THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 2, 6 May 1863, Page 4

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) May 5,1863. Allow mc to congratulate you, Mr. Editor, on having made a most successful debut in this township. Many of our inhabitants were rather dubious concerning the appearance, &c, of your journal, but now all agree that (as a tradesman just remarked to me, "It beats the DumtanN&iM out and out.

Since my last communication nothing of any great importance has transpired. Tradesmen are complaining of the present, although they are anticipating a much better future. Business and every thing elso here is at present rather dull, and we are just moving in a jog-jog, quiet, old style. Although by day there is nothing of any interest to be seen, yet by night the scene is changed music, vocal and instrumental, and dancing are being vigorously kept up by our indefatigable pleasure seekers. " Our Own Minstrels" are still performing at the Prince of Wales. They are now abont to start for Queenstown. Certainly this is one of the most legitimate performances here. The rendering of their negro songs, burlesques, dances, and various comicalities is highly creditable, and nightly attracts a large number of " will-bc-aniused" spectators, whilst at the Golden Age, Mr. James Hull made his first appearance on Saturday to a large audience, amongst whom were doubtless many of his old Wetherstone friends. As a comic and local songster, Mr Hull is well-known, and although his compositions are not certainly equal to those of Thatcher (who by-thc-by makes his first appearance here on Thursday), yet they display considerable ready wit, and a large share of ability. He is accompanied by Mr. Morgan, harpist; and Mr. Wright, violinist. As a bit of local gossip, I may mention that a new local farce, entitled " The Barbarous Barber," has, for the last three nights, been performed at the Provincial Conceit Hall. It certainly is one of the most extravagant extravaganzas ever witnessed, in fact its chief merit is its absurdity. As, however, to those not acquainted with its origin, it will possess but a small degree of interest, I will give it as it has been given me:—Be it known then, that between two concert rooms, those of the Provincial, and the Prince of Wales, a pretty severe opposition has for some time been raging. Last Wednesday night on the occasion of the benefit of Mr. James Hunter, a performance by Our Own Minstrels was arranged for the first time to take place. On that occasion the usual Arrow Bellman (a second " Jemmy Lungs ") was engaged by the landlord of the Provincial Concert Hall, whilst, as report says, the services of Griffiths, the celebrated pedestrian, were secured for the Prince of Wales. Before evening Griffiths, however competent he might be to perform feats of strength, was most 4 decidedly not " all there" to compete with Jimmy Lungs : the consequence was a Barber—" The barbarous Barber', (lately a resident here), was engaged for the occasion, Fierce raged the contest, and great was the applause, when these two belligerents came to (bell)arms ; and above the din might the voice of Jimmy Lungs be heard vehemently declaiming against this unwarranted infringement of his rights, and stoutly declaring that no penny shaver should run him down. At last the ucrapcr of beards was obliged to own

himself beaten and gave in, whilst Jimmy Lungs tood at the door of the Provincial Concert-room, >id loud'y invited people to enter, decidedly to ►he detriment of the room opposite. The next evening, however, Captain Hayes thinking the bellman rather too personal in his remarks, had him arrested He "s now out on bail. Hence oiiginated the farce— u Tho Barbarous Barber, or the Lather and Shave*. Mr Geo. Buckingham does " The Barbarous'', and the tortures which he inflicts upon his (not over patient) patients is highly amusing. The Walking Man (16 nrlcs an°hour) is represented by tho bellman himself, and the part of Mr Potts, a gentleman slightly inclined to corpulency, was taken by Mr Geordie Spiers. The piece itself is most decidedly a laughter-provoking one, and is heartily enjoyed by the aud ; ence before whom it is performed, although the affrr will, I have good r son to believe tako a much more serious turn than many imagine. Regarding ih personality, and the motives which brought it into exist mce, the less said the better; it is never a pleasant duty to be obliged to condemn, and in this case, I am sony to sav, it is impossible to praise. A private ball was, on Friday evening, given by Captain end Mrs Hayes, at the Prince of Wales Hotel. About 100 ladies and gentlemen were present, and I am glad to add that it passed off with great edat. dancing being spiritedly kept up " till daylight did appear". No Court has been held here since Saturday, 25th April. On Friday and Saturday last, Mr. Beetham, the newly appointed Warden, (and intended magistrate) held a Warden's Court. None of the cases brought before bim, however, possessed much interest. . In Mining intelligence, I am sorry to aajr, I am decidedly poor, neither new rushes, or in fact anything of any importance having transpired. The river' continues to go down, and tho miners working on it are are eagerly looking forward to large returns in the winter ; but at present the order of the day i 9 here, as everywhere else, preparations for the winter. I may mention, however, as a slight indication of the extensive auriferous resources of this district, and as an effectual "silencer" to those who limit the payable workings to the river, that the flats or terraces are paying exceedingly well, for 70 ozs. of gold were washed out from the bottom of an ordinary sraed sha't, not far r rom the township, during last week. From Bracken's rush the news still continues to be of a cheering character. Those who are still working there—and it is a good sign that there are few who are not working,—are all well satisfied. The ground there is less patchy than the ground generally found in these localities, and although there are no large finds, or anything very brilliant to be heard of, yet the retarns tie good and steady, and doubtless many will haw no reason to repent having visited Bracken's Creek. On Fox's Flat a work of considerable magnitude, and requiring a large share of perseverance and capital, has been thoroughly taken in hand by the parties in the Hit or Miss (10), and the Enterprise (8) claims, y'.z., the cutting of a tail race 365yardsin length, loindepth and lOin width, running from the river to the township, and which, when completed, will drain the whole of the flat, one which is well known to be highly auriferous, but as yet, on account of water, has been almost unworked. The cutting of this race is on account of the amount of rock requiring blasting, a matter of considerable difficulty ; had it been contracted for it could not have been executed for less than L7OO or LBOO. To prove the general opinion concerning the ultimate benefits resulting from this race, I need only mention that a short time ago, the Enterprise claim's water-wheel, tools, and all, were sold for about L4O, whilst now for an eighth share L2OO can be easily obtained. Almost all the ground on this flat is now taken up, and being shepherded by anxious parties waiting for the completion of the race. Great credit is due to the parties undertaking this work of difficulty, and sincerely is it to be hoped that their enterprise may meet with the reward they anticipate.

WARDEN'S COURT.

Queenstown, May 4,1863. (Before Beetham, Esq.)

Travers Jon vs v. Richard Owens.—This was a question of disputed partnership account, remanded from 23rd April. Travcrs Jones bciijg sworn, deposed that he was a miner, and commenced partnership with Richard Owens in Victoria three years ago, which was continued in New Zealand. During the time they were in Rutherglcn, Victoria, plaintiff worked a share in the Clvdcsdale Lead, and Owens worked for wages onChiltern. Plaintiff worked for more than twelve months in the claim before receiving any profit. During that time he received different sums of money from Owens, but they never had a full settlement Afterwards the claim began to pay, and Owens came to Rutherglen and worked for wages there; and when the claim began to pay dividends, he ceased to give him any of his wages. When the Lachlan rush broke out Owens proposed going there, and asked plaintiff if he had any money. Owens was at that time in his debt, as tht share had not equalized his wages. He went to the Lachlan, and plaintiff gave him L 22 to so with. When he was gone two months the claim ceased to pay at Rutherglen. Owens then wrote from the Lachlan for more money, and plaintiff sent him two different sums of L 5 and LB. He subsequently wrote to plaintiff to give up the Ruthcr<,Men claim or sell it and join him on the Lachlan. Plaintiff sold the Rutherglen clnim on credit, and the money was to have been raid into the bank for the aim of LIOOO, subject to thi sum of L2O of debt on

j the claim, leaving LBO still in the bank. He worked for wages at the Lachlan, and gave I Owens every week the half of his wages, and j Owens divided the dividends from his claim up t' 1 12th September, 1862. Plaintiff submitted [ a statement of accounts showing the balance of money due to him, and that statement included sums made subsequently in New Zealand up to ! that date.

By defendant—Yon shared with mo all the i time we were at Ruthergler, but we never settled up before leav'ng. I owed you some at the commencement of the partnership. I can t state the exact sum. I don't believe that I received any money from tho claim at Rutherglen for twelve months, and you did not share your ] wnires with me drnng that time. I The defendan' Richard Owens, deposed—l am a mmcr. I submit a statement of accounts showing the sums due between Jones and myself. I met the plaintiff at Ballarat and went to the Ovens, where I got a share in the Rutherglen claim, and Jones was along with me. I went to work for wages, and left Jones in charge of the claim with tho two shares. I went to work for wages to enable us to k ep one of the shares in the claim going. I worked there for nine months on wages, and du ing that time I divided with Jones regularly, with the exception of about one month, when I was sick, from an accident. After I recovered I continued to work for wages until I left for the Lachlan ; and when I left there was a sum of £l2 in the Oriental Bank—money from the claim the half of which was mine. I received LlO at that time from Jones aud went to the Lachlan. I was fortunate in getting a good claim there and sent for Jones. I divided with him when there about four or five hundred pounds, and before I did get into the claim I had been at a great deal of expense. I bought some shares, and when 1 did chance to make a good thing he always went in with me, but when it was bad he would never go shaves. I gave him a sum of LSO on the Lachlan to go prospecting: that is included in the L4OO or LSOOI have just spoken of. By Plaintiff—l never kept any accounts, because I gave you the half of what 1 had every week; but at the Lachlan I did keep an account. During the time I was ill, after the accident I have referred to, the company paid me my wages —L4 per week. I never asked you what money I owed you. I did ask you to dissolve partnership because you were going to leave the country. I paid you in full the whole time I was working on wages. You never asked me to wait a few days—that you expected money from Ballarat. You sent me L 8 tothe Lachlan. I don't remember you sending me more. I don't know whether the money was private, or money from the claim. I did not know the balance when I left Rntherglen, but I am sure I only owed you L 6 when I left for the Lachlan. You asked me to pay theshare of the dividend into tho Bank, but 1 did not do so. The Lachlan claim did not produce mor* than Ll4O to my share, and that includes everything. I never sold, but I bought shares at the LachUr. You told me to pay Ellen Rairdon LlO. . His Worship after a careful comparson ot the opposite accounts handed in, gave a verdict for Travcrs Jones of L4l 145., animadverting strongly on the loose way their accounts had been kept. Costs not avowed. Defendant—l can't pay it: I have'nt got the money. Plaintiff—Can I have immediate execution your Worship, as I want to leave the country ? His Worship—You will have to wait t :i ' tomorrow, at all events. The partnership was declared dissolved at the request of the plaintiff, and the parties left the court.

Several cases (ten) were called on, but no appearance put in, and were accordingly c,:smissed.

Gill and Pakty v. Shane and Party.— This was a case of disputed ground at Moke Creek, the plaintiff charging defendant with drawing his pegs and taking up a part of his claim. A very animated discussion took place in Court between the contending parties, and the case was more of a complicated than interesting or important character. His Worship thought plaintiff had proved his right to the ground, and gave judgment accordingly.