WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 188, 14 September 1871, Page 5

WAITAHUNA.

(Fwm our own Correspondent.) 6ih September.

There is a probability of the claim belonging to the Table Hill Quartz Mining Company yet becomin a valuable property, as from a reef called the Ocean View, worked by J. Higgins and party, and which runs through the Company's ground, a late crushing gave, as the result of three week's work, 47 ounces of gold. The quantity of stone crushed I did not hear : but from the, manner in which some of the parties most interested expressed themselves, the return was considered as highly satisfactory. I understand that the Waitahuna Miners' Mutual Protection Committee, which was brought into existence several months ago through the determined efforts of one or two residents here to obtain possession of (for agricultural purposes) large areas of aui'iferou3 ground, which the miners as determinedly opposed, and successfully, held a meeting on Saturday, 2nd ult., at which subscriptions (in aid) ainountiu<^ in the a^jregate to fourteen pounds were paid over to the treasurer. It was also resolved to communicate with similar bodies in the up-country districts on the Chinese question. It' the miners intend doing anything in the matter, they have no time to lose, as it would be well if all petitions reached Wellington before the Committee already appointed by the Assembly to consider and report upon the subject brings its labours to a close.

Beyond two or three week's work in one or two claims, I have not heard that the late heavy rains have done much damage to raining property, either here or at Efavelock ; although at one time it did indeed look as though some of our miners were going; to be heavy sufferers, but fortunately the rain coased, much to theii 1 reliof, I assure you. 11th September. The Lite rains have had the effect of increasing the supply of water for sluicing purposes. As this is the principal mode of mining carried on here, any scarcity of that element is dreaded both _J)y miners and storkepeepers, as a scai'city of money is the not very desirable result.

A case of encroachment, Smith and party v. Lennara, was heard in the Warden's Court here on Friday last— ■ damages, £39. Mr. Copland appeared for the defendant. The evidence for the plantiffs went to show that they were the holders of an extended claim, which was marked off in the usual manner by pegs being placed at the four corners ; that they had been engaged for several months in constructing a race and dam in connection- with it, and that while so engaged "protection notic3s" had been maintained on the claim, one of them being posted in the vecinity of the defendant's workings. That sometime afterthey had recommenced work in their claim they discovered that the defendant was working inside their boundary line. As he did not appear satisfied that he was encroaching, a third party was called in, who marked off a boundary line between their two corner pegs, by placing other pegs in, a few feet apart, clearly showing by this mean 3 that he was really doing so. In the face of this, he persisted in working away, and would not move off, until they cut a bywash through the ground which had the effect of swamping him out. They could not tell how much ground he had worked, neither could they say that he had obtained the coliv>r of gold, but supposed he would not work without he got gold. Several witnessess were examined for the defence, whose evidence did not mend matters, as it was entirely owing to the evidence given by one of them that the Warden gave any damages at all, he having admitted receiving a share of thirty shillings' worth of gold on one occasion, when working with the defendant in the disputed ground. The Warden said he was satisfied there had been an encroachment, a'ld he was also satisfied that there had not been any breach of the Regulations in connection with the marking off of the claim. There was no evidence in support of the claim for damages, beyond an admission made by one of the witnesses for the defence Verdict jfor thirty shillings damages, the value of the gold said to have been obtained, and costs. The defendant to remove himself and his tools off the ground at once.

A quiet and inoffensive miner named Pardie, a resident of Mavelock, was, on Thursday last, the victim of a brutal outrage, perpetrated by a man named Kitchin^man. It appears a dispute arose between them about money owed by the latter to Pardie, when, without giving the least warning of his intentions, Kitchin^man closed with Pardie and actually bit his left eyebrow clean out, leaving a gaping wound over an inch long, 2nd penetrating nearly to the bone. Thd sufferer is under the caro of Or. Johnston, and is getting on as well as can be expected ; buthewill.be frightfully disfigure! for life.