, to the following effect :—“I know the prisoner, Harry Bowennan, whom I see before me. Ho is the mini. He; struck me on the head this morning with a pick. He did not run away. Re threw atones at me.” Prisoner was then taken to the city lock-up, where a.charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was entered against him.