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West Coast Times, Issue 376, 6 December 1866, Page 2

' ' Waiting for dead men's shoc3 is said to be an unprofitable occupation," remarks the " Maryborough Advertiser," " but fighting for them is certainly not a creditable one, particularh when the sex that is usually classed amongst the ' ministering angels' happens to be the combatants, as was tho case at Chinaman's flat ou Monday last. It seems that the friends of the unfortunate man Smailes, who was killed by falling down an abandoned shaft, hired a woman to perform the last duties to the dead body before burial. Another woman, of the Sarah Gamp species, offered to do the work for nothing, and both the paid and the honorary servants proceeded to their work after having a friendly glass, of course, before commencing their duties. The paid woman after a while discovered that the pair of boots (almost new ones) belonging to tho dead man, were gone, and charged her assistant with the theft. Words rose high, and blows followed, and the disgraceful combatants had, we are told, several ' rounds,' in the presence of tho dead. The deceased man's property has, wo believe, been pounced upon, by several unscrupulous persons in the neighborhood, who have not the slightest, , claim to the deceased's effects."

Stieglitz just now is in the position Mr Micawber was when he was waiting for something to turn up. The " Gcelong Register' 1 says the quartz obtaiuable at the various claims, never looked better than it now does, and yet the field, generally, never looked worse than at present. This may seem paradoxical, but the fact remains the same nevertheless. Tho truth is, mining in the neighborhood of Ballarat has recently been turning out so well that all available capital is being employed in that district, to the injury of other promising fields.

The state of affairs in Tasmania must be deplorable judging from the various items of news which appear in the daily journals. Wo learn from the "Examiner" that the Bonevolent Society of Launceston has been compelled to close its doors for want of funds ; and that the Mechanics' Institute of Hobart Town i 3 likely to do tho same, from the critical position of its fiuanccs.

The " Talbot Leader " (Victoria), in describing the trial of four sly-grog-aelliug cases, thus mentions a "now- industry" that has sprung into existence among tho celestial denizens of that region: — "The offences wore proved on the testimony of Chinese informers, named respectively Che Men aud Hong Fung. The sales wore clearly proved, and tho defendants', although protesting then* innocence, did j not call witnesses. All appeared intensely disgusted at being entrapped by Chinamen, and one defendant styled them <% monkeys, not Christians." Without discussing the desirability or otherwise of eniployiug Chinamen as rorenuo informers, remarks may be made as to tho mode in which the prosecutors were sworn. The chief informer, Che Men, said he was a Christian, and had been baptised, but on being asked what would become of him if he toldlios his ideas as to temporal and future punishment became confused, and he observed that if he told lies " the devil would mako him go into walls," no doubt meaning that that tho devil would put him in gaol. When Mr Frampton, who acted as interpreter, afekedHong Fung how he would be sworn, he answered to the effect that he was an idolater, and woidd blow out a match. Accordingly, a lighted match was hesW up to him, aud ho blow it out. Tho difficulty of obtaining evidence on which to successfully conduct prosecutions for sly -prog selling is great, and tho presont courso will no doubt prove beneficial, as somo twenty persons havo been entrapped by Messrs Che Men and Hong Fung, and suftimonses will bo shortly issued against them. Ono danger to be dreaded is that Cho Men and his compatriots may find the informing business so profitable that they will not bo at all scrupulous in their conduct in tho witness box, and prove cases in which the evidence invented by themselves will be perhaps more effective than the truthful portions of if."