REEFTON WARDEN'S COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1917, Page 8

REEFTON WARDEN'S COURT.

September 27th; 191% (Bsi'oro' -J'li'.. T- ■ Hutchison Warden.) (Onr Own (Correspondent.) g •__—' JoH.sph Gardner-' (Mr. PatteiisMi),. iipee : .ai. 'claiin; "The Juxtilieation,' Kii.iraled'at Meirijigß, in' 'Blocks it Mid VI., Waitahu SB., area .SI acres 2 rwclfei .U) poles. Objected to by G,

J. Willis (Messrs Uannan ana J^uvry). Mr. Patterson staled that'this. application, had been adjourned from Hie lii.it silting, W chat the, reports of tlie Inspector of Mines and also the Inspector e'f Machinery to value the machinery and the work done in me mine. These he understood, were ready.' Tie suggested that they should be handed to 'counsel, as they might agree. The Warden: Will you accept the value-*? i '' Mr. Patterson : No. The Warden: I think you ought to !:ee ihe report;.? of the valuers before I decide.' I understood that the values placed ■ .".on. them would be final. Mr. Patterson-: My contention is thai ih company is not entitled to the development work. It would be an absolute precedent to allow them any con.pciiKu.tioh. The Warden : The Court has a ri»ht to allow a reasonable amount. ? think it i s the best thing to let you peruse -the reports. Later in the day the ease was again called on, when Mr. Uannan stated they.'had read the reports, and he was imamivd to lake Mr. MeKenzie's

Vivlitii.tioii plus tin' present war prices, and which would amount lo a. total of ,€(>•!01. This included development work,' but did not include several items wliicli the' inspector could not no! at to examine and value. Mr. Patterson : 1 am prepared to accept Mr. Downey's valuation, but 1 am not prepared to accept Mr. Mo-. Kenzie's, aa on some items lie has added .'SOO per cent as pre-war price*, which is the height of absurdity. The machinery lies been lying idle since August, Ifllo, consequently has greatly deteriorated./ The value that has been placed upon ii in his opinion is equivalent to 'new machinery. The Warden : Have you got £6000? Mr. Patterson : No. " f flunk that Mr. MeKenzie should be asked on what IMKi H he lias made hh valuation. whether in the sliop or on the ground.

The Warden agreed to refer the report hack to Mr. McKenzie, as suggested by Mr. Patterson, to enquire '" ) whether his percentage increases represent 'he cost of new material on the ground or do they represent the mesent value of the old material, |,; ; >ed on the present cost.; (h) sug-

gested by Mr. ll'annan, to find out tho value of the property to-day, or what would it cosrf t<> replace the imicliinerv at the present time, in as good condition as it is at the present time.

Adjoin tied till October T i tit. L \V. Kcarns (Mr. Patteiwn), coal prospecting license, situated in Block 11.. Waitahu S!l>.- -(.'rallied. ,1. Coghla.ii (Mr. Lawry), application for protect ioia over a, sluicing claim in the Waitahu lliver.

iimi'j'his liny mid .lolin Ooghlan Vl.*. La-wry), application for it water race situated in Keefton S.D., cum mibeing at a [mini on t ln- north bank i,i' tin? Wailahu Kivt-i' about two miles ;i!.,,w Hm 1 junction of Kirwan's Crunk with Hi? Wailahu lliver; hmglh of i-,u-. -Jl miles IN chains; es'.imatud

These two applications! weretaken together. The Warden : I. cannot give yon proUdion unless you osui show itiu that', vmi have complied with the Act. As far n.s I can see, no work liasi been clone.

Air. Lawry : The race has wot been completed owing to Ihe war. WUll respcel to the application for Hie water race we have spent £I.OOO and have had thiee engineers making Hio

necessary survey, etc. The Warden': I do not like granting the application where such a large <iuaiitity of water is e«lieerned. It means tying up such a lot of water for such a long period. Mr. l.awry : We are only taking a I bird of the water in the river. The Warden: How are you going to convince me you are going to comi.l te the work?

Mr. Lawry: T suggest you make the granl for three years. The Warden : I decline tf> do so. T Huetgesfc one year, with a special condition that you are to start within six months. You did not comply with

"'■ mo. speeialvCdndUhm ini|H>.s«4- li» the ' T tivsi; grant. '■''■ ,;;You. have produced- no. .evidence that you 'inte'nd to do [better VwitlV' the '.present;- application. You "state the, race, i<s, going to cost ".£55,000. Where are yp.u going; to get 'the money? ■ : Mr. LaVry:. One of the, principals i.j in Auckland arid one party is in England'at the present time. Adjourned tor further particulars who are in'the party. .. ■. ' Alexander Burt (Mr. Patterson), 1 residence site at Waiuta.—Granted at; the reduced.size. - Robert Duffy (Mr- Lawry), pros? ps-'cljing license of 100 acres, situated at Larry's Creek.—Granted. Madge Purton (Mr. Lawry), residence site of •'!.") perches at Waiuia.Granted. Charles F. Gardner (Mr. Phillips), water race situated at the right hand hrainch of Antonio's Creek, for alluvial mining.—Granted. IT. T. Phillips (Mr. Phillips), surrender <>f residence site at Crusliiiigton.—Accepted. Murray Creek Gold Mining Coy., Ltd. (Mr. Patterson), application for a dam siiuaCd in Block XIV., Reefion S.I), in Ajax Creek, at the old Golder) Fleece Battery site, for the ?Aip]'ilv of water t<> the battery and ore treatment works*.— Granted. 'J. Howell (Mr. Lawry), prospecting license of 50 acres in Burke's Creek, near Caplestoiv—Granted,

WARDEN'S COURT SUITS

Receiver of Gold Revenue v. Harris and Oshourne (Mr. Patterson),, claim For 4-104 G s Od, royalty on coal. Adjourned cm defendants' application fill' October 11th.

MAGISTRATES COURT

His Worship delivered a written judgment in the case-of W. A. Archer (Mr. Patterson) v. Lougbnan and Harrison (Mr. ITannan), nonsuiting the plahitiii on the claim for damages! hut giving judgment, for.plaintiff for J JT2 for wages. No costs were allowed on either side.

Judgment for plaint id's was given n the following cases:

fnangahua Times v. 0. P. Rrazil, claim t'2, with costs Eos;.

M. S. O'Malley (Mr. Lawry) v. T. Moore, junr.,. claim £3 Fm 3d, with

eo«is los