WARDEN’S COURT—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 39, 21 November 1871, Page 3

WARDEN’S COURT— Yesterday.

(Before W. Fraser, Esq., Warden.) THE CALEDONIAN G.M. CO. MINERS’ RIGHTS. MCILHONE V. CALEDONIAN G.M. CO; i This was information by the Inspector of Miners’ Rights; charging t he Caledonian G.M.C. with employing one Paul Tonkin to mine for gold on their ground, without his having a miner’s' right, on the 26th, 27th, and 28th October last, —Mr. Macdonald appeared for the complaiuaut.— Henry Goldsmith, deposed Am Inspector of mines. Know the Caledonian claim. It is held by the edmpany under lease for gold-mining purposes. ,It is within the proclaimed goldfield.—Paul Toukiti, deposed : I am a miner, and know the Caledonian claim. Have been working on the ground for the last three month’s for the companj*. Had no miner’s right on the 26th, 27th, and 28th October. —William Rowe, manager of the Caledonian G.M.C., deposed : I have heard the evidence of last witness. I believe it is substantially true. I don’t know 1 personally of his haying been employed without a miner’s right. It is not usual to employ men in thb Caledonian mine without giving them fair notice that they must hold miners’ rights, and notices to this effect have been posted. Witness himself has ofteg paid for miners’ rights for the men, and is put of pocket £4O thereby, but does not intend to loose more that way. Sometimes the regulation of not employing men who havoino minors rights has to be departed from. Men come asking for work, stating that they had not bread fortliemselves and families to eat, and it would be a sin to send such men away, as they always promised to tako out miners’ rights as soon as they had the money. The Warden said some of the Companies appeared not to be aware that they must not employ men without miners’ rights. In the case of the Caledonian, no doubt the natives got very well paid, but still he must enforce tlie law, and should fine the Company 40s. and costs £4 3s. He could not allow Mr. RoWe more than 10s. for his attendance in. court to-day. Mr. Rowosaid this was too little. Ho had never had less than £1 for attendance in court before. The Warden said lie had no power to award more than 10s. Mclliione v Henry Newman.— This was an information by tlie Inspector of miners’ charging the defendant „ with nnning on the Caledonian G.M.C’s. ground on the 26th 27th and 28th October last without a miner’s right.—Mr. Macdonald appeared for complainant, and said there were three of these cases all of the same class. lie understood that all would come forward and plead guilty, and he should not ask for a heavy penalty. The defendant said he had worked in Victoria without a miners’ right. The Warden said very likely, if lie was working in a Company who look on a consolidated miners, right according to the practice there. As defendant had travelled so much about, lie ought to know better than to work on a mine here without a miners’ right, but as lie had only been here since August, lie would deal with this case as with the others.—Fined 20s. and costs. The penalty in all these cases was immediately paid, Tlie costs being in each instance £1 15s. Gd. Mclliione v. C. Chattel.— This,was a similar charge against Charles Chapped, a miner working in the Caledonian. — ihe following statement from defendant was read by the Warden : —“ A few weeks ago I received an injury, which at times indisposes me for labor. But as soon as the mention of a miner’s right was made to me by the foreman, Mr Harris, I immediately produced one. I sincerely trust that your Worship will view my case as one not of wilful negligence, nqr attempt to defraud, but as one of ignorance in regard to tlie miner’s right, and of mistake in not appearing at the date of hearing. C. Chattel."—The defendant said he had taken out a miner’s right since tlie commencement of these proceedings. Fined 20s and costs. Mclliione v. Thomas Thomas.— This was a similar charge against Thomas • Thomas.—The defendant said he had been on the goldfield 12 weeks, apd came from Queensland. Worked ten without a miner’s right, but bad subsequently taken one out.—Fined 20s aud costs.